May 31, 2018

When I started this travel blog in 2016 it was to take the place of the blog I had for years using Blogger. I liked Blogger. I didn’t want to start another one. I really didn’t have a choice as Blogger hadn’t updated itself and was no longer supported using my iPad. I don’t find this blog as easy to use. I need easy.

I was very excited about our birthday trip to Paris. As I posted at the time, it took a turn on 11/9/16 when I woke up and discovered that Donald Trump had been elected president. I felt hopeless about our country’s future. Here we are today, on 5/31/18, and I have to say it’s worse than I feared. But this is a travel blog, so no more politics.

Towards the end of March my Uncle Jack called and told me he was going to Germany. My cousin, Danielle, had given birth to identical twin boys in November and he was going to Hannover to see her and to meet his first (and probably only) grandchildren. He hates to fly. Actually, he has a profound fear of flying. He then asked me if I would consider going too. I told him that I could probably do that as long as I could use my airline miles for my ticket, and if Jamie could come stay with Riley on the days Jim works. Done. I also checked with Danielle to confirm it would be alright for me to come, as she is currently living with her mom and I’m sure space is limited now. She was happy to hear the plans. She thought it would be best to come for a visit in June. I assumed Jack wanted me to actually fly with him. I spent the following day online looking for round trip flights from Kansas City to Hannover. Having to go to K.C. first definitely complicated things for me. I was growing frustrated trying to find acceptable flights using my miles, and also allowing for Jack to purchase tickets on the same flights. I decided I would have to call United Airlines and have someone help coordinate this. I called Jack first to tell him my plan. He replied that there isn’t a need to fly together. Oh! That changes everything!

Here’s the plan:

I’m leaving Sacramento on 6/5, flying to San Francisco, Munich, then Hannover, arriving 6/6. I’m renting a car and as far as I know I will be staying at Dagmar’s. She is Barbara’s sister and I’ve stayed with her during two other trips. I will stay one week in Hannover. Sascha will be able to visit for about four days, so no need for me to go to Cologne to visit her. I’ll then take the train to Frankfurt and will visit with my friend, Jo, for a few days. Then I’ll take the train to Paris on 6/16 and will fly home from there on 6/28. In Paris I’ll be staying in an apartment with my friend, Susan. More about that later.

Sadly, Jack was unable to overcome his fears. He stalled getting his passport, so he paid extra to have it expedited. When it arrived I think it freaked him out. He now says that he can’t possibly leave his yard for two weeks in the summer. I suggested he go for a shorter visit. No, he will go in October or November. Except I doubt he will. There will be another excuse. I’m very sad for Danielle, as I know how much his visit meant to her.

I wasn’t expecting a trip to Europe this year, but I’ll take it! I’m sad that Jim can’t go with me. He’s my favorite travel partner and I will miss him. I’m hoping it won’t be too long before we can take a trip together.