Well the great European/Mother-in-law adventure is over and I am back in Edmonton for tiny bit before we go out to Calgary & Medicine Hat.
The trip... well lets just say that kind of tour is not for me. You know how you go to Banff or Jasper and the big bus of tourists pulls up and they flood out, off the bus for 5 min before being herded back on and driven off to the next stop and you think, what on earth are those people doing? That was me in Germany, Austria, Switzerland & for 15 whole minutes - Liechtenstein. In fact we spent longer at the gas station/gift shop just down the road then we were given to explore the entire country of Liechtenstein (which by the way, seem like kind of a cool place - supposedly has a wicked Art museum - I got to see the door of it by the way). We laugh like crazy at these people and wonder how they can think that this is seeing a country, this is experiencing the culture... it's not... it's not even close.
We would drive by all these amazing museums, historic sites, vistas, views, churches, tiny towns, fantastic forests.... and stopped only for shopping centers and markets. Our 'free time' or 'time at leisure' was an hour here or there during which I would RUN around trying to get to as many sites as possible... I ducked into several churches, raced through a fort, and climbed up a few towers. I did make it through 2 Museums - but I had to run and didn't get to see all of either of them - certainly didn't have a chance to actually read the signs or learn anything.
I know that there are many people out there who don't mind this kind of travel. People, who actually LOVE it and do it again and again and again. There was a few of these folks on our tour. They seemed like nice people. I just don't understand what keeps them coming back. I don't understand why they feel that they need to pay these outrageous amounts of money to "experience" a place... but they do. All I do know is- it's not for me and I hope I never go on one of these tours again.
In the end the worst part was that I couldn't get a stamp in my passport for Switzerland. They quit stamping passports 4 days before I visited the country. I didn't get to see the mountains (to cloudy), I didn't get to visit any Museums (no time), I didn't buy a swiss watch (although there was certainly opportunity), I didn't get to try swiss chocloate (I know -whats up with that?)... I didn't get a feeling for Swiss culture... I just wanted a stamp so I could pretend.
Oh well.
The trip... well lets just say that kind of tour is not for me. You know how you go to Banff or Jasper and the big bus of tourists pulls up and they flood out, off the bus for 5 min before being herded back on and driven off to the next stop and you think, what on earth are those people doing? That was me in Germany, Austria, Switzerland & for 15 whole minutes - Liechtenstein. In fact we spent longer at the gas station/gift shop just down the road then we were given to explore the entire country of Liechtenstein (which by the way, seem like kind of a cool place - supposedly has a wicked Art museum - I got to see the door of it by the way). We laugh like crazy at these people and wonder how they can think that this is seeing a country, this is experiencing the culture... it's not... it's not even close.
We would drive by all these amazing museums, historic sites, vistas, views, churches, tiny towns, fantastic forests.... and stopped only for shopping centers and markets. Our 'free time' or 'time at leisure' was an hour here or there during which I would RUN around trying to get to as many sites as possible... I ducked into several churches, raced through a fort, and climbed up a few towers. I did make it through 2 Museums - but I had to run and didn't get to see all of either of them - certainly didn't have a chance to actually read the signs or learn anything.
I know that there are many people out there who don't mind this kind of travel. People, who actually LOVE it and do it again and again and again. There was a few of these folks on our tour. They seemed like nice people. I just don't understand what keeps them coming back. I don't understand why they feel that they need to pay these outrageous amounts of money to "experience" a place... but they do. All I do know is- it's not for me and I hope I never go on one of these tours again.
In the end the worst part was that I couldn't get a stamp in my passport for Switzerland. They quit stamping passports 4 days before I visited the country. I didn't get to see the mountains (to cloudy), I didn't get to visit any Museums (no time), I didn't buy a swiss watch (although there was certainly opportunity), I didn't get to try swiss chocloate (I know -whats up with that?)... I didn't get a feeling for Swiss culture... I just wanted a stamp so I could pretend.
Oh well.
In any case - here I am, back in Canada for 5 or 6 Christmases starting today (Germans celebrate Christmas on the 24th... I know when does Santa come? Oh silly, he already came back on December 6th - Nikolus Tag), then to Calgary for what was supposed to be the one 'all my family in one city' Christmas, but no it was not to be... SO Christmas at my moms on the 25th. Then to Medicine Hat, Christmas at my Grandparents on the 26th, with my dad on the 27th and then back up to Calgary for Christmas with my Grandma Betty. How many does that make? I am almost ready to opt out all together.
I hope you are all having wonderful holidays - Christmas, Hanuka, Kwanzaa, Festivus or what ever you celebrate at this time of year. I hope it is safe, and I wish you all good times and good health. I hope at New Years you have a fantastic time at a great party (or next to a warm fire, or with a good movie or good book and a bottle of wine or hot chocolate) and have someone special to kiss at midnight. I hope the new years brings you all wonderful things.
Cheers.
Lots of love,
jess & paul
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