Great vacation... but now the Holiday Blues -- November 26, 2008
(be sure to see the great photos in SEVEN new galleries!)

The Peace Corps warns us that our service will be a continuous roller coaster of emotional ups and downs, and that is absolutely true. They say the cycles are so well documented that they are almost predictable, but it always comes as a surprise to me, both the times of elation and those of depression. My vacation this month was wonderful, a week in Hungary with a side trip to Slovakia, and then a week in Croatia with a quick drive through Bosnia (don't blink or you'll miss it!). It was fun and I was joined by friends for both weeks. But I've been stunned at how low I've felt ever since returning, which is why it has taken me so long to update this web journal or post the wonderful pictures from the trip. I suppose I can blame the colder weather and oncoming winter months, being homesick with the holiday season coming on, and everything wrapped up in nearly two years of being away from the United States and not seeing my kids and grandchildren. These are the times when I question what I'm doing here, since I thought I would be enjoying retirement by this time in life, finally resting after some 45 years of work. It could also be that the exciting elections at home and drastic economic collapse have reawakened my hunger to get all the news I can find, so I feel more connected there than I am here. I'm trying to shake it off, but it doesn't seem to be getting better.

Anyway, to the vacation report: I traveled on Halloween day by bus from Constanta to Bucharest, then caught the overnight train to Budapest. This time I got a sleeper car so I actually had a bed and could sleep. I was even on the bottom bunk, which was really great. During the night my friends Gloria and Sonny boarded my train in Arad, so we met when we got off the train. We had gone to Budapest back in July, so had no problem managing the metro system to get to a different station where our train would take us north of the city to Göd (pronounced "good"). We discovered there are no taxis or much of anything else near the train station, so we started walking to follow the instructions from the resort. We walked and walked, and then walked some more. A very nice guy who didn't speak a word of English tried to help us get a ride from his neighbor, but it didn't work and we kept walking, hauling our luggage with us. Finally we reached another train station, and figured out that we could have stayed on the train for one more stop and saved ourselves a lot of grief! Anyway, we finally got to my condo, and it was really in a palace! Gloria was in heaven, you can see her in the pictures. This place was a far cry from our Peace Corps life in communist-style apartments, but I was glad that I had condo time I could exchange for such an escape. We were right on a golf course, but Sonny and Gloria were not at all interested so we never hit a single ball while we were there. We did a lot of walking, though, and Gloria treated me to a massage at the spa. One day we decided to take the train up to Slovakia and traveled along the Danube to spend the night in Sturovo. I got up early the next morning to walk across the bridge to Esztergom in Hungary and back to our little rustic pension. On our return we stopped in the beautiful city of Vác where we enjoyed the most luscious meal of our vacation. It is a beautiful city, and would be a lovely place to spend more time. We really enjoyed our own little village, Felsogöd (we called it "Feels So Good"), the southern area was called Alsogöd ("Also Good"). Fortunately we are easily amused. On November 8, I traveled on to Croatia while Sonny and Gloria returned to Romania.

I flew to Zagreb and changed planes for Split, then caught the sunset ferry to the island of Brač (pronounced "Brach"), where my condo was located in the town of Supetar. I enjoyed a day there before going all the way back to the airport to meet my friend Jane. I say "all the way" because it took all day to get her and return to the condo! Croatia is a beautiful country and certainly deserves all the raves it gets from visitors. I loved the ferry rides, our tour around the island with our new friend Peter, all the history there and the gorgeous coastline. We even visited a school for stonecutters, and learned that all the blocks for the White House came from here! We rented a car for three days and drove south to Dubrovnik, passing quickly through Neum, the only Bosnian coastal town. These old walled cities are beautiful and everywhere you look is another great photo. I hope someday I can visit the northern Croatian coast, if I live that long.

I think my friends were surprised, both in Slovakia and Dubrovnik, that I manage to find out-of-the-way and inexpensive places to stay, even without reservations or planning. I've learned that for me much of the fun of traveling is not knowing what will happen and embracing the next adventure.

This is just the thumbnail version of these trips, but this time I'll try, as requested by friends, to put notes on some of the photographs. Thanks to those who wrote to nudge me to share my pictures, and I'm sorry it took me so long. Just remember that tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I'm in a country where most people have never even heard of it. Please enjoy the feasting of the day for me!

Oh, I almost forgot. Claudia, one of the University staff at the American Corner library this week found this news article for me from the 4th of July this year. It gives a good summary of my remarks at the event. I'll post the original here (click to enlarge) and a translation of it underneath.

American Independence Day, Celebrated in Constanta

The conference room of the Natural Sciences Museum Complex yesterday hosted a very special event. The celebration of the 4th of July Independence Day, the national day for the United States, was an opportunity for the honorable guests and representatives of Constanta and the American embassy to gather at this special anniversary. Representatives of the Romanian military came to the event, Constanta museums, officials of the local university, government Council, and students. The event started with the U.S. national anthem, followed by speeches delivered by guests. "For me, the 4th of July means spending time with my family, parades and fireworks. This is the first celebration of our national day that I don't spend at home, but I am happy to celebrate 230 years of independence for us", declared Bernadette Roberts, Vice Council of the U.S.A. in Romania. Professor Dr. Timothy Ehlinger also spoke about the importance of sacrifice, about what it means to be an American, but also about some historical moments for his family. Furthermore, he was reminded of his experience in Romania. "Spending time in Romania helped me understand the importance of America," said Timothy Ehlinger. The special guest of the meeting, business consultant volunteer with the United States Peace Corps in Romania, Kristin Lambert, told the audience about her experience in Alaska and most recently in our country. "I worked in rural areas of Alaska, which were similar in ways to Romania. In villages there are problems with transportation, young people need to leave and utilities are expensive. I've tried to help communities with their problems", mentioned Kristin Lambert, who is in collaboration now with the University, the Natural Sciences Museum Complex, and the Constanta County library "IN Roman". This year alone in Romania 140 volunteers are active who do social work, teach English, and work in economic development. Kristin Lambert will stay another ten months in Romania. "I want to share at home the same joy and enthusiasm for the Romanian national day", added former prefect for Constanta, Gheorghe Martin.

At this event was Sevil Sumanariu, executive director for programs in the Black Sea basin on behalf of the County Council, speaking of the projects that are to take place here this year. For this purpose she mentioned rehabilitation of tourist harbors and setting up of a Black Sea traditional village. As a surprise from the organizers, those who chose to visit the Museum Complex received a small flag from the United States. On the 4th of July every American celebrates the Declaration of Independence, the National Day of the U.S.A. The Declaration of Independence was adopted 4 July, 1776, representing the birth of American nation and stating the philosophy of individual freedom.