Last Leg: Pending

As my first trip to Europe comes to a close, here are some final notes and shenanigans.

1. This is where, had I been traveling with my mom, she would have reminded me to put my keys back in my purse, just in case. Boy was she right!! So this one's for you, Mom!

2. Monday, Day 1: Apparently the Zen Method of Navigation* doesn't work for trains. Neither being a *bit* tired nor being in a rush to get to work on time had any effect on my semiconscious need to impress the hell out of everyone with my stunning brilliance and perfect record of never making mistakes. The train left at 7:48, and I had failed to take into account the 20 minutes it takes to WALK to the banhof. So I grabbed the nearest train and paid for the absurd assumption that it would somehow magically stop at every -ikon. No such luck. I ended up on a train direct to Zuerich. And was 20 minutes late. So apparently they post the schedule... And label each train. 😒 3. Haendy Auf Deutsch. My cellphone has finally learned German! It gives me German words in my auto suggestions now. Sehr toll!! :) 4. I learned my German is better than I thought. It's also not as good as I thought. On the first point, I have no problem communicating with pretty much anyone, although I slip into English when anxious. On the second point, I sound like I'm on drugs. I get into a rush and end up using a hybrid of semi-English/semi-German syntax. All said and done, my Germlisch is excellent yet not good enough to fully understand the plaques on historic buildings. Weirdly, I get a lot of compliments, to which I respond, "Thank you very frienderly." 5. I finally figured out why I don't like Toblerone. 😉

6. Here are snap shots from my way home. Zuerich at dawn. 

Last view of Die Schweiz.

The clouds FINALLY lifted!! The Alps were stunning this morning. 

France. 

The English Channel. 

Dover. 

First look at England!

The Thames.

Wembly. And you can see which parts of Europe are favored by the gods. 

One of my longest-time friends Andrew Lintott picked me up from Heathrow for lunch. "Oldest friends" isn't really right because we aren't old. But yeah we met in high school in New Zealand in 1987. Yeah WOW. We had a lovely walk in the parking garage to avoid getting a tan from standing in the English rain. The quick jaunt to the pub revealed how very alike England and New Zealand are: flax plant, cabbage trees, jonquils and daffleeodles were everywhere! We had a great chinwag, but really, you can't cram 10 years into 3 hours, 2 half pints, and a cuppa. And we talked about everything, as usual. Great friendships never really change, even across continents.

Canada. This is where we keep all the trees in North America.. 

Here's Pennsylvania, hoarding snow for summer.

I would like to have had my adventure come to a tidy end but it didn't. Here's the foreshadowing of what happened next. And just so you know, this pic is highly controversial. It's actually banned. The Customs office got in my face and demanded that I delete it. Apparently this is a security risk. 🤣 Gawd these people are dumb. 😒 I cited "freedom of the press" but he became aggressive 😱 so I deleted a snap shot of the floor. 🤣

Last Leg: Pending

So apparently my journey will actually end tomorrow at 8 or 9pm once British Airways delivers my suitcase. Which has my keys. Shit!! My boss wants me in the office in the morning so I texted him why I will be working from home. I was really freaked out....! My boyfriend talked me out of staying at the airport for the next 24 hours to get my bag. He reminded that the emergency maintenance guy can let me into my apartment and bring me copies of my keys. I'm grateful he's smart, supportive and kind. But God help me if my car keys aren't in my suitcase after all....