We need more blogs! Wow, a year behind. :) Please get busy and get us caught up. Sounds like a nice size group on the boat. We still want to do that. Loved your stories. Loved the cowboys and bulls. Oh... and the Chagall paintings...nothing more to say.
A story held back for years This amazing story is well worth telling. So many people were impacted. Your visit meant the world to him....to all of them. You've touched many lives in many positive ways. When we were visiting Hells Gate in Kanchanibari, Thailand we were thanked for our country dropping the bomb. The young man said we saved many Thai lives. We were taken aback but after thinking about it we understood the global impact.
Sure! Carolyn, I'd love to be subscribed...oh...and just one small correction - Stephanie was 6 WEEKS old. (Which was probably easier than 6 months, but somewhat scarier!)
Memories Thanks for the wonderful post. You met my Dad, Bill, last year on another trip. He shared this post with me. It brings back good memories for me, too. We traveled to Tokyo, Nara and Kyoto in 1986 with our 6 week old daughter. It was a memorable trip, seeing the historical sites, shopping, learning a bit about the culture. Unfortunately, we didn't get to meet or stay with any of "the locals", but we did meet fishermen on the pier at the Tsukiji fish market around their fire to warm up baby Stephanie. They were very welcoming, especially when they realized my wife had a tiny baby inside her coat! We met businessmen on the subway (after they figured out we weren't being rude, holding our ground - we were just trying to keep the baby from being crushed. After that, they formed a protective circle around me, my wife and baby Stephanie. My wife also met some older ladies at a tea ceremony at our hotel - after one motioned that she'd like to hold the baby...then took her back to the kitchen! (Needless to say, my wife was close on her heels!) It's amazing the amount of "diplomacy" one infant can accomplish!
Loved YOUR story Of course I remember your dad. We had a great time on our very interesting cruise. Thanks for sharing your story. I can't imagine traveling with a 6 mo old baby.
Do you want to be added to receive my blogs? I'm currently writing about my recent trip to France. You can go to my blog and see my posts from the Greece trip.
Carolyn
Touching hearts! This is the best of travel and cultural exchanges. How lovely that you were open and hosted young Japanese students and then got to visit their wonderful families and sense the real Japan. Uncle Kyugi's story was so moving--his early hesitation, then curiosity and generosity, and finally his confession and surprising gratitude toward Americans. A most beautiful story--thank you so much!
Thank you I dear Tara, thank you so much for your kind words. Where are you now? I hope you are well . It is a privilege to know you read and enjoy my blogs. Carolyn
Thanks for remembering so well! What great detail you gave us as background for this man's extraordinary statement. Makes quite an impact, even all these years later!
Thank you so very much for sharing this amazing story. You were certainly blessed to have been hosted by this family, and the uncle who had been waiting for 33 years to meet an American and to thank you for what is almost incomprehensible.
Thank You What an amazing story. It's hard to believe someone would thank an American for dropping the bomb. Somebody in the US knew the Japanese leaders would never stop. Thank you for sharing.
Trip to France Love the info and pics. Wish I was there. I am leaving on June 7thy for the grand Circle riverboat trip from Vienna to Amsterdam. Hope to talk with you before I leave. Doctor's report says my heart is doing great and he was glad I'd booked the trip to Europe. Also booked an OAT trip to Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos in the fall. Miss you a lot.
A+ You go to the head of the class for correcting the misinformation. That jet lag can play with your mind. Glad you are enjoying artist heaven. Thrilled you finally made it to France.
"I love Paris in the springtime...!!!" So what is the national food?!? (I guessed escargots!) Do try and see Napoleon and Josephine's home outside Paris at Malmaison and the Cathedral at St. Denis (similar to Westminster Abbey with all its royal tombs) - the site of the guillotine in the French Revolution - the ibuprofen will be worth it! Bon voyage, Ruthie
Fabulous cruise! You're visiting some of my favorite cities in France, and how wise to do it in the off season. I'd take clouds over tourists and heat any day. Great also that you're staying extra days to take in some lovely sites and just saunter about. I love that you have found a way to travel and enjoy the world even with health problems--you're an inspiration!
Thanks,Tara Are you still in Peru? My group is amazing...one woman is 88 and uses a cane but is right in the middle of everything. Another guy, probably 80 ish is recovering from a stroke but walks all over with the rest of us? It's easy to travel around when one is young and healthy. It's inspirational to be with a group of 'creaky' travelers who are as addicted to travel as I am and determined to keep on keepin on. Good to hear from you.
Now that is customer service! I love your chef. He will not be defeated by health issues and he will not allow you to be denied the taste treats he can create. We stayed in a B& B in Giverny and the food was extraordinary. I'll look up the name if you have any interest. It was a meal to remember. If you've read any of our blogs you know we love food photos. Food is love, Food is art. Food is part of each culture.
D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
We need more blogs!
Wow, a year behind. :) Please get busy and get us caught up. Sounds like a nice size group on the boat. We still want to do that. Loved your stories. Loved the cowboys and bulls. Oh... and the Chagall paintings...nothing more to say.