Uiminen

Yesterday Barbara and I picked Drew up from school and went to the indoor pool and water park. While B swam laps, I played with Drew in the jacuzzi and wave pools, even going down the big slide. After the pool, we did the sauna before showering and getting dressed. Since I was along, Drew came with me to the mens' lockerroom, rather than going with Mom like he usually has to. It's a good thing he was along, too, because not only did I not know my way around but I can't see a thing without my glasses ... so it was often a case of HIM watching over ME. By the time we got home for dinner (it was Steve's night to cook) I was very relaxed, feeling somewhat like an overcooked noodle.

Speaking of noodles, for supper Steve grilled brats he got from the German store, made noodles with mushroom sauce and salad with homemade bleu cheese dressing. Very nice.

Today has been a lazy day about the house, till this afternoon when B and I went downtown for a couple of errands. In a litle bit, we're all going out for supper. Tomorrow will be laundry and packing, before getting a late afternoon train to Tampere for my 10:55pm flight to London. When I clicked on the website to check my flight info, I found that Ryanair, being a budget commuter airline, has very specific baggage allowances (including backpacks) ... in other words, they're not geared for heavy packing sabbaticants like me. So it looks like I may wind up paying more in surcharge (per kilo over 15kg) for my luggage than I payed for the ticket. That being the case, I shipped a box of heavier stuff that I won't be needing anymore to myself at home ... if I was gonna have to pay for it one way or the other, I might as well pay someone else to handle it.

Rudolph

When I went to post yesterday's entry, it appeared that Google had the cyber- hiccups again and nothing was happening. I kept checking, but nothing was going through, so as we left for dinner I was afraid all was lost. Much to my relief this morning, I see that the post did go through, complete with the many typos I didn't catch. Oh well ...

For Grownups' Night Out, we went to a lovely little restaurant up on one of the highest hills in Jyväskylä ... the view was spectacular, and the food was outstanding. I had the snails in parmesan garlic butter sauce for appetizer (always a favorite of mine) and the fillet of reindeer for entree. Reindeer is farm raised (free range) here in Finland and is a very popular red meat. This was delicious ... medium rare, fork tender ... with a ligonberry sauce. For dessert I had a wedge of frozen rhubard parfait very artfully plated with fresh rhubard sauce, a dollop of creme fraiche with chocolate wafer. I had a chilled vodka (Finlandia, of course!) before dinner and then Steve and I had a six-grape Port before dessert. Very, very nice.

I'm cooking again today ... lamb. We got a nice piece of boneless leg roast yesterday at the supermarket (think Walmart Superstore only with entire aisles of fish products ... fresh, frozen, pickled). We have some potato casserole leftover from the other night, and B has a fresh rutabaga in the fridge, so I'm pretty well covered.

And it's raining today, which means a good day to stay in the house and cook.

Humming the Hymns

Barbara, Steve and Andrew have been very conscientious about introducing me to people, places and all things Finnish.

Thursday evening we went bike riding around the lake, and had dessert at a little place by the harbor. For Friday's supper, Barbara made a Finnish soup with fresh salmon (kind of a cream-chowder thing, only different). Then, after supper, Steve and I met some of his friends at a pub in town, where I snacked on moikku, a popular bar food, which are these little fish lightly breaded and fried ... heads, fins, tails and all... with a light dip on the side. Very tasty.

For Saturday evening Barbara and Steve had invited some friends over for a grilli (cookout) so Barbara and I spent much of the day in the kitchen. She made cornbread, coleslaw and fruit salad, I made spongecakes to go with fresh berries. Steve grilled hamburgers and makkara (sausages). One of the guests brought wonderful homemade Finnish cinnamon rolls. It was a fun evening, and as it is said, a good time was had by all.

Yesterday (Sunday) I went to Mass with Barbara and Drew to the local parish. Roman Catholics are a defintie minority in Finland ... the entire country makes up one Diocese, and there are only seven parishes in the whole Diocese, Jyväskylä being one. The Bishop and most of the priests are Missionaries of the Sacred Heart from Poland. This was Confirmation Sunday here, so the Bishop presided and preached ... four young women were confirmed. Drew was one of the servers, and I was very proud of him. Everything was, of course, in Finnish, but English translation fo the Readings was published in the bulletin. The words were beyond me, but I could hum the hymns ... Holy, Holy, Holy, the Veni Creator for the Confirmation, Holy God We Praise Thy Name. At the reception afterwards, I greeted the Bishop in Polish (Praised be Jesus Christ...) which I think caught him a bit off guard. After I introduced myself (I was wearing the habit) he invited me to come work in Finland.

After we got home from Church we changed clothes and all drove an hour or so north to a lake cabin belonging to woman who was a Fulbright Scholar in the US back in 1962-63. We took stuff to grille, but she had prepared a wonderful soup and a berry cobbler. I also did the full Finnish sauna bit ... sweltering in the wood stove heat and jumping in the cold lake complete with two rounds of rinse and repeat. By the third time, it wasn't so bad, and I actually stayed in the water for a little bit. Steve and Drew did a little fishing, and I just enjoyed being around a lake again with the childhood memories it stirred up.

We headed for home just as it was getting dark, and since it was Drew's bedtime (after a very active day) he quickly fell asleep. When we got home he didn't even stir, so I carried him up to bed. I liked that.

After a very leisurely morning, Barbara and I did a little shopping this afternoon before picking Drew up from school. This is Grownups' Night Out, so a neighbor is going to stay with Drew while B, S, and I go out for dinner.

The preliminary Finnish chocolate research is yielding quite accpetable results, but more indepth study is needed. Stay tuned.

Suomi, Sun and Sauna

Life in Finland (Suomi) is good, with sunny clear days and cool quiet nights.

Yesterday evening I was introduced to the Finnish Sauna ... many Finns' homes have saunas, and my Hosts' is no exception. It takes about an hour to get the wood stove going, then when everything is heated up one rinses under the shower and steps into the heat. At first, I had a hard time breathing, but once I settled into it it was fine ... until Steve threw a couple of ladels of cold water on the rocks, creating surges of heat and steam. After some minutes of sweltering, one steps out of the sauna and immediately under a cold (or at least cool)) shower. Rinse ... repeat. We were in and out of the sauna two or three times. They say that when you're at someone's lake house you run from the sauna and jump into the cold lake, but here in town the shower suffices. It is also customary to have a cold drink in hand in the sauna ... but needless to say if you don't drink it quick, it ain't cold for every long.

Earlier in the day I had picked tomatoes and green & wax beans in their garden. After the sauna, Steve grilled some sausages to go with a batch of gazpacho I made with tomatoes, and the beans that he had cleaned and cooked up. And I finally tried Drew's herring ... not something I'll be revisiting.

I fixed supper the other night and did my usual pork roast and saurkraut, this time adding some fresh mushrooms (chantarelles) that we got at the market in Helsinki. Barbara was happy to have leftovers to take to work yesterday for lunch.

This morning I made a cobbler with fresh peaches and blueberries, sitting in the sun on the backyard swing while that was in the oven. Very nice.

I hear Finnish chocolate is very good ... seems to me some research is in order.

Hei

Greetings from Finland. I arrived at the Port of Helsinki yesterday (Monday) morning about 5:20, and met up with Steve at the hotel around 6:30. I had to wait 20 minutes or so for a taxi to get to his hotel, but it was a bright clear morning so standing on the streecorner at the terminal in the very early hours of morning wasn't so bad. After breakfast at the hotel, we set out on a walking tour of Helsinki. But first, about the ferry ...

It's a good thing I headed for Rostock early, because getting from the train station to the harbor turned out to be a bit of a workout ... I got to where I needed to be, but wouldn't want to have done it in the dark. I checked in, and then just had to sit around and wait (3-4 hours) till boarding.

The ferry trip was great. It was quiet and smooth. There were three decks of garage for vehicles (ranging from semi trailers to family cars) and three decks of passenger cabins. My cabin was on Deck 8 ... clean and comfortable, with my own bathroom (I had a smaller shower in the hotel in Krakow). The main restaurant was reasonably priced buffet service, and selections were extensive ... lots of fish options at every meal in different raw, cooked, and pickled states. I always say I'll try anything once, but couldn't quite bring myself to do herring for breakfast. I didn't do the lunch buffet (got a salad from the quick-serve) but did go to supper .. entrees included beef, pork, chicken, lamb, rabbit, venison and more fish ... and desserts!

Getting the private cabin with a window proved a prudent and worthwhile choice ... I shudder to think what it would have been like to be assigned to a cabin with one (or two or three) of the Russian truck drivers who sat in the bar whenever it was open greatly enjoying theit vodka and beer and everything else.

Around 5:00 yesterday morning there was an announcement that we would be coming into port in about half an hour, which was the polite prompt to get up and get out. Come 5:20, we were docked.

Among the sights of Helsinki were the open-air produce market with lots of craft booths, the immense Lutheran Cathedral (Lutheranism is the State Religion of Finland) and the equally immese Orthodox Cathedral dating from when Finland was a Russian Grand Duchy under the Czar. The Cathedrals sit up on crests of different hills overlooking the city and the harbor. We met a friend of Steve's for lunch at a place with typical Finnish fare ... I had the pan-fried pike perch with a garnish of cooked/buttered horseraddish (very mild, actually) which was excellent. After another hour or two of walking ... with a stop for coffee and patry ... we swung by the market again to pick up some fruits and vegetables and headed home.

The drive to Jyväskylä (I think I spelled it right) took about three hours up nice highway through lots of wooded small hills and lakes.

Barbara and Steve have a lovely home in a quiet neighborhood. Drew just turned eight, and is all excited about my visit ... he has his own list of things Finnish that I must be introduced to. I heard Drew getting ready for school this morning so I went ahead and got up ... he wanted to start my Finnish introductions right away with some tasty, spicy fish he pulled from the fridg, but I deferred it until later... at least until after my coffee.

So now Drew is at school, Barbara is at work (she's an editor for an online journal or something of the sort) and Steve is working here at home in his office preparing the courses he'll teach at the University this term. There's no agenda for today, other than maybe a trip to the store ... I said I'd be happy to cook ... so I'm just taking it as it comes.

BTW: "Hei" is one of the colloquial Finnish greetings ... pronounced like "hey".

Auf Wiedersehen, Deutschland

The Zoo yesterday was fantastic ... one of the best parts was that it was a good hour before parents with strollers and wagons and gaggles of children descended on the place. I especially loved the bird exhibits and the aquarium. I saw Knute, the famous baby polar bear who isn't much of a baby anymore, and the Panda. All together I spent about five hours at the Zoo, and could have spent more were I not growing weary ... so I came back to the pension and took a long nap.

Had supper last night at a little old restaurant across the street and up the block ... reccommended by the guy at the desk here. It was very good, very German ... roast pork in a wine-mushroom sauce (fresh marjoram was the herb of distinction - really nice) and spätzle (little dumplings) ... and a beer (Pilsner) of course. Then I walked around some before taking to my quiet little room and comfortable bed.

Since I had to check out of the room at 11 this morning, I brought the luggage down to stash in a corner and spent a good part of the day riding the train around the city. Now I'm here to check the email, post this, pick up the luggage and head back to the train.

The trip is two hours to Rostock, then I find my way to the harbor. I can check in for the ferry at 10:30, but I don't think we actually board till around midnight. Departure time is somwhere around 4:30am, then it's 24 hours up the Baltic to Helsinki.

Ich bin ein Berliner

Well, not really ... but the memorable JFK quote comes to mind.

Got here yesterday morning. The night train from Krakow was more familiar if not more comfortable ... met a New York law student on the train, and yesterday morning he just kept saying "I can't believe you did this twice..."

Made my way here to the Pension Peters (the desk people get a kick of me, with the Family name Peters, staying here.) The room wasn't available yet, but the desk guy said I could stow the luggage and invited me to have some breakfast. Then I went out walking for a couple of hours, till the room was ready. Did some bakery research as I made my way around, with very pleasing results.

My room is small, but very clean and very quiet...it opens into an inner courtyard ... and I have my own bathroom and shower. There's also cable TV, so I could see some CNN and BBC in English last night ... and watched a little of the Cosby Show dubbed in German. I slept very well.

Last night I wound up at an Italian restaurant in an alley (of sorts) called the 12 Apostles. I chose the place mainly because of the name ... there's a place I remember in Rome called the 12 Apostles that's known for Carbonara. This one didn't have Carbonara, so I got a pizza, which was great ... about 14 inches diameter, VERY thin crust, with light tomato and cheese, big pieces of fresh hot peppers, spicy pepperoni and paprika. It was called "Pizza Judas." That with a glass of the house red wine, made for a great supper. Once I got inside, I discovered many of the waiters to be Italian, and there were lots of reserved tables (which were filling as I left ... I ate early, about 7pm) so that affirmed it to be a good, popular place.

Today I'm doing the zoo, and then I'll see what else.

Dzien Dobry

A good day in Kakow. After a good night's sleep, I came down for breakfast (a buffet of meats and cheeses and salads and breads and jams and...) and decided to see if I could extend my room. Check-out time would be Noon, and my train doesn't leave till 9pm, which means I would have to find a place for the steamer trunk or haul it around. The room was available, so all was taken care of, and I could launch into a leisurely day.

I went to the Marian Shrine Church in the center of the Old City for the 10am Mass. This being a Holy Day, it is therefore a holiday here in Krakow and lots of places are closed. The place was packed. At the end of the Mass there was Exposition and Procession with the Blessed Sacrament around the Church (I fell in with the people who followed in procession) and concluded with Benediction. Most of the Mass was in Polish, but some parts were in Latin. It was quite the religious experience ... I loved it. It was a wonderful way to mark the 22nd Anniversary of my Solemn Profession.

After Mass (which went about an hour a half) I walked to Wawel Castle and the Cathedral. I had to stand in line in the sun for about 20 minutes for a ticket, but it was worth it. Unfortunately, the Cathedral Museum was closed for the Holy Day. From the Cathedral, I went to the Archdiocesan Museum which is basically a John Paul II Museum, located in a house where he lived for about 20 years as Priest then Bishop. There were lots of JP2's personal effects from throughout his life ... very nicely done.

I came back through Szczepanski Place for another visit to the Pierogi Festival, then stopped off at another little shop for nalesniki ... Polish crepes with jam ... for dessert.

Now I'm back to the hotel to shower, rest a bit and pack up for the train. These have been two days (and money) well spent ... I'm glad I decided to make this trip.

The Old Country

The night train experience was interesting. The cabin was indeed all my own, which is good because there was barely room for me to change my mind. The bed was OK, and once we got moving the open window cooled it down quickly. I was the end cabin, so the WC (toilet) was next to me on one side (the vacuum flush was noticeable at first, but not a problem. On the other side was a young family with a cute but loud little girl. (Encountering children while travelling is becoming a sub-theme, it seems.) The worst part was probably the noise of the train itself, especially with the open window (but locked door). Note: this was a Polish train ... older ... not like the sleek new trains of Germany. If I think of it tomorrow, I may get some ear plugs. It wasn't so bad that I couldn't sleep, but coupled with the fact I couldn't use my CPAP, the night wasn't as restful as it might otherwise have been.

So we arrived in Krakow about 9:30 this morning ... about half an hour later than scheduled, not that it made any difference to me. I came to the hotel and asked politely if it was possible for me to check in, or at least store my steamer trunk so that I didn't have to haul it around till 2pm (the official check-in time). A room was ready so I got in, and was able to take a nice long shower before hitting the streets.

One of the first things I discovered was a pierogi festival in Szczepanski Place ... a sign from God that was I was to be here ... the Szczepanski family name and booths set up all around the little square with folks selling pierogi of all kinds. I tried several different fillings from several different booths ... the deep-fried meat-filled were my least favorite.

Then I took the tram out to the Shrine of Divine Mercy ... Saint Faustina's place. I pretty much spent the afternoon there wandering around the chapels and the huge basilica (dedicated by Pope John Paul II). There was Mass in the basilica at 3:30 (in Polish, of course) so I stayed for that. It was a lovely, peaceful afternoon.

I made my way back to the hotel here and just had supper in the hotel restaurant ... I'm kinda pooped, and didn't really want to go out walking anymore.

Oh, I forgot to mention there's a huge mall across the street from the hotel ... four floors ... just looking at the place you'd think you were in Chicago or someplace in the States ... many American stores.

OK, I'm heading up to my room ... there is a computer here in the lobby for guest use, and it was conveniently available when I came out of the restaurant. I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep in a real bed with my CPAP, because I'm back with Gladys Knight and the Pips tomorrow.

Gladys Knight & the Pips

It's quiet and cool and lovely here in northern Germany. Yesterday I presided at Vespers and Benediction ... thankfully my only speaking parts were in Latin! Afterward, I had supper with the Chaplain (a monk for Gerleve Abbey ... very gracious) and then we went to recreation with the Nuns. Recreation meant sitting in a circle for half an hour or so, with me telling about my travels and answering questions. When my faltering German really faltered, Sister Monica would translate. It was fun. One of the Nuns assured me that the thievery on the trains between Germany and Poland isn't so much a problem any more (somebody please pass that along to Mom!).

Later this afternoon, I head for the Hildesheim train station to make my way to Berlin where I get the midnight train to Poland.

Clarifaction: weissbier is beer made with wheat ... it's more yeasty and kinda cloudy, so it has its own flavor quality. I think it's typically Bavarian.

Yesterday afternoon I had washed out some socks and a couple of t-shirts, and hung them to dry on the rack in the utility room across from my room. I was later informed by one of the Nuns that I hadn't wrung things out sufficiently, and there was water dripping on the floor (I did the best my carpal tunnel would allow!) so she was going to take them over to the Monastery and run them through the trockner (dryer). I apologized and thanked her profusely.

Up North

Back in Germany ... at Marienrode just outside of Hildesheim. The train ride yesterday was nice ... until the car was invaded by a young family with two small children who chose to sit across the aisle from me. So much for my nap. But they got off the train at Fulda, and the last leg of the trip was quiet and peaceful again.

Marienrode was an old Cistercian monastery (men) that was supressed in the Secularization. Some years ago it was refounded as a Benedictine House by the Nuns of Eibingen (I think that's how it's spelled). It's a small community, with lovely quaint buildings. My room in their guest quarters is quite comfortable, and I have my own bath.

Yesterday on the way to the train station in Einsiedeln, I stopped at the little grocery to pick up some things to eat on the train. I got a couple of bottles of Einsiedeln beer ... there's a brewery in town, but is not associated with the Monastery in any way. Einsiedler beer is made with 30% corn ... gives it an interesting taste ... a little sweeter. I like it.

Speaking of Bavarian beer, I got to really like Radler ... a mix of beer and lemonade ... and Rus ... a mix of weissbier and lemonade. At least they say lemonade, but from what I saw in the biergartens, it looked more like a good shot of Sprite/7-up.

It's a rainy day here, so I may just take a ltitle nap ...

Ovaltine

In my chocolate research (as you know by now, an important aspect of this sabbatical) I have discovered a chocolate bar made with the Swiss equivalent to Ovaltine. It even has the nutritional information (amounts of vitamins and minerals) on the back of the label. And, it does have a certain Ovaltine-esque taste ... which is a good thing for me, because I'm very fond of Ovaltine.

Today Prior Basil took me (by car) to Mount Etzel, which is where St. Meinrad had his first hermitage ... it's across the valley and up the next mountain. Then we made our way down the other side of the mountain to Pfäffikon, which is on Lake Zurich. The monks used to have a schloss (vacation house) there, but now it is rented to the town for their municipal offices. On the next hill over is the Abbey Vineyard, which seems to go on for ever. It's interesting to see the rows of vines running up and down the hills, rather than across them.

It's been cloudy all day with some drizzle of rain on and off ... and a little on the cool side ... but even then, the views were spectacular as we drove around. There isn't as much fog as there was yesterday, so the distant visibility is much better.

Side note: Switzerland is lovely, but it's expensive ... at least in Swiss Francs.

Tomorrow I take leave of the Mutterabtei and head for northern Germany. I'll get the 9:30 train out of Einsiedeln, make the connections to Zurich, then over to Basel (Switzerland) then on up to Hildesheim. I should be at Marienrode (my next destination) by around 6pm or so.

Family Ties

Just got back from Engelberg. Yesterday evening before Compline, the Abbot of Einsielden reminded me that Engelberg is a grandaughter of Einsiedeln, being founded from Muri Gries in 1120 ... so they're more in the family than I thought. It was a wonderful visit, and would have been a wonderful scenic trip all the way around if it weren't raining all day. But even though I couldn't see mountains, the valleys and such are vibrant shades of green. Since the train never fails to lull me to sleep, I could nap today and not miss anything. I did manage to wake, though, for the climb up the mountain, so I could look out my window and see the straight drop down into the woods.

Father Thomas was my guide ... he knows a number of our monks from when he was a student in Rome, and he had studied for some time at Georgetown in Washington, DC. Needless to say, his English is perfect. He gave me quite a complete tour, with a break for Midday Prayer and Meal with the Community. Among other things, I saw a book in their Library that was scortched in the great fire of 17-somethingorother. It was a day well spent.

Here "at home" yesterday I got a more extended tour of the House, and then after Vespers I was given a private tour of the Sacristy and treasury. The really old, really valuable stuff is in a basement vault, in an amazing system of collapsible shelves. There is a vestment that is over 1000 years old, and vessels set with precious stones that were sent to Austria for safe keeing during the French Revolution.

So much history in these two Houses ... and all of it is, in a way, my own.

Oh yeah, the raspberry torte from the bakery in Engleberg this morning was quite tasty.

Wouldn't ya know it ...

Last night I went out for dinner and had ossobuco ... today we get to dinner in the Monastery, and it's ossobuco ... and every bit as good as what I had last night in the restaurant, so I'm not complaining.

This morning Brother Edward gave me a tour of their wine cellar ... it's quite the operation. They sell their wines here in the gift shop but also commercially, and have a great variety including some fortified wines (like Port) and a krauterwein, which is wine with an herbal extract infusion. After our tour, we had a tasting of several different kinds ... they are all good, but I especially like the krauterwein.

This afternoon I have a tour of the Monastery proper ... I asked to particularly see the Infirmary and area where the Seniors live. After Vespers I have a tour of the Sacristy.

Tomorrow I go to Engelberg, which is the Mother of the other half of our Swiss American Congregation. It takes about two and a half hours to get there by train, but is said to be a beautiful trip up into the mountains. I hear it's supposed to be "colder" and at that elebvation, there may be snow ... I'd like that. The Prior here called ahead for me, so I'll have someone to show me around and then take the midday meal with the Community. The only thing is the train leaves Einsiedeln at 7am, so it will be another early morning.

Yesterday at Kloster Fahr I bought some cookies and merengues in their gift shop. The cookies are good, but the merengues are awesome.

From the Mutterabtei

Today, I went to visit Kloster Fahr, the monastery of nuns near Zurich that is closely tied with Einsiedeln. After a tour, they served a lovely lunch for me and the Monk from Einsideln that I was travelling with. I had a nice visit with the Prioress and a long walk about the countryside with Brother Daniel (the monk I travelled with) before the Prioress took me back to the train station (Brother Daniel is staying on there for some "holiday".)

Being that this is the 24th Anniversary of my First Profession, and since I wasn't going to be here for the Community Mass, I concelebrated with one of the monks in the Lady Chapel at 6:15. Then to further mark the occasion, after Vespers I excused myself from supper in the Monastery and went into the town for supper. I sat outside and had a lovely ossobuco with homemade noodles and a glass of chianti. I was too full for chocolate or ice cream. Next year may be the actual Jubilee, but this will certainly be memorable.

I booked my hotel room in Krakow yesterday ... as usual, I checked out reviews on several websites before locking into anything. It's right across from the main train station, and 10-15 minutes' walk to the old city.

It occurs to me to start making a list of things I want to particularly remember (food-wise) for when I get to Indianapolis and start cooking again. I'm not sure the pineapple ring thing will be on the list though ...

Julie Andrews

Yes, I took the hike up into the hills yesterday ... No, I didn't run around, twirling and singing about the hills being alive with the sound of music ... but I could have. It was really beautiful ... and very much like the opening scenes of the movie. Going up the hill I was in the sun, but then the path along the ridge was in the shade of the forrest, with a gentle breeze all along the way. After an hour and a half of tromping around, up and down, I had no problem sleeping last night!

The main meal here is at Midday, so supper is light. Well, last night after the soup, when the "entree" came round, I was intrigued. It was a slice of white bread with a pineapple ring on it, topped by a slice of cheese, then toasted in the oven till the cheese melted and slightly browned. It was interesting ... good ... but interesting. There were two per person. Try it sometime ...

Today's Midday Meal was a nice porkchop with risotto and braised fennel. I especially liked the braised fennel.

I think a Sunday nap is in order, but first I may do a web search for hotels in Krakow.

Tomorrow I'm going to visit Kloster Fahr, a monastery of nuns near Zurich, for the day. The Prioress from there spent a month with us at Saint Meinrad last Fall.

And as for those who want me to bring back Swiss chocolate ... I have one thing to say/ask: Do you REALLY think I'd be able to carry a stash of chcolate bars in my suitcase for another month, without eating them all myself?

The Mother Abbey

It is Saturday afternoon, and I am in Einsiedeln. I arrived yesterday evening just in time for supper. It was a long travel day (a total of six train segments) but well worth the time and effort. (Note to self: just because the airline allows you 50 pounds per suitcase doesn't mean you have to make it 50 pounds.)

The days in Eichstätt were lovely, and and I only wish I had allotted more time there. Abbess Franziska saw me off, sticking several holy cards in my hand as I headed out the door.

As for Einsiedeln ... it's amazing. The monks have been very gracious and welcoming, and I feel very much at home here. I have a room over in a section of what used to be residence for coworkers but is now used for guests, which means I have my own bathroom and shower. I have briefly explored part of the town, but have not wandered back to the stables yet (Einsiedeln has a famous breed of horses). After I finish this, I may hike up into the hills ... there's a path that goes up and around the ridge behind the Monastery.

So here I am ... where it all began. I'll have internet access here in the Monastery, so regular reports should follow. Stay tuned.

Oh yeah ... the Swiss chocolate is gooooooooood.

Update (two in one day!)

Just got back from the train station ...

All set to move on to Eisiedeln on Friday the 3rd arriving there aroun 6pm.

Then on Friday morning the 10th, I go to Marienrode (near Hildesheim) in northern Germany.

Then on Monday the 13th, I go from Hildesheim to Berlin, where I get a night train to KRAKOW, POLAND, arriving Tuesday morning. On Wednesday evening, I get a night train back to Berlin, arriving Thursday morning, where I already have arrangements to stay until Saturday the 18th. (Pension Peters, remember?!).

Ever since being in class with Marcin, I've been thinking about going to Poland ... so after a little investigating I found good prices for the train tickets and PRIVATE cabins on the trains, and decided to go for it.

It's been an afternoon well spent here in Munich.

Takin' care of business

This post comes to you from Munich, where I am for the afternoon to tend to a variety of things.

As noted on Monday, Eichstätt is lovely, but the only place where I've found internet access is that bar where it's 1€ for ten minutes ... or 6.00 an hour. And then the computer is stuck in a dark little booth in the corner, reeking of cigarette ashes and smoke. I got the impression that it's not usually used by people to check email or post to their blogs ... I could barely see the keyboard. Access to the Monastery computers isn't possible (for alot of reasons) and since they're so kind to me otherwise, I don't want to push it. So coming to Munich puts me back at the i-net cafe where I know the works and the price is right ... or at least much better.

Other business which brings me to Munich is to take care of reservations for the next several train trips. While the fares are covered by my Rail Pass, the longer stretches require actual seat reservations, each for a fee. So, since I have the Rail Pass, and it's a lovely day, I figured I'd jump on the train, come to Munich and do what I need to do with the nice English-speaking travel service in the train station, then hop back on the train and be back to the Moanstery by dark. The little local train I take in Eichstätt proper to get to the connection for Munich is just two cars ... think of a modern Cannonball running between Hooterville and Pixley ... only in the hills of Bavaria.

When I saw the Abbess this morning after my meeting with Sister Angela (German tutor) she let me know that she was not pleased that I was running off to the city today... she said I should say in the enclosure, where I can be quiet and rest. I assured her that Sister Angela had given me some material I could read/study on the train and that I was indeed coming back and wouldn't be out late. So she said OK.

Dinner at St. B's on Saturday afforded me the opportuniy to sample another Bavarian specialty ... pancake soup. Thin pancakes (more like crepes) are cut into very thin strips and served in a clear (beef?) broth. Very tasty. Then we had a very nice schweinschnitzel (breaded pork cutlet). Yummy ... or as they say here ... lecker.

Yesterday I had lunch at a restaurant in Eichstätt with the cousins of one of the Sisters from Ferdinand (long story). I had a wonderful apfel strudel for dessert.

And yes, there is ice cream in Eichstätt ... and it's good ... and it's cheap.

So it goes. Now to head back across the street to the train station and take care of stuff there. Some of the itinerary tweaking has me going directly on to Einsiedeln on Friday the 3rd, rather than stopping back here in Munich for the weekend. I'll be there till Friday the 10th, when I head north to Marienrode (near Hildesheim).

But speaking of ice cream ...