This post describes an escape from Wranchwork. In the next post I will tell you the final exciting story of the Wranch. Hope you don’t mind a travelogue for this one:
A few days after my last post, Paula and I went to Europe. We started out in Prague where we met up with John and Mary Claire. We missed our connecting flight in Philadelphia and were re-routed through London. We made it but our luggage did not, although it did arrive the following day. Prague is a beautiful city full of history and an old clock. If I ever return, I will stay again at the Hotel Rott, just inside the Old Town Square and close to Charles Bridge and the Astronomical Clock, which provides an interesting mechanical display every hour.
After a couple days in Prague, we drove through Cesky Krumlov, a small medieval town with a castle (how many of those are there in Europe?!), on our way to Vilshoven to board our Danube river cruiser, the Avalon Tranquility II. I never envisioned myself doing a river cruise, but this voyage, with stops including Linz, Vienna and Bratislava on the way to Budapest was fascinating for its history, natural beauty, and culture across the centuries. John and I did determine that cruising downstream is preferred over upstream, that it is better when there is plenty of water in the river (two weeks before we sailed, there was not enough water so passengers had to be bussed), and the locks were a wonderful technological innovation.
We said goodbye to John and Mary Claire in Budapest and flew to Croatia where Paula and I spent time in Split, Hvar, and Dubrovnik. Again, fascinating, but I can see why it would be a great place to explore by sailboat. We’ll save that for next time!
Then it was off to Paleochora, a small beach town in the southwest of Crete where the whole clan got together. We met up in Athens and flew to Chania where JP rented a van and loaded us all up for the drive to our beachfront accommodation. The water was as blue and as clear as crystal; our meals were fresh and delicious; the town has not been overrun with tourists and high end resorts. Jack and Michael ventured to the other side of the island, to visit the ancient Minoan ruins and to see if they could negotiate the Minotaur’s labyrinth. Their safe return attests to their success.
We all had a safe return to the US. Jack flew to Houston with us and we attended the wedding of Jack’s high school buddy Jeff Green. Steve and Cathy hosted a great reception and we all danced the night away!
By the way, I always read a book or two about the places I plan to visit. For this last trip I read Zorba the Greek, which takes place in Crete. A most satisfying read!
JP Ranch 