Home away from home: just hanging out at Paula's (11-15 August) 

The several days we spent with the family at Paula's welcoming home were a wonderful and meaningful conclusion to our fantastic adventure in the States. It was especially a very emotional time of closeness for us sisters. The last time we had seen each other before this trip was to celebrate my 70th birthday two years ago in Switzerland. And yet, it seemed if it had been just a few months ago.

Laura and Lucia came Saturday afternoon and Jeff joined us in the evening for apple pie. On Sunday Emil went for a ride, Jeff took Lucia mountain biking and we ladies did the shopping for lunch. Glori arrived in time to join everyone for the meal and an enjoyable afternoon visiting and playing games. We rounded off the evening with a traditional Mexican dinner at Rio del Mar.


While Jeff and Glori toasted each other, Lucia showed her Granny how to use her cell phone. Lucia is a lovely, very clever and funny young lady.

The family portrait below was the result of several (failed) attempts and one acceptable photo, where I had set up the timer and then dashed over to the group and more or less leaped into position.

 

On the 13th Emil and I packed my bicycle. It took a combined effort and much technical expertise ... but we managed. I also spent some of the morning learning a few new dances from Paula for my Folkdance group. After lunch, Glori treated us to a brief guitaur concert. Then Emil and I drove up to Sunnyvale for a get together with some of the tour group and the two Mikes from UDC.

Cathy Switzer and her husband, Larry, organized a lovely evening with Ichiguro and his wife Sandy, Ken Ho, Mike Khaw (cycling pal and former UDC guide) and Mike Boester, former UDC guide and friend, who got us our bicycles. The following morning Cathy and Emil cycled up to Skyline Blvd and over to the summit above Santa Cruz: a great tour for both!

Back at Paula's for the afternoon, we finished packing the bicycles and got ready for the evening's entertainment: a concert and CD release by the Celtic band, The Fire. On the fiddle, guitaur and bagpipes, these three young musicians showed a fabulous command of their instruments, as well as the genre of music they had devoted themselves to ... and all this with a playful, joyous air that swept the audience along with them. The following morning Glori departed early for Boston and we took a long walk into town to buy coffee at Paula's favorite shop, that was soon to be forced closed. A spontaneous decision to lunch at The Burger, with their 40 beers on tap, proved to be an apt and delicious way to end our visit with Paula...and our stay in the States. One last note to Steiner timing: the young Swiss guy I met in the Petrified Forest, all those weeks ago, really was on the same flight - sitting right in front of us! We had a nice little reunion.

It just remains to say: WE DID IT! Across the States and back, no accidents, no illness, many wonderful moments and people to remember, a much loved family to return to in Switzerland ....we are blessed.

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