Winter Is Here - Christmas Markets, Playing Outdoors - and other things

Zurich!

Last weekend, Ray and I spent in Zurich.  Why?  Well, a graduate student was defending her thesis, which means she was officially graduating from the University of Zurich.  She had completed her research at the institute Ray is working at, so everyone here from the institute went to Zurich to celebrate with her.  The celebration is called an Apero, which means a spread of finger-foods with lots of wine and because the student is from Poland, there was Polish Vodka.  Reminded me of growing up.  I am Polish.  Every New Year's Eve, my mom and dad would have a toast with Polish Vodka.

Zurich Christmas Market in Train Station

Ray and I decided to spend 2 more days in Zurich. We stayed in the Old Town.  Most European cities have an 'old town'.  Remember, 'old' here is much older than we are accustomed to in the US.  The streets are cobblestone and the churches are sometimes a thousand years old.

Christmas Markets

December in Europe is all about Christmas Markets.  A Christmas Market is an opportunity for people to sell their local specialities, whether it's food or crafts.

The main Zurich Christmas Market is held in the train station.  At the same time there are smaller markets scattered all around the city, held in small parks.   One of the famous aspects of the Zurich Christmas Market is the huge Swarovski Christmas Tree.  The tree is decorated completely with Swarovski crystal ornaments and white lights.  It is beautiful.  I just had to get a crystal ornament for myself!!!  WooHoo-a Christmas gift to me!

Glühwein

A Warm Wine Drink

When you visit the Swiss Christmas Markets, you've got to try the traditional winter drink: Glühwein.  Glühwein is warm red wine with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and mace.  I think you have to grow up drinking this beverage, but I can say I tried it.

River in Downtown Davos

White Days

We now have snow filled days, crunchy paths, brisk air - and no chill.  That's correct.  The air is dry.  It does make a difference in your ability to spend time outdoors.  The last two weekends Ray and I have taken long walks and it is so wonderful outside.  The sky is clear blue, not a cloud can be seen and there are droves of people skiing, sledding, snowboarding and just walking along the river.

Making Snow

So while there is snow on the ground, it's not enough for the skiers.  See the white 'mist'?  That is snow blowing out of snow making machines.  These machines blow out clouds of snow 24 hours a day.  On the top of the mountain, the machines line the ski slopes.  Each machine has a spot light.  When the lights are 'on' during the dark hours you know they are making snow.   It is beautiful at night to see the lights illuminating in a zig zag pattern across the mountain top as they are making snow.




A Place to Rest & Play

At the bottom of the ski area is a restaurant.   This is where the skiers rest and eat snacks, drink hot chocolate and/or beer.  This is also where parents stay with their children.  There are wooden, beach-like chairs all around the restaurant.  Each chair is cushioned and has a small retractable visor and footrest.  You claim a chair and sit for hours, people gazing and being warmed by the sun.  At the foot of the chairs, children busily dig in the snow, some pretending to be shoveling their walkways and some building snow castles.  There is the murmur of adult conversation and the giggles of children running from each other as they attempt a snow ball frenzy.  It feels like a cold-white-winter beach scene!

Children learning how to ski-how cute!!

And believe it or not-it feels warm.  There is this phenomena that when you feel the sun directly on you, you are warm, but the moment you are shaded, the temperature drops.  That is why the skiers begin skiing as early as they can - 8:30AM, because as soon as the sun dips behind the mountain, the temperature drops!  Many ski lifts stop at 4:30PM.

Oh, Tannenbaum!

It was time to get our Christmas Tree, our Tannenbaum!  She was purchased in town at Coop (pronounced 'coop', like where chickens live)....

.....and lovingly carried up the hill.  I am in the process of making our ornaments.

 So this is our Tannenbaum as of today.  More ornaments on the way.

A Cho-Cho Ride

Stay tuned.  On Friday, we are going on a train ride.  A day trip on the Bernina Express.  It's like the Polar Express through the Alps.  From Chur to Tirano, through many tunnels and across many viaducts.  It is supposed to be spectacular!

Liebe zu Ihnen alle.  Frohe Weihnachten! (Love to you all.  Merry Christmas!)

Marybeth

Ready, Set, SKI - or whatever winter sport you like

Swish!

That's the sound heard on top of the mountains now.  It's the sound of all the people whizzing by as they ski and snowboard down the slopes.  Last weekend one of the mountain top ski lifts opened.  The don't all open on the same day.  This weekend, the ski lift that I see directly across the valley from my apartment window will open.

Incline ( in Summer) to top of mountain

There is a 'routine' to going to the slopes.  The skiers gather all their equipment and take an incline train to the top of the mountain.  Once at the top, they ski down to the midpoint of the mountain, where they take a ski lift back to the top and ski again, to the midpoint. They don't ski all the way down to the valley.

In the warm sun, watching skiers

Sitting in the sun, resting, drinking hot chocolate, beer, wine

At the top of the ski run there is a restaurant, where the skiers rest drinking hot chocolate or beer and can get lunch.





Ray and I took the incline up to the top to just be there and enjoy the energy of people out skiing. While it gets colder the higher you go, the sun made it a perfectly warm day to sit outside and watch the people.  Actually it felt hot!  I had to take my scarf off and unzip my coat!










The day was beautiful.  Clear sky, no wind, just sunshine and people having fun.

Ski Poles plunged into the ground while the owners sat at restaurant

Ok...looks like I published a YouTube video of skiing that I had intended to put in this post!!!  Still on a learning curve with blogging.

Little Ones Learn to Ski

In any event,  you can see what a great time everyone has here in the winter wonderland of Davos, Switzerland.  One of the cutest things I saw was the way children learn how to ski.  Lessons begin when children are very little, maybe 6 years old.  They are given a pair of skis, no poles.  They are then attached to long straps - like a leash.  Mom or Dad holds onto the leash and they both ski, the little one ahead of the 'teacher.'  It was so fun to watch.  Remember there are sometimes cliffs on the sides of the slopes!  And no railing.  You have to guide that new skier on a straight path!!!  Or else it's a huge woops!!!

Ok...that's all for now.  Our friends ask us when we will ski...not sure about that.  Maybe snow shoe or cross country.   What would you do??

Hugs from the white spaces of Switzerland,

Marybeth

Skiing in Parsenn!

Preparations for Snowy Days!

Transformations Abound
Remember all that snow I showed you in the last two posts?  Well, it is all gone.  Amazingly, it has evaporated, melted, vanished.  As quickly as it arrived, it departed.  The landscape is as naked now as it was the moments before the slight drizzle transformed into snowflakes.

In the days immediately after the snowfall, I took a trip outside the Davos valley and venture back to the land I came from.  Yes, I had a return trip to the US.  What fun I had!  In the 10 days I was gone, some changes had occurred in Davos.

Preparing for The Snow!

Red Snow Pole

Blue/Yellow Snow Pole

Snow is a thing big thing here in Davos Platz. People talk about it and anticipate it with great glee. What I didn't realize was the way the town prepared for it. The first thing I noticed when I arrived back in Davos was there were now 'poles' lining all the streets, parking lots and mountain pathways. These poles surround the perimeters of the parks and walkways up to front doors. Some of the poles have blue paint at the top, while some have red.  We have not figured out what the different colors represent, but we smiled when we realized the true meaning of the poles.  These are the markers for the snow plows to know where the edges of the streets are when the real snow, the permanent white stuff arrives and show us how deep the snow will be.  Woah.

Red Snow Poles on the Street up to our Apartment Building

Sleeping Trees

I am familiar with snow.  I grew up in New Jersey and lived in Cincinnati where snow happens each year.  Sometimes it lingers and most times it melts in a few weeks.  In Davos, Switzerland the amount of snow and length of time is stays in more, more and more.  Not only are the streets prepared for the amount of snow, the young trees are, too.

Evergreen outside our Apartment

The small, delicate trees of Davos are wrapped and sheltered in preparation of the weight of the anticipated snow. These two evergreen trees are outside our apartment building. 

Smallest Evergreen outside Apartment Building

All the young shrubs around the town are bundled in winter cocoons.  Like bears going to sleep for a long winters nap, these trees and shrubs will be awakened and unwrapped in the spring when the threat of heavy snow ends.

Where Did All the People Go?

One of the first things I had to do when I returned home, was head to Coop (the grocery store).  As I walked along the street, it was eerily quiet.  I looked around and suddenly realized that I was the only person walking in the town!  Many restaurants and a number of retail stores were closed.  What was going on?  

I walked up to a restaurant that had been open and bustling with patrons before I left and read a sign (I am learning some German), Closed Until November 22.  Apparently from October 31 until November 21-22 is considered 'down time'.  Too chilly for the hiking tourist and devoid of snow for the skiers.  The town shuts down creating it's own 'resting time' waiting for the whiteness to arrive and with it the throngs of tourists.  We are told over and over that from December through the middle of March this small mountain town will be transformed into a traffic jam of cars, pedestrians, hikers, skiers, snowboarders, skaters, sleigh riders (now THAT sounds like fun), tobogganers and Swiss who just want to be in the most amazing mountain town for the holidays and ski season.  We'll see.  Right now it is quiet.  Even quieter than it was when I arrived at the end of July.  Remember this is the Swiss Mountains - it is naturally quiet, but right now - well, it is asleep.

Morphing Our Shoes

One more note:  This is snow related, but foot focused.  We live on the top of a very steep hill; the side of a mountain actually.  We have been informed (many times with a smile) that we will need 'spikes' on the bottom of our shoes when the snow and ice arrive in order to walk up the street to get home.  (Did I forget to mention that we do not have a car here?)  Spikes on our shoes?  

Spikes on the bottom of sneakers

Well, today as we were walking through town there was a sporting goods store open.  We went inside to check it out and lo and behold they sell spikes that you put on the bottom of your shoes to prevent you from slipping on the snow and ice!  Remember the people here LOVE the ice and snow.  They hike in it, run in it and play in it.  So, they have created a cover for their shoe that help them stay snow bound in all conditions.  The 'spikes' are pulled over shoes like a rain boot is pulled over shoes.  It was quite a surprise for us to actually see these 'spikes' for sale.  Now we know that people weren't joking.  We didn't buy any yet.  I think we are putting off the inevitable. 

Knowing There is Always the Unknown

I never know what unexpected thing I will see or experience here in my new life in Switzerland.  From street poles to cocoon trees; a sleeping town to spiky shoes.  Whether we realize it or not, our lives offer the answer to questions we have had, maybe for a long time.  When I was a child, I always had questions - how does that work? Where does that go?  You see, I always wanted to know-not anything in particular, everything in general.  My experience here is offering me the answers the the many questions I have had, maybe without even realizing on a conscious level about how other people live.  Not only that, but I have created an experience where I actually get to live with another culture.  What questions did you have as a child?  How has your life offered you the answers?

Utto---I better hurry up and post this.  I feel a snow storm brewing.

Genießen Sie das Leben

Enjoy Life!

Marybeth

A Snowy Mountaintop

A Beautiful Day in Davos Dorf

Because it had snowed the previous day, Ray and I decided to go for a hike on top of a mountain in the neighboring town of Davos Dorf.  Davos Dorf is only a 25 minute walk from our home.  In the center of the town, there is a mountain train or lift that takes people to the top of the mountain.  Some people go up to hike, others go to ski (when it is ski season, which has not started yet), some go to play in the snow and some to paraglide.

Who Said That?

As we were walking to the town, Ray was telling me about a colleague, Mirko, he had met while working at this new job.  Mirko has been a great help in getting Ray settled and explaining the rules and regulations of Switzerland.  Ray talked about him for quite a while, when we finally arrived at the entrance to the lift.  All of a sudden Ray heard his name being called out!  It was Mirko!  He was waiting in line to go on the lift.  We were both startled,

Mirko in the sky!

as we don't really know anyone here in Davos Dorf so to meet someone you know (and someone you were just talking about) can throw you off a little!  This guy was headed up the mountain too.  He told us he was going to Paraglide.  Paragliding is a huge sport here in the Alps.




We all boarded the train-lift and headed up, up, up.  When we got to the midpoint of the ride, the train stopped and the paragliders exited.  We got off too as we wanted to watch the paragliders, especially since we actually knew someone who was going to jump off the side of the mountain.  Here are pictures of our friend gliding in the breezes of the Alps.

Mirko had such control of the winds, he could find warm drafts and climb and circle around us overhead.

Well, there are no words to describe how beautiful it was on top of the mountain, so I am going to offer some pictures:

Marybeth in the snow

Children Playing

Remember we are on TOP of the mountain.  But the snow does NOT stop these people!  They bring babies in strollers up to the mountain top!  I think I am the wimp.

Playing

Mountain Climbing Ray!

Train tracks going back down to the valley

Ok...gotta go catch a train, then a plane!  I am off on a trip!   You'll never guess where.  The USA!  An amazing and wonderful opportunity to visit the states...I am coming your way!

Later gator...happy snow days, fall days, or what ever days you are having.  They are all wonderful.

Smiles across the miles,

Marybeth

Has Winter Arrived?

What's a Little Rain?

Davos in the morning

Yesterday morning began as some October days here in Davos cool and a little drizzly.   I went to the grocery (as I do almost every other day :))  and got a little wet from the light rain.  When I returned home I began checking email and got rather engrossed with my messages when I received an email from Ray.  He mentioned how it was snowing outside.  I thought he was joking as I knew it was lightly raining.  But I lifted my eyes from the keyboard and turned my head to look out the living room windows.  Holy Cow!!!  It was blizzarding!  The light rain had become the first winter storm in Davos!

Davos around 4PM

All the snow that we saw in previous weeks was on the mountain tops only.  It never reached the valley.  Well, in a matter on moments all that changed!  I cannot tell you how startling it was to see not only snow falling, but the amount of snow falling - it was a white-out.

Check out my video on YouTube; http://www.youtube/PXdZdTEvcGg

The video was taken late last afternoon, around 6PM.  We went to bed wondering what the morning would look like.  The on-line forecast says it is going to snow until 9AM tomorrow.

OK, here we are.  Friday morning.  Let's see how much snow is out there now!

8AM

It is still snowing...and it looks like there is about 15 inches already.    It looks like a magic land.  The temperature is about 28 degrees.  So it's not that cold.  And the forecast says that in two days it will be 50!  It's hard to imagine that this will melt, there is so much snow!  

Heavy Snow

8AM

Because we are just at the freezing mark, the snow is heavy. The evergreen trees hold the snow on their branches and create what looks like icing weighing them down.  It is beautiful.  The streets are plowed and sidewalks shoveled.  Yes, they do have an amazing and effective snow removal system.

Trees Covered in Snow

The pictures hardly do justice to the vision that I see.  It is so bright outside.  The sun in rising behind the mountain and casting a warm glow onto the snow.  And it is still coming down.

Trees Covered in Snow

Crunch Time!
Well, whatever the forecast said,  it's 9:30AM and it is still coming down.  I am getting my snow boots out and taking my first crunchy walk.  They say the snow crunches under your feet.  Now I will find out!

Time for the Gaze
Enjoy your day, wherever you are.  This whole life 'thing', this journey we are on, is one amazing adventure.  Look out your window today and give yourself the gift of gazing at what's out there.  Gazing is different than looking.  When we 'look' we are determining something: Does the grass need mowing?  Is it time to rake the leaves?  When we gaze, it's as though we open our eyes and remove a veil that is there that we didn't realize was there.  In a gaze, we allow our eyes to refocus and look deeply, with wonder, not to determine anything, but to simply appreciate what our eyes fall upon.  There is a sweetness to gazing.  Try it.  One deep breath and one full gaze.  Your 'AH for the morning.

Love and hugs from a winter wonderland,

Marybeth

PS  Please share your thought by leaving a 'Comment' below.  I love to hear from you.

The Magic of Ireland

The Pulse of the Irish

We returned from our trip to Ireland late Tuesday night.  I am always amazed at how just over the mountain here, there is another culture, language, customs, dress code, cuisine and modes of courtesy.

I have never felt more 'at home' than when I visit Ireland.  Ireland experienced a financial crash similar to the one we experienced in the US with banks allowing people to purchase more than they could afford.  The crash in Ireland was harder than the one in the US.  I know we're not out of the woods yet, but in Ireland it feels as though they went deeper in and have a longer journey to get out.  Although there are still many empty store fronts in Cork, there are signs of recovery. The street are being repaired and there is a little construction.

Apparently, in the decade prior to the crash, Ireland had opened their doors to Poland.  Tens of thousands of Poles immigrated to Ireland and became the group who supplied the manpower in the housing industry.  Polish restaurants and grocery stores popped up everywhere.  Polish became the second language put on signs!  I knew I heard Polish being spoken everywhere in a department store and didn't understand why, until it was explained to me.  When the housing industry went bust, thousands of the Poles left.  Now there are empty Polish groceries.  And entire housing developments empty, that were intended to be the homes of these immigrants.  Ireland is doing it's best to get things back together, just as we are.  A lot has been accomplished to that end, with more to do.

Warm Irish Smiles

The Irish are some of the warmest, open and loving people I have met in my travels.  On our first evening in Cork, we were invited to have dinner with one of Ray's colleagues. We travelled to the outskirts of Cork to their home and spent a lovely evening talking and visiting with them and their 3 children.  We so appreciated their hospitality and had a wonderful time.

The Pub/Restaurant Scene

Cafe Paradiso

Liberty Grill, Cork City

Irish restaurants/pubs are the BEST. I am not a beer drinker, so I didn't taste the likes of  Guinness and Murphy's, Ray had that privilege,  but every meal we had in a pub was delicious.   Pub menus are not what I thought they would be; they have spectacular selections, not just hamburgers and fries.  I never saw Corned Beef & Cabbage on a menu, no, it was amazing soups (and I am a soup fend), the freshest fish, risottos, pastas, beef and pork dishes and heavenly coffee. One evening, while Ray dined with colleagues, I found the most delicious vegetarian restaurant, Cafe Paradiso.  No steamed or sautéed vegetables here. Only the most amazing vegetarian dishes.   I had Red Pepper Soup and Beet Risotto.  On my last morning in Cork, I had breakfast at Liberty Grill.  Scrumptious Eggs Florentine - YUM.

Headed to Sneem via Kenmare

Ray had 3 more days of meetings in Cork.  So I boarded a bus and headed to Kenmare to visit my friend Roderic Knowles.   On the bus I met a young woman, Iris, from the Netherlands.  Iris was taking 7 days to go on a personal pilgrimage.  She said she needed to be alone and hopefully to receive some insight as to what direction she should take in her life.  She was feeling lost, so she quit her job and came to Ireland!  I asked her where she would sleep each night and she shared that she was using Couch Surfing.  Do you know what Couch Surfing is?  Now I do.  There is an international website, www.couchsurfing.com   The idea is:  you are traveling and either are on a limited budget OR you want to meet the people of the place you are visiting.  You go to the Couch Surfing website and register.  Then on the website, you locate the country and city you will be traveling through.  Listed at your chosen destination are people (who have registered also) who are happy to host you - at no cost to you!  You sleep 'on their couch' or in a spare bedroom, if they have that.  A place to sleep and a shower in the morning.  Well, Iris was couch surfing in Ireland.  What an amazing young woman.  And what an amazing demonstration of someone's willingness to do what it takes in their life.

No Accidental Meetings

On the bus ride we talked about life, our families and why we were in Ireland.  Iris said that she believed that there are no accidents and you meet people for reasons that you might not be aware of...yet.  I felt we were talking the same language about life.  You ever get that feeling when you've just met someone?  Iris mentioned that she had read Conversations with God last year and that made a huge impression on her.  It changed the way she thought about the world.  It open her to consider that there was more in her life than she had previously allowed.  Then she asked me what I did as a profession.  I shared that I partner with people to help them integrate those exact principles.  That's why we met.  We were on the same wave length.

When the bus ride ended, Iris and I exchanged emails.  We said our good-byes and she and I stood together, her waiting for her couch surfing host and me waiting for Roderic.

There He Is

Then suddenly Roderic was there, stopping in the street and hopping out of his little red car.  He looked just as I remembered him.  Tall, thin, with shoulder length fluffy whitish hair.  We embraced  quickly and he tossed my luggage in the car and off we went through to Irish countryside to his home in Sneem.

Sneem and More

Roderic and I began chatting as though we had these conversations every day.  Since the last time I saw him, Roderic has moved from Kinsale and is now living on the property where he grew up!  He and Elly decided they wanted to create a sacred space of sorts.  Roderic's sister has been living on the property for many years.  Roderic and Elly have four acres of the property.  I had no idea what to expect when we arrived at Roderic's home.  I'll do my best to describe it here.

Elly and Roderic

Swimming Pool

We entered the property from a very long driveway, driving through dense woods with a stream running alongside the driveway.  We parked under an arbor and walked toward a small house.  Then continued up a slate staircase where I met Elly.  Meeting Elly was like meeting an old friend.  Instantly, we began chatting.  There was such openness and friendship.  She had lunch waiting for us, so we sat under an patio umbrella and ate and talked and I marveled at what I was looking at-a pool.  

 I had never seen a pool like this.  It is cut into the stone.  A backhoe dug the pool, it was lined and stairs of slate were built on right hand side to enter.  This pool makes it look and feel like you are taking a dip in a swimmin' hole!  The day I took the picture it was overcast, but off in the distance you can actually see the Atlantic Ocean.

Roderic's Writing House

Elly's Healing House

 Elly and Roderic intend to create a kind of University - a place of personal transformation.  They have only been on the property for the last 10 months.  When they arrived it was a jungle of overgrown shrubs and trees.  They created a map of the land (house here, garden there, etc) and began clearing and building.  So far they have build two 'working dwellings'; one for Roderic, where he writes his books and one for Elly, where she writes her books and does healing work.  She is a Reiki Master.  

Future Chapel

There are pathways through the woods that connect the different 'areas' of the grounds.  There is a 'Fairy Circle', which is a gathering place for groups and a future 'Chapel'.  Even a 'Caravan Trailer'.

Caravan Trailer

The Caravan Trailer is offered to guests as a separate living space.  Elly told me when she was fixing up the Caravan Trailer, she had the choice to paint it brown and try to get it to blend into the forest or to make a statement.  Can you guess what she choose?  During my tour, they took me inside.  It is cozy and a complete living place.

 As you walk through the property, you never know what you will see or experience.  See the angel resting on the hillside?  There are plans for many more trails, a labyrinth, a vegetable garden and additional meeting space.

Ancient Energy

But the most amazing structure there, is one that was constructed hundreds of years ago.  Enter Here:

This stone building was there when Roderic was a child.  At one time, a family lived in it.  The house caught fire 50-60 years ago, destroying every part except the stone walls.  It is about 18'X15' on the inside.  When Roderic arrived 10 months ago and began his plans to renovate and create his University, there was a 60 year old oak tree growing in the center of the four walls.  He said a contractor had to chop and saw as much as he could and then the trunk was chain linked to a tractor to be removed.  It is a miracle how the tree trunk was removed coming out through the front door space!  The stone on the ground in front of the door was laid last week, the gravel was spread a couple of days ago.   The door was finished literally hours before I arrived!  It was hand crafted by an English contractor.  Roderic's instructions were to make it as different as the contractor could imagine.  Do you think he succeeded?  The wood is oak and the hinges and lock were hand made.  This is truly a work in progress.

  There's More

I got to help with the creation of a Sacred Space.  See the black stove with the black tea kettle on top?  I painted both black!  When I arrived they were rusted and the stove had just been refitted to be the source of heat inside the Stone House.  They asked me if I wanted to help with something and I said absolutely, so I got to 'leave my mark' on the Stove by painting it!

Stove

Stove

Elly and Marybeth

I spent two nights with Elly and Roderic.  The days were spent walking, sharing and eating delicious meals that Elly prepared.  The evenings were spent in deep conversation about the things that mean the most to us - our dreams, what we are reading, who's work we admire, where we want to go, what's holding us back.  There was a deep connection and a great amount of joyful sharing.  I loved every minute. And I hope to go back and visit again before we return to the US.

A Chance Meeting and A National Park

Ray rented a car in Cork and arrived on Saturday morning to pick me up.  From Roderic's, we drove to Killanary.  A beautiful town about 50 minutes from Sceen.  On the way to Killarnay, Ray told me that we were invited to watch a Hurling Game at a pub in Killarnay.  First of all, I asked, "Who do we know in Killanary?  We don't know anyone.  And secondly, what is Hurling?"  So, turns out that a colleague of Ray's, Liam is from Ireland.  I knew that, but Liam is from Cork, why would he be way out here?  Turns out, Liam's mother is celebrating her 70th birthday and her entire family decided months ago to be in Killarnay to celebrate her birthday.  That is why they are there.  AND it is the World Series for the game of Hurling.  Hurling is an Irish only sport.  It can most easily be described as Hockey on the grass and the puck is 'hurled' in the air not pushed on the ground.  It just happened that that night was the last game of the season, their World Series, so to speak.  The pub was packed!  I met Liam's family and spent my time talking to Lois, Liam's sister-in-law.  It was great.  How did this happen?  I don't know, but I had a great time.  I certainly knew when a score was made, "YEAH!" with an Irish roar!  Fun.  Too bad 'our team' lost.  Oh well. 

Boat ride on Muchross Lake

Next day we toured the Killanary National Park.  We took a horse and buggy ride through the Dunlee Gap and a boat ride through the Muckross Lake.

Muckross House Gardens

The Muckross Estate reminds people of Downton Abbey and it is just like it.  We took a tour on the inside, but photos were not allowed.  This is the back gardens of the house.

Muckross House Side View

 The House is beautiful.  It was given to the Country of Ireland in 1933.  It sat in disrepair until 1964.  It has been undergoing on-going renovations to return it to it's original form since then.

Wow, we did a lot in the last week.   I have to say, the highlight of my trip was spending time with Roderic and Elly.  There are wonderful people everywhere.  People who are ready to embrace the unknown - like Iris and people who are creating a new venture in life - like Elly and Roderic.  Life is always unfolding and we get to decide how we will be within the unfolding.

Now I am back in Davos-getting ready for my Yoga class.  Did I tell you, I am teaching Yoga.

Off to Yoga!!!

Warmness across the miles!

Marybeth