Peschiera, a lovely town on Lake Garda in Italy, was a stop we made en route returning from Verona back to Ljubljana, Slovenia, yesterday.
Later we stopped to have lunch in a small village in Slovenia. This is the view (below) from the outside deck where we were sitting. One of my favorites are Porcini mushrooms. Our friends knew the restaurant was featuring Porcinis this week and brought us there. We enjoyed them, eating and drinking non-alcoholic beer (never thought I would enjoy it before!) while surrounded by this beautiful scenery.
I must apologize to our friends for the mounds of hair that I am leaving in my wake in the car and everywhere I go. Soon there will be no more to shed.
Back in Ljubljana at the Slon (Elephant) Hotel! In 1552, Maximillian II, Archduke of Austria, 25 yrs old recently married Mary of Spain. On his way back from Spain, he brought along one of his wedding presents, an elephant named Soliman. Maximillian stopped at the best inn in Ljubljana with his escort and the elephant. The Hotel Slon was later built on the site of this inn. Elephants were rarely seen in Europe until public zoos were created in Vienna in 1779 and London in 1828.
This was taken in front of Hotel Slon when we first arrived before our trip to Verona. Notice the “Colorado Women of Influence” tote I am carrying.
Yesterday in Verona we visited the famed house of Juliet (of Romeo and Juliet). This is the balcony!
I rested in the afternoon to be ready for the outdoor opera performance of Carmen in a Roman Arena, which began at 9 pm and lasted until after midnight.
The performance, staging and environment was breathtaking. Will post more pictures later.
Today we drove back from Verona to Ljubljana. I slept most of the drive and am staying in tonight while Stu, collaborators and students go out for supper.
I am slowing my pace, taking time to rest and watching my hair fall out. Tonight I wore a wig for the first tme. I am very grateful to have identified the lump when I did. Thank you all for your loving wishes and thoughts.
I am sitting in the lobby of Hotel Italia in Verona, Italy.
Glad to report that our trip across the ocean from Denver to Washington DC, Dulles, to Munich and then Ljubljana was uneventful, just like wonderful travel should be. Usually when we land oversees, usually early in the morning, we stay up and do not go to sleep until normal sleep time. I must admit that while Stu did this, going to the University to meet with students and collaborators, I immediately slept – and for several hours. A barbecue followed with collaborators, students and friends. I had no trouble at all sleeping the entire night last night. Today we drove from Ljubljana to Verona. Just arrived.
En route to Verona we stopped in Mantova. As we sat in a square outside watching the people moving in and out of shops that had just reopened after siesta, you could feel the energy of the culture.
Walking was slower this morning, but the breezes blowing through the canyon were invigorating.
Staying the Course
By BJ Gallagher
Our journey of life is about progress,
not perfection.
It’s not about doing one thing
100% better -
it’s a matter of doing 100 things,
1% better each day.
Progress is evolutionary
not revolutionary,
and most days we measure our progress
in inches,
not miles.
What matters most
is showing up for your life
whether you feel like it
or not.
Ask yourself,
“What two or three little things
can I do today
that would move me forward?”
You’ll be amazed
at how much distance
you can cover
by taking it in increments.
The little things add up;
the inches turn to miles;
and we string together our efforts
like so many pearls.
Before long,
look what you have -
a whole strand!
Singing the song of beauty we walked the canyon for 34 minutes – 2 miles. I am increasing my pace. Consumed Potassium rich foods to support me in doing this.
Before the Throne of Beauty XXVI by Khalil Gibran
After a deep silence, mingled with sweet dreams, I asked,
“Speak to me of that beauty which the people interpret and define,
each one according to his own conception;
I have seen her honored and worshipped in different ways and manners.”
She answered, “Beauty is that which attracts your soul,
and that which loves to give and not to receive.
When you meet Beauty, you feel that the hands
deep within your inner self are stretched forth
to bring her into the domain of your heart.
It is the magnificence combined of sorrow and joy;
it is the Unseen which you see,
and the Vague which you understand,
and the Mute which you hear -
it is the Holy of Holies that begins in yourself
and ends vastly beyond your earthly imagination.”
Beautiful August morning in the canyon greeted us, Stu and I on our walk. Still walking only half the distance of my usual walk.
Next week we are off to Ljubljana, Slovenia, formerly in Yugoslavia. Dubrovnik, in Croatia, almost to Montenego, is also a former part of Yugoslavia and the origin of my mother’s family. Many of you have asked “Where is Ljubljana ?” So, here is the map. Also on the map is Verona where we will travel as well. We will attend the famous outdoor opera and listen to “Carmen” Saturday night. We have planned this trip to be on the last week of the first cycle of chemo. I am feeling better than I have since last Friday. I am hopeful that this will be an incredible adventure.
The city of Ljubljana is located at an altitude of 978 ft along the river Ljubljanica.
The city’s symbol is the Ljubljana Dragon. It symbolises power, courage and greatness. It is depicted on the top of the tower of the Ljubljana Castle in the Ljubljana coat-of-arms and on the Ljubljanica-crossing Dragon Bridge often regarded as the most beautiful bridge produced by the Vienna Secession.
We leave from Denver International Airport Wednesday morning, August 18, arriving in Ljubljiana on Thursday. We return on Wednesday August 25th. I will keep the blog as current as possible during the trip. I will post pictures, as well.
How glorious it was to be in the open space of the canyon walking this morning with Mary. Thank You, Mary. A short walk, 30 min, at a slower pace still opened the dimensions of my soul and let the breezes of life flow through me. As I walked I listened to the communications of Dolphins. Their sounds thrilled me. Once again I am so very grateful to live surrounded by the open spaces of the earth.
Kiss the Earth
By Thich Nhat Hanh
Walk and touch peace every moment.
Walk and touch happiness every moment.
Each step brings a fresh breeze.
Each step makes a flower bloom.
Kiss the Earth with your feet.
Bring the Earth your love and happiness.
The Earth will be safe
when we feel safe in ourselves.
Lydia Doty’s house was filled with message professionals, hair stylists, make up artists, models, all of whom lived or are living through the cancer experience, and organizers from “Hope Lives” sharing Quiches made by Cathie or food donated by The Rustic Oven, wearing clothes from various boutique clothing stores in Fort Collins and Loveland. Stories floated through the air, the same and yet uniquely different. Compassionate eyes met your gaze and those who have experienced the “deadly fatigue” knew exactly what you meant. This was a celebration of life of extraordinary degree – a reaffirming that “Hope Lives!” The “photoshoot” was done to music with a cheering squad of models and of course, Lydia.
I had been told to “not overdo!” I don’t think I have ever really understood that concept. However, when I returned home about 4 o’clock from this event that started with hair styling at C&S Workshop (early in the morning), Thanks so much, Shauna, I collapsed. The “aches” returned with vengence. I took medications but… Several hours later I began to get relief.
This is a time of suffering. I know it will end and that I am protecting my body from reoccurance of my high risky tumor.
Thanks, Annette, for a beautiful walk. We walked at a slow pace covering about the same distance as I did Monday and Tuesday. The joy of being in the fresh mountain air surrounded by the expansive vistas of the mountains nourishes the body and the soul.
It was after the walk yesterday that the malaise HIT. I experienced a new dimension of ache I have ever known. Every part of my body that had ever ached, right rotator cup, breast incision, muscles that ever cramped ALL ached at a deep level. I tried not to move. My hands and feet were cold. So this is what they talk about. NOW, I understand.
Fortunately, it is much better this morning. I so enjoyed the walk this morning, the moving. I had tried to be as immobile as possible yesterday. The malaise is much better today. Thanks Brett for a great walk.
Yesterday, I felt it, mid afternoon – the malaise I have heard about following chemotherapy. I crashed – felt very tired. Am still tired this morning. My friend, Judith, sensing my tiredness drove and parked beside the road beyond the bill hill so that we would not need to walk back up the hill. Thank You, so much my friend. We walked a shorter distance for 36 min, but we did still walk.
“If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.”
Buddist Proverb
