Month: August 2019
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Orient Express: The Journey Begins
Day One Aboard the Orient Express In a way – I’m kinda glad that the beginning of my journey from my fancy-pants hotel in Istanbul to the train station was – well – kinda dicey. It was Turkish Independence Day so families were out in force, no work just play and the cranky taksi driver…
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Istanbul: The Start of My Journey
Two Nights at the Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul. It can be overwhelming to consider who has walked the halls of this historic hotel in the Beyoglu neighborhood of Istanbul. I immediately searched out the “Agatha Christie” room. She apparently preferred Room 411. I have imagined that her room was similar to mine because I…
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Kindness, Part Two
I spent my second to last day in Vienna — of this trip anyway — visiting the summer place of the Habsburg clan: the Schönbrunn Palace. Marie Antoinette spent her summers there, Mozart played a concert at the palace when he was 6 years old. The Google will fill you in – but wait: my…
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Vienna: In the Park
All summer, Vienna holds a free Film Festival in the Park behind its city hall (“Rathaus”). Dozens of food stands snake around the park – in the center high, and low, tables where people eat their dinners. On plates with real silverware. And beverages in glasses. Filmgoers leave their dishes and cutlery when they’re done.…
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The Kindness of Strangers
Day Two in Vienna, 2019. The kindness and sheer delight of strangers is becoming a theme on this trip to Europe. It started with my flight overseas. Even though it took me 8 hours longer to get here than scheduled – the voyage was good. Bad weather was the culprit. T’storms forced a series of…
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Social-izing
I have travelled a fair amount – much of it abroad. Even lived in Rome for three months. Go to my Archives, if interested. rulingwoman.com began as a tool to let friends know about my adventures. Primitive social media when you think about it. In “those days” Instagram (October 2010) and Twitter (March, 2006) didn’t…
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Tic Toc
Over one year ago, I booked the train trip of my wildest dreams: Istanbul to Paris on the Orient Express. Today a Travel Journal came in the mail – 8 days before my departure to Europe. Plus a couple of luggage tags. It is essentially my ticket. Wow!!!