​Weathering the Storm with the WP#209

As I sit here in my hotel room, here in Vienna, I look back on the week that was and the weeks moving forward. It is a bit of a wonderment that I am here, but as I mentioned in a previous post, it is the Jubilee Year and the doors are opening, albeit slowly. My world continues to evolve and the fact that I am here in Austria, is due to my wife’s insistence and strength that I come here and her direct involvement in getting my Permesso di Sigiorno, the card that states that I am a permanent resident in the EU and now able to freely travel within the Schengen and elsewhere and be able to return home.

What can I say about this past week. Well, this time last week, I was getting ready to go teach English at one of Rome’s Middle Schools and in the evening heading the Wall Street English. Nothing out of the ordinary and last Thursday with my private English lessons. Really, normal life for me in Rome and I further become part of the fabric of the Eternal City. We did get some final touches done in the condo, including some cabinetry done, both in the kitchen and bathroom on Friday, so we continue to move forward in our life. ​

The weekend, however started my birthday weekend, although, it was part in Rome and out of Rome. Since I was leaving Italy for the first time, since for arrival on July 4th of last year, Rosa and I celebrated my 63rd by taking the afternoon and evening out into the Italian countryside. We went to a medieval town called Calcata, a commune and town in the Province of Viterbo in the Italian region Lazio, located 47 kilometers (29 miles) north of Rome by car, and is an artist’s colony. Enjoyed the drive and the stroll in the town and bought a few little pieces at a couple of the shops. It was a very nice day out and the first time Rosa and I got out of the city in many months. It was nice day out and we both needed it as our lives have become so crazy busy, and time to explore something new together. Apparently, she had been to this town before, but many years ago. ​

On Sunday, well, she drove me to the train station to start my first journey abroad from home, since I arrived in Italy. It is so strange to say, but it felt so strange leaving. Rosa said, once on the train, I would feel different, like I used to feel when I hot the road, sometimes for 4 to 6 weeks at a time and think nothing of it, living out of suitcases and hotel breakfasts. But the feeling did not materialize. On the first leg of the trek to Bolzano, about 5 hours by train, it was simply that, a train ride. Rosa and I had actually done this train ride back in November when we went to Bolzano to see Bryan Adams, so I knew what to expect and it was still in Italy. No border crossing yet. When I arrived, I found out my connecting train was cancelled, so I had to wait an extra hour and take a regional train to Brennaro (Brenner) and sat with the masses in the same position. ​

Once there, I changed to another regional train into Innsbruck. So, yes, finally left Italy officially. I had been excited to see the Brenner Pass, but, while, beautiful, not as impressive as I thought, I continued on to Innsbruck, a place I had been so many years ago, I believe 40, or so, and it was beautiful of what I remembered. My reason for going there, and it, being, my actual birthday, was not just to break up the long travel day, but because it had a Hard Rock Café, so I celebrated, as is my tradition over the years to celebrate my 63rd birthday and this was my 96th Hard Rock. They treated me very nicely and I was able to get songs on the iPad, and perhaps, did some business. It would have been nice to have Rosa with me, so that piece was missing, but the made the best of it and it was simply a night there.

Monday, I was off again, a relatively short 2 ½ hour train ride to Munich. Again, a place I had been to on several occasions, the first, being way back in 1985 where I did all the usual suspects, including the Hofbräuhaus, Dachau, Marienplatz and other neighborhoods on the Bavarian capital. I was also there during the Oktoberfest those many years ago, which to my recollection, was simply getting drunk, but I was young at the time. I have many clients who want to experience this. Not getting drunk, but the festival that is Oktoberfest. 😊. In any case, Munich, too has a Hard Rock Café, and having never been to it, even with the many times I have to been to Munich, of course, I had to go and collect #97. It also goes full circle somewhat, as its location, is literally across the street from the world famous Hofbräuhaus. It turns out that the Hard Rock Café was at one time, in the same building, a Planet Hollywood, so it does have a history. Really a stopover and both HR experiences were nice, but not being with Rosa, made it a bit less so. ​

Yesterday, I traveled here to Vienna. I had been here, more recently, actually 2 years ago, in advance of the event I am attending starting today. That event and this, the ASTA Cruise Expo took place in Budapest that year, and this year here in Vienna. I had been to both of their Hard Rocks so no need to return. Yesterday, I did have the classic meal wiener schnitzel, apfelstrudel, and of course, a beer to wash it down. It did include potatoes and a salad, at a local Gasthaus. It was a good experience. The rest of the evening, mostly relaxing, but getting a little work done to assure that clients traveling to New Zealand and Australia in the very near future, had their e-portfolio, ready to go. I like to mention this simply for those who may not know, I handle more than Europe, as I have amazing business partnerships around the world, so there is not an area of the world, I don’t feel uncomfortable doing for my valued clientele. ​

Which leaves me to today, here, finishing off this post for the week and looking forward to sharing next Wednesday after the ASTA Cruise Expo is over and I am back home, which, while it officially starts today and I am excited to see friends and colleagues in the business, I have truly become more of a home buddy and look forward to Sunday, when I take the long, three train trip back to Rome to be home with my beautiful bride. I have to admit that yes, I have a bit of excitement, being on the road again, but it is not as it used to be. I am here on business and as soon as it is done, I am heading home. Rosa had said if I want to extend the trip, perhaps get to a place here in Austria or elsewhere, perhaps I had not been, that I should. Maybe that was a hidden message, but absence makes the heart grow fonder, and yes, sometimes time apart is a good thing, but this being the first time, I miss not being with her, but I know I will be back Sunday, and we speak via WhatsApp, so we are connected. 
Thank you as always for your support of our crazy little world. We truly appreciate that you read these weekly posts and share your comments. Remember to be happy, healthy, and safe in your everyday lives.