3/27 Bucharest Airport 11 am. One hour to departure. Romanian customs just confiscated a beautiful bottle of slivovitz (plum brandy) I’d picked up for a friend back home. Insisted it exceeded allowable limit by a few ml. They threw it in the trash! I suspect somebody(s) in Bucharest got a treat that evening. Grey skies.ContinueContinue reading “Lyndie’s Journal, Part 13: Homecoming”
Author Archives: Lyndie's Journey
Lyndie’s Journal, Part 12: Romania
Viking Ullur. Source: Lyndie Duff Romania! Farewell Danube! Farewell Ullur! Came close to tears parting from three of our ship’s crew members: Predrag, gallant Desk Man in charge: Young, handsome, helpful and Serbian! Helped unstintingly to call Lois for me from ship’s phone! Alexandra: Bosnian Serb, short, chunky, unfailingly efficient and cheerful. Her birthday wasContinueContinue reading “Lyndie’s Journal, Part 12: Romania”
Lyndie’s Journal, Part 11: Bulgaria
After the Luncheon, by Renoir. Source: Wikimedia Commons Arriving in Ruse, Bulgaria: I’ve forgotten what makes Ruse especially famous, but I won’t soon forget being welcomed to Bulgaria by a smiling woman offering each of us a shot of local brandy! Tossed it back like a character in an old-time Hollywood Western, grateful for theContinueContinue reading “Lyndie’s Journal, Part 11: Bulgaria”
Lyndie’s Journal, Part 10: From Serbia to Bulgaria
Source: L. Wingerson After breakfast with my Montana friends we were joined by a middle-aged couple from Wisconsin, not far from Green Bay, where my Sauber forebears on my mother’s side settled after they emigrated from Germany. I boasted a bit about distant kinsman Charlie Sauber, (in 1920) Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. TheContinueContinue reading “Lyndie’s Journal, Part 10: From Serbia to Bulgaria”
Lyndie’s Journal, Part 9: On Down-River
Later, Remembering … The people I’ve met so far in Hungary, Croatia and Serbia seem doggedly cheerful and resilient. They make no secret of their pressing concerns about what is going on in their respective countries. Upheavals, protests, cataclysmic political change. Hungarians in Buda, the oldest part of town, show anguished faces when speaking ofContinueContinue reading “Lyndie’s Journal, Part 9: On Down-River”
Lyndie’s Journal, Part 8: Serbia
March 23rd Onward to Serbia! We tied up on the Sava River (named for Serbia’s patron saint – one of their kindlier ancient kings) flowing into the Danube where it reaches Beograd (as Serbians call it), the capital of what was once a much larger kingdom. Others call it ‘Belgrade’. Last year, my blind companionContinueContinue reading “Lyndie’s Journal, Part 8: Serbia”
Lyndie’s Journal, Part 7: Vukovar
Today: Adventures in Croatia Another Catholic Church – slightly less ornate – Magnificent, almost unearthly vocal performance, female soloist with ambitious plans for a professional career, older hymns, some contemporary sacred music, very unusual organ (music accompanying several hymns). Again, surprising numbers of fellow cruise members resorted to distractions of their “devices” during this secondContinueContinue reading “Lyndie’s Journal, Part 7: Vukovar”
Lyndie’s Journal, Part 6: Sleeping On Board (or Not)
Excursion to Vukovar, meeting a local family, begins at 8:30 am. Predrag, kindly Serbian Front Desk man, arranged for me to call Lois via ship’s phone! Wonderfully good to hear her voice! Told her what a glorious adventure this has been. Have misplaced my walking stick twice. Each time, some thoughtful passenger found it andContinueContinue reading “Lyndie’s Journal, Part 6: Sleeping On Board (or Not)”
Lyndie’s Journal, Part 5: Aboard Viking Ullur
I stumbled a lot, climbing, descending stone stairs, with others patiently behind me, often taking my arm. Grateful I was – and will remain! Remembering a kind young Romanian lad who guided me carefully up the gangway (steep!) to catch the bus to the horse farm … He smiled when I recalled, from last year’sContinueContinue reading “Lyndie’s Journal, Part 5: Aboard Viking Ullur”
Lyndie’s Journal, Part 4: Excursion to Kalocsa, Hungary
March 20th On the way to Kalocsa, Hungary. Dinner last p.m. with new Montana friends plus 3 other interesting women: 1 attractive, dark-haired, vivacious, witty dermatologist (well-kept, late 40s?), 1 very reserved woman (age?), also a dermatologist, based in Rapid City, S.D., an area I know well … Pine Ridge Lakota Reservation, the Black Hills.ContinueContinue reading “Lyndie’s Journal, Part 4: Excursion to Kalocsa, Hungary”
Lyndie's Journey 