Countdown

Countdown  4 days...

1.  Bring lot's of drugs.

2. We are going to have temperature extremes from 97 degrees in India, to 5 degrees at Base Camp..Packing is a challenge to say the least.

3. Two nine hour flights, One 1.5 hour flight and One 1 hour flight to get there..

4. Haircut or no haircut? That is the question of the day.

5. We will not be sleeping at Advanced Base Camps under seracs that break free in the night, causing catastrophic avalanches.

6. Being grateful for Xanax. Long flights, third world cultures, heat, cold, suspension bridges over massive rivers, no sleep above 15K feet, extreme fatigue, strange foods, dangerous water....Let the fun begin.

7. Being grateful as well for Technical clothing..

8. I am planning on smuggling in a hairdryer and mascara..come on honey, be reasonable:)

9. Amsterdam for 3 days on way will cut down on some of the jet lag..

10. Most grateful for World Business Class..Thank You darling husband of mine:)

Mark Twain's wisdom

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.     -Mark Twain.

Gearing up

As I prepare for the upcoming trip to Everest Base Camp (1 month from today), I realize that
www.rei.com,
www.backcountry.com
www.rab.uk.com
www.sierratradingpost.com
and
www.patagonia.com

Have replaced my usual sites
www.ruelala.com
www.netaporter.com
www.outnet.com
www.nordstrom.com
www.neimanmarcus.com
and
www.gilt.com

I also realize that I have now spent the equivalent of an Hermes Kelly Bag on Mountaineering gear!
http://www.rei.com/product/832232/scarpa-mont-blanc-gtx-mountaineering-boots-womens, and that these new boots are almost as stylish as my favorite Jimmy Choos!!!!

Mag speak

1. Recognizing my high school principal Sister Mary Walters in the World Club. She is the General Advisor for the American nuns in Rome. Wow, the sis can get under the hair dryer and Joe, you never fooled her.

2. Babies whining on an 8 hour flight is only accepted when they are cute, chubby, and JoAnne and I kept the wine coming.

3. Said I would never ride a bike in Amsterdam; Katy proved me wrong. 9 am to 5pm and had the time of my life.
I even had Nea for a time on the back of my bike.

4. Standing in 100 degrees waiting for the bus to get us to our rental cars. The only thing that kept me going was the possible FIAT 500 in the end. BINGO!!

5. Realize in some other life I was Italian, born to drive the on the A1 and narrow steep cliffs, with speed.

6. No words can describe Tuscany and our villa. I feel like I am in Fellini movie...wait I am!

7. Katy and JoAnne prepared our first dinner and it was fungi perfecti.

8. Skinny dipping at night with the smell of rosemary, wisteria, and oleander.

9. Did I tell you how much I love driving the FIAT in Cortona?

10. Thank god we are here when Porcini mushrooms are in season! Mooto bella!!!

(typed by Linnea, verbatim by Maggie.)

JoAnne chimes in!

1. Totally in touch with the Amsterdam casual fashion style. Don't know if it is because of the pot in the air or the strawberries I ate.

2. Grooving at the gay pride street party. Was it the naked chaps or the gorgeous queens? No it was the spontaneous bookending by two fun guys who jumped into Denise and I's Gay pride picture.

3. Now to the driving part; Florence to Cortona in the back seat of a FIAT 500 with two crazy woman in front. I thought when Maggie was talking about going 80 or 120 she was talking about MPH but she was refering to KPH.

4. I closed my eyes and prayed to Jesus and I am not even sure about Jesus.

5. It was worth it! Going on a vertical road on a ridge to La Certosa at 80 KPH was a thrill I think, but my eyes were closed.

6. La Cielo, I am little more sure about Jesus.

Driving with two of the Hens by Linnea

1. Getting up at 6 am sucks!

2. Standing in 100 degree hot sun is stressful.

3. Driving without a GPS in Florence will not work.

4. One needs to know how to drive a stick shift if you are going to drive a stick shift.

5. Speed limit on the A1 is 80 KPH not 60 KPH so if you want to stay with Maggie Andretti, step on it.

6. Food at Italian gas stations is much better than American restaurants.

7. Big hills in Cortona with a stick shift are hard. Smoking engine is not a good sign.

8. Fire very bad.

9. Italian men can be of help. WATER WATER WATER!!!!!!!!!

10. Donetella is an angel from heaven and it helps that she speaks Italiano!

Leaving Holland, Italy here we come!

1.Maggie Rorke makes a wonderful travel companion!

2. Getting up at 5:45 AM, Holland time or 11PM Minnesota time, is really difficult.

3. The Hotel Toren on Keizergtacht in Amsterdam, is a hotel experience one can only hope for when traveling abroad!

4. No matter how easy going, sweet, darling a 13 year old girl is, she is still 13!!

5.The alps are pretty impressive from the air!

6. The Dutch take Gay Pride week very seriously. We were lucky to be there and experience what tolerance and acceptance really means! Wake up America!

7. It is really a big treat to have dinner with some of your closest friends who happen to be in Amsterdam at the same time. Thanks Lor, Herbie, Charlie and Jazz. See you in a week!