We are leaving in 2 days to visit our son in Europe and until I get to the airport, I will be working on winding down this semester of school along with working on finalizing travel plans and packing. To add to this, I had a very interesting Facetime call from our son’s host family on Sunday.
Shonbrunn Palace, Vienna
Now several weeks ago, his host mother had told us (through our son) that she thought that our planned itinerary was not exactly what she would recommend. So she was going to send me an email on her suggestions which I was very excited about. I mean, who knows an area like a local?! I will take any ideas that I can get. No email came which I shrugged off as we are all busy and no matter what this will be a great trip.
So back to Sunday- I Facetimed with the host brother who speaks amazing English. After a long conversation and background discussion (of which I could not understand much at all), the conclusion was that we had too much time in Prague and Budapest. Their suggestion was that we change the order of visits and we needed to add in Krakow & Auschwitz. I am quite open to the suggestions, and change. I am also very cognizant that we are leaving in 4 days…. And some places did not have much available for hotels or Air B&B rentals when I booked 8 weeks ago. But my son has told me many times that culturally, planning too far ahead is not typical in Slovakia.
It was an interesting difference in perception. I could not hardly imagine going to a foreign county where I don’t speak the language without a place to stay, especially in the busy travel season. On the other hand, the host family was pretty puzzled that we had locked in places to stay for part of the trip. So, on their request, I gave them our reservation information to see if they could alter the dates we are in Prague or maybe just add Krakow in the middle.
No updates since Sunday, but that is not unusual. So where will we be and when – to be determined.
This trip is going to be alot about flow- finding it, going with it and embracing it. And boy am I ready!