A MEMORABLE CUP OF COFFEE

                                  THE BEST CUP OF COFFEE

     It was an incredibly clear warm day when I boarded a gondola for a ride up to the top of Mt.Strassahorn in Switzerland. The panoramic view of the valley below was fantastic.

     Once at the top, the first thing I did was walk a footpath around the summit of the mountain. The many wildflowers in bloom were a surprise. Suddenly I stopped to listen to the stillness. To my delight a serenade of tinkling cow bells from the alpine valley was all that broke the silence. It was a sound I’d hear again on another trip to the Alps. Every time I hear tinkling bells I remember that first Swiss experience.

     After my stroll among the wildflowers I was back on the large patio in the sky and the gift shop proved irresistible. As I entered the chalet shop/deli I spotted a hot plate with a carafe of hot coffee on one burner and  one of hot  water on the other burner. The young man behind the counter confirmed that I was truly hot water so I excitedly said, “I’d like a ½ cup of coffee and then fill the cup with hot water.”

     “No, no. This coffee is made to add liquor to. It is good.”

      “Just the coffee please as I asked.”

      “OK, if you insist,” he reluctantly conceded.

The young man did not know it was my very first trip across the pond and that for over two weeks I had given up on Europe’s strong coffee and been drinking tea.

      After paying for my special request coffee I took the cup and saucer---no mugs, or Styrofoam here---and went outside to the sunny terrace 6000 feet up a mountain to sit at a round picnic table. I savored and enjoyed that cup of coffee as I listened to the cow bell serenade.

      It is a sweet memory!

THE REMOTE

     When my friend and I traveled together we had an agreement that there was so much to see and do in a new place that we would not turn on the TV. If anything important happened someone, usually a fellow would be sure to tell us.

      We were in Melbourne, Australia in 2000 when we didn’t have a president yet. Everywhere we went we had Aussies asking, “What’s the matter with you Americans that you can’t elect a president?”

     One day after tramping all around the city we returned to our small  lovely boutique hotel tired. When entering our room I commented, “We’ve had so many questions today, should we turn on the TV to see if we do have a president yet?”

     “I think we can make an exception.” She replied adding, “The remote is on your bedside table. Go ahead and turn the TV on.”

     Picking up the remote, I pushed the power button.  Nothing happened, so I pushed it again. And again. Frustrated I tossed it on the bed saying, “I know I’m technology challenged, but you’d think I could turn on a stupid TV!”

     Just about then she grabbed her  blouse saying, “It’s either  really getting warm in here or  I’m having a hot flash.”

     Simultaneously we both looked at her bedside table and saw another remote. She picked it up, pushed the power button and voila we had TV! We stated laughing and then realized I had the heater remote so the temperature rose each time I pushed  the button. We quickly remedied that situation! At that point neither one of us had ever seen a heater remote.

     For years after that every time we walked into a new hotel room, we both would say, “Remember Melbourne” and have a good chuckle.