AEROBIC EXERCISE

                                   AEROBIC SURPRISE

     Flying over the Andes Mountains on a clear sunny day provided a bird’s eye view of the many Inca roads/ trials  traversing the mountain range.

     After deplaning the jet in Cusco, Peru, it only took about 100 yards before, as if on cue, everyone slowed their pace and realized we were at an altitude of 12,500 feet. Little did I know then that breathing was about to become an aerobic exercise 24/7 for the next two weeks.

     Entering the air terminal we heard local musicians playing haunting Peruvian  melodies, which often feature the pan flute. Standing still slowly the labored breathing returned pretty much to normal.

     Our Cusco hotel, located less than a kilometer from the plaza,  was a short walk, but it was all uphill and still at 12,500-feet.  About a third of the way up the narrow alley, called a road in these parts, I’d start gasping for air.  Generally we walked in the middle of the street, so my son and I could walk side by side. The alternative was to walk single file on the narrow stepped sidewalk at the road’s edge.  Traffic was not a problem.

     The incline necessitated short steps.  After two or three gasps my son asked, “Mom, should we stop to rest?”

     Between gulps of air I always uttered, “No,  just one step in front of the other and we’ll make it.” Day after day we slowly trudged up the hill to the hotel where I stumbled through the door.  Two steps inside I leaned against the wall huffing for each breath.

     Concerned hotel staff routinely asked, “Are you OK.?  Can I get you anything?”

     Nodding my head I croaked, “I’m OK. Just give me a minute to catch my breath.”

Standing still, slowly my breathing returned to some semblance of normal, and then I had the energy to climb the dozen steps up to our room.  I kept telling myself that all this was preparation for the four-day trek on the Old Inca Road.  Little did I know!

ICE CUBES AND COLD DRINKS

                                   A COUPLE OF EXPERIENCES

     It doesn’t take long to realize ice is almost impossible to come by in Europe. However, I have some experience in this area. On a couple of occasions I’ve been able to get a cup full or so of ice from the bar, but not ice in drinks. Large American chain hotels, which I try to stay away from, have small ice machines for the American clientele.

     When hiking in England just a few days after coming out of a cast on my foot I explained to the hotel front desk that I’d like to have a small bag of ice each day when we return from hiking.

They were most accommodating and after the first day when they saw me enter they had my bag of ice ready for me. Once out of my boots and on the bed I iced my swollen foot and the next morning all was well and on went the boots for another day of hiking the lovely Lake District.

      In Germany eis, pronounced ice, refers to ice cream. When I asked for ice I was handed  the ice cream menu. Quickly I understood the message.

     I was flabbergasted to watch our Kenyan guide take a cold drink out of the cooler and place it on the hood of the safari vehicle in the sun to warm up.

    In Paris at the Moulin Rouge wine was included with our dinner. Since I like my wine really cold I scooped the ice out of my water glass and added it to my wine. When I beckoned our waiter for a refill there was a small ice chip in the bottom on my wine glass. I became the center of all the waiters’ attention when our waiter relayed that the crazy American lady had put ice in her wine. That’s OK, but my refill was drunk with no ice as it had all melted.

     One day in Vienna my friend and I stopped at Schronbrunn Palace’s Tiergarten (zoo) for lunch. We were busy conversing and people watching when our lunch and cokes arrived. Simultaneously we noticed the lone ice cube dancing  around in each of our glasses. Suddenly we burst out laughing as we watched that lone ice cube melt away and disappear,

     Well as the saying goes, when in Rome do as the Romans do, so I drank chilled drinks when on the continent, but that doesn’t mean I like warm water or tepid sodas. I just accept that Europeans  understand chilled, but don’t have any comprehension of cold.

INFAMOUS NUREMBERG TRIAL

                                 ROOM 600

     I always wondered why Nuremberg was selected for the infamous World War II trials. When visiting the city I learned that although the city center had been bombed during the war, the courthouse outside the city was unharmed. A prison next door connected to the courthouse by a tunnel provided the necessary security. Lastly the large courthouse containing 530 offices and 80 courtrooms was in the American zone.

     I don’t know who our guide had to sweet-talk but on a Sunday morning we were able not to only visit the courthouse  but to enter room 600 and learn a lot more. Awesome!

     Seated in room 600 we were told, “For the trial, the back wall was moved back and a balcony added to accommodate the press and spectators. The trial took place long before instant communication and when the press used wire services. The tables were turned front to back rather than side by side. All windows were covered. When the trial was over it was returned to its previous size and configuration.”

     Those on trial faced four charges: conspiracy, crime against peace, crime of war, and crime against humanity. Officially 24 were tried, but only 21 were present. One was old and too feeble to attend, one had committed suicide and one had simply disappeared. However, his body later was found and identified. American soldiers guarded the prisoners around the clock, 24 hours a day.

     Instead of a jury, four judges, one from each Allied nation, made the judgements. On October 1, 1946 twelve were sentenced to death, three were acquitted, and seven were sentenced to life imprisonment.

     The 218 day trial involved 236 witnesses and over 200,000 affidavits. People involved in the trial including translators, recorders, and secretaries numbered 1000.

     Early in the morning on October 16,1946 eleven of the twelve sentenced to death were hung in the old gym. Herman Goring committed suicide the night before by swallowing a cyanide capsule. The source of the poison is unknown. The bodies were cremated in Munich and the ashes spread over the Isar River.  In 1987 the last prisoner committed suicide at age 93. ..

FANTA IN A BAG

                                         REALLY ?

     An incident in Costa Rica makes me chuckle even years after it happened. On my first trip to the country we were traveling the countryside on a weekday, which also was some sort of a holiday.

     It seemed every little town was celebrating with a parade. Our guide asked, “Would you like to stop and watch a parade?”

     In chorus, the eleven of us said, “Absolutely.” From the back of the van came,”That sounds like fun.”

     The driver stopped and parked the minivan in the shade of a tree. He pointed us in the  direction of the plaza and we were off. I was impressed with the quality of the children’s bands and their ability to play their instruments so well. Their concentration was unbelievable.

     After the parade and having stood in the hot sun for a good while one thirsty couple was looking for something to drink. They wandered into a small grocery store on the way back to the van. When paying for her Fanta the fellow behind the counter asked, “Would you like this in a bag?”

      The young girl gave a shrug of indifference, so the fellow proceeded to uncap the bottle and pour the contents into a small plastic bag. After gathering the bag at the top and inserting a straw he handed it over the counter to her. Somewhat surprised she accepted the bag and finished her walk down the street sucking the chilled Fanta through a straw.We all enjoyed a good chuckle over this unusual event.

     One will be lucky to find a really cold drink outside the U.S. Over the years I learned  that in Central and South America soft drinks usually come in bottles instead of cans. More than once I’ve had to consume my drink on the premises as the bottles stay with the establishment. However, I have never had to drink it out of a plastic bag.

LUNCH IN A CASTLE

                                       BIRTHDAY LUNCH

     Since tomorrow is my 86^th birthday, I started remembering some of the fantastic lunches I have had on those days. I’ve often been overseas at those times. I’ve had more lunches in castles and museum cafes than I can count but one always remembers the first one—right.

    I was hiking the English Cotswold’s and when I walked through the gate at Broughton Castle I was astonished at the massive size of the yellow stone structure. I don’t know how many acres it covers but once inside the gate all one can see are grounds.

     Built in the 1300s, the castle originally consisted of a great hall, two other rooms, and a chapel. Soon after a long, six-foot deep moat was built around the grounds and the gate added. A major Tudor addition was added to this medieval castle in 1550.

     William of Wykeham owned the castle for 70 years after building it. The Fiennes (pronounced Fine) family purchased the castle and it has been in the family now for over 600 years! The title Lord Saye was bestowed in 1451, and a Lord and Lady Saye still reside in Broughton’s living quarters.

       Having been told this basic information about the castle we moved on to a separate building---something like we might refer to as a barn or out building where the nine of us  were served a ploughman’s lunch. It was my first such lunch but by no means my last when in England. I tend to savor local foods and customs.

     Traditionally the Ploughman (plowman) took his lunch of cheese and hard bread or roll to the field with him in the morning. (I love those hard crusty rolls that are impossible to eat without leaving a mess of crumbs!) I guess the drink was probably ale.

     We were served two large pieces of cheese, crusty French bread and a small salad on  the side. Water was available for lunch which was followed by a choice of cakes and tea. It was a more than ample lunch.

     There were many interesting things in the castle but I was astonished at the size of the fireplace.  It was huge and consumed 5-foot long logs! The rooms were large with high ceilings. A docent was most informative.

     Many movies, including Shakespeare in Love, have been filmed at Broughton.

     This birthday lunch is a happy memory.