Well, another month filled with trips, but I didn’t enjoy one. I spent another trip in an ambulance. Yes, for the second time this summer, I’ve had to go to the emergency room. Before I get into that, I want to share the good times I’ve had this last month. My sister Melissa made it over from Oregon. She last visited us over 15 years ago.
We took a short tour from Zurich Airport through Triburg to see the clocks and, of course, take a photo with the iconic statue in Gutach. The red balls mean you’re not married, and the black ones mean you are.
Then one day we took the train to Gegenbach to tour this cool town.
I’ve been several times but never in the church. WOO, I’m sure glad I visited this time. It’s so beautiful inside.
We also cooked together, and the roasted beets with pecans and feta were a hit and disappeared right away.
This trip, we had planned to head to Sardinia for a week. But before we took off, we had to get our toes done!
I wanted Melissa to meet my dear friends Shuki and Julie, so we planned to hook up at the Flusser Cafe. It’s a Greek restaurant on the Kinzig River by our home. As we started talking about our trip to Sardinia, I felt a sharp pain in my thigh and didn’t think much of it. Scratched it, and then the next thing I knew, I was being dragged off the bench to the floor, with my feet in my abandoned chair. Apparently I passed out.
The ambulance was on its way, and all I could think of was that I was having a heart attack; this can’t be happening; I’ve got to go to Sardinia in two days. I was rushed to the local hospital and prodded, EKG, bloodwork, and the whole tamale.
They probed and examined me, and finally the head doctor came in, and I said, “What the heck happened?” I had passed out and wanted some answers. As we talked, I asked him if they mentioned that I felt a stick in my thigh. He said no, so I showed him. Of course, my sister, who is a nurse, immediately said BROWN RECLUSE! Yikes…
Finally, he said it looks like a spider or wasp sting. So apparently I was stung 3 times, and I was treated for an allergic reaction. Crazy, I’ve been stung before and never passed out. It was a first for me. Thank goodness Julie and Shuki cared for Melissa for the four hours that I was visiting the hospital. They wanted me to stay overnight for observation, and I refused. I wanted to get the heck out of Dodge. With cortisone cream from Julie and 3 different allergy drips, I was out. And 2 days later, itching like a dog, we were on our way!
Despite some unplanned incidents, we had a great trip. First, I left my backpack on a bench at Stuttgart Airport and ran back to get it before someone stole it. I found it on my seat! Then, when we arrived in Sardinia, we waited 1 1/2 hours for our AVIS car. When they saw that I only had a photo of my German license and my paper international license, they refused to give us the car I paid for and reserved and wanted my actual license. They even refused to rent it to my sister, who had all the required licenses. They said they couldn’t do that and that they had no cars left. I said, “You do too; you have mine, the one you won’t rent to me.” We had to go to Eurocar and start over. Lastly, the wind was up, so our dream private beach was choppy, with sand blowing everywhere.
We found a corner that was a bit protected from the wind. Melissa was daring and went out to sea. The water was warmer than the air, about 75 degrees.
One day we escaped to a protected beach with the rental car we finally secured.
The beach was perfect, clear, and warm. Here are a few shots of Porto Pino’s sand-dune beach. Check out the Flamingos!
We visited a museum and some ruins, which were very interesting. Sant’ Antioco was a great place to start, learn about Sardinia’s inhabitants, and see the ruins on site. Click here to learn more.
One day we headed to Capo di Pula to see the archaeological ruins of Nora, an ancient pre-Roman and Roman city.
This place was fascinating, and its history is incredible. The remains of tiled floors, the city’s layout, and its homes made you feel like you could imagine life there.
Our favorite spot was by the pool at Veridia Resort Sardinia, out of the wind and in the warm sun.
The pool was exceptional, with loungers for the day!
We had Breakfast and dinner included. Breakfast was fresh fruit, and there was always plenty. Dinners were focused on Italian foods, from pasta to lamb, seafood, beef, and fresh salads and fixings. We definitely did not starve.
Thanks to Lutz, we even had a drink at the bar one evening for Melissa’s birthday!
We stopped for lunch while touring one day and found the perfect spot for Culurgiones. Actually, Melissa was on a mission to find them. These delicious morsels are so good. Stuffed with goat cheese and potatoes, and smothered in a tangy orange sauce, they’re the best. Click here to read more about these Sardinian ravioli-like stuffed pasta.
Of course, if I were ever served my last meal, it would be pizza! But I have to admit, Melissa got the best meal. No, it was not gluten-free!
It was time to leave and head back to reality. Oh, I forgot: we hit a few more unexpected challenges once we boarded our plane back to Stuttgart. Just as we were getting ready to land, the plane took a sharp turn and announced a bomb threat in Stuttgart, so we were diverted to Nuenburg. We waited 2 hours on the runway and were served water and a little candy treat. Meanwhile, Lutz was at a gas station eating a sandwich and drinking beer. We were finally cleared to begin our way down the runway for take-off, and when we should have been lifting off, we rushed to the end, turned back to the tarmac, and an announcement went out: “Is there a doctor on board?” We waited for the onboard doctor’s opinion and for emergency vehicles to arrive and take a mother and her baby off the plane. Several people left, saying they would rather take a train home from Neuburg because it was closer to their home. We finally took off, and poor Lutz found us at 10 pm on the curb, ready to go home. Oh, and by the way, Lutz has to pay a 70-euro ticket for staying too long at the gas station!
The fun with Melissa never ended. Julie took us to Strasbourg for a day of touring and lunch.
We toured the church and avoided protests.
Lunch was rocket-hot Asian food! But delicious.
I was so glad Melissa was here during one of our clothes exchanges. She got to meet all the wonderful ladies I have come to know and love here in my hometown! And no, she didn’t exchange a thing. She had to sit on her suitcase to close it before she left.
We even had lunch at Kate’s home with her daughter, Illa!
The sun was out, so we took Fritz!
One day we headed to France to tour the Château du Haut-Koenigbourg. It turned out to be a beautiful day, and the views were amazing. Click here to discover more about this cool castle.
It was time to take Melissa on one last road trip before heading to Zurich and back to Oregon. We headed to Meersburg for the day and picnicked at the Birnau Abbey Church in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen. Click here to read about this cool church!
We toured the Meersburg Schloss. What a beautiful place overlooking Lake Constance. Click here for more info about this castle.
Then we headed to the historic site Haus Am See. This is a fascinating place to visit. It spans the Stone Age and beyond. It is a great place for the family to tour—special activities for children and more.
We spent the night in a cool hotel, Gasthaus Schiff, in Moos on the See. Three bedrooms and a balcony with a lake view. A perfect spot for our next-morning adventure.
We had to show Melissa Europe’s biggest waterfall, the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen. These are our Niagara Falls. Click here for details about this gorgeous place.
You can see how low the water was. Here is a picture of the falls from two years ago.
We made a stop in Schaffhausen. This town is unique; if you haven’t visited yet, I highly recommend it. The homes in the old downtown are all restored to their original designs.
The next morning we went to the airport to send my sister home to her husband, Steve, and check on Mom! It was sad to see her go, but it was such a good visit. Many thanks to Lutz for his wonderful tours and for taking care of us. Cheers! You deserve it, my dear.
We are back to our daily routine of exercise, cleaning the house, and cooking up some delicious meals like this one. Thanks for following along, and I’ll chat with you next month as we prepare for our kids and grandkids to arrive from the USA for Christmas.
Fave New Recipe: Creamy Green Chili Chicken Soup
This Creamy Green Chili Chicken Soup is a gift from me to you, waiting to be opened. It is a delicious treat for the cold days ahead. Perfectly spiced, with crunchy toppings, dive into a bowl of goodness.
Fave New Resource: Holiday Wreaths
OH MY word! I saw this on Facebook, but I wanted to share this amazing idea for making holiday wreaths for every season, and I know many of you don’t use FB. What a fun activity for the entire family. Hometalk even covers ideas for all the holidays and events that sneak up on us during the year. I’m impressed!
I'm Melinda Stevens and living the life of a beach bum was inevitable since my father was a lifeguard for the city of Los Angeles. My memories of growing up on John Street in Manhattan Beach, California were filled with joy, excitement and adventures; until my world, as I knew it, fell apart when we moved to Del Mar, California. My father was offered the position as Captain of the lifeguards and we started the slow migration to the small deserted stretch of beach in 1963. At twelve years old, this seemed like the end of my life. Remember, I’m writing with clear hindsight now, ok somewhat clearer… Little did I know this would be the beginning of a new journey and give a bit more clarity to many of the events that led me to this new cooking adventure.