EUROPE

BY JOHN MASTALIR

FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER....15 HOURS TO ROME...12 HOURS AIR TIME...ROME PACIFIC PLUS 9

SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER...ROME...HOTEL...HOT WATER...CITY BUS TOUR AT NIGHT...19 COURSE DINNER AS PART OF TOUR PACKAGE...MUSIC...WONDERFUL START
...DOWNTOWN ROME CITY WALKING TOUR UNDER THE LIGHTS...UNBELIEVABLE...MARBLE STORY BUILDINGS 3000 YEAR HISTORY...SAW THE POPE AT HIS NOON BLESSING (I WAS BLESSED PERSONALLY)....CITY TOUR....CATACOMB TOUR...TOUR DINNER...TWO NIGHTS IN ROME

MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER... VENICE BY BUS...TOLL ROAD LOTS OF REST STOPS...NIGHT BOAT TOUR IN THE RAIN...COLD...VENICE BUILT ON MANY ISLANDS AND MUCH TO MY DISAPPOINTMENT THE WATER WAS VERY VERY CLEAN...CONSTANT RISING AND FALLING

TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER...ANDRE REIU IN LAS VEGAS...JOHN MASTALIR IN VENICE ITALY
LOTS OF RAIN AND HISTORY...GONDOLA...COLD AND RAIN...LOTS OF HISTORY...BUILDINGS...ART...GLASS FACTORY...LINEN EXHIBIT

WEDNESDAY 1 DECEMBER... FLORENCE...RAIN...WALKED THE HOT SPOTS AFTER LUNCH. HALL OF FAME GUIDE...DID DAVID, MICHAELANGLEO, ROSSINI AND ENDLESS BUILDINS, CHURCHS AND MUSEUMS...SAW A STRAD...MONASTARY TOUR AT NIGHT...18 COURSE MEAL WITH MUSIC AND CLASS...WHAT A DAY

THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER...STILL FLORENCE...TOUR OF TUSCANY REGION...ANOTHER CHRISTMAS MARKET AND I BOUGHT MY TRADITIONAL COUNTRY WALKING STICK...MOST TIME THEY LET ME TAKE IT ON THE PLANE.

FRIDAY 3 DECEMBER...TO ROME FOR CITYS WORST HOTEL EXPERICE...SHERATON, IF ANYBODY CARED HERE THEY FAILED TO SHOW IT...SISTINE CHAPEL...POPES HOME...MARBLE, TAPESTRY AND TONS OF POPE HISTORY AND ARTIFACTS...AMAZING ETERNAL STUFF...VATICAN ALSO SURVIVED THE WAR AS A FREE STATE WITH ALL ITS FEATURES, HISTORY AND VALUE...HITLER PASSED LEADING THE THEORY THAT POPE PASSED ON HELPING THE JEWS...YOUR CALL

SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER...TO CASTILONE ITALY...LOVELY TRIP AND DINNER AT MARSHAS HOME...MARSHA OUR DISPLACED ITALIAN FRIEND FROM LAS VEGAS

SUNDAY 5 DECEMBER...SEMI AMOUNT OF FUN PLAYING WITH MARSHAS CATS

MONDAY 6 DECEMBER...LESS FUN PLAYING WITH THE CATS AND CLEANING MARSHAS YARD

TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER...3 HRS TO ROME AIRPORT...STASH THE CAR...2 HOUR LATE FLIGHT TO PRAGUE WHERE THEY HAVE HAD 6 INCHES...BUT....IT GOES FINE...PRAGUE AT NIGHT IN THE SNOW AND WE MAKE THE WELCOME DINNER BY AN EYELASH AT THE HILTON...FIRST CLASS STOP
...MET OUR FRIEND SANDY NOW THE TRIP INCLUDED THREE HENS AND ONE ROOSTER.

WEDNESDAY 8 DECEMBER...I SUPPOSE NEXT TO MY WEDDING DAY THIS ONE OF THE GREAT DAYS OF MY LIFE...KOLACHES FOR BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL BUT OF COURSE NOT AS GOOD AS THE ONES MADE BY ALL MY DECEASED RELATIVES AND CURRENT HEROES IN VERDIGRE...WALKING TOUR IN THE SNOW IN PRAGUE...HISTORIC CLOCK TOWER...FREE DRINKS IN THE JEWELRY FACTORY...SHOPPING THE CHRISTMAS MARKET...SUPER OLD CZECH DINNER...DUCK, DUMPLINGS, RED CABBAGE, LOTS OF ALL OF IT...4 COURSE MEAL AND BLUEBERRY PANCAKE DESERT...ACCORDIAN MUSIC THROUGH OUT WITH WAITERS AND WAITRESS'S IN CZECH COSTUMES LIKE KOLACHE DAY...TOPPED THIS ONE OFF WITH MOZART AND BEETHOVEN IN A 88 MINUTE CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT IN THE SAME BUILING WITH 8 STRINGS...4 VIOLINS 2 VIOLAS, CELLO AND BASS JUST EXACTLY WHAT I ORDERED...DVORAK AND SMETKA ORIGINATED HERE...MISSED SWAN LAKE BY 2 HOURS THE FIRST DAY AND 11 HOURS THE LAST...THIS NIGHT ALL MUSIC I LIKED AND ENCORED WITH A CUTE PIZZACATO...TRULY INCREDIBLE...MY CZECH HISTORY SO PROMINENT HERE WITH THE FOOD...THE NAMES AND THE HISTORIC OLD BUILDINGS...WENSACLAUS COMMON NAME HISTORY HERE LIKE THE CHURCH I GREW UP 50 YARDS FROM...MY NAME MASTALIR...NOT UNCOMMON WITH SOME LETTER ALTERATIONS...I ALWAYS FELT LEFT OUT THAT WE HAD NO C'S OR V'S OR K'S. MY FATER AND GRANDFATHER SPOKE THE LANGUAGE OF COURSE AND EVEN OBTAINED A CZECH NEWSPAPER BACK IN VERDIGRE NEBR IN THE 50'S...THEY BOTH COULD HAVE RELATED TO THIS AND THE HISTORY...QUITE CENTIMENTAL AND HISTORIC TO GO OVER THIS GROUND...PRAGUE, SOME KIND OF GREAT HISTORICAL CITY THAT MISSED THE WAR SOMEHOW...THESE OLD BUILDINGS IN STONE MARBLE AND ROCK FORMS LIKE THE CHURCHS SEEM ETERNAL ALONG WITH THE ARCHITECTURE, THE 500 YEAR OLD PAINTINGS AND CHRONOLOGY. GLAD I LIVED THIS LONG.

THURSDAY 9 DECEMBER...PRAGUE CASTLE...I WORE SHORTS...IT WAS COLD...COLOSSAL FORTRESS WITH GUIDE HALF DAY...IMPRESSIVE HISTORY VIEW AND ARCHITECTURE AS EXTECTED FOR THIS ITINERARY...CLOCK TOWER AGAIN...BOUGHT HOT NUTS AND A CUBAN CIGAR IN A BOLIVAN BOX IN CZECH REPUBLIC...THREE LAPS IN THE POOL...3 SHOWERS...BACK TO THE SYMPHONY FOR BEETHOVAN AND CHORALE IN SPECTACULAR THEATRE UPSTAIRS FROM THE PREVIOUS NIGHT...3 MINUTES LATE...30 SINGERS 32 STRINGS BEAUTIFUL CATHEDRAL THEATRE...DIDN'T LIKE ANY OF IT BUT FOUND MY WAY BACK TO OLD TOWN HILTON WHERE THEY WERE HAPPY TO SEE ME AS ALWAYS...NICE BREAKFAST BUFFET WITH THE PACKAGE HERE THREE TIMES.

FRIDAY 10 DECEMBER...LEFT PRAGUE ON THE BUS...VERPANK CZECH REPUBLIC FOR LUNCH...OUTSTANDING WITH FIVE CZECH COSTUMED WAITRESS'S DELIVERING THE GOODS...FINAL 2 HRS ON THE BUS ...BOARDED OUR CRUISE SHIP...THE ODYESSEY ON THE DANUBE(ITS NOT BLUE...NEVER WAS MR STRAUSS)...ITS OUR HOME FOR 8 DAYS...NICE LARGE ROOMS...LOTS OF HOT WATER AND PLENTY OF STAFF 46 FOR 159 PASSENGERS...SINGLE BEDS IN THE LOWER LEVELS

SATURDAY 11 DECEMBER...PASSAU GERMANY...ITS ON THE CONFLUENCE OF AUSTRIA, GERMANY AND CZECH REPUBLIC...CITY WALKING TOUR IN THE SNOW...LOTS OF SLUSH ON THE STREETS AND A 28 MINUTE ORGAN CONCERT IN A BIG CHURCH THAT STARTED ONE MINUTE EARLY...REALLY COOL...17974 PIPES IN THIS SUCKER....I THOUGHT THE 2000 PIPER IN LAS VEGAS WAS SOMETHING...VERY RARE TO HAVE THEM FIRE THESE PIPES UP BUT THEY DID TODAY...CAPTIANS DINNER...I PUT ON LONG PANTS FOR JANET....NOT THE BEST MEAL EVER BUT THE LUNCH AFTER THE ORGAN CONCERT WAS....GREAT LUNCH BUFFET ON THE SHIP WITH DUMPLINGS AND SAUER KRAUT.

SUNDAY 12 DECEMBER...LINZ AUSTRIA...90 MINUTE BUS TRIP TO SALZBERG...MOZART BORN THERE IN 1756...THE BIRTHHOUSE STILL THERE ALONG WITH LOTS OF OTHER BUILDINGS OVER 1000 YEARS OLD...LOVELY CHURCHS AND CHRISTMAS MARKET...DID A MUSEUM OF OLD ART ANIKA KAUFFMAN LATE 1700S TERRIFIC STUFF...TOO SHORT A TIME AS ALWAYS...WE HAD SAUSAGE SANDWICHS AND PLUM PUDDING IN THE SQUARE...BACK TO THE BOAT. EVENING FEAST. TONIGHT THE CAPTAIN DID 45 MINUTES ON THE BOAT, THE RIVER AND NAVIGATION...IT WAS LIKE WATCHING NOVA....TERRIFIC.

MONDAY 13 DECEMBER...NOT HOMESICK YET...GUIDED TOUR OF MELK ABBEY, THE MOST ELEGANT OF CITIES...INCLUDED VISIT TO THE NATIONAL LIBRARY...YOU GOT TO SEE THIS...COOL COLD BEAUTIFUL MORNING...28 DEGREES...HISTORIC CRUISE TO KREMS WITH CASTLES AND GRAPE FIELDS ON THE DANUBE...COOL...GREAT ON THE SHIP...LONG USELESS WALK INTO KREMS...NINCE ENOUGHT CITY NO TOUR, NOTHING ELEGANT AND LONG COLD DARK WALK TO THE SHIP...DINNER.

TUESDAY 14 DECEMBER...41 MINUTE LECTURE ON THE SHIP ON VIENNA MUSIC...THIS GUY HAD A GREAT HISTORY, PLAYED 3 SHORT CASSETTE PIECES, SOLD ME A DISC AND KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT CLASSICAL MUSIC...HOPE HE IS BURIED BETWEEN SHUBERT AND BEETHOVEN HERE...HE MADE MY DAY...BUS TOUR OF VIENA AND SHORT WALKING TOUR PAST LIPPIZON STALLIONS, MOZART STATUES, MUSEUMS, COLLEGES AND ARCHITECTURAL WONDERS OF THIS EARTH...TROLLEY CARS, CHRISTMAS MARKET, AND A CITY EMPLOYEE SHOVELING SNOW FROM THE CROSSWALKS IN UNIFORM AND SPRINKLING SAND FOR SAFETY, IT WAS LIKE A REAL SOCIETY BUT THEY HAVE OVER A 1000 YEARS PRACTICE AND IT SHOWED...LIKE ROMANTIC SNOW THRU THE AFTERNOON CHRISTMAS MARKET...THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER TREAT IN THE SPRING WITH THEIR FLOWERS.
SPECIAL TOUR EXEMPT DINNER TONIGHT.....NOT THAT GREAT...LOTS OF WINE DRINKING AND SINGING...DECENT MEAL...GREAT RIDE HOME AT NIGHT IN THE SNOW ON THE BUS

WEDNESDAY 15 DECEMBEER...TOUR OF THE VIENNA OPERA HOUSE...THIS IS THE BEST...WHERE THE NEW YEARS CONCERT IS HELD YEARLY...ALWAY WATCH ON TV...PBS...WILL THIS YEAR...GREAT GUIDE SHE WAS WIFE OF THE MUSIC LECTURER FROM YESTERDAY...ALSO PLAYS VIOLA...MARRIED TO KUDLAK 51...BOTH PLAY...BOTH GREAT HISTORIC GUIDES TO MUSIC AND LIFE...MOZART HOME IN VIENNA...THIS WHERE THE MASTERPIECES WERE WRITTEN....WRITTEN PERFECTLY THE FIRST TIME...SMALL FIRST STORY SUITE...HISTORIC GUIDE AGAIN...WALKED TO THE BUS THROUGH THE CITY IN THE SNOW....IT WAS A LOVELY MORNING...5 OR 6 INCHES OF SOFT WET SEMI HEAVY WHITE BEAUTY WE NEVER SEE IN LAS VEGAS....GUIDE SAID THEY HAD SOME 52 DEGREE CHRISTMAS'S HERE...18 THIS MORNING...BUT PERFECT. MORE TO COME ON THIS DAY WITH HOUR MUSIC CONCERT TONIGHT. THEY SAID THIS WOULD BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE TOUR AND IT WAS....STRAUSS STATUE IN THE PALACE COURTYARD IN THE SNOW UNDER LIGHTS AT NIGHT...FREE DRINK AND THE CONCERT...ON TIME TO THE SECOND...9 PIECES, 2 VIOLINS, VIOLA, CELLO, BASS, PRECUSSION, CLARINET, FLUTE, PIANO AND THEN.....DANCERS... JUST A GREAT PAIR WHICH DID THREE SETS ON A 14 BY 40 STAGE AND A SOPRANO AND TENOR AND THEY ALL WERE SENSATIONAL...58 MINUTES...TOUR HISTORIANS SAID THIS IS THE SAME SHOW FOR 11 YEARS AND WHY WOULD THEY CHANGE IT...MOZART AND STRAUSS...EVERYONE LOVE IT...BACK FOR DINER...AFTER DINNER THE SHIPS STAFF DID 40 MINUTES OF COMEDY...WELL DONE WHILE WE PASSED THRU THE 10TH OF 11 LOCKS...GOT SOME GREAT PICS TO COMPLETE ANOTHER HISTORIC DAY.

16 DECEMBER THURSDAY...MORE OF THE SAME...TRAVELED TO BRATISLAVA...CAPITOL OF SLOVAKIA...MORE HISTORIC STUFF...GREAT WALKING TOUR IN THE MORNING...14 DEGREES THE SUN SHONE BRIGHTLY...WALKED BACK TO THE SHIP...LUNCH...PM FOUR MUSEUMS...HISTORIC CLOCK FACTORY TO THE CITY IN ITS OLD NAME PRESSBURG, NATURAL MUSEUM WITH SOME OLD BLACK AND WHITE HISTORY PICS ON THE FIRST FLOOR,,,REMARKABLE....TO SOKOL ATHLETIC TEAMS HISTORIC TO MY HOME AND THE THE CLASSICS MUSEUM WITH 500 YEAR OLD ART...SHORT WALK TO THE SHIP...DINNER AND THEN THE CONDUCTOR AND FIRST CHAIR TO THEIR SYMPHONY CAME ON FOR VIOLIN, PIANO, VOCALS...INSTRUMENTS AND GREAT CLASSIC STUFF 42 MINUTES TOO SHORT...THEY PITCHED THEIR CDS AND LEFT.

17 DECEMBER FRIDAY...10 DEGREES F...SHIP RAN ALL NIGHT INTO BUDAPEST WHERE WE WATCHED FROM THE LOUNGE AS WE DEBRIEFED...BEAUTIFUL SNOW FROST COVERED TREES ON THE SHORE...APPLE STUDEL SCHOOL...I PARTOOK AT LUNCH...GREAT BUFFET...90 MINUTE BUS TOUR OF HISTORIC BUDA AND PEST...CHURCH TOUR IN LIGHT COLD SNOW AT NIGHT AND BACK TO THE BOAT FOR CAPTAINS FARWELL DINNER. CITY CENTER A UNESCO WOrLD HERITAGE SITE...IT SURE IS...EVEN HAS A LAS VEGAS CASINO. MORE CLASSICAL MUSIC ON SHIP 41 MINUTES, BASS, PIANO, VIOLIN, CELLO AND VOCAL...NICE SELECTION FOR MY TASTE.

18 DECEMBER SATURDAY...LOUNGE LECTURE ON CHRISTMAS IN HUNGARY...NO TREES TIL CHRISTMAS EVE AND NO TURKEY OR CHICKEN ON CHRISTMAS...JUST PORK...LOVE EM. ALL DAY TOUR TO HOOLOKO...RURAL TREAT TWO HOURS OUT AND TWO HOURS BACK...ONE HOUR ON FREEWAY ONE HOUR RURAL...SAW DEER, PHEASANT, RAVENS AND BIRDS OF PREY AND THE MUST BEAUTIFUL WINDER WONDER LAND SCENE EVER WITH THE CONTINUING FALLING SHOW HANGING ON THE MANY TREES THRU OUT...BRIEF PROGRAM, BRIEF CITY TOUR OF 400 PEOPLE AND SUPER LUNCH FOR 9 BY HUNGARY'S BEST COOK EVER IN HER HOME....NOODLES THEN CHICKEN SOUP, SPAT, CHICKEN POT WITH GRAVY (HAD FOUR HELPINGS) IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INSULTING TO NOT EAT IT ALL, HOME MADE PICKLES AND PEPPERS AND THEN STROUDEL....I ONLY HAD FOUR PIECES IT WAS A SUPER HIGHLITE...WHAT LOVELY PEOPLE IN A LOVELY RURAL HOME...WE WILL BE SENDING THEM A SOUVENIER FROM NEVADA...HOME TO BUDAPET...DID A TOUR WALKING FROM THE BOAT TO THE CITY...SHORT...HISTORIC...CHRISTMAS FLAVOR...DID FIND ERNEST LUBITCH'S SHOP AROUND THE CORNER...BUT I LOOKED...AGAIN TO THE SHIP...DRAWING FOR CASH (WE LOST) FINAL DINNER...JOHN AND JANET ON THE DANUBE. MOVED THE SHIP FOR DEPARTURE.

19 DECEMBER SUNDAY...FINAL MEAL BREAKFAST...PACKED...CLEANED THE ROOM OUT AND TO SHORT CITY TOUR...AIRPORT AT BUDA AND PEST 330PM 630 PM FLY TO ROME WE HOPE FOR FIVE DAYS IN CENTRAL ITALY HOME CHRISTMAS DAY. BUDAPEST MARKET THIS DAY TERRIFIC...BUDAPEST AIRPORT VIRTUALLY CLOSED WITH EARLY DEPARTURE COLLEAGUES FROM TOUR AT 6 AM DEPARTURES STILL AT THE AIRPORT AT 6...LOTS OF FLIGHTS CANCELLED...NOT US...ONLY SLIGHT DELAY...LEAVE BUDAPEST AT 730ISH SOUTH...TO ROME...90 MINUTES ROME...TAKE CAR TO OUR FRIEND MARSHAS HOUSE FOR 120 MILE RIDE...BED 130AM

20 DECEMBER MONDAY...SHORT DAY RECOVERY TV REST

21 DECEMBER TUESDAY...VACATION TOUR EVIDENTALLY NOT OVER...HAVE NICE WITH FOUR SEMI CHARMING WOMEN (ONE EXTREMELY CHARMING-JANET) THEN GET LOST ON THE ROAD AND FIND ASSISI...LOVELY HILLTOP HISTORIC STONE AGE OLD (1100) SHOPS...STRENOUS WALK...SHOPPED-BOUGHT LOTS OF CRAP WE DIDN'T NEED AND HAD PIZZA AND MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WITH BRET FAVRE'S LATEST INJURY

22 DECEMBER WEDNESDAY...STARTING TO DRAG IN CENTRAL ITALY

23 DECEMBER THURSDAY...LOVELY CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH NEW ITALIAN FRIENDS AND MEETING 85 YEAR SIDNEY HOLT...AUTHOR...UN REP...FAO REP...WHALE SAVER...WORLD TRAVELER...ACE STORY TELLER AND ALL AROUND GOOD OLD FART...MADE MY DAY...HIS NEXT BOOK...OUT 28 FEB 2011 HIS 85TH BIRTHDAY...IN COLLEGE AS A STUDENT IN 44 45 46...EXPERIENCED THE REAL WORLD AS A YOUTH AND AS A COMMUNIST...REALLY INTERESTING PERSON. HERE IS WHAT HIS WEB BIO SAYS "What I do....I am a biologist, specialised in fish and marine mammals population dynamics and management of fisheries and whaling. I am retired, with no specific connection with government of academic institutions now, but many informal contacts with NGOs and some government and UN agencies. My interests and activities are global in extent and I am currently especially interested in the history of the above subjects and activities.


24 DECEMBER FRIDAY...HOPING FOR A SAFE RIDE TO ROME AIRPORT AND THE HILTON

25 DECEMBER SATURDAY...HOPING FOR 2 SAFE FLIGHTS TO LAS VEGAS