My last significant stop in Europe before moving on to Asia took place in Waldshut, Germany, home of Fee and Klaus. Fee was an exchange student who lived with my mother’s family when she and my mother were in their formidable years. I began the summer visiting her daughter and her family in Frankfurt, so I guess I bookended the summer with my German family! The stay was only one night, but what hosts Fee and Klaus have proved over and over to be. Klaus grilled up an astounding array of delicious foods that kept coming to my plate. The wine and the champagne flowed and I listened for hours as they told stories of years gone by. I reveled in hearing about their time in the States, particularly the stories of Fee’s high school year with my grandparents, my uncles, and my mom.

The next morning, before serving up a delightful breakfast, Fee and Klaus toured me around their extensive garden, which may just include every living tree and plant known to mankind! Then they took me up into the Black Forest. This was the second time they had done so, as I was fortunate enough to spend a Christmas with them years ago. The forest proved to be no less profound this time around. Picture Hanzel and Gretel in the deep dark woods interspersed with Bavarian style villages and there you have it. We toured the Dome of St. Blasius, and the boarding school on the premises.Next, they treated me to a traditional-style lunch at a Bavarian restaurant where I tried a couple of the beers brewed on sight.

That evening I made my way back to Lugano for one night. My friends and colleagues, Masa and Sonia, graciously let me stay at their place while they were away in her home country of Slovakia.

The next day I took the train to Milan, picked up my Indian travel visa, and rode the metro around for the day before heading to the airport and flying out for…

Fee and I below. Fee and Klaus also below. Notice some pieces of Klaus’s fine art collection in the background.