Day 8

How long has it been since I was in a hot tub? Last night we had to experience the “exclusively ours” hot tub in our room. Why?  Because it was there. Shap pushed every button to get it going, then we both sat down in the redwood cocoon, only to have the water overflow onto the floor. In most circumstances this is not a problem, but the hot tub was on the second floor. Trying to jump out to get towels was another feat as the tub was very deep. I should not have used the word jump, it was more awkward than a jump. Picture one of those cartoons with an old lady stepping with one foot out of the tub and the other hung up on the rim of the tub. The water did not go all the way to the first floor where the bed was, so we did not have to sleep in wet sheets. I think our hot tub days may be numbered.

Off to the baker who brings the loafs of bread out of the oven blackened with the fire. After cooling they beat the charcoal off the bread and then take a belt sander to it, to get the rest of it off. So, the next time you have burned toast, beat it up, then sand it off and everything will be fine. The bread was great with no burned taste.

Into another fortified church in the center of town where we climbed up to the top of the church. The beginning steps were stone, irregular and steep. The passageway was dark and narrow. Going up was not the issue but the thought of free falling down the stone steps was a bit daunting. Then came the ladders which were at only a slight angle, and with a stair tread for a two-year-old. Up and up and up, the ladders went from one platform to another. Open staircases, one misstep and down the tower you would go. As usual, I asked myself “What am I doing here?”

The top of the tower had a roof on it and was about 5.5 feet tall with head whacking beams. The view was worth the climb and the trip down was not as frightening as I had thought. Off to the blacksmith. While everyone crowded in to take pictures of the blacksmith, I spotted wool slippers that his wife had made. Of course what else would a fiber artist do, I made a beeline to her. We discussed the process through sign language, talking about soaping the wool, rubbing it and how long this took. They were very fun and cozy. Shap and I are sporting wool slippers made by a Romanian gypsy.

I thought we were finished with our life cycle, but I can now add an engagement. We were photographing the castle that was featured in the Dracula movie. The sun was setting on it, we were in a park getting our pictures when I happened to notice a couple sitting on the grass. I thought they were having a photo shoot because there were photographers taking their picture. In the middle of shoot, the man pulled out a box with a ring and asked her to marry him. She did not hesitate for a minute. I was able to get shots after the fact.

It was a beautiful day knowing that love still exists in the world. There is hope for humanity in the everyday things we witness.