Jet lag...

We're finally home, and I can return to writing. We got home about 9:30 last night, after a 10-hour flight from Prague and a 1-hour flight from Vienna to Prague and the 2-hour shuttle ride from Atlanta back to Chattanooga. Poor Ann and Al had to go on from Atlanta to LA.

We had a great time - as always. Our bodies are 6 hours earlier than local time, so it'll take a while to get that back in synch. But the wash is done, and I've been to the grocery store.

I haven't had time to download the photos, but will get that done before the weekend. Margaret's 50th birthday party is going to be at Vicki's gallery on Saturday. Fortunately, we're just guests at this one. Sue and Margaret's sister-in-law are the hostesses. I don't know who-all is going to be there, but most will be coming in on Saturday sometime.

We spent one week each in Prague (Czech Republic), Budapest (Hungary), and Vienna (Austria). These are lovely old (but still vibrant) cities with so much to see and do. They have great public transportation systems, so we did a lot in the "old towns" using trams and subways and our feet. I've probably walked more in the last three weeks than in the last year - and used up a lot of acetominophen. We rarely had any "down" time. We were staying in very nice apartments, but there was no place except inside to just sit and "veg out".

The museums, art, natural history, historical, musical, cultural, abounded. We heard a string trio playing Mozart in Prague; went to a folk dance performance in Budapest; and heard the Mozart Orchestra, dressed in period costumes, play an all-Mozart concert in Vienna. We ate goulash, wiener schnitzel, and sausages in three countries.

We played a lot of bridge - nearly every evening. We changed partners after every rubber, and kept a running score. On the last night, Al beat John out for high, and I was very low - no more than half what the others had - terrible cards the whole time.

It's good to be home - at least for a little while.