Greece and Switzerland 2018 May 10-28

Team Washington

This years first big trip will be with my good friends and colleagues from the Hospice Caregiving Research Network (HCRN). We have just finished uploading our first book- a masterpiece- and a time suck- so we have much to celebrate! We look forward to seeing it in print soon! Let me introduce you to the cast of characters and update you on me. Welcome friends and family! 

Debbie Oliver- the author and documentarian of this travel journey. I have just finished watching the 9 month building of my new house and will close on it less than 24 hours after returning from this journey. I am excited- it is my dream home- and its nice to know excitement awaits me upon my return- I will have no time for jet lag. My dog Chewy will be spending time at my middle daughter Beckys house with his friend Tuffy- when he returns it will be to a new home! In addition to finishing the HCRN book I have finished the manuscript for a memoir and when I unpack will be searching for an agent and publisher. Its going to be a busy summer. Counting on my oldest daughter Jessica reading these posts to my youngest grandchildren Ollie and Parker so they can learn about the fun of travel and the beautiful world we are only a small part of. Tina and Becky are in Japan and will return while Im gone- lucky Justin is a great son-in-law and can keep Chewy entertained. Andrew has started a new job and we are thankful his stress has been reduced. Mike and Michelle have a beautiful new home, beating me to the bunch in moving. Megan and Matt are both about to be done at school, I will look forward to seeing them and showing off the new house. Brad and Carole are busy with the girls- Emily has demonstrated Brad sees fewer colors than all the girls in their family- despite it however he's a great artist. Im heading to Philly for a couple days before leaving for Athens so I can see Georges new environment and we can both go Business Class together. 

George Demiris- George and I founded the HCRN and have worked together now for more than 15 years. He has just recently moved from Seattle to Philly as he joined the Penn School of Nursing. He will be our tour guide and translator since we are headed first to his homeland and second home, Athens Greece. He's been busy finding us tours, arranging transportation and making sure we are all ready for a good time. George will help serve as our comedian as he always keeps us entertained. He and I will be the lead team, getting to Athens a day before Team Washington. The Air BnB that the Washingtons and I have rented for the time in Athens is sponsored by Panos- and the reviews talk endlessly about homemade cookies, the Washingtons let us go ahead at great risk that they will miss the cookies. George has a brother, aunt, niece and nephew still in Athens. I know his aunt and hope to finally meet the rest of his family. George is a bit camera shy so we will have to sneak in a few photos to prove he is with us! 

Team Washington: Karla is the youngest HCRN member and is a rising star! She was once a student of both mine and Georges but she is now our teacher. She is the most recent attendee of the conference we are attending so her experience there will be helpful. Karla has volunteered to be our caregiver as we age so this can be a practice run. Her adorable husband Kerry will join George as a comedian and sports expert and he has the very important role of keeping us from working and helping us focus on fun! Team Washington has been viewing every Greek video they can get their hands on and practicing the new language. This will be their first venture to Greece and they have high expectations. Kerry has been counting down every single day for months. Not letting alittle jet lag stop him he is determined to play golf the first day we are there- the last time he traveled internationally alone to meet Karla they got hopelessly separated- lets hope he manages the trolley better this time on the way to the golf course! Hopefully George can help with expert directions. Team Washington will be experiencing Coach seats so we can compare notes when they finally arrive and hopefully find some of Panos cookies waiting.

Our itinerary is packed. We will take a ferry 7 hours to the island of Santorini for three days, a one day ferry trip to Hydra, an overnight bus tour to Delphi and Olympia, and of course Athens in between. From Athens we go to Zurich and take the train to Bern for a conference-returning through Philly. Join us for the adventure! All typos, grammar, and mistakes are mine and I accept them- I am on vacation!

The adventure began as we attempted to buy our train tickets from Zurich to Bern and discovered the trains were on strike the day we needed them! Not to be defeated and being international travel specialists we found a taxi transfer service and now will have deluxe accommodations for not much more $. There is a solution to every problem. That being said, I am spending the first day of my vacation sitting at the KC airport delayed as I try to get into Philly so I can visit Penn Tomorrow. Now 2 hours late dinner is being threatened!