The Motto from Krems an der Donau

Exactly one month ago today, as I made my way west from Timişoara and Covasinţ, Romania, toward Fellbach, Germany, I paid a visit to the University of the Danube - Krems, in the beautiful city of Krems an der Donau, Austria.

I arrived about three in the afternoon a bit hungry, a bit thirsty, and dying for a rest room, so my first stop in Krems was at a cafe, where I enjoyed a delicious snack of apple strudel and coffee, along with a glass of water.

Snack eaten, I strolled into the city in search of a bank, for I had not a Euro to my name.  I walked perhaps 500 meters through the heart of this quaint Danubian town.

There is a statue of a man on his knees before a buxom beauty.

Is he proposing?

I believe the story has him begging for forgiveness.

 In the street I met two young men on bicycles who gave me directions to the Arte Hotel, where I ended up spending two most comfortable nights. 

Shirl and I stayed here in 2010, and she well remembers the verdant hill just behind the hotel.

This is the view through the glassed hallway looking toward the University, just across the street.

Turning to the rear of the hotel, one sees the view above.

The Piano
After a most interesting and productive series of meetings at the University, I walked down from the hotel to a pub called "Piano," sat at an outdoor table, and ordered a beer, and a bowl of chili (a dish Shirl had enjoyed on our past visit there).  After not more than three minutes, a young fellow came along and sat one table away, facing my table, and also ordered a beer.  I asked him, "Are you alone?"  He replied, "For the time, yes.  I am expecting my girlfriend after her meeting ends."

Naturally, I invited him to my table, which invitation he happily accepted.  Introducing ourselves, I learned he was Vlad, from Iaşi, Romania.  We ended up spending the evening in conversation (over, maybe, one or two more beers).  The evening ended with a nightcap at the hotel, where he and his Romanian girlfriend, a young veterinarian whose professional meeting had brought them to Krems, were also staying.

The Motto
Are you in the least surprised that I should happen to befriend a Romanian couple in Krems, Austria?  (If you are a faithful reader, of course you are not surprised.)  Which reminds me that I have recently coined a new motto:

Go where you want to go, see what you want to see, and never leave a roadside diner without having made a new friend. - D. C. McDougall, 2013

Habitat for Humanity Noncoincidence

I am at my Plymouth State University office.  I have just opened my University e-mail Inbox, and found the following message from Ms. Diane McDonald, whom I do not know:

I just brought up my website yesterday, www.dcmcd.info (Diane C. McDonald) and thought I ought to check out www.dcmcd.com in case it was something I didn't want friends to accidentally stumble upon.

Imagine my surprise when I saw that your website chronicles your travels in Romania, while mine is fundraising for a Habitat for Humanity trip to Romania.  

Just thought the coincidence was too good not to share.

And a good Scottish name to boot!

Diane McDonald

I have confirmed the authenticity of this Habitat.ro project.  My donation to Diane's Romanian Habitat for Humanity project is already sent.  The link is at www.dcmcd.info.   I hope a few of my loyal readers will also be able to help.

Duncan

Romanian+Panamanian+New Hampshirian Noncoincidence of the Day

Marion and Melinda

As I was about to take a dip in the rooftop pool at Melinda's building in Casco Viejo, Melinda and another woman came onto the terrace looking for me.  Standing in my swimsuit, I met Marion MacGillivray.  I soon learned that Marion is the woman who sold Contadora Island Inn to Silvio and Melinda, after operating it herself for about eight years.  Then, Meli told me that Marion used to live in New Hampshire.  "Where in New Hampshire?" I asked.  She replied, "On Stinson Lake. I used to drive often over Ellsworth Hill and into Campton."  We had lunch.  Marion, it turns out, is an American citizen of Scottish birth and South African upbringing, and has had a fascinating life.  Much of it has been devoted to education, especially of troubled former foster children, which is what her school did on Stinson Lake.  She is a friend of my PSU colleague Prof. Scott Meyer of the sociology department, who is also a friend of Shirl.  So, my Romanian former teaching assistant has bought a Panamanian hotel from my former New Hampshire neighbor.  Hmmm.