Hanging out with a fast crowd

Let me first say that there are definite advantages to me taking a bus trip with senior citizens, including:

~ They walk slowly. I'm known as being a pokey walker so this is fabulous for me.

~ No embarrassment at wearing sensible shoes. What they're sporting makes my idea of sensible shoes look like a pair of Chanel slingbacks.

~ No need to wear too much makeup. Even with a staggering lack of sleep, I still looked decades younger than my bus-mates.

~ They dig young people hanging out with them.

This trip I made with Tante Giesela was with a senior citizens social club she belongs to. They go on little bus trips a few times a month and these people are so in to this stuff. And by golly they should be - it's probably what helps keep them lively.

After being personally greeted by every single person going on the trip (with Tante Giesela saying "This is my grand-neice...she normally can't go out!"), we jumped (well...) on the bus and took off. Traditionally at the start of their trip they put their favorite song on the bus' PA system and they all sing along. It was so sweet to see these old ladies and gentlemen singing loud and proud that I actually got a little teary-eyed.

We rolled over the countryside past fields of wheat and rye and sugar beets and lots and lots of fields filled with blooming poppies and a couple hours later arrived at Wörlitzer Park, had lunch at some place that boasts being schnitzel specialists (and curiously were served pork roast for lunch), and then trooped down to the canal to have our park tour by boat.

Unfortunately it was overcast all day so the pictures I took are less than spectacular but it was still nice to be gliding along among the ducks and swans. And I have nothing but deep admiration for the guy rowing the boat. I can only marvel at how he could row fourteen people in a boat, most of which had amply large asses, and give a tourguide's description of the park and never sound even sort of out of breath.

After our boat trip we walked around the ground of the park (and didn't get too far) and then went back to the restaurant for coffee and cake. And we were so fortunate that the rain held off until we were in the restaurant.

It was then time to head back to Magdeburg and I was honestly glad to be heading for home. I'm not used to being out without B (Tante Giesela is right - I don't get out much) and when I'm away from him it just feels strange and a little lonesome.

A mile or so before our drop off point the music on the PA system suddenly changed and the sing-along song came on again. And despite these old folks being a little tired, they still sang strong and happy.

La Luna blue.....La Luuuuuuna bluuuuue