As I begin to write this I am driving through the Austrian Alps in the pouring rain on the way to Mauthausen concentration camp. Preparing to deliver my WW2 and holocaust spiel gets no easier each trip I do. In fact it almost gets harder because no matter how many times I repeat it, I can't change what happened and the story always has the same ending. It's the most somber part of my job but such an important visit for people who had family involved in this shocking event that cast a shadow over European history. Others who have no family connection, but were taught of it in school, are simply in search of answers and comprehension of something that will just never make sense.
The stark contrast in my day to day life with touring around Europe is mind blowing sometimes. A week ago I went from the majestic Swiss alps, running along a stream in a valley past cute Swiss cottages, going up mountains and hanging out in the snow to then drinking Chianti Classico under the Tuscan sun (I soon realised I sat in the right place when a couple of girls on my table didn't like wine, so being the good tour leader I am I saved them any embarrassment and polished off each round of their tastings). Each round of wine tasting came with a different plate of home cooked food (absolutle luxury in my line of work) - each round could be described nothing less than heaven in your mouth.
Two days ago I was in 30+ degree temperatures sunbathing and swimming at Lido beach, Venice. 24 hours later, in a wet suit in 5 degrees, splashing about in mountain water as I abseiled and jumped my way through a canyon in the Austrian alps with my crazy group of passengers. Bringing me to this point of visiting a concentration camp before heading into the beautiful Czech capital of Prague where I'll enjoy a great dinner and a fun night out with over 40 people who have become like a family in the last two weeks. Bitter/sweet is life and of course I then sadly have to say goodbye to them in 6 nights before I meet another group of individuals I'm yet to know. I love my job as the day to day differences keep my senses and emotions sharp making me feel alive.
I have become so grateful when I am surrounded by positive people and happy go lucky humans, as I've had in the past, when Mr difficult and his sidekick, moody girlfriend are on board (and the likes) who struggle with life and negativity is king of their aura, it is amazing how a couple of people can effect the mood of many. Some people just need to stay home for the good of human kind or learn to suck it up and enjoy this beautiful life. The stress of trying to please the unpleasable literally causes me a tension headache. The sharp tongue that I was "occasionally" told off for as a child, I have definitely had to tame. My Mantra to stay professional with difficult people - "Patience is a virtue and the comeback for negativity is best conquered with positivity right back in their faces!"
I love observing the world. The difference in landscapes, food, architecture and most certainly the people. The way we are all so different. Not one particular thing is right. There is just such a wide variety of opinions, tolerances, languages, habits, behaviours and any combination of the above. It all comes down to what we are taught as we grow up and our personal/family preferences. I love the free days I have in they cities I take passengers to but I also love the drive days where I watch the world go by, the beauty in it, the differences in it, the history in it, the buildings in it and the people in it.
So I pretty much have the best job in the world for myself right now. I am super happy except for these few issues -
1. No matter where I am in the world I am always missing someone. Even if I went home (what and where is home?) my loved ones are scattered across Australasia. As well as my dear friends living on the northern side of the globe.
I must say I miss seeing my nephews grow and spending time with my elderly grandparents.
2. I meet an amazing group of people for a limited time and then we say goodbye, never to be one group again. Next group syndrome starts to kick in fearing that this next strange mix of people won't live up to the last group.
3. Some people are idiots, who are miserable and can't see the beauty and positivity in what's around them and that makes me sad. It makes me sadder when others are effected by their negative attitudes.
On a lighter note... talking about my need to bite my tongue earlier... I have had numerous, embarrassing Freudian slips this year. Completely unintentional sexual innuendo popping out in front of passengers. We reach the Trevi fountain in Rome, mention it's at the end of the 2000 year old aqua duct called the Aqua Virgin, if you drink from the fountain on the right the myth is you will become a virgin again. I talk more about the aqua duct and fountain. I also mention tossing coins into the fountain and the "meanings" or "myths" for doing so. I wind it all up saying "10 minutes to go toss in your coins and de-virginise yourself!" My passengers didn't move to quickly instead they stood laughing asking if I meant to say re virginise!
Another time, I was doing my Germany introduction and I was getting to the matter of food. I mentioned there are many types of sausages and various ways to have them done. As I like to ad-lib to keep my spiels natural, what followed was taken completely the wrong way by a bus load of young adults.... "So this means you could have a sausage a day in a different way!"...
Might leave sausages out of it from now on. Alas, got to keep the entertainment up somehow.
Speaking of sausage, that's my on the road tradition when I arrive in Dresdan, Germany each time I get a €3 bratwurst sausage. They just tastes better over here!
Now that I am finishing writing this I am a few days along from when I started and have passed through the Czech Republic, trying my first absinth shot and carried on into Germany where as well as the sausage, I indulged in some more German meat and had pork knuckle for the first time.
Reason being the first time, I have never been a fan of eating meat off a bone... This makes it seem more like eating an animal than having a nice fillet.
Today I topped off this meaty two day visit to Germany with the biggest schnitzel I think I have ever eaten in my life.
Off to the land of cheese, weed, clogs and bikes tomorrow - Holland bound.
