The Grand Trip

In 1968 Martin Luther King, Jnr had a dream.  His dream was to end racial discrimination.  Whilst some might claim that it is not of the same scale, Grace Karbowiak (aka Grandma) also had a dream.  Her dream was to see Europe through the eyes of a passenger on board a river cruise.  For the past couple of years Grandma has been dreaming of travelling back to Europe. However, Grandma was aware that organising herself and Grandad half way around the world and back may have been a bit to much for her. Thats where I come in.... I guess you could call me the dream facilitator. It was decided that I would travel with the grandrentals (Grandma and Grandad) to facilitate their trip.

For the benefit of anyone reading this blog who as not met either of the Grandrentals or myself here is the low down:

Passenger 1
Grace aka Grandma is 84 years old.  Was born in England but has lived in Australia for the last 50 odd years.  Grandma was the matron of several nursing homes and can be particularly terrifying when she puts her mind to it.  Grandma was my first employer and my ability to dust skirting boards and make beds (with hospital corners of course) is a testimony to the many school holidays spent earning a bit of pocket money cleaning their house.

Passenger 2
Toni aka Grandad is 88 years old.  Grandad is Polish and lived in Poland during World War 2.  Grandad loves whistling, telling stories and dancing. Grandad has Alzhimers Disease and is in the 'zone' of WW2, consequently and not very politically correctly he blames everything on the Germans and the Jews. (We are going to have fun when we travel through Germany!)

Passenger 3
Me aka Maria, Emmy, Ra, I am 23 years old and have just finished 5.5 years of uni. As of a couple of days ago I am now a kindy teacher starting week one term 3.  In fact we arrive back at 7 pm on the Sunday and I start my first day of teaching at 8:50am the next day. (WOOHOO!!!) I am hoping there will be a hot guy escorting his grandparents on the river cruise- fingers crossed!

In preparation for this trip the three of us went on a practice river cruise on the Murray.  Where Grandad caught his first ever fish, embarrassed me with his John Clease style dancing, and proudly informed Grandma, myself and the bemused taxi driver that his mum was actually a guy.  (as a result of this trip Grandad and I took a dancing lesson to curb his enthusiastic and unique dancing style).

I hope to update regularly and keep you all posted on the happenings on our Grand Trip!