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Here I would love to share with you our travels and adventures as international mushroom consultants. MEMOIRS about husband Pieter Vedder, who was a SCIENTIFIC PIONEER in Mushroom Cultivation Education. His practical handbook is in 9 languages and is called the MUSHROOM BIBLE: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2020/08/modern-mushroom-growing-2020-harvesting.html

Monday, March 18, 2024

Our Acapulco, Mexico Vacation I

 Yes, we have enjoyed some very special vacations in Acapulco, México.
A country where we both worked for over ten years as consultants.
View of Acapulco Bay from our room 2103 at the 21st floor
My flight ticket home on February 25, 2005. 
We arrived on February 15...
Hyatt Regency Acapulco was our home for those 10 days...
It read: WELCOME TO THE PEARL OF THE PACIFIC! 
Of course with our Hyatt card we had access to Regency Club.
Quite a luxury which we enjoyed world wide!
City view and you see bottom right they even had a Walmart Super Center
View of the 3 big pools and the beach with large tropical garden all around
View from the beach
View towards hotel, from beach area
We both loved the lush tropical garden setting...
Such a happy place to be together!
Well, on February 18, we both made a phone call to The Netherlands, using our American Express card. This due to the somber news of Wilhelmien, Pieter's middle brother Toon's love. She had pancreatic cancer and only three more weeks to live.
That was a rip off but to both of us those 7 minutes talking to her for US $ 49.89 was worth it!
It sure did lift her up 💕
On Sunday, February 20, we also prayed for her during Mass at noon, on the 23rd floor.
Our boss Tino and his wife Carmen drove four hours down from México City on the Maxi Pista for visiting us! They arrived on August 23.
We felt honored and enjoyed this dinner together at the Kookaburra restaurant across from our hotel on the Acapulco Bay. It is unique due to its spectacular bay views. See the tree beam to the right of me? A very unique open construction.
We all together went to the old town to see: ACAPULCO, MEXICO — THE CLIFF DIVERS OF LA QUEBRADA ←click for 1 minute video. 
Both of us had seen cliff divers before, in Hawaii
Our last night, we enjoyed this spectacular sunset...

Our arrival flights on February 15, were an adventure as I flew with Continental via Houston and Pieter with United via México City and with Aviasco to Acapulco. But they didn't fly, so he got there with AeroMexico a good hour later.

Going home was another adventure.
We both left for the airport in the taxi I'd bought my round trip ticket for upon arrival. We had hugged Tino and Carmen goodby and left at 10:30 AM for Pieter's earlier flight around noon.

We both only flew with hand luggage so checking in went swift. Pieter had to go to the domestic terminal and I to international so we hugged goodbye.
Pieter's flight got delayed one hour and I worried about his connection in Chicago... from México City and then to Atlanta.
Pieter left at 2:30 PM instead of at noon time—needless to say that he missed his connection with United to Chicago.
He arrived in México City and after pleading with AeroMexico, they gave him a ticket for 8:00 AM next day and non–stop to Atlanta. They also dropped him off at the Riazor Hotel in México City.
Pieter had requested Continental and United to page me but I never heard any message...

In Atlanta around midnight, there was no service at all. The information booth was un–staffed!
Did wait till 0:30 AM and used my spare key from our Mazda Millenia S and sat in the car by 0:50 AM on my way home. 
At home by 2:50 AM when checking the answering machine, sure enough I got a message from Pieter from the Riazor Hotel in México City with his number there and request to call him.
Sorry for having to wake him up—Georgia is one hour ahead of time but Pieter was glad we made contact. He was mad at the airlines for poor service and not contacting me.

Well, by 4:15 AM I was in bed and up again at  8:15 AM and after a light breakfast I was on my way to the airport after I'd gassed up.
Went to the AeroMexico counter after seeing that flight 306 had landed slightly early. They still had to go through customs.
So I had time to verify that Pieter actually had been ON that flight. Went to three people before I finally got my info—after pushing for it.
No, this is protected information for security reason...! Yes, I said but the plane is already on the ground, no longer in the air... So she did check and asked: Pieter?—yes, that's him!

It took Pieter 40 minutes till we could hug each other and were re–united again.
Pieter drove home and went straight to the Country Lane Pet Lodge to pick up our kitties Spooky and Barty boy. 

That was the closing of United Airlines for us after this adventure with the frequent flyer 'free ticket' for Pieter. Well, still $ 60 and he paid $ 375 for the small segment from México City to Acapulco. The gain was merely $ 200 compared to my ticket of $ 605 all in with Continental. 

Pieter vowed to never travel separately again!

Thursday, March 14, 2024

My Estonian Socks with ROSES

 Already for two years I had this pair of hand knitted Estonian woolen socks with ROSES
But they did not fit in ANY of my shoes...
Got me some bone colored Crocs in a size 9 and that works perfect!
Knew Mieke, from the blog Gebreide Sjaals in The Netherlands.
Did have her knit a beautiful lace knitted scarf in black, for our adopted daughter Liz in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Never got any photo of it however...
Dikke wollen kniekousen winter 21/2022 ←click link and at the very top you also find knitted scarfs.
All hand knitted in Estonia and they truly are gorgeous!
Pieter took this detail from my leg...
One can only admire such incredible work!
Wearing my Escada skirt (pleated in the back) with my roses socks and cashmere sweater.
Bare legs as I was having my medical pedicure at Georgia Podology Services in Lithonia, GA near Atlanta.
Next day, wearing my Wolford pantyhose under my knee socks with roses. 
This was at the Hyatt House Atlanta/Cobb Galleria.
Inside our room...

Do you like ROSES and warm woolen socks?

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

LEGAL IMMIGRANTS

With all that is going on in the United States of America right now—open borders where millions have crossed, one often wonders WHY?!
When we came here, we got checked out thoroughly—checking if we had paid our Dutch taxes and we had to show our diplomas in person to a lawyer that came to our home. No copies!

We only had our B–1 Visa at that time...
You must never have been in any trouble by the law.

So, in November of 1983 going to the town hall in Duiven, Gelderland. 
Yep, another trip across the Atlantic
On to the municipality in Bergen and Arcen for a certificate of good conduct for Pieter's stay there. All this for the U.S. Consulate to get our Green Card... our first step towards United States Citizenship later in 1993.
Pieter's Certificate of good conduct over the years 1946 through April 12, 1955 
Pieter's paper for immigration from Ministry of Defense
Pieter's Certificate of good conduct from Bergen in Limburg
Pieter's Certificate of good conduct from Arcen in Limburg
Pieter's Certificate of good conduct from Horst in Limburg
My Certificate of good conduct from Horst in Limburg
Letter of CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES for the appointment on April 24, 1984.
April 24, 1984 again back in The Netherlands. 
Early rising at 5:00 AM and with the 5:50 AM train to Rotterdam, where we arrived at 8:30 AM at the American Consulate. 
New building, opposite the eye hospital... (Where Pieter had his surgery for implant lens early July, 1982—reccommended by Dr. Tan Kok Kheng from Singapore. → see previous post at very top: Visiting Dr Tan Kok Kheng in Singapore. Who would have dreamed that?!

 First to the GGD for X-rays. Waiting for the results. Taking the subway to some doctor for medical– and blood tests. At 1:00 PM with this result back to the Consulate. And ready at 4:30 PM after questions; fingerprints and taking the oath that we had filled in the truth. Our long day got rewarded with a heavy, sealed parcel for our permanent visa for the sum of F 800.00 (Florin = Dutch Guilder)
 
Pieter's x–rays
That is me...
LOTS OF DOCUMENTS and we had to pay a total of F 800 and as you can see here US $ 100 was equivalent to F 310 so it was US $ 258 for April 24 of 1984
Pieter's finger prints... 
FBI = FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Yes, like a criminal we got thoroughly checked out!

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MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS © 2009. All rights reserved - Text and images may not be copied for distribution or sale.

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