Leisure and Travel: Dorinda Urbauer—European Traveler

Q:  Dorinda, the subtitle of this section is “European Traveler.” What is your fascination with Europe and where/how did this attraction originate?

      Dorinda:  I first went to Russia when I was in college. I was a Russian major. Then, in the early 80s, my colleague and very dear late friend, Norman Hansen, organized a trip to Germany for our German students. I was lucky enough to go along and continued to sponsor a trip for the next twenty years. Since then, I have been hooked and have been fortunate to travel to Europe just about every year, sometimes twice. I love the history, the culture, the pace of life, the food, the people—literally everything about it.

Q:  Which European countries have you visited? Of those mentioned, which two or three are your favorites and why?

Dorinda:  I have visited England, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzogovina, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Vatican City, Greece, Montenegro, and Russia.

The German-speaking countries are the ones I have visited the most and know the most about since I taught German. I very much love Italy, especially Sicily, for its beauty, food, and culture. Croatia and Greece were big surprises. They weren’t at the top of my list as places to visit, but I was absolutely blown away by how much I loved them! Amazing sites, incredible food, wonderful people.

Q:  Share some of your most powerfully emotional experiences on any of these trips.

Dorinda:  Rarely a day goes by when I am in Europe that I am not overwhelmed by something which brings me to tears. Some of my favorite memories were: crossing the border into Austria, the country of my grandparents, for the first time; visiting with relatives in Buchschachen, my grandparents’ hometown, about which I had heard so much when growing up; touching the Berlin Wall and thinking it would never fall in my lifetime; seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time from a distance as we rode in a cab toward our hotel; being on the Greek island of Hydra, a place without cars, and diving into the blue Mediterranean; petting baby Lippazaner horses in Slovenia; eating the best pasta of my life in Agrigento, Sicily; getting lost in Venice and being amazed by the unbelievable beauty around every corner and listening to the orchestras on Saint Mark’s Square; walking high up in the Alps; going to Anne Frank’s House in Amsterdam and remembering her diary, which was one of my favorite books as a kid; bicycling along the Danube, not believing I was actually riding across Austria; drinking rose wine on the beach in Nice; sitting at a table at Oktoberfest, talking to people, while drinking that wonderful beer. I could probably go on and on…

Q:  Where are you traveling next? What countries/cities would you like to visit or revisit in the future and why?

Dorinda:  In September, we are spending a week in my dream city of Berlin. We are then traveling to Hamburg and to Munich for my sixth Oktoberfest. We will then spend a week in a castle (really!) in northern Bavaria.

I want to go everywhere for the first time and again. I especially hope to visit
Scandinavia, more Greek islands, and return to Sicily.

Q:  What suggestion(s) might you offer to our readers who have never been to Europe but are considering traveling there?

Dorinda:  Just go! Don’t worry about the language barrier, many people speak some English, and there is something wonderful about not really knowing what is going on! The food and wine alone are worth the trip! Don’t depend on being led around by a tour guide—the best experiences are those that are totally unexpected. There is beauty around every corner.

Q:  What’s your philosophy of life, and/or what advice might you give to our readers to help them enjoy life and its stresses?

Dorinda:  Being different is good and dogs are the best gift to help a person de-stress!

Q:  Is there any other information you would like to share with us?

Dorinda:  I would be happy to assist anyone with their trip planning. I am especially proficient in the use of trains! loudor@comcast.net