Ottawa, September  16^th, 2015

Four geriatrics, two young adults and a baby traveling together through Europe, how did this unlikely scenario materialize?

On a trip to Zion National Park in Utah, some years ago we met a couple from California at breakfast.  We spent a whole day together and quickly became friends. Over dinner that night we discussed our planned trip to India and proposed that Lynanne and Lloyd join us on that adventure the following year. On our return home, we were surprised and happy to get an email from them saying they would love to join us. We cemented the friendship started at Zion by visiting each other, them in Berkely CA, and us in Ottawa ON, and holding regular Skype planning meetings.  Against all odds, traveling with new acquaintances turned out to be a marvelous experience.   During the trip to India, we met a delightful young couple, Jörg and Maria. Maria had just completed her PhD in Bio-Infomatics, so they were taking a year off work and study to travel.  Once again, we absorbed them into our group, and all quickly became friends.   Their travels took them to California where they visited Lynanne  and Lloyd and also to Ottawa where they visited us.    A few years later, on our way to Iran,  Jörg and Maria came to spend a few days with us in Istanbul.   Well, these unlikely travelers, Canadians (one originally from India), Americans, a German and Columbian are now meeting up in Brussels, where Jörg, Maria and baby Valerie reside, to start off on our European Odyssey.