Stuttgart, Germany & F. Scott Fitzgerald

 Boxy modern buildings dismay me; a local German woman explains that they had to rebuild quickly after the devastation of WW 2. The hostel  is a high rise, state-of-the-art structure and the accommodations  more sophisticated than the hostels of Amsterdam or Paris
 Third day in, I wake up terribly congested and remember to invert myself in a yoga down-dog to alleviate sinus pressure Thick yellow snot I blow at frequent intervals from my nose  I am grateful for the strong, high quality German tissues, as thick  as our paper towels 
 F. Scott Fitzgerald visits in a dream; he is a black dog with a stark white chest that makes his coat resemble a tuxedo    He says, “Of course I am F. Scott Fitzgerald! What did you think?

 I am very impressed by the Porsche Museum and Ferry Porsche’ compelling story-
 I have longed for a Porsche years ago and now that dream is renewed

 The next day I am determined to see the Mercedes Museum as well-

  Roommate says that it is even more spectacular than the Porsche exhibit

  After figuring out how to get on the right train, which is no easy feat

    for me, I arrive only to find it closed (then I remember the warning

 about some European museums being closed on Monday or Tuesday)

  On the way back, I am so thirsty I splurge on two liters of water

   When I open one to chugalug, I almost gag on the bubbles

  Later I find out that if you want “still” water, you must read the

  label

   F. Scott Fitzgerald barks at me: Wake up! It’s nearly time to catch

 the train…Is this for real?  A dream dog warning, as alarm
 My cold still holds on
 Stuttgart to Zurich next

 I wonder if F. Scott Fitzgerald will be there, too…

                               summer 2012