This is a photo of me in Ollantaytambo, Peru, the starting point for the Inca Trail that leads to Machu Picchu.  This was only one of a series of dizzying, broken-stone series of steps I had  to climb during my journey to Peru a number of years ago:

I had trained assiduously but while I can say that other than some strained tendons I did not have much after climb soreness, I was not prepared for the sheer terror of potentially falling into, no kidding, thin air.  After a few moments on our first climb, my camera was firmly stashed away in my backpack and all concentration was given to staring at the steps before me and this habit continued on all the steep up and down hikes.

Step climbing of varying levels of difficulty and terror has been a common theme during my travels:

HOLLAND

CHINA

ITALY

KENT FALLS  STATE PARK CONNETICUT

While not treacherous, right before my trip to Scandinavia I was faced with steps of a different kind: my coop’s elevator was undergoing significant renovations for 6 weeks.  For 5 of those 6 weeks, I had to climb down and up from my apartment – which is on the top  9th floor 3 to 5 times a day to walk the  dog and do various chores.  Having bone on bone knees now I wasn’t quite sure if this was doable, despite years of therapy and current weight training and stretching exercises.

Fortunately, not only was  my prep work successful, this stair marathon actually strengthened my legs so I was all ready to take on my next challanges.

But before I even got to the airport – there was an unexpected challenge (WTDGAP* moment).  JFK Airport is also undergoing extensive renovations, making an otherwise 20 or so minutes trip to upwards of 2 hours.  Car service picked me up early enough but halfway to the airport I realized that I hadn’t switched my. charge cards from my everyday wallet to my travel one..  Getting off the  highway and turning around  wasn’t easy and I was hyperventilating.  Props to the driver who managed some detours and got me back to my apartment.  Now I had to once again  run up and down 9 flights of stairs and told the driver I would be down in less than 5 minutes with my cards.

I made the round trip in 4 minutes and 45 seconds.  And got to the airport with more than 1.5 hours to spare and  easily made my flight.  I am now ready for anything!!!!

Oslo was my first stop, arriving one day before my tour actually started – a tradition borne of caution in fear of other WTDGAP* moments.  With my first potential crisis averted, I was now ready for anything so took my first walk from my hotel to the harbor to get my bearings.

While I didn’t come upon  steps/stairs like the above – there was enough beautiful vistas  to keep my energy up:

The hotel , the Oslo  Grand Hotel, also had a few small reminders to keep me humble:

LOBBY

MY FLOOR

But I was ready!  And just in case:

The journey is just beginning!

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*When Things Don’t Go As Planned