The best laid plans

When the best laid plans go awry it behooves one to go with the flow. I think I may have experienced a bit of instant karma on my flight to Europe. An hour after the departure of the first leg of my journey from KC to Philadelphia passed it was announced that the flight was cancelled due to mechanical difficulties. What to do? Just surrender to the Greater Power and let things unfold as they may. The young lady at the airline desk spent at least a half hour banging away on her computer keyboard to find me some kind of alternative connection. I said not a word and let her do her thing. There was no point in being reactive to the situation in any way. After she found me one of the last seats on a Chicago-Munich flight I thanked her for her persistence. My self discipline paid off. When I boarded the Munich flight I discovered that I had been upgraded to Business Class. She hadn't told me that. (I may have jumped over the counter and given her a big hug if she had.) It was a little gift from heaven. Let me tell you, BC is mighty fine: roomy seats that are like recliners, superb food and service. The wine and champagne flowed from an open spigot. The flight was even more enjoyable as I was seated next to a very interesting guy who worked for an international pharmaceutical firm that was developing new drugs. He was on his way to a conference. He was also of Indian background, but not a Hindu or a Muslim but a Jain. (At least that was his heritage, he is not practicing.) The Jain religion arose at the time of the Buddha and is similar to Buddhism. We had much to talk about.
I finally arrived at the Graz airport and deliberated how I was going to get myself and two heavy bags to the car rental place. I saw a booth that offered rides anywhere for a reasonable price (17 Euros). I picked up my car (a fire engine red Polo) and was on my way in no time. It all happened so fast that, when I was north of Graz, driving through spectacular mountain scenerey, I thought I was in a dream. How did I get here? Just a few hours before I was on an airplane and now I'm in another world. I stopped the car to inhale the bracing mountain air, redolent of new-mown hay, and to snap the attached photo. Austria is glorious! Two things strike me immediately: this country is SO mountainous and it is SO Catholic. More about that later.