Continuing with the frozen drain pipe issue from the previous post, the next day Betty called a plumber who told her he would not be able to get there until the following day. Reluctantly, she made the appointment knowing it would cost in the range of $200 to $300. We settled ourselves with this fact and settled in for a non-productive day.
Of course, our non-productive days involve reading, playing games and oft times deep, thoughtful conversations. I guess I should say our non-productive days mean we are not doing housework rather, we are exercising our minds which is productive.
As time passed during our non-productive day Betty suddenly looked at me and said, "Did you hear that?" Which is really a pointless question since I am deaf but rather than point out the obvious I said, "Hear what?"
"It gurgled."
"What gurgled?"
"The sink, it gurgled."
As any dutiful husband would, I rose to inspect the sink. I ran a little water and low and behold, the blockage had broken free which reinforced my theory that it was an ice blockage. To make sure it was free Betty put on the teapot and boiled water to pour down the drain. After quite a bit of water was dumped she called the plumber back and cancelled the appointment. Money saved. Anytime money is saved, I am a happy husband.
Today is Betty's birthday. She has taken it very well as it is one of the milestone birthdays in one's life. No, I am not going to publish how old she is, I am a gentleman and this just isn't done. Besides, I want to sleep in my bed tonight, not on the couch.
To celebrate this milestone I took her to her favorite restaurant, Genghis Khan which serves a fantastic all you can eat Mongolian Barbecue. As usual we stuffed ourselves. We will now be miserable, although happy, for the next few hours.
Happy Birthday Betty and thank you gurgle.
We are now 180 days away from the beginning of our Pairs adventure. :)
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
The Crazy Time
For more years than I can remember, December has always been the crazy time of the year. In addition to Christmas, my wife's birthday is in December; I also have to pay the end of year property taxes. Of course, throughout the month we have our senses bombarded by ads attempting to compel us to buy the gifts that will make our loved ones, well, love us.
Freezing cold weather, seriously it hasn't been above freezing in a week. Snow, which melts then refreezes becoming ice, daily trips to the wood pile to split more firewood. And finally, today I find the drain pipe for the kitchen sink is frozen, not the water supply lines (although they have frozen in the past) rather, the drain line is frozen. Usually I can repair the little things that go wrong with owning a home however, this time I need to call a plumber.
Yes, it is the crazy time.
But, I do have my wife to keep me grounded, keep me sane. For that, I will be forever grateful.
I hope you take the time this holiday season to appreciate the person that keeps you grounded. As Betty always writes in our Christmas cards, "May you receive some of what you want and all of what you need."
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Joyeux Noël et Heureuse Nouvelle Année
Freezing cold weather, seriously it hasn't been above freezing in a week. Snow, which melts then refreezes becoming ice, daily trips to the wood pile to split more firewood. And finally, today I find the drain pipe for the kitchen sink is frozen, not the water supply lines (although they have frozen in the past) rather, the drain line is frozen. Usually I can repair the little things that go wrong with owning a home however, this time I need to call a plumber.
Yes, it is the crazy time.
But, I do have my wife to keep me grounded, keep me sane. For that, I will be forever grateful.
I hope you take the time this holiday season to appreciate the person that keeps you grounded. As Betty always writes in our Christmas cards, "May you receive some of what you want and all of what you need."
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Joyeux Noël et Heureuse Nouvelle Année
Friday, December 7, 2012
Where to go from here?
Since starting this little journal a few months ago Betty and I have accomplished acquiring our passports, buying our plane tickets, renting an apartment in Paris, having frank and candid discussions about what we want to see and do while we're in Paris, learning about the assorted scams and research, research, research.
So, I feel like I'm prepared for our anniversary celebration in Paris, the only problem now is where to go from here.
Admittedly, when I started this blog/journal thing, I thought I would be sharing tips and advice for the first time traveler and I'm sure a first time traveler that stumbles across this blog/journal thing will find a few tips and a smidgen of advice. I've learned it really isn't that difficult to plan a visit to another country; with the magic of the internet it also isn't difficult to research your destination and and plan activities. You can even purchase transportation tickets, museum passes or opera tickets online and have them mailed to your home before you leave. The research can, and does, become addicting. And now I find I must curb this new addiction.
I have realized not everyone wants to hear about my upcoming trip. They are not concerned with learning about Parisians and the cultural differences between us. The possibility also exists that I will begin taking away the excitement of discovering Paris firsthand.
There are many, many topics concerning Paris I could write about, the different arrondissements and the unique and quirky neighborhoods within each one. The flea markets, antique shops and bountiful shopping opportunities. The varied museums, many of which focus on a particular artist, style or time period. I'm sure foodies would enjoy reading about the different restos, bistros, cafés and who could forget the sweets shops.
It's one thing to write about all of this and an entirely different thing to experience it firsthand. I plan on doing both however, how can I possibly discuss the merits of mussels at Léon de Bruxelles or the relaxing walk through the grounds of the Rodin Museum while admiring his sculptures. So, as you can see, I am left with the question, where do I go from here?
The answer? I'm going to change my focus a tad. When I started this journal/blog thing I had no idea what I was doing, I still don't. So, I'm going to take the time to learn more about blogging, how to read the stats. Currently I know I have one follower (thank you Deborah H. from Australia), I also have 312 page views but, how many of these views are people versus web crawlers?
I need to learn this stuff. One thing I have learned is I follow a lot of other blogs, mainly ones that are focused on Paris, and it is difficult to keep up with them all, I'm sure others are experiencing the same. To help organize and track when there are new posts I discovered Bloglovin a site designed to keep you informed when your favorite blogs post something new.
I have also discovered gadgets, one of which is a countdown clock I have placed on my blog to countdown the days until we leave for Paris. So, off I go to do more research and hopefully make this blog/journal thing a little better. The page layout may change, I have considered doing a series of posts on where I live, treating my home town and the surrounding area as traveler might, as a practice/warm-up for when we are in Paris. One thing that will not change is the focus of this blog and that is our upcoming 30th anniversary celebration in Paris, France.
See you next time.
Bloglovin
So, I feel like I'm prepared for our anniversary celebration in Paris, the only problem now is where to go from here.
Admittedly, when I started this blog/journal thing, I thought I would be sharing tips and advice for the first time traveler and I'm sure a first time traveler that stumbles across this blog/journal thing will find a few tips and a smidgen of advice. I've learned it really isn't that difficult to plan a visit to another country; with the magic of the internet it also isn't difficult to research your destination and and plan activities. You can even purchase transportation tickets, museum passes or opera tickets online and have them mailed to your home before you leave. The research can, and does, become addicting. And now I find I must curb this new addiction.
I have realized not everyone wants to hear about my upcoming trip. They are not concerned with learning about Parisians and the cultural differences between us. The possibility also exists that I will begin taking away the excitement of discovering Paris firsthand.
There are many, many topics concerning Paris I could write about, the different arrondissements and the unique and quirky neighborhoods within each one. The flea markets, antique shops and bountiful shopping opportunities. The varied museums, many of which focus on a particular artist, style or time period. I'm sure foodies would enjoy reading about the different restos, bistros, cafés and who could forget the sweets shops.
It's one thing to write about all of this and an entirely different thing to experience it firsthand. I plan on doing both however, how can I possibly discuss the merits of mussels at Léon de Bruxelles or the relaxing walk through the grounds of the Rodin Museum while admiring his sculptures. So, as you can see, I am left with the question, where do I go from here?
The answer? I'm going to change my focus a tad. When I started this journal/blog thing I had no idea what I was doing, I still don't. So, I'm going to take the time to learn more about blogging, how to read the stats. Currently I know I have one follower (thank you Deborah H. from Australia), I also have 312 page views but, how many of these views are people versus web crawlers?
I need to learn this stuff. One thing I have learned is I follow a lot of other blogs, mainly ones that are focused on Paris, and it is difficult to keep up with them all, I'm sure others are experiencing the same. To help organize and track when there are new posts I discovered Bloglovin a site designed to keep you informed when your favorite blogs post something new.
I have also discovered gadgets, one of which is a countdown clock I have placed on my blog to countdown the days until we leave for Paris. So, off I go to do more research and hopefully make this blog/journal thing a little better. The page layout may change, I have considered doing a series of posts on where I live, treating my home town and the surrounding area as traveler might, as a practice/warm-up for when we are in Paris. One thing that will not change is the focus of this blog and that is our upcoming 30th anniversary celebration in Paris, France.
See you next time.
Bloglovin
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Socialize before you go
In general, people are social creatures. We have our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances. In this, the technological age, we also have facebook, twitter, linkedin and a multitude of other social networking sites. Social groups surround us. Unfortunately, most of the social circles we frequent are populated by those that share the same views, opinions and philosophies as ourselves. Once we announce our decision to visit another country, to become a traveler, the responses from our social circles will range from disbelief, jealousy and the age old statement, "are you crazy?"
The timing is right to join a new social group, a group that travels. Almost every major city has one, and if they don't it isn't that difficult to start one. All you need is a couple of people who want to sit and discuss traveling, you will find people everywhere that will talk of travel.
Betty and I found one such group, they meet once a month at a Panera Bread restaurant. I hesitate to call it a restaurant, it fits more into the café or bistro category. Anyway, we ventured to a meeting about three months ago and found four other travelers that enjoy Europe and most importantly, for me, they had all been to Paris.
As all four are experienced travelers they were more than willing to share their experiences, tips and advice. Most of what they shared confirmed what I had learned through reading travel forums and travel blogs. One member of the group regaled us with how he lost his camera on a recent trip. He said he took all the precautions, was alert, kept his back to the wall of the public transport he was using but someone still managed to get inside his backpack and take his camera. Lesson learned, don't carry anything you are not willing to lose. But then again, the majority of travelers the world over never encounter any mishaps. Just be prepared but don't let it ruin your trip.
The most important thing we took away from our meeting was we found other people who travel. People that have the same itch to travel as we do. Do we agree with everything said, every piece of advice we receive, of course not, that is an important draw for us. Different people with a common interest that do not necessarily share common beliefs. Howevere, we are able to expand ourselves through discussions and experiences shared. We are behaving as most people do.
We are socializing.
The timing is right to join a new social group, a group that travels. Almost every major city has one, and if they don't it isn't that difficult to start one. All you need is a couple of people who want to sit and discuss traveling, you will find people everywhere that will talk of travel.
Betty and I found one such group, they meet once a month at a Panera Bread restaurant. I hesitate to call it a restaurant, it fits more into the café or bistro category. Anyway, we ventured to a meeting about three months ago and found four other travelers that enjoy Europe and most importantly, for me, they had all been to Paris.
As all four are experienced travelers they were more than willing to share their experiences, tips and advice. Most of what they shared confirmed what I had learned through reading travel forums and travel blogs. One member of the group regaled us with how he lost his camera on a recent trip. He said he took all the precautions, was alert, kept his back to the wall of the public transport he was using but someone still managed to get inside his backpack and take his camera. Lesson learned, don't carry anything you are not willing to lose. But then again, the majority of travelers the world over never encounter any mishaps. Just be prepared but don't let it ruin your trip.
The most important thing we took away from our meeting was we found other people who travel. People that have the same itch to travel as we do. Do we agree with everything said, every piece of advice we receive, of course not, that is an important draw for us. Different people with a common interest that do not necessarily share common beliefs. Howevere, we are able to expand ourselves through discussions and experiences shared. We are behaving as most people do.
We are socializing.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Talk to Each Other
Note - Always make sure you save a draft. I had written a post that was the literary equivalent of Hemingway at his finest and didn't save it. Well, maybe not the literary equivalent of Hemingway but it was better than most grade school essays. Anyway, since I didn't save a draft, I lost it all and now will attempt to coax it onto the screen again. Excuse me while I reach into the dusty cobweb filled corners of my brain.
In my last post I talked about our decision to not travel with a carved in stone itinerary however, this doesn't mean I am not planning what I would like to do and see while in Paris. Of course, I am also trying to plan activities that Betty would enjoy as well. And that is where the title of this post comes in.
I'm an art lover, not an afficiando mind you, I just happen to love art. I can explain the reasons different artists attempted certain styles, more or less. I understand art beyond the saying, "I know what I like". Well, I do know what I like but even if I don't care for a particular style I can appreciate the talent, passion and courage it took for the artist to place his brush to canvas or chisel to stone. That being said, I could spend my entire time in Paris wandering through the multitude of museums and galleries and never be bored.
Betty is of a different mind.
Betty likes art, she appreciates the skill required to perform in the craft however, it just isn't her thing. Betty likes the history, not the history of who ruled what area during which time period. She isn't concerned with Marie Antoinette or Napoleon rather, she is interested in the daily history. Betty wants to know how they survived the times, how did they make their clothes, shoes, furniture. The history of daily life is what fascinates her. She even goes beyond just learning about the history, she wants to learn how they did it. Betty wanted to learn to weave, I made her a small loom, she listened to others and taught herself how to weave simple patterns. That is her interest.
So, being the good husband that I am, I planned a three day trip to Carcassonne, France where she could walk through an actual medieval walled city. I researched it and discovered that it wasn't just a walled city, it is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, I figure this is history Betty will LOVE!
Bzzzzzz .... wrong.
When I first told Betty about Carcassonne she was excited but the excitement quickly waned when we found out Carcassonne still has a village within its walls. A village populated by modern people going about their normal modern daily life. My lovely wife informed me that while she was sure Carcassonne would be worth the trip and she would find it all interesting, it wasn't what she was really looking for. What she is looking for is an authentic medieval village populated with people living as they did during the middle ages or renaissance eras. Practicing the crafts of then, going about the daily life as it was during that time. So, back to the drawing board.
This all reinforces the title of this post, you have to talk to each other and plan out activities. Not an itinerary, just a list of places and activities you would like to see and do. If I hadn't talked to Betty I would have drug her to Carcassonne only to be disappointed. Not in the city but in what I would have hoped would have been a fantastic day for my wife. A day she would not have enjoyed nearly as much as I thought she would.
Bottom line, if you are planning to travel with another person, talk to them. Otherwise, one of you will always be disappointed.
In my last post I talked about our decision to not travel with a carved in stone itinerary however, this doesn't mean I am not planning what I would like to do and see while in Paris. Of course, I am also trying to plan activities that Betty would enjoy as well. And that is where the title of this post comes in.
I'm an art lover, not an afficiando mind you, I just happen to love art. I can explain the reasons different artists attempted certain styles, more or less. I understand art beyond the saying, "I know what I like". Well, I do know what I like but even if I don't care for a particular style I can appreciate the talent, passion and courage it took for the artist to place his brush to canvas or chisel to stone. That being said, I could spend my entire time in Paris wandering through the multitude of museums and galleries and never be bored.
Betty is of a different mind.
Betty likes art, she appreciates the skill required to perform in the craft however, it just isn't her thing. Betty likes the history, not the history of who ruled what area during which time period. She isn't concerned with Marie Antoinette or Napoleon rather, she is interested in the daily history. Betty wants to know how they survived the times, how did they make their clothes, shoes, furniture. The history of daily life is what fascinates her. She even goes beyond just learning about the history, she wants to learn how they did it. Betty wanted to learn to weave, I made her a small loom, she listened to others and taught herself how to weave simple patterns. That is her interest.
So, being the good husband that I am, I planned a three day trip to Carcassonne, France where she could walk through an actual medieval walled city. I researched it and discovered that it wasn't just a walled city, it is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, I figure this is history Betty will LOVE!
Bzzzzzz .... wrong.
When I first told Betty about Carcassonne she was excited but the excitement quickly waned when we found out Carcassonne still has a village within its walls. A village populated by modern people going about their normal modern daily life. My lovely wife informed me that while she was sure Carcassonne would be worth the trip and she would find it all interesting, it wasn't what she was really looking for. What she is looking for is an authentic medieval village populated with people living as they did during the middle ages or renaissance eras. Practicing the crafts of then, going about the daily life as it was during that time. So, back to the drawing board.
This all reinforces the title of this post, you have to talk to each other and plan out activities. Not an itinerary, just a list of places and activities you would like to see and do. If I hadn't talked to Betty I would have drug her to Carcassonne only to be disappointed. Not in the city but in what I would have hoped would have been a fantastic day for my wife. A day she would not have enjoyed nearly as much as I thought she would.
Bottom line, if you are planning to travel with another person, talk to them. Otherwise, one of you will always be disappointed.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
To have an itinerary or not to have an itinerary
That is the question (heartfelt apologies to Shakespeare).
Many travelers must have each day planned, some are planned to the minute. Others, prefer to not plan anything, wandering the streets discovering what is around the next corner. At work, I have a very regimented day. Certain tasks must be completed at certain times, others must be completed between this time and that time. If I miss completing a task I affect over 100 points of logistical distribution. Betty's job is the same, specific tasks completed at specific times or the result is pure chaos. Naturally, when we have time away we like to move without ordered plans which brought me to query to myself, I said "Self, should we go to Paris with a detailed itinerary or not?" And Self said, "Introspection should occur to remind oneself the events that unfolded unto you to arrive at Paris." Translation - remember why you're only going to Paris.
And it was true, the original plan was Athens, Paris, London, Inverness and Edinburgh. We were looking at 5 to 6 days per stop, with such a limited amount of time in each place we made an itinerary of everything we "had" to see in each city. The itinerary came to life, ridiculed us for trying to cram so much into so short a time. Betty and I finally decided to choose one location and relax. We slayed the soul eating monster named Itinerary and retired to blissful slumber.
But, (you knew there was a "but" coming) reading through travel forums I kept running across several posts asking for members to review, comment and give advice on itineraries. I began to doubt myself (Self is notoriously unreliable), maybe I was wrong. Maybe I need a plan, maybe I'm crazy. To comfort myself I started a thread titled "Am I Crazy?", which you can read here if you're so inclined Am I Crazy? The response was very comforting with great suggestions by many.
Overall, I can say I'm not crazy. There are several travelers that have no planned itinerary, only a list of things they would like to do so as not to miss anything special that happens to be running while they are there. Likewise, there are several that feel the need to have that itinerary, even if they don't follow it, it comforts them knowing they have a plan. Both travel styles work, it depends on personal style.
And, apparently, I am very fortunate to have 3 weeks to spend in Paris. I guess that is true but from my viewpoint, Betty and I have worked long and hard on not only our marriage but also our jobs. In no way do we feel entitled to this trip or the time we are taking, we have earned our vacation time and we both have very understanding bosses and co-workers that are willing to cover for us while we are gone. Actually, after typing that, I guess we really are fortunate.
So, with Self being placated, I turned to looking at what would be going on in Paris while we are there.
In 2013, Notre Dame will celebrate its 850th anniversary. There are plans to update the pipe organ, scrub it down and let her put her best face to the world. I'm sure there are other events planned to mark this milestone as well. Notre Dame was already on our "to see" list but now it has been bumped up a bit so we don't miss her birthday celebration.
Sunday July 14, 2013 is Bastille Day, a celebration marking the end of absolute French monarchy and the beginning of the French Revolution and birth of the sovereign Nation eventually leading to the birth of a French Republic. This National Holiday is marked by parades, fireworks and several parties, I'm sure we will participate in this.
The Flea Market at Saint Ouen. From what I can tell, this is one of the largest, if not THE largest flea market in Paris. Vendors sell everything from tourist trap crap to fine antiques and is a wonderful way to spend a day. Both Betty and I love to scrounge around flea markets, our home decor attests to this. We have found wonderful antique clocks, cedar chests, oil lamps, kitchen gadgets and so much more. Yep, we'll spend a day or two there.
There are a host of events and activities occurring during the time we will be there, we have already started our list of things to see and do. Not an itinerary mind you, just options so we never wake up and wonder what we're going to do that day.
Although, I can't imagine that will happen.
And it was true, the original plan was Athens, Paris, London, Inverness and Edinburgh. We were looking at 5 to 6 days per stop, with such a limited amount of time in each place we made an itinerary of everything we "had" to see in each city. The itinerary came to life, ridiculed us for trying to cram so much into so short a time. Betty and I finally decided to choose one location and relax. We slayed the soul eating monster named Itinerary and retired to blissful slumber.
But, (you knew there was a "but" coming) reading through travel forums I kept running across several posts asking for members to review, comment and give advice on itineraries. I began to doubt myself (Self is notoriously unreliable), maybe I was wrong. Maybe I need a plan, maybe I'm crazy. To comfort myself I started a thread titled "Am I Crazy?", which you can read here if you're so inclined Am I Crazy? The response was very comforting with great suggestions by many.
Overall, I can say I'm not crazy. There are several travelers that have no planned itinerary, only a list of things they would like to do so as not to miss anything special that happens to be running while they are there. Likewise, there are several that feel the need to have that itinerary, even if they don't follow it, it comforts them knowing they have a plan. Both travel styles work, it depends on personal style.
And, apparently, I am very fortunate to have 3 weeks to spend in Paris. I guess that is true but from my viewpoint, Betty and I have worked long and hard on not only our marriage but also our jobs. In no way do we feel entitled to this trip or the time we are taking, we have earned our vacation time and we both have very understanding bosses and co-workers that are willing to cover for us while we are gone. Actually, after typing that, I guess we really are fortunate.
So, with Self being placated, I turned to looking at what would be going on in Paris while we are there.
In 2013, Notre Dame will celebrate its 850th anniversary. There are plans to update the pipe organ, scrub it down and let her put her best face to the world. I'm sure there are other events planned to mark this milestone as well. Notre Dame was already on our "to see" list but now it has been bumped up a bit so we don't miss her birthday celebration.
Sunday July 14, 2013 is Bastille Day, a celebration marking the end of absolute French monarchy and the beginning of the French Revolution and birth of the sovereign Nation eventually leading to the birth of a French Republic. This National Holiday is marked by parades, fireworks and several parties, I'm sure we will participate in this.
The Flea Market at Saint Ouen. From what I can tell, this is one of the largest, if not THE largest flea market in Paris. Vendors sell everything from tourist trap crap to fine antiques and is a wonderful way to spend a day. Both Betty and I love to scrounge around flea markets, our home decor attests to this. We have found wonderful antique clocks, cedar chests, oil lamps, kitchen gadgets and so much more. Yep, we'll spend a day or two there.
There are a host of events and activities occurring during the time we will be there, we have already started our list of things to see and do. Not an itinerary mind you, just options so we never wake up and wonder what we're going to do that day.
Although, I can't imagine that will happen.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Research is Scary
Whether you research your trip though official Tourist Information sites or use the numerous travel forums, you will inevitably see the "bad" stuff of where you are visiting. Personal safety is a valid concern, as well as robbery, mugging and the host of other crimes against persons we are all too familiar with in the Untied States.
Violent crimes are uncommon in Europe. However, pickpockets and scams are very common. After reading though several websites. blogs, travel forums and official Tourist Information sites here is what I have learned.
While pickpocketing is common, the true pickpocket is a rarity. The true pickpocket will be in and out of your pockets, purse, backpack and long gone before you realize you had anything taken. More commonly, you will experience the diversion style of pickpocketing. You should be on the lookout for groups of children, they will encircle you and basically cause chaos around you. While you're distracted they will be picking through everything they can. There are also reports of women walking up to tourists and literally tossing a baby into your arms, often the "baby" is just a doll wrapped in a blanket. Naturally you will catch the child, can't have the poor thing dropped to the ground like a fumbled football, while you're arms are busy holding the baby the woman begins making a scene and starts tugging at your clothes. She is really picking through anything she can get hold of.
The best defense for these situations is to be aware of your surroundings, which you should be anyway. But, in today's "have to be connected to everyone all the time" world, it is very easy to find someone distracted by their phones. The constant phone calls, texts, pics and videos coupled with being in a wonderfully new enriching environment makes distracting someone almost too easy. So, be aware of where you are and who is around you. Search YouTube for a few examples of pickpockets in action. While pickpocketing is common in Europe, you are more likely to encounter the scam artists that make the major tourist sites their home.
There are several scams running in Europe, quite a few have been documented to 100 years ago, or more. From what I have read, most of these are harmless and rely on you, the tourist, not having done any research. Here are just a few.
The Petition
According to what I have read on several travel forums as well as in different travel books, the petition scam could possibly be the first scam you encounter. Apparently, youngsters will approach you and try to get you to sign their petition. Often they pretend to be deaf and mute. Once you sign the petition they turn it over and show they need a 10 € donation. Of course they are just asking for the donation, you're not obligated to give them anything. Although, if you do not give them the donation they will follow you and harass you in an attempt to wear you down. The best defense, don't even acknowledge their existence when they approach you.
The Gold Ring
In this scam, someone will "find" a gold wedding band and return it to you. They will insist you dropped it and it is only through their kindness you get to have it again. They will then walk away only to confront you again moments later to remind you of their kindness and ask for a reward. Trying to give the ring back apparently doesn't work as they keep insisting the ring is yours. They may tell you they are short of money and he, or she, is hungry and also needs to feed their family. Offering food doesn't work either as they will deftly change the need to clothing, shoes or whatever they can think of at the time. Once again, you are not obligated to give them anything for their "kindness" but if you don't, be prepared to be followed, harassed and interfered with until either you give them something or they give up, which I understand is very unlikely. The best way to avoid them, keep walking and ignore them.
The Friendship Bracelet
This scam is supposedly very prevalent at Sacre Couer in Paris. You will be approached by someone (usually an African male if my research is correct) who will tell you a very nice story of his country while tying a friendship bracelet on your wrist. Once again, when he is done he will ask for a donation. And once again, if you don't give him a donation he will follow you and try to make your life hell for the several minutes. The best defense once again, ignore him when he approaches you and keep walking.
You may be asking yourself at this point if this is so common why aren't the police cracking down on it. The answer is simple. A true pickpocket is very difficult to catch and the distraction type of pickpocketing occurs so fast you may not realize it happened until they are scattered making them difficult to catch as well. As for the scams, begging is not illegal in Paris. Since they are not strictly requiring you to pay them, what they are doing is legal if not very annoying.
You may also be wondering why you would want to visit any country where this occurs. As a matter of fact, on the Trip Advisor Forums one Paris resident stated after reading all the forum posts about the numerous scams and pickpockets, he was scared to go outside ... and he lives there. Of course, he was joking. To keep all this in perspective, remember, millions of people travel to different countries every year, a small percentage will actually experience the "bad" stuff. Unfortunately, it is that small percentage that is the most vocal about how terrible their trip was because they got "ripped off".
If only they had done a little research before they left, they could have avoided the scams and had positive memories. So, be aware of you surroundings and ignore the scam artists and you should be fine. Maybe we're being naive but that's the way Betty and I plan to approach our trip.
Violent crimes are uncommon in Europe. However, pickpockets and scams are very common. After reading though several websites. blogs, travel forums and official Tourist Information sites here is what I have learned.
Beware the Pickpocket
While pickpocketing is common, the true pickpocket is a rarity. The true pickpocket will be in and out of your pockets, purse, backpack and long gone before you realize you had anything taken. More commonly, you will experience the diversion style of pickpocketing. You should be on the lookout for groups of children, they will encircle you and basically cause chaos around you. While you're distracted they will be picking through everything they can. There are also reports of women walking up to tourists and literally tossing a baby into your arms, often the "baby" is just a doll wrapped in a blanket. Naturally you will catch the child, can't have the poor thing dropped to the ground like a fumbled football, while you're arms are busy holding the baby the woman begins making a scene and starts tugging at your clothes. She is really picking through anything she can get hold of.
The best defense for these situations is to be aware of your surroundings, which you should be anyway. But, in today's "have to be connected to everyone all the time" world, it is very easy to find someone distracted by their phones. The constant phone calls, texts, pics and videos coupled with being in a wonderfully new enriching environment makes distracting someone almost too easy. So, be aware of where you are and who is around you. Search YouTube for a few examples of pickpockets in action. While pickpocketing is common in Europe, you are more likely to encounter the scam artists that make the major tourist sites their home.
There are several scams running in Europe, quite a few have been documented to 100 years ago, or more. From what I have read, most of these are harmless and rely on you, the tourist, not having done any research. Here are just a few.
The Petition
The Gold Ring
The Friendship Bracelet
You may be asking yourself at this point if this is so common why aren't the police cracking down on it. The answer is simple. A true pickpocket is very difficult to catch and the distraction type of pickpocketing occurs so fast you may not realize it happened until they are scattered making them difficult to catch as well. As for the scams, begging is not illegal in Paris. Since they are not strictly requiring you to pay them, what they are doing is legal if not very annoying.
You may also be wondering why you would want to visit any country where this occurs. As a matter of fact, on the Trip Advisor Forums one Paris resident stated after reading all the forum posts about the numerous scams and pickpockets, he was scared to go outside ... and he lives there. Of course, he was joking. To keep all this in perspective, remember, millions of people travel to different countries every year, a small percentage will actually experience the "bad" stuff. Unfortunately, it is that small percentage that is the most vocal about how terrible their trip was because they got "ripped off".
If only they had done a little research before they left, they could have avoided the scams and had positive memories. So, be aware of you surroundings and ignore the scam artists and you should be fine. Maybe we're being naive but that's the way Betty and I plan to approach our trip.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Do Your Research
Obviously, I have been doing a lot of research and so should you. Your research should start when you start "thinking" about taking a trip out of the country. Research what country, or countries, you want to see, the price of airfare and the price of lodging. After you've done all that, research some more.
However, this time your research should focus on the niceties of the people you will visit. Since Betty and I will only be visiting Paris and possibly the surrounding area, that is where I have focused my research.
To start with, Parisians have a reputation for being rude. However, according to my research, Parisians actually place strong emphasis on good manners. For someone visiting as a "tourist" this would be where the reputation of being an "Ugly American" comes in. In my opinion, a tourist cares nothing about experiencing the culture of another country. The just want to visit the "must see" sights, snap a picture or two and complain about how "nothing is like it is in America". Well, duh. To paraphrase Dorothy, "You're not in Kansas anymore, Toto."
Consider this a moment, Americans in general, get upset when they walk into a store or hop in a taxi and find the person working there doesn't even try to speak English. Other countries are the same way, a traveler will make an attempt to learn basic words of the people they are visiting. Hello, goodbye, thank you, please, pardon me and so on. To a Parisian, it is extremely rude to walk into a shop and not say Hello. If you don't greet them, you will most likely be met with rudeness. So, their reputation of being rude is only a reflection of our rudeness to them.
That is just one example of how research can be a benefit in preparing yourself for a trip to another country. Another example is how Parisians approach their meals when dining out. Forget the noisy hurry-up-and-eat restaurant atmosphere we're used to in the States. Parisians typically spend two hours or more when eating out. Waitstaff will not stop by your table numerous time to ask, "is everything okay?" and they won't bring you the check until you ask for it. Here in the States we would consider this poor service but in France it is considered ill mannered to interrupt you while you enjoy a quiet meal. And at cafes and bistros you should expect to pay more to sit outside, that is prime real estate in the restaurant biz. Also, once you sit down that table is considered yours until you ask for the check, pay your tab and leave. So, you could actually claim a table for lunch, watch Paris stroll past, then have dinner at the same place several hours later. That is, as long as you don't ask for your check.
Research is important, with the internet it is extremely easy to learn the habits and customs of different people. I intend to learn all I can about Paris, not so I can plan every minute of every day but so I can learn about the people I will be visiting and hopefully, make my visit more enjoyable not only for me but for them as well.
However, this time your research should focus on the niceties of the people you will visit. Since Betty and I will only be visiting Paris and possibly the surrounding area, that is where I have focused my research.
To start with, Parisians have a reputation for being rude. However, according to my research, Parisians actually place strong emphasis on good manners. For someone visiting as a "tourist" this would be where the reputation of being an "Ugly American" comes in. In my opinion, a tourist cares nothing about experiencing the culture of another country. The just want to visit the "must see" sights, snap a picture or two and complain about how "nothing is like it is in America". Well, duh. To paraphrase Dorothy, "You're not in Kansas anymore, Toto."
Consider this a moment, Americans in general, get upset when they walk into a store or hop in a taxi and find the person working there doesn't even try to speak English. Other countries are the same way, a traveler will make an attempt to learn basic words of the people they are visiting. Hello, goodbye, thank you, please, pardon me and so on. To a Parisian, it is extremely rude to walk into a shop and not say Hello. If you don't greet them, you will most likely be met with rudeness. So, their reputation of being rude is only a reflection of our rudeness to them.
That is just one example of how research can be a benefit in preparing yourself for a trip to another country. Another example is how Parisians approach their meals when dining out. Forget the noisy hurry-up-and-eat restaurant atmosphere we're used to in the States. Parisians typically spend two hours or more when eating out. Waitstaff will not stop by your table numerous time to ask, "is everything okay?" and they won't bring you the check until you ask for it. Here in the States we would consider this poor service but in France it is considered ill mannered to interrupt you while you enjoy a quiet meal. And at cafes and bistros you should expect to pay more to sit outside, that is prime real estate in the restaurant biz. Also, once you sit down that table is considered yours until you ask for the check, pay your tab and leave. So, you could actually claim a table for lunch, watch Paris stroll past, then have dinner at the same place several hours later. That is, as long as you don't ask for your check.
Research is important, with the internet it is extremely easy to learn the habits and customs of different people. I intend to learn all I can about Paris, not so I can plan every minute of every day but so I can learn about the people I will be visiting and hopefully, make my visit more enjoyable not only for me but for them as well.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Intermission and Introduction
After posting my last entry I realized the picture of our passports was the first picture I had posted. I also realized that I really hadn't introduced myself, or my wife. As a matter of fact, every reference to my wife has been "my wife" or "she" or some equally nondescript variation. This post will change that. As the title says, this is an intermission and introduction. An intermission from writing about our Paris plans and an introduction of ourselves.
It all began on a dark and stormy night many years ago. Uh, no, that isn't right. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away .... nope that isn't it either.
Our relationship began in January 1983, that was when I met Betty. We met in a game room, they were very popular before the advent of home game systems. Great place to socialize and spend money and as it turned out a great place to meet a future wife.
After a brief courtship, I proposed, sort of. You see, I met Betty during one of my trips to East Texas, I was actually living in Central Texas, north of San Antonio at the time. Six months after I met her, I called from where I was living and invited her to come out and meet my parents. Oh, and plan on a wedding while you're here. Granted, not the most romantic proposal ever but the result was the same as the most planned out, romantic proposal in the history of the world. Betty flew out, we were married. Simple.
While I know I have pictures of our wedding, somewhere, I couldn't find any that were easily accessible so here is a picture of us a few months after we were married.
Weren't we the cutest couple ever? Actually, looking at that picture I am reminded of a quote by Fred Astaire when he was explained the man's job when dancing, "... make her look good." With my leftover 70s hairstyle and unruly beard, I think I accomplished making her look good. This was the first portrait we had taken and all things considered, it turned out rather well. But anyway, that was us, Rob and Betty, in 1983.
Unlike many couples we know, we did not immediately start having kids. We took a few years to get to know each other and see a little of our country. Betty moved from East Texas to Central Texas, then we moved to Waco for a short period then back to Central Texas. Yes, I know Waco is considered Central Texas but we moved to a different part of Central Texas. Then to California, back to Central Texas and finally to the middle of the U.S. where we put down our roots and started a family.
At that point our life settled into what most couples lives settle into, raising children, trips to the hospital because of the kids accidents, gaining a mortgage, car payments, PTA, Scouting, late night school work and starting careers.
Through all of that, two things were constant, we had each other and we loved to do this:
Through all the years we loved to ride, and still do. Although there was a period when we didn't have a motorcycle, time raising the boys and tending to life in general, we never lost the love of being on two wheels. Once we were able, we bought a motorcycle and rediscovered the thrill of riding. Riding gave us time to be together, without the kids. It allowed us to be a couple again and enjoy discovering what was around the next bend in the road. I believe that joy of discovery is what triggered the travel bug with us. Although we never made it out of the states, we always enjoyed little excursions that would bring about a new place, experience or culture.
Now, with the boys grown, we begin the next chapter of our lives.
Before I end this post, here are a couple more pictures of us, one from a company picnic and the other a portrait taken on Mother's Day.
The 70s hairstyle is gone but part of the beard remains and I am still doing my part in "making her look good."
It all began on a dark and stormy night many years ago. Uh, no, that isn't right. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away .... nope that isn't it either.
Our relationship began in January 1983, that was when I met Betty. We met in a game room, they were very popular before the advent of home game systems. Great place to socialize and spend money and as it turned out a great place to meet a future wife.
After a brief courtship, I proposed, sort of. You see, I met Betty during one of my trips to East Texas, I was actually living in Central Texas, north of San Antonio at the time. Six months after I met her, I called from where I was living and invited her to come out and meet my parents. Oh, and plan on a wedding while you're here. Granted, not the most romantic proposal ever but the result was the same as the most planned out, romantic proposal in the history of the world. Betty flew out, we were married. Simple.
While I know I have pictures of our wedding, somewhere, I couldn't find any that were easily accessible so here is a picture of us a few months after we were married.
Unlike many couples we know, we did not immediately start having kids. We took a few years to get to know each other and see a little of our country. Betty moved from East Texas to Central Texas, then we moved to Waco for a short period then back to Central Texas. Yes, I know Waco is considered Central Texas but we moved to a different part of Central Texas. Then to California, back to Central Texas and finally to the middle of the U.S. where we put down our roots and started a family.
At that point our life settled into what most couples lives settle into, raising children, trips to the hospital because of the kids accidents, gaining a mortgage, car payments, PTA, Scouting, late night school work and starting careers.
Through all of that, two things were constant, we had each other and we loved to do this:
Now, with the boys grown, we begin the next chapter of our lives.
Before I end this post, here are a couple more pictures of us, one from a company picnic and the other a portrait taken on Mother's Day.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Passports part deux
This will be a short post.
Our Passports are Here!
And there they are, all blue and gold embossed. It may not seem like much to some people but to us, they are a reminder that we are actually going to Paris.
See, I told you this post was going to be short.
Our Passports are Here!
And there they are, all blue and gold embossed. It may not seem like much to some people but to us, they are a reminder that we are actually going to Paris.
See, I told you this post was going to be short.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Where to Stay?
Well, since Paris is our only planned destination, the obvious answer would be, Paris.
Before I told my wife we were going to Europe, I spent considerable time researching hotels. I searched every variation of "Good hotels in ____?" that I could think of and numerous matches were given. If you Google "Good hotels in Paris" over 65,000,000 matches are displayed. Over 65,000,000, really? How are you supposed to narrow that down to the one hotel you want to stay in?
While I was busy entering variations of my query, I came across a site that offered short term apartment rentals for less money than hotels were charging. A little research later and I find there is whole cottage industry that rents apartments to vacationers in Europe, actually not just Europe, everywhere. Short term vacation rentals are available in just about every country, as an inexperienced traveler, this was news to me. Thankfully, one of the rental sites had a link to TripAdvisor for reviews.
TripAdvisor is one of many traveler oriented websites that can be found on the web. Others include, Rick Steve's website which strongly favors European destinations, Lonely Planet is a good all around site for destinations throughout the world. Each has user ran forums that contain a wealth of information about anything and everything you could possibly want to know about traveling. If you don't see what you're looking for, just ask a question through the forums and answers will be provided.
I ventured into TripAdvisor and Rick Steve's forums and found what I was hoping to in the way of where to stay in Paris. First, apartments really are cheaper than hotels, but just like hotels it depends on what you think you need. I was able to find apartments that ranged from $70.00 per night all the way up to over $300.00 per night. These ranged from very small studio apartments to three bedroom homes.
When shopping for an apartment, consider the pros and cons. On the positive side, all apartments are equipped with a kitchen and cooking utensils so you can save money by preparing a few meals at "home" rather than eating out. Many apartments have a washer and dryer, this will let you pack lighter and save a little by doing laundry in the apartment rather than going to a washateria. You will be living next door to the locals. What better way to experience a new country than to live among the locals rather than hiding in a hotel.
On the negative side of the coin, there will be no maid to change your sheets and make your bed. You won't have access the hotel concierge and you will most likely not have English speaking neighbors. Or if they do speak English it will be very limited, probably much like your ability to speak their language.
It all comes down to what is best for you.
As I mentioned before, my wife and I like to travel casually. We believe the best way to enjoy a vacation is to slow down and enjoy the surroundings, the people, the food, just not be rushed. So, we opted for an apartment.
Now, there are an abundant amount of agencies that handle vacation rentals, Cobblestone Paris, AirBnB, VRBO, homeaway, flipkey and many, many more. The key to choosing an apartment is to decide what you "need". We knew we didn't need a three bedroom two bathroom apartment afterall, we are not traveling to Paris to look at the inside of an apartment. Once you decide on an apartment, go to one of the travel forums and look/ask for reviews. TripAdvisor is good for this as their members are very active and vocal about the good and the bad experiences they have had during their trips.
So, all of that just to say we found an apartment that I believe will suit us perfectly for our Anniversary in Paris.
Before I told my wife we were going to Europe, I spent considerable time researching hotels. I searched every variation of "Good hotels in ____?" that I could think of and numerous matches were given. If you Google "Good hotels in Paris" over 65,000,000 matches are displayed. Over 65,000,000, really? How are you supposed to narrow that down to the one hotel you want to stay in?
While I was busy entering variations of my query, I came across a site that offered short term apartment rentals for less money than hotels were charging. A little research later and I find there is whole cottage industry that rents apartments to vacationers in Europe, actually not just Europe, everywhere. Short term vacation rentals are available in just about every country, as an inexperienced traveler, this was news to me. Thankfully, one of the rental sites had a link to TripAdvisor for reviews.
TripAdvisor is one of many traveler oriented websites that can be found on the web. Others include, Rick Steve's website which strongly favors European destinations, Lonely Planet is a good all around site for destinations throughout the world. Each has user ran forums that contain a wealth of information about anything and everything you could possibly want to know about traveling. If you don't see what you're looking for, just ask a question through the forums and answers will be provided.
I ventured into TripAdvisor and Rick Steve's forums and found what I was hoping to in the way of where to stay in Paris. First, apartments really are cheaper than hotels, but just like hotels it depends on what you think you need. I was able to find apartments that ranged from $70.00 per night all the way up to over $300.00 per night. These ranged from very small studio apartments to three bedroom homes.
When shopping for an apartment, consider the pros and cons. On the positive side, all apartments are equipped with a kitchen and cooking utensils so you can save money by preparing a few meals at "home" rather than eating out. Many apartments have a washer and dryer, this will let you pack lighter and save a little by doing laundry in the apartment rather than going to a washateria. You will be living next door to the locals. What better way to experience a new country than to live among the locals rather than hiding in a hotel.
On the negative side of the coin, there will be no maid to change your sheets and make your bed. You won't have access the hotel concierge and you will most likely not have English speaking neighbors. Or if they do speak English it will be very limited, probably much like your ability to speak their language.
It all comes down to what is best for you.
As I mentioned before, my wife and I like to travel casually. We believe the best way to enjoy a vacation is to slow down and enjoy the surroundings, the people, the food, just not be rushed. So, we opted for an apartment.
Now, there are an abundant amount of agencies that handle vacation rentals, Cobblestone Paris, AirBnB, VRBO, homeaway, flipkey and many, many more. The key to choosing an apartment is to decide what you "need". We knew we didn't need a three bedroom two bathroom apartment afterall, we are not traveling to Paris to look at the inside of an apartment. Once you decide on an apartment, go to one of the travel forums and look/ask for reviews. TripAdvisor is good for this as their members are very active and vocal about the good and the bad experiences they have had during their trips.
So, all of that just to say we found an apartment that I believe will suit us perfectly for our Anniversary in Paris.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Passports
Applying for a passport is a fairly straightforward process, to a degree. You can go to this website
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html for all the information concerning applying for one. You can pick up the application at almost any post office in the United States.
Once you have your application, read it through before you start filling it out. There are specific directions you have to follow if you want your application to go through easily. The main direction is do not sign the application until you are asked to when you turn it in, and you must turn it in in person. You can turn it in at most post offices but, post offices only accept passport applications between certain hours. As we found out, the persons accepting the application is specifically trained to do so and not all post office employees are trained. So, check with your local branch and see when they accept them.
Information required is nothing that should make anyone uncomfortable providing. Your full name, address, and place of birth. You also have to list your parents full names and dates and locations of birth. Provide a photo copy of your driver's license and a certified copy of your birth certificate, if you don't have a certified copy you can get one from the records office of the city you were born in.
There was a surprise on the application, you must list if you have been married before. If so, you have to provide the date of your divorce. My wife was never married before so for her it was no problem As for me, I was married for a short time then achieved a divorce. I thought I knew where my divorce proclamation was, I didn't.
As I live close to the city that granted my divorce I took a trip to city hall to get a copy of the divorce. As it turns out the city converted all of their public records to digital information. Unfortunately, they only converted approximately the last 20 years, as my divorce was over 30 years I had to go though the process the old fashioned way. I went to the information desk and explained what I needed; I was told to fill out a simple form and they would notify me when they received the documents.
About two weeks later we received a phone stating they had the divorce decree and we could come down anytime to pick it up. Since I was only interested in the date I asked if they could give that over the phone, uh, no. So, another trip to the city to get the information I needed.
I really didn't need a copy of the divorce decree, I just needed the date which I was able to get without paying for a copy once I explained why I needed it.
With the date in hand I was able to finish filling out the application.
Finally, once you turn in your application, either bring a money order or just buy one at the post office. Apparently, payment is not accepted in cash for passport applications. The bottom line for passports, read everything, provide all the information asked for and be patient.
With the passports successfully applied for, we turned out attention to how to get there and where to stay.
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html for all the information concerning applying for one. You can pick up the application at almost any post office in the United States.
Once you have your application, read it through before you start filling it out. There are specific directions you have to follow if you want your application to go through easily. The main direction is do not sign the application until you are asked to when you turn it in, and you must turn it in in person. You can turn it in at most post offices but, post offices only accept passport applications between certain hours. As we found out, the persons accepting the application is specifically trained to do so and not all post office employees are trained. So, check with your local branch and see when they accept them.
Information required is nothing that should make anyone uncomfortable providing. Your full name, address, and place of birth. You also have to list your parents full names and dates and locations of birth. Provide a photo copy of your driver's license and a certified copy of your birth certificate, if you don't have a certified copy you can get one from the records office of the city you were born in.
There was a surprise on the application, you must list if you have been married before. If so, you have to provide the date of your divorce. My wife was never married before so for her it was no problem As for me, I was married for a short time then achieved a divorce. I thought I knew where my divorce proclamation was, I didn't.
As I live close to the city that granted my divorce I took a trip to city hall to get a copy of the divorce. As it turns out the city converted all of their public records to digital information. Unfortunately, they only converted approximately the last 20 years, as my divorce was over 30 years I had to go though the process the old fashioned way. I went to the information desk and explained what I needed; I was told to fill out a simple form and they would notify me when they received the documents.
About two weeks later we received a phone stating they had the divorce decree and we could come down anytime to pick it up. Since I was only interested in the date I asked if they could give that over the phone, uh, no. So, another trip to the city to get the information I needed.
I really didn't need a copy of the divorce decree, I just needed the date which I was able to get without paying for a copy once I explained why I needed it.
With the date in hand I was able to finish filling out the application.
Finally, once you turn in your application, either bring a money order or just buy one at the post office. Apparently, payment is not accepted in cash for passport applications. The bottom line for passports, read everything, provide all the information asked for and be patient.
With the passports successfully applied for, we turned out attention to how to get there and where to stay.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
It's just too much.
If you have read this far then you know I spilled the beans and told my wife about my plans for our 30th wedding anniversary. From this point forward it actually became easier to narrow down, what is now, our plans. The first thing I did was research air fare since including Greece in the trip would obviously raise that price. Surprisingly, it did not raise it out of reach so we began to plan what we would do in each country.
Our first stop would be Athens. With the abundant Greek ruins we would be in heaven stopping by the Temple of Zeus, the Parthenon, a trip to the Oracle at Delphi just to mention a very few. Of course what would a trip to Greece be without visiting the picturesque village of Santorini?
We discovered early that renting an apartment in each country would be far cheaper than staying in hotels (there will be more on apartment rentals vs. hotels in a later post). Athens has numerous apartments available for short term rental, anywhere from 3 days to a month with prices which are very reasonable when compared to hotels. I narrowed my search down to 3 apartments and moved on to transportation.
Apparently, getting around Athens is best to do as a pedestrian. Traffic jams are constant and Greeks like to strike. Actually, most European countries strike quite a bit and if you watch the news you will see they can effectively shut down a city or a country. It probably isn't fair to say the best way is as a pedestrian but it did seem like less of a hassle. Taking a taxi means paying attention to the time of day and the meter. In Athens, there are two rates, one for daytime and one for evening/night. I came across several reports that stated taxi drivers will set the night rate (which is higher) during the day when they pick up tourists. To keep from being overcharged you had to constantly be aware of what the meter was set to.
As it turned out, during my research I happened across "George, the famous taxi driver of Athens". You can access is webpage here http://www.greecetravel.com/taxi/ George's story of becoming a taxi drive is interesting and very telling of the economy and a Greek's love of his country. With several testimonials, not only on his website but also in several travel forums, it looked like George was going to get hired for a few days while we were in Greece.
Our next stop would be Paris, we fly in and go to an apartment then enjoy the city and all it has to offer. I repeated the apartment and transportation research that I completed for Athens, this time I researched Paris.
Again, I was able to find affordable studio and one bedroom apartments located in the heart of Paris. I narrowed the choices to three and not finding a "George, the famous taxi driver of Paris", set about trying to make sense of the Metro system. Of course, we plan on walking a great deal but at the end of the day, when you are 2 miles from the apartment and tired, hopping on the Metro is just the way to go.
Moving on to our next stop, we planned to travel to London then Edinburgh. The same research narrowing of choices was done as we looked at what to do in London and Edinburgh.
Travel to London from Paris is relatively easy, you can fly, take a ferry across the English Channel or take a train. We didn't want to fly so we were left with one of the other two choices. The train through the channel tunnel (I am told some call it the chunnel but not to call it that while in Paris or London) would take 2.5 hours from the the center of Paris to the center of London. Nice and quick.
The ferry would take pretty much the whole day however, the advantage would be traveling to the coast and enjoying the countryside then crossing the English Channel and watching the white cliffs of Dover grow ever larger as you neared England. Then the travel through the English countryside to London. We were undecided for quite awhile until we had an "aha" moment.
If you remember, the original plan was four weeks. We looked closely at everywhere we would visit and everything we would see and do. We then realized, even with four weeks, we were trying to do too much. I say this because my wife travels the same way I do, at at leisurely pace. We don't want to rush through all the tourist sites and wolf down our meals. We want to immerse ourselves in the life and culture of where we are. Certainly we would visit the sites high on our personal "must see" list, the Parthenon in Athens, the Louvre in Paris, Stonehenge in England, Kilvarock Castle in the Highlands of Scotland and finally the Military Tattoo in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. Those were just the sites at the top of the list for each country. Those were followed by other sites we definitely wanted to see. Then of course there would be shopping, eating, time spent waiting in lines, transportation would take time as well. Let's not forget the mundane tasks either, four weeks away from home means we would have to do laundry.
We sat back and reassessed what we really wanted to do. It amounts to this, it is our 30th wedding anniversary and we want to celebrate the achievement. We don't want to have memories of being rushed, hurried, exhausted and just plain run down. We want celebration memories. We decided four weeks would be too long and we would cut back to one destination. When all the pros and cons were weighed, the history and romanticism of Paris won.
We would spend three weeks in Paris, France, the City of Lights, the City of Love. We could relax, stroll the neighborhoods in the different arrondissements. Visit flea markets, shop the wine and cheese stores. Take a morning croissant or baguette for breakfast
And that brings us within a week of where we currently are.
Until next time, keep planning.
Our first stop would be Athens. With the abundant Greek ruins we would be in heaven stopping by the Temple of Zeus, the Parthenon, a trip to the Oracle at Delphi just to mention a very few. Of course what would a trip to Greece be without visiting the picturesque village of Santorini?
We discovered early that renting an apartment in each country would be far cheaper than staying in hotels (there will be more on apartment rentals vs. hotels in a later post). Athens has numerous apartments available for short term rental, anywhere from 3 days to a month with prices which are very reasonable when compared to hotels. I narrowed my search down to 3 apartments and moved on to transportation.
Apparently, getting around Athens is best to do as a pedestrian. Traffic jams are constant and Greeks like to strike. Actually, most European countries strike quite a bit and if you watch the news you will see they can effectively shut down a city or a country. It probably isn't fair to say the best way is as a pedestrian but it did seem like less of a hassle. Taking a taxi means paying attention to the time of day and the meter. In Athens, there are two rates, one for daytime and one for evening/night. I came across several reports that stated taxi drivers will set the night rate (which is higher) during the day when they pick up tourists. To keep from being overcharged you had to constantly be aware of what the meter was set to.
As it turned out, during my research I happened across "George, the famous taxi driver of Athens". You can access is webpage here http://www.greecetravel.com/taxi/ George's story of becoming a taxi drive is interesting and very telling of the economy and a Greek's love of his country. With several testimonials, not only on his website but also in several travel forums, it looked like George was going to get hired for a few days while we were in Greece.
Our next stop would be Paris, we fly in and go to an apartment then enjoy the city and all it has to offer. I repeated the apartment and transportation research that I completed for Athens, this time I researched Paris.
Again, I was able to find affordable studio and one bedroom apartments located in the heart of Paris. I narrowed the choices to three and not finding a "George, the famous taxi driver of Paris", set about trying to make sense of the Metro system. Of course, we plan on walking a great deal but at the end of the day, when you are 2 miles from the apartment and tired, hopping on the Metro is just the way to go.
Moving on to our next stop, we planned to travel to London then Edinburgh. The same research narrowing of choices was done as we looked at what to do in London and Edinburgh.
Travel to London from Paris is relatively easy, you can fly, take a ferry across the English Channel or take a train. We didn't want to fly so we were left with one of the other two choices. The train through the channel tunnel (I am told some call it the chunnel but not to call it that while in Paris or London) would take 2.5 hours from the the center of Paris to the center of London. Nice and quick.
The ferry would take pretty much the whole day however, the advantage would be traveling to the coast and enjoying the countryside then crossing the English Channel and watching the white cliffs of Dover grow ever larger as you neared England. Then the travel through the English countryside to London. We were undecided for quite awhile until we had an "aha" moment.
If you remember, the original plan was four weeks. We looked closely at everywhere we would visit and everything we would see and do. We then realized, even with four weeks, we were trying to do too much. I say this because my wife travels the same way I do, at at leisurely pace. We don't want to rush through all the tourist sites and wolf down our meals. We want to immerse ourselves in the life and culture of where we are. Certainly we would visit the sites high on our personal "must see" list, the Parthenon in Athens, the Louvre in Paris, Stonehenge in England, Kilvarock Castle in the Highlands of Scotland and finally the Military Tattoo in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. Those were just the sites at the top of the list for each country. Those were followed by other sites we definitely wanted to see. Then of course there would be shopping, eating, time spent waiting in lines, transportation would take time as well. Let's not forget the mundane tasks either, four weeks away from home means we would have to do laundry.
We sat back and reassessed what we really wanted to do. It amounts to this, it is our 30th wedding anniversary and we want to celebrate the achievement. We don't want to have memories of being rushed, hurried, exhausted and just plain run down. We want celebration memories. We decided four weeks would be too long and we would cut back to one destination. When all the pros and cons were weighed, the history and romanticism of Paris won.
We would spend three weeks in Paris, France, the City of Lights, the City of Love. We could relax, stroll the neighborhoods in the different arrondissements. Visit flea markets, shop the wine and cheese stores. Take a morning croissant or baguette for breakfast
And that brings us within a week of where we currently are.
Until next time, keep planning.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
The Cat's out of the Bag
The original plan was to take 4 weeks vacation and spend it all in Europe. Of course, with that much time available I wanted to visit different areas, countries and cultures. I also wanted to make this trip romantic which is why one of the destinations I picked was the City of Love, Paris, France. Naturally, I thought if we were going to be that close to Scotland we could go the the highlands and visit Kilvarock Castle, my ancestral home. From there we'd make our way down to the lowlands where a branch of her family began. And lastly, head to Spain to discover where the other branch of her family began. All destinations would be relatively close and easily accessible.
But, I had a thought. A thought that many husbands wish they had had before they bought a bowling ball for an anniversary gift. The clueless husband does have his heart in the right place, "I love bowling, get the wife a bowling ball and she'll love bowling too and we can spend more time together." Ahhh, no, it doesn't work that way. It works when you include your wife and get her input, what does SHE really want? And that was my thought, I had the perfect trip planned ... in my mind. Naturally, after I had "the thought" I did what any reasonably sane husband would do. I ignored it.
I continued planning the perfect trip but for some reason it wouldn't come together. I couldn't get flights to line up, hotels were getting expensive, the time frame of being there meant we could enjoy this but miss that. It just didn't feel right. All the time I spent researching and planning, "the thought" was still there. It would poke through the cloudy ignorance of husbandhood and make me doubt everything I was trying to do. I decided I would get her input without her knowing she was giving me input.
One night I casually turned the conversation to traveling, don't laugh, I can do casual. Anyway, I asked her, "If we ever make it to Europe, where would you want to go?"
"Paris."
Paris, check.
"Scotland."
Scotland, check.
"Greece."
Greece, che ... what?
"Greece? I don't remember ever talking about going to Greece, honey. Why Greece?"
"I don't know, I just always thought it would be cool to go to Greece."
Okay, time to regroup.
Quickly checking my mental geography maps it was easy to see Paris and Scotland are in Western Europe while Greece is about as far east in Europe as you can go. Suddenly images of Sleepless in Seattle with Tom Hanks filled my mind. The scene where he is explaining to his son where Seattle is in relationship to New York and utters the classic line, "what are they teaching you in school?" Mind you, all this played out in my head as I would never, I repeat, never say this out loud to my wife. (Husbands, boyfriends too, take note of that. Don't question your wife's intelligence, accept the fact that it is far above yours and always will be).
I don't actually remember if it was that night or the next day but I quickly realized this was not going to be something I could plan secretly. I had to tell her what I was up to.
I do remember my wife being very excited about it and she enthusiastically threw ideas out for where to go and what to see. They came so fast I don't remember everything she suggested. I mainly remember her being very excited about it and very appreciative too.
But, I had a thought. A thought that many husbands wish they had had before they bought a bowling ball for an anniversary gift. The clueless husband does have his heart in the right place, "I love bowling, get the wife a bowling ball and she'll love bowling too and we can spend more time together." Ahhh, no, it doesn't work that way. It works when you include your wife and get her input, what does SHE really want? And that was my thought, I had the perfect trip planned ... in my mind. Naturally, after I had "the thought" I did what any reasonably sane husband would do. I ignored it.
I continued planning the perfect trip but for some reason it wouldn't come together. I couldn't get flights to line up, hotels were getting expensive, the time frame of being there meant we could enjoy this but miss that. It just didn't feel right. All the time I spent researching and planning, "the thought" was still there. It would poke through the cloudy ignorance of husbandhood and make me doubt everything I was trying to do. I decided I would get her input without her knowing she was giving me input.
One night I casually turned the conversation to traveling, don't laugh, I can do casual. Anyway, I asked her, "If we ever make it to Europe, where would you want to go?"
"Paris."
Paris, check.
"Scotland."
Scotland, check.
"Greece."
Greece, che ... what?
"Greece? I don't remember ever talking about going to Greece, honey. Why Greece?"
"I don't know, I just always thought it would be cool to go to Greece."
Okay, time to regroup.
Quickly checking my mental geography maps it was easy to see Paris and Scotland are in Western Europe while Greece is about as far east in Europe as you can go. Suddenly images of Sleepless in Seattle with Tom Hanks filled my mind. The scene where he is explaining to his son where Seattle is in relationship to New York and utters the classic line, "what are they teaching you in school?" Mind you, all this played out in my head as I would never, I repeat, never say this out loud to my wife. (Husbands, boyfriends too, take note of that. Don't question your wife's intelligence, accept the fact that it is far above yours and always will be).
I don't actually remember if it was that night or the next day but I quickly realized this was not going to be something I could plan secretly. I had to tell her what I was up to.
I do remember my wife being very excited about it and she enthusiastically threw ideas out for where to go and what to see. They came so fast I don't remember everything she suggested. I mainly remember her being very excited about it and very appreciative too.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Let's Start with a Flashback
It really isn't much of flashback but it should bring everyone up to real time. Let me explain. I first thought about surprising my wife with a trip to Europe several months ago, so the upcoming flashback will bring everyone to the present without the feeling of coming in in the middle. With that in mind, the next few posts are events that occurred in the near past, (no more than four months ago).
When I first thought of Europe my idea was to take all my vacation time at once, I intended to spend four weeks traveling Europe. My wife could enjoy the sights and I could enjoy the sight of my wife enjoying the sights. My first attempt at an itinerary fell short, all I could think of was England, Scotland and France. For those who happen to be geographically minded, you'll notice the three countries listed are all in Western Europe. With France being the only country on the European Continent. So, I did what all good husbands do, figured that was good enough.
Once I made up my mind that I was really going to do this, I had to discover if I could really afford it. So, the mighty search engine that is Google became my new best friend while I checked air fare and hotel costs. Transportation and food had to be considered as well. After all, I do not intend to visit the continent famous for its gastronomical treasures and eat at McDonald's. I want to sample the local fare and I know my wife will as well. So, add extra to the food budget.
After several days spent trudging through the never ending results of numerous search queries, I came to the conclusion I could actually do this. I can afford this. Of course, it meant actually staying within a budget for the next few months and I had to come up with a plausible reason for my wife that would explain why I am suddenly being somewhat anal about the budget but, I could do this. For those that are considering there own traveling adventure, as we progress I will pass on the costs.
Back to the planning. I was concerned about getting our passports. Most Americans never travel outside the border so there isn't a need to have a passport but, we had decided a few years ago that even if we never used them we should get passports. My mother-in-law lives a few miles from the Canadian border and should we ever decide to visit Canada while visiting my mother-in-law, passports would make the crossing much easier. So, since we had already decided to get passports I would just tell my wife its time to get them, there would be no suspicion. First hurdle crossed.
Next time I'll let you know how I let the cat out of the bag.
When I first thought of Europe my idea was to take all my vacation time at once, I intended to spend four weeks traveling Europe. My wife could enjoy the sights and I could enjoy the sight of my wife enjoying the sights. My first attempt at an itinerary fell short, all I could think of was England, Scotland and France. For those who happen to be geographically minded, you'll notice the three countries listed are all in Western Europe. With France being the only country on the European Continent. So, I did what all good husbands do, figured that was good enough.
Once I made up my mind that I was really going to do this, I had to discover if I could really afford it. So, the mighty search engine that is Google became my new best friend while I checked air fare and hotel costs. Transportation and food had to be considered as well. After all, I do not intend to visit the continent famous for its gastronomical treasures and eat at McDonald's. I want to sample the local fare and I know my wife will as well. So, add extra to the food budget.
After several days spent trudging through the never ending results of numerous search queries, I came to the conclusion I could actually do this. I can afford this. Of course, it meant actually staying within a budget for the next few months and I had to come up with a plausible reason for my wife that would explain why I am suddenly being somewhat anal about the budget but, I could do this. For those that are considering there own traveling adventure, as we progress I will pass on the costs.
Back to the planning. I was concerned about getting our passports. Most Americans never travel outside the border so there isn't a need to have a passport but, we had decided a few years ago that even if we never used them we should get passports. My mother-in-law lives a few miles from the Canadian border and should we ever decide to visit Canada while visiting my mother-in-law, passports would make the crossing much easier. So, since we had already decided to get passports I would just tell my wife its time to get them, there would be no suspicion. First hurdle crossed.
Next time I'll let you know how I let the cat out of the bag.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Starting off
I guess I should start by giving a little background as to what this blog will be about. When my wife and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary I surprised her with a blank check to any jewelry store of her choice. Before you respond saying how nice it must be to be rich, I can assure you of two things. One, I'm not rich, I work an entry level supervisor's position in logistics. The pay keeps a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. Two, I know my wife. I knew she would not head to the nearest Kay jewelers and throw down on a $30,000 diamond ring. She went to a silversmith and bought a very nice bracelet and necklace of woven fine silver. Beautiful pieces for a beautiful woman.
On our 25th anniversary, she wanted a new vehicle. After 15 years of driving a mini-van, our children were grown and she wanted a pick-up truck, yeah, I married a country girl. So, I went out and bought her the truck of her choice. Again, her choice was very simple. A full size truck with a full size bed. No fancy paint job or interior she would have to worry about getting scratched up as she hauled lumber or firewood or camping stuff around.
So, as you can see, I've put myself in the unusual position of having to one-up myself every five years.
On July 2nd, 2013 I will have been married for 30 years ... to the same fantastic woman. In today's society of throw away relationships, I'm rather proud of this. Of course, now I needed to come up with something special to mark this milestone.
I considered many things but finally settled on one I knew both she and I would enjoy, a trip to Europe.
And that is what this blog will be about, the planning and execution of traveling to Europe. I really don't know how often I'll post, I'm going to set a goal of at least once per week. Since my wife has not been out of the United States since she was a mere child and I haven't been out of the states for almost 35 years, we will be starting from scratch, planning the itinerary and applying for passports, I think I should have something to post each week. Hopefully, we'll have a little fun along the way and for anyone that decides to follow this blog, maybe you will learn from my experiences in traveling and starting a blog (which I did not see myself doing at all, ever).
On our 25th anniversary, she wanted a new vehicle. After 15 years of driving a mini-van, our children were grown and she wanted a pick-up truck, yeah, I married a country girl. So, I went out and bought her the truck of her choice. Again, her choice was very simple. A full size truck with a full size bed. No fancy paint job or interior she would have to worry about getting scratched up as she hauled lumber or firewood or camping stuff around.
So, as you can see, I've put myself in the unusual position of having to one-up myself every five years.
On July 2nd, 2013 I will have been married for 30 years ... to the same fantastic woman. In today's society of throw away relationships, I'm rather proud of this. Of course, now I needed to come up with something special to mark this milestone.
I considered many things but finally settled on one I knew both she and I would enjoy, a trip to Europe.
And that is what this blog will be about, the planning and execution of traveling to Europe. I really don't know how often I'll post, I'm going to set a goal of at least once per week. Since my wife has not been out of the United States since she was a mere child and I haven't been out of the states for almost 35 years, we will be starting from scratch, planning the itinerary and applying for passports, I think I should have something to post each week. Hopefully, we'll have a little fun along the way and for anyone that decides to follow this blog, maybe you will learn from my experiences in traveling and starting a blog (which I did not see myself doing at all, ever).
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