2. I forgot to mention...

Three camo-clad very young soldiers with rifles and handgun at both train stations and airports. Why didn't that make me feel safe? or safer? or less anxious w/ guns in public crowded spaces?

Posts with "I forgot to mention..."

Christina driving us to the airport yesterday...Mike had to close his eyes a couple times. People coming at us from all directions - egads! She says she drives a tank - BMW :)

Departure lane in front of the airport, sign says "Kiss and Fly" Extremely descriptive. She was surprised we had never heard that, nor use it here.

Watertown!

AND...we are safely (and tiredly) home. Woke at 3 a.m. (10 a.m. European time -- of course), at Jill and Brian's this morning. He needed to go in to work early to accomplish a particular project today, so we took off way before rush hour. Worked well. Uneventful if very windy drive the last 200 miles. The Maple tree is spectacular in it's autumn yellow, orange and gold. Very showy :) Tomatoes look kinda' sad, but we have two trays that mostly ripened while we were gone. Still a bunch downstairs which are green.

Wonderful adventure -- we're both glad we went. No need to prove to myself that I can deal with French; I did. Michael picked up quite a lot as well. Amazing how having to cope helps the ability to cope. I think he had fun with it :)

Very grateful to be able to use the tablet, but desktop is so much easier. I can just type and not argue with the stupid mindless machine. Yay!

Will make note of the things that particularly struck us, but the most important that bears repeating is how genuinely warm and helpful and interesting the French (and other countries) people we met and interacted with. Highly recommend staying in B&Bs; we felt we got to know some people more than just in passing. Highly educational, and fun.

3rd and final for Fri am

Talked and talked w J&B on arrival, slept well. 3 am now. 10am for us, Brian has work to finish. We're headed home this am, prolly when Bri leaves for work. Said he enjoyed relearning manual transmissin on truck while we were gone. Understands saying about bicycle riding now :) Fun *g*  French Cats la- la apron a hit. Couldn't resist it :) I did resist the gorgeous dark orange pottery teapot, lasagna casserole dish,  etc. Wouldn't fit in suitcase. :( Someday maybe.

Headed home on last stretch shortly. Back to my REAL computer. Tablet useful- would never become my first choice.

Later...

Home cont.

Security o.k. Every village & street in France at least 2 bars; NOT ONE IN TERMINAL close to where we were. No water in bottles :(  Plane delayed 1/2 hr - difficulties of one sort or another w/ passemgers boarding.  Londoner next to us said was media exposition all week. No wonder few vacancies and endless wait & line. Arr Amsterdam w time to spare. Passport control. 3 stamps on passports now. Flight home eternal w/ seemed nonstop food. Pesto tortellini was good. Salad (lettuce) back to ordinary. Movie ' Australia', then music till I couldn't stand earbuds anymore. Neither of us slept. Arr about 7:30 in eve. Nice to have phone to call & text :)

Bloomingtom Fri am

Home in the US. Long day again yesterday. 2 Thursdays in essence. Magnificent breakfast of Italian ham (kinda' like prosciutto), cheese from Pyrenées ( kinda' like brie) fruit juice nectar, espresso & green tea, croissants (choc & apricot) and a couple over easy scrambled almost eggs. Delicieux! Saw basement studio. Too heat for art world. I said pix not fit in suitcase. She had a couple numbered lithographs. No way would I even try to carry home. Would have been royal pain. I like her more abstract work. I'm so not a horse person. Frantic drive to terminal 2 and long lines to check in. Older French woman said she had never seen such before. To be cont...

Good morning

Last day. Plane leaves @ 12:30 from Nice. Boy do we have stories to tell. Fantastic meal w/ Christina & Jose on the spur of the moment! Magic *g* Room on the terrace w/ water running in pond, incredible. Garden to die for - no freeze here. Zucchini vines are permanent fixtures, herbs, flowers and ripe tomatoes.

We are both fascinated by the magnetic curtain (rideau) on the door -slick! Watched the sun set, planes come in over the Mediterranean, lights come on along the Baie des Anges (lighthouse ((le phare)) on the point). Like jewels.

The couple are artists Jose Curti & Christina Jagow if you want to look them up. Studio down below. She trained horses in haute école like the Lippizaners. Passionate stories of her experiences. Airs Above the Ground - that's what I was trying to remember.