Just a few things

Good morning.... at least it's morning here. We're sitting in our hotel room waiting for Bob and Denise's plane to land and a few things came to mind that I wanted to mention.

Yesterday as we were walking around we saw many Syrian refugees sitting on the street begging for money. Some are single people, some mothers with children and some with the mother and father with children. It's very sad.

There are also the extremely aggressive people wanting money or to scam/pickpocket you. I had a woman sticking a clipboard in my face showing me that she wanted me to sign a paper in support of the deaf. I said no and kept walking, she got angry and showed me again by pointing to the paper and indicating that this was for the deaf. Again I said no, she continued by pushing the clipboard into my side and walking with me.... I keep saying no, louder and louder. Jim, who was walking ahead of me, turned around and just stopped in front of her and she finally backed off. It was very disturbing. One lady said the same thing happened to her at the Eiffel Tower the day before and it's some sort of scam. I don't know, but believe me I was glad I had my secure purse with my wallet tucked away nicely.

If you know me you know that I love my Diet Coke. Here in Europe they call it Coke Light and it's a different formula. Well today I paid the most I've ever paid for one.... makes me think about giving them up. Oh well, not now.

Bathrooms in Europe are so different. In Amsterdam and Brussels when you stop at a rest stop/gas station you can use the toilet but it costs you 50 cent Euro coin. Now you do get a little ticket that can give you 50 cent Euro off the price of food or drink at the stop, but still it's different and interesting.

Toilets are also different. You always have two buttons, one for liquids and one for heavier flushing. Most of the water units are in the wall, so no toilet tanks like in the states.

I have to say that I miss my washer and dryer. The ability to wash clothes when needed is something I usually take for granted but not on a trip like this. We had laundry done on the ship but since we've been traveling around we haven't been anywhere long enough to have laundry done. This is a problem I knew we'd have which made us pack a little more than I otherwise would have. In addition to that we had to have such a variety of clothing from shorts to winter coats. But we're close to the end of our driving travels but I only have one more pair of pants. What I would give for a chance to wash my clothes. Plus the laundry on the ship isn't what mama does. Some of my things may never be the same...

We have loved traveling around, but packing up and getting off the ship wasn't fun, especially because we knew we were going to come back to the same ship and same cabin in 10 days. Next time maybe a trip before (so you can get your laundry done when you get on the ship) or a trip after (so you can get your laundry done at home), but this trip in the middle seems more difficult.

I haven't shown you my travel folder. Well here it is...


This thick folder is all of our travel information. Our travel confirmations for the rental cars, hotel rooms, flight information, cruise documents and travel insurance. Just a few things. But when Jim asks me for a paper I know exactly where it is! Yay me!!

These are not complaints mind you.....just observations. The people we've met have all been wonderful. Everyone we spoke to on the ship was wonderful. Anyone you sat next to during dinner and around the ship were friendly and warm.

Even in Paris we have found people to be great. There may be the occasional gruff person but the majority of people are helpful even to non French speaking Americans.

We are still waiting in our room for my sister and brother-in-law then we'll be on our way to Normandy. There probably won't be too much to post tonight unless we see some interesting things along the way. Bob and Denise will probably be jet lagged and Jim and I will be looking for a place to do laundry.

Later...