Impressions, Blog 15
Three ladies at three
different times offered Dan a seat on the Metro. He’s getting old!
Except for my grandsons and
your grandchildren, of course, France has the world’s cutest children—little
cherubs with soft curly hair and blue eyes dressed in adorable outfits often
with matching hats.
I saw 4 beauty salons on one
short street, in Strasbourg but I haven’t noticed anything special about the
coiffures of the women.
Vienne, the only city I
haven’t liked on this trip, had 4 psychiatrist offices on one street. Maybe I was picking up a vibe.
France is a very clean
country with almost no graffiti. The
water is also very good—no worries.
France is unbelievably
expensive. I just try to pretend the
amount in euros is the same as the amount in dollars would be, but of course it
isn’t. The clothes are so expensive
it’s a wonder the people don’t go around naked.
No TJ Maxx or Macy’s on-going sale prices!
French women, like Italian
women, are born with a gene that allows them to walk on cobblestones in
stiletto heals. Some also wear stilettos
on bikes.
I have sat next to French
women at breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner.
They eat---a lot—but they are still skinny. Life is not fair!
The French, even the
Parisians, are really very friendly and
helpful (except for the one waiter previously mentioned) and want to please. Many
were concerned about their image and asked what we thought of the French., Maybe they want the tourist dollars?
It is sad to see all the
young people smoking. Dan says the
displeasure on my face is obvious.
The only way to find the
right sights when traveling is to use Rick Steves and Trip Advisor.,,,and then
get lost and find all kinds of charming places on our own.
I’m ashamed to admit it but
the older we get the more we like the amenities that better hotels offer. We had no choice but to spend a lot in Paris,
but we are also in a great hotel in Strasbourg—significantly less than Paris
though.
It is so much fun trying to
communicate with people in a foreign language. At a flea market, the owner
asked if I spoke French or German. I
replied, “only English and Spanish.”
While born in Venice and currently a resident of Strasbourg, he had
lived in Madrid for many years. We had
found a common language, Spanish, and chatted away! I can communicate enough in French to find
locations, ask prices, get to the toilet, order from the menu, be polite but I
have to think about it. Also when I’m at
a French restaurant it is a cacophony of
sound. (Is that redundant?)
We cannot do as much at 70 as
we could do at 35—the first time we went to Europe. However, we still try. After 4-6 hours in the heat, we wonder why
we’re so tired. If we were with Grant and Debbie, it would be 8-10! I used to
say that I was OK in the heat because I grew up in Sacramento, but that is no
longer the case. Also Europe has a very
humid heat. I schvitz!
French bread is far superior
to San Francisco sour dough bread.
The European transportation
is superb!
European shower/baths require
a master’s in mechanical engineering.
Dan keeps after me because I end up with water all over the floor. I maintain it’s the design of the shower. Most of my friends would be unable to get
into and out of the bathtubs. They are
about four feet high or at least feel
that way. I seriously don’t know what
many people do.
If there were time enough…I
think what I missed most on this trip was music. We did get to an organ concert but missed so
many other wonderful opportunities because it was the wrong day or wrong time
or we were on the other side of town or found out too late. I most regret not hearing the organ concert
at St. Suplice in Paris. I will just have to return….someday, Blog
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