Destination - The Island of Kauai

"A traveler without observation is a bird without wings."  Moslih Eddin Saadi

Wailua Falls, Kauai

Kauai has the lushest scenery. Its nickname is the Garden Island, and it is a favorite of honeymooners. It is also popular with backpackers and hikers, because of Waimea Canyon. It gets more rain than the other islands, which is why it has so much vegetation. But don't let the rain stop you from going there. We were there for a week in January, and though it did rain a little bit everyday, it was still a warm rain, and it never stopped us from doing anything we wanted to do. We did have to change our helicopter trip to a different day, because of the rain, but most of the time we were there, the skies were blue.

There are 3 areas that tourists usually stay in Kauai. We stayed in Princeville when we were there, because that is where our timeshare was. It is on the northern part of the island. There are also resorts on the western shore near the town of Lihue and Wailua and more resorts in the southern part near Poipu. During the summer the best beaches are on the North Shore, particularly Hanalei Bay. During the winter months Poipu has the best beaches. No matter where you stay you will need a car to get around.

Waimea Canyon

The main sights of the island are Waimea Canyon, Wailua Falls and the Fern Grotto. But there are some nice little towns to explore and there are lots of activities to keep you busy while there. You can book a tour of the island, or better yet, fly over the island in a helicopter. That is the easiest way to see the Napali Coast on the east side of the island, which is inaccessible by road. We booked a catamaran snorkeling trip which advertised that it would go up the Napali coast as part of the all day trip, but they seldom actually do that, because of water conditions which make it too rough to go that direction, at least during the winter months.

Mountain Tubing

A really fun thing we did in Kauai was mountain tubing. Years ago irrigation ditches were dug to take water from the mountain areas and bring it down to the pineapple fields. They had to actually dig tunnels through the mountains to do it. The tunnels were dug by hand, so they are only about 6 feet high and maybe 10 feet wide. They are no longer used for the pineapple fields, so now they use them for tubing. You have to book with a company. They then take you by van to the ditches and provide the inner-tubes and helmets with lights on them. If you are claustrophobic you might not want to do this, but if not, it really is a blast. You get into the inner-tubes and you float through these tunnels. There are 5 tunnels all together, the last tunnel is over a mile long and it has several bends, so it is dark in there. We all agreed to turn off our lights and go through it in the dark, that was fun. You are not floating really fast, but at a good pace, and the tubes keep hitting the sides of the tunnels which give you a bounce and a constant twirling motion. The tunnels are not wide enough for 2 tubes side by side, so you also bounce off of each other, kind of like bumper cars. It really was a fun afternoon.

Zip-lining was another option. We didn't do that while there, but next time I plan on trying that. We did enjoy our catamaran snorkeling trip, and saw lots of pretty fish, and from the boat even saw some dolphins and whales.

Wild boar dinner from Farmers Market

The Farmers markets are very popular in Kauai, and we stopped at a couple of them. There was one that was between Princeville and the town of Wailua. It had crafts and fresh vegetables. There was a grill going and they were cooking chicken and wild boar. We each ordered a plate to go. They boxed it up and it came with potatoes and corn on the cob. We took it back to our condo and it was an excellent meal, and quite inexpensive. We also found shrimp trucks on Kauai, just outside of the town of Wailua, and they were as good as the one's on Oahu. Also in Wailua is a really great place to get shaved ice, so that is also, not to be missed.

Napali Coast from our helicopter

Our week in Kauai was fun, laid back and relaxing. We had some really good food, and enjoyed out time exploring, snorkeling, tubing and our helicopter trip over the island. *

*If you would like to read more about our trip to Kauaii, go to the side page under "Trip reports from trips we've taken" and click on the Oahu & Kauaii 2011 trip.

Destination - Oahu, Hawaii

Oahu - Waikiki Beach with Diamond Head

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." Henry Miller

As a travel agent, booking Hawaii is what we considered our bread and butter. Living on the west coast, it is probably the most popular destination, for families, honeymooners, retired people, you name it. Everyone goes to Hawaii at least once. I had someone every week inquiring about trips to Hawaii. I have to say though, that not everyone who thinks about going to Hawaii actually is that familiar with the destination. I once had a client tell me that since she didn't like to fly, she would like to take a train to Hawaii. I thought she was kidding, but she really thought she could. So many clients came in over the years and said “I want to go to Hawaii”, and then I would ask them which island they were interested in, and they didn't have a clue that there was more then one place to go in Hawaii. So, I thought that I would talk about Hawaii today.

There are 4 main islands – Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawaii, and there are 2 other islands that are becoming more popular all the time, they are Lanai, and Molokai. I have been to all but Molokai. They all are great places to go, anytime of the year. Remember that Hawaii is in the tropics, so even in January the weather is warm and so is the water. It rains all year long, but usually just for a little while, and the rain is warm too.

The main island is Oahu. The city of Honolulu is on Oahu. Also, Diamond Head volcano, Waikiki beach, Pearl Harbor and the Polynesian Culture Center. I usually suggested to clients that if they had never been to Hawaii, this was an excellent place to start. There is more to do on this island then any of the others. It's the most economical, and it has the great weather, the beaches, the food, everything you could want. It is also the most commercial of the islands, so if you are looking for a laid back beach vacation, to just get away from it all, then one of the other islands might be a better fit.

Dole Plantation

I love Oahu myself. One of my favorite things to do is to take a car and drive around the island. If you head north out of Honolulu up the Kamehameha highway you will reach what is known as the North Shore. On your way you will pass the Dole Plantation. It is worth a stop. There is a train you can ride around the plantation, and they will show you how they grow pineapples. There is a store, where you can sample the pineapple, and purchase all things pineapple.

Matsumoto's Shaved Ice

Driving on, you get to the town of Haleiwa. When you see the general store Matsumoto's, stop and order a shaved ice. Hawaiian shaved ice is drenched with sweet syrup, similar to a snow cone, but because the ice is shaved very fine, it is so much better. And you can order it with a variety of extras. My favorite was with ice cream in the middle of it, and I also like the adzuki beans. If you asked for the snow topping it comes with sweetened condensed milk on the top. Do not pass Matsumoto's without stopping!

If you stop at any of the beaches on the north shore, remember that they are not all safe to swim, some have strong currents, and the waves are quite often more suited to surfing then swimming, especially if you are there in the winter months.

Waimea Falls Park

Waimea Falls Park is another good stop on your drive around the island. There is a path inside the park which leads you through a botanical garden to the falls and pond. There are replicas of thatched buildings from early Hawaiian times as well. You can swim in the pond below the falls. A nice break in the day. There is an entrance fee to the park.

Somewhere past the park you will probably see some food trucks alongside the road. There are several different trucks along this north shore route. They are the shrimp trucks. The shrimp is fresh and the food is delicious, and really quite inexpensive for the amount of food you get. I loved the garlic shrimp, it came with brown rice and a salad. My husband had the coconut shrimp, and it was crispy and also delicious.

shrimp plate from the shrimp trucks

On your circle island trip you will also come to the Polynesian Culture Center. This center covers 42 acres and is certainly one of the islands top tourist destinations. The park has seven theme villages representing Samoa, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga the Marquesas and Hawaii. Each “village” contains huts and handicrafts of their region, and people dressed in authentic costumes who do demonstrations. The entrance fee also includes boat rides, a talent show, IMAX theatre and in the evening there is a dance show. You can also purchase a buffet package which includes a buffet dinner. If you are planning to circle the whole island in one day, you don't have time to stop here, but you can always come back, or stop now and then do the rest of the island another day.

If you would like to spend the afternoon snorkeling or swimming, a great place to stop for the afternoon is Turtle Bay resort. There is a cove there with a great beach. You don't have to be a guest of the resort to use the beach.

View from the Pali Highway Lookout

You can take the Pali Highway across the island and only do half the island, it is a scenic drive with a lookout point. Or continue around the island stopping at the town of Kailua on the windward side. The town has a wide variety of restaurants and is know for wind surfing. Agnes Bake Shop in Kailua is worth a stop just for their Portugese Malasadas which are served hot, they take about 10 minutes wait and cost less then a dollar a piece. Another stop as you come around the island is Hanauma Bay nature preserve. We saw several mongoose's running around the grounds, they were very cute. Good views of surfers from the overlook. This  also has a good beach for swimming.

Of course, at some point, you should visit Pearl Harbor. It is a memorial to the sneak attack that started World War II, and is worth the visit.  I'd save that for another day as the drive will take the whole day.

View from our table at Duke's

Honolulu has some wonderful hotels and restaurants, lots of shopping opportunities, including the international marketplace in the heart of Honolulu. My favorite place to eat is Duke's Canoe Club which is in the Waikiki Outrigger hotel. It is right on the beach, the food and drinks are good. Atmosphere can't be beat. There is a breakfast buffet and a lunch buffet. In the evening there is live Hawaiian music with your dinner.

As for activities on Oahu, there are tours of the island you can book, if you don't want to drive. There are tours that will take you to the Polynesian Culture Center or Pearl Harbor, you can book a luau, or a snorkeling trip or a dinner cruise. You can take surfing lessons. There is plenty to keep you busy.

Next posting we will go to the island of Kaui, then on to other islands in future postings.

People Watching

"People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home"   Dagobert D. Runes



The tree people in Florence, Italy

One of my favorite things to do is people-watch. Whenever we travel we like to take time to just sit down for awhile and watch the people around us. You learn more about a country watching the people, and sometimes you see some really strange things. For example: In 1992 we were in Italy for 3 weeks. While walking around a square in Florence we noticed some people who were dressed in very bright colored material and adorned with tree branches. We sat down and watched them for awhile. They were chanting something in Italian, so we assumed it might be some kind of demonstration or protest. They danced around some, they were quite entertaining, and they drew a crowd. We never found out what they were trying to do, but we did enjoy watching them.



Romans in Paris

Another interesting group we came upon in Paris in 2003. We were near the Eiffel Tower, and we had been walking for awhile, so we decided to sit down on a bench in a park and rest. We saw a group of teenagers coming towards us. They were dressed as ancient Romans, with capes, helmets, some had breastplates, and all had swords and shields made from cardboard. As we sat there watching them a business man, looking very dignified with his suit and briefcase, was headed in their direction. The business man held his briefcase in front of him like a shield and drew and imaginary sword and had an imaginary sword fight with one of the Roman kids. It was funny to watch. Everyone in the park was enjoying it. We asked the Romans if we could take their picture, so they gathered for a photo shoot.


Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain

 Most times our people watching is just ordinary everyday stuff, and it is interesting how alike we all are, no matter what country we are from. We all do the same things, and have the same kinds of interaction with people. I loved Spain in the evenings, the squares become neighborhoods.  They set up tables for outdoor restaurants and everyone in the neighborhood comes out to mingle. They all greet each other, the kids play together, people have their dogs with them. It's a neighborhood, in the best sense.

So, when you travel, (either foreign or here at home), sit down, relax and take in the scenery around you, it's fascinating. 



Cruising the Rivers of the World

"No matter where you go, there you are."  Unknown

Our ship, The Amadaggio, disembarking in Regensburg, Germany

Another cruise option is the river cruise. All over Europe you will find the river cruise boats plying the rivers. They are only a few levels high, but very long. They are a lot more intimate then those huge ocean going cruise boats. You get to know almost everyone on board within a day or two. And they have all the amenities on board, the food is great and they make some interesting stops.

Danube River, Budapest, Hungary

The first river cruise I did was on a Christmas Markets cruise. We flew to Prague and spent 3 nights, then we boarded our boat in Nuremberg. The cruise went from there, down the Danube to Budapest. We made stops to visit the Melk Abbey, Regensberg Christmas Market, Vienna and Salzburg markets, and ended with an overnight in Budapest. Sailing into Budapest was particularly spectacular. The spires of the parliament buildings and the bridges, were magnificent. I have visited Budapest since, and it is one of the prettiest cities in the world, but nothing compares to the view as you sail down the river to Budapest. And they do have one of the nicest Christmas Markets. 

 

Victoria Queen on the Yangtze River

I also took a river cruise last year when my girlfriend and I visited China. We did the usual land cities, Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, but we also did a 3 day Yangtze river cruise on the Victoria Queen. The boat was similar to the ones in Europe. But of course, the food was mostly Chinese, as was the crew and entertainment on board. We had a wonderful guide that would be on the front of the boat as we were going through the gorges, and he would point out the sights and tell us the history. We had several shore excursions,which were all included in the price.  One of the excursions took us by small boats up one of the lesser gorges. The scenery was spectacular.

And our last stop was the new Yangtze River Dam, which is almost completed, and which the Chinese are very proud. We took a tour of the grounds. We had spent the night before going through the different locks of the dam. It was a fun cruise. 

There are river cruises all over the world, including the United States.  Cruising the Nile river is a popular way to see that area of the world.  Amazon River cruises are also popular. Russia is another place where cruising is a good option.  In the USA the Mississippi River has long had Paddle Wheel river boat trips, and the area I grew up in - the Columbia River - also has cruise ships that will take you up it to the Snake River.


Queen of the West-Columbia River

River cruising is something you should consider if you want to see an area that is connected by river. It is more intimate than the large ocean going ships, less formal, and you can get from city to city without unpacking. When you get to a port, a city tour is usually included in the price. You can watch the scenery go by from your window, it is relaxing and fun. And usually the places you stop are smaller cities which you will have time to explore while in port.

Cruises and Shore Excursions

 "Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen." Benjamin Disraeli

Cruising in Glacier Bay


If you really want to go somewhere and really see that destination, then a cruise by itself is probably not the right option for you. Realistically, you are seldom in port more then 6 – 8 hours. That is really not enough time to really get to see a place. There are some exceptions to that.  Alaska would be the exception, partly because you are seeing Alaska as you cruise, viewing the inside passage and glaciers from the ship, and because the towns that you pull into are so small, you can explore them in a short time. But if your port of call is  Barcelona, for example, well you can see a few things and get a feel for Barcelona, but you won't have time to really see Barcelona.

Our ship Cristal in port in Patmos, Greece

 There is always the option of booking a cruise and then spending time on land pre and post cruise. The other option is to plan a land trip with a small local cruise added on. When we went to Greece we spent 3 weeks there. We spent a week on the mainland, Athens, Delphi, Meteora, and then we did a 3 day Greek Island cruise which took us to Rhodes, Mykonos, Patmos and over to Kusadasi, Turkey. Then we flew to Santorini for a few days and then took the ferry to Crete, where we spent a week. So by doing the cruise, we got a quick look at a few islands, but then we got to spend time on land also, really exploring. The cruise portion was a fun relaxing break.

There are so many different options to consider before booking your cruise.  Do you want one of the big mega ships, maybe something mid-size, or a small ship. There are some places where the smaller ships have an advantage, such as getting up closer to the glaciers in Alaska, or going to islands in the Caribbean that do not have large ports to pull into.  There are cruises on the major rivers of Europe, China and the USA.  There are also cruises on sailing ships, such as Windstar Cruises or the Windjammer Barefoot cruises.  They make stops where the big ships can't go.  The tall ship experience is the ultimate in relaxation and peacefulness.



The tall ship experience

Of the big cruise line companies, the best known are:  Norwegian, Carnival, Disney, Celebrity, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Crystal and Seaborne.  And I would rate them in that order with Norwegian and Carnival the lowest, and Crystal and Seaborne the highest, as far as amenities, food, service, etc.  But that does not mean you shouldn't take a Carnival Cruise.  You may have heard that they are party ships, catering to a younger crowd.  To a certain extent that is correct, but they will have all age groups, including seniors aboard any of their sailings.  They are less expensive then some of the other ships, and I would rate there food and service slightly below the others, but still quite good. They are a lot of fun, and even though their are lots of families on board (kids), they are not a problem usually.  I'm past the kid stage, and when I sailed on Carnival I found the kids were so busy with the activities planned for them, that they were not around the areas I wanted to be.  Of course, if you have kids, Carnival and also Disney are certainly the best option for cruising.


Disney ship in port in Key West

The top cruise lines are Crystal and Seaborne.  And you will pay a lot more for cruises with them, but the service, food and all the amenities are the best.  Certainly the cruise lines like Holland America, Princess and Royal Caribbean are top-notch, and you will not be disappointed with them.

Before taking a cruise you will also have to decide on the type of cabin you want.  The least expensive cabin will be either forward or aft, inside (no window), and on the lowest floor for guests (and yes, the floor is above the water-line.)  The higher you go on the ship, and the more in the middle of the ship the room is - the more expensive the cabin.  Also, a room with a window is more then an inside cabin, and if you get a balcony it is even more.  There are suites, some even with butlers, but again the more amenities, the more money.  If you are worried about getting sea-sick, then a cabin at the front of the ship would be one to avoid, as they tend to get the most up and down motion.  Either a cabin in the middle or back of the ship would be best.


Pool and slide on the Carnival Glory

Once on board there are expenses still.  Your meals are free - unless you opt for a special meal at one of their special restaurants.  Wine, alcoholic drinks and soft drinks are an added expense.  There are stores to shop in and shore excursions to purchase at every port of call.  Everything on board is cashless, they have your credit card number and you pay at the end of the cruise.  You also are expected to tip all the staff on board, that is also done at the end with the credit card.


Esphesus near Kusadasi, Turkey

A word on shore excursions. The ones the cruise lines sell are usually quite good and they cover the main things people want to see in most ports. Most of those things can be done on your own and for less money. Again, it depends how independent you want to be. If you are a nervous traveler, then by all means, book the ships excursions. If you do it on your own, remember to be back on board before the ship sails, they won't wait for you. If you book their excursion, then they will make sure you are back. In Alaska I walked off the ship and booked a seaplane trip that was about half the price of what the ship charged. And in Kusadasi, Turkey, the main excursion was to the ruins at Esphesus, which I wanted to see, but I did not want to spend the whole 4 hours we had in port at just the ruins. I really wanted to explore the town of Kusadasi also. So we took a taxi out to the ruins and asked the driver to wait. We explored for a couple of hours and then went back to town to explore there. The taxi was a lot less then the ships shore excursion. And we could get a guide there at the ruins for just a few dollars to show us the sights.

So consider your options. Just getting off the ship and wandering around a new town can be a lot of fun in itself.

My sea kayaking adventure

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.” Anonymous

I know this is a travel blog, and I am writing about something I did right here in San Diego, where I live.  But it was an adventure, and when we do travel we tend to do these kinds of things, but we don't always tend to stop and take adventures in our own area.  So I thought I would tell you about my adventure here at home.

For Christmas this year, I told my husband that I didn't want "stuff".  I wanted things to do - adventures.  He gave me 3 adventures.  Yesterday I went out on my first one.  It was a sea kayaking experience off the coast to see the gray whales.  This time of year they are heading south along our shoreline.  They make their way to Baja California where they give birth.  In a few months they will be migrating back up to Alaska.  Only the females make the trip. 

Our guide looking for whales

We left from La Jolla Shores, which is just north of San Diego.  We put on our wet suits and helmets and my girlfriend, Kim and I put our kayaks in the water, and with a group of about 10 other kayaks, we paddled 2 miles out to sea.  I'm not in the best of shape, and I'm getting old, but we made it.  It is hard work paddling a kayak, and with 2 of us trying to stay in sync, well - it was a challenge, but we were laughing and having a good time.  On the way out we saw a baby harbor seal, some sea lions, and quite a few dolphins that were coming up out of the water.  It was very peaceful out there. 

Our whale

Then we had our first whale sighting.  We saw the whale as it was diving down and her tail came up.  It was just north of us, and our guide, Keith, told us to sit tight and the whale might resurface nearer to us.  We waited about 10 minutes and then saw her again, but she was then south of us, and not too close.  After that we saw several more that were off in the distance.  As we were starting to paddle back to shore, we heard a noise and then saw a whale come up in front of us.  She was just gliding along the surface, and she was beautiful.  She was about 20 feet in front of us.  We all sat there in amazement and watched her.  Then she dove down and her tail came up in the air.  She was gone.  Our guides told us that in all the times they have done this, that was the closest they had come to one, and she was one of the biggest they had seen.

Back on shore

We made our way back to shore.  We were definitly tired by the time we got back, but it had been a very good adventure, and a beautiful day on the water.  Who could ask for more.   Now it was time for a cold beer and a sandwich, we had worked up an appetite.

I took this sea kayaking adventure with OEX Dive & Kayak in La Jolla, CA.  There website is:
                                           http://www.diveandkayaklajolla.com/

Should I take a cruise?

Princess ship The Sapphire

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain

Have you ever taken a cruise? The ships today are huge, floating hotels, with every luxury imaginable. And the food is endless. You could eat 24 hours a day, although I don't recommend it. Cruises can be very enjoyable. And for those who think they will get seasick, you have to remember that these things are so large that you really don't feel much motion, unless you really get into rough seas. And there is always the patch, ask your doctor about it before you leave home, if you are afraid you might get seasick.

When we took our first cruise, it was a repositioning* cruise from Acapulco to San Diego. My husband had spent 26 years in the Navy and wasn't sure he really wanted to go on a cruise, but I booked it and he went. He now loves cruising. Of course, it is nothing like his Navy experience.

Cruising, like everything, has it's pro's and con's. If you are taking a cruise because you have always wanted to see a place, just remember that you only stop in each port of call for a few hours. You really aren't going to really have time to see a destination, but you will get a feel for it. If you love what you saw, you can always go back and spend more time there. Where cruising really has the advantage, is that you can go to several destinations without packing and unpacking. And certain destinations are ideal for cruising. Alaska is one of those places, because you actually sail up the inside passage and you can see scenery and glaciers as you go. If you only went to Alaska by land, you would miss these views. Ideally, if you do Alaska, you should do a cruise/land combination. Denali National Park is certainly worth the trip and for that you have to be on land.

Glacier Bay, Alaska, glacier is calfing

While on any cruise, you will find so many activities to keep you busy. There is something for everyone. There are art auctions, bingo, shows, cooking demonstrations (sometimes with famous chefs), dance lessons, spa treatments, activities to keep the kids busy (if you have those), and of course shore excursions to sign up for in every port. Quite often there are guest lecturers, depending on your destination. On our Alaska trip Libby Riddles - the first woman to win the Iditarod, came on board with a couple of sled dogs. She was very interesting to listen to.

My next few posting I plan to talk some more about cruises, including small ship cruises, tall ship and river cruises.

*For those who don't know what a repositioning cruise is: The cruise lines move the ships to different locations for different seasons. They prefer to move the ships full of people, so they quite often offer bargains for those cruises. In the case of our cruise the ship was being moved from the Panama Canal to do the Alaska run during the summer months. We caught one leg of that journey – from Acapulco to San Diego.

Why do we travel?

Lake Bled, Slovenia

“Adventure is a path. Real adventure - self-determined, self-motivated, often risky - forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.” Mark Jenkins

I have to admit that I don't understand people who have no desire to go to new places. People who are content to sit at home in their own little corner of the world. Don't they have a curiosity about other cultures and people? And all the beautiful and colorful places in the world? I have heard people say that they see no reason to leave the United States because there is so much to see here. It's true that there is a lot to see here, and I have explored the states and will continue to, but why limit yourself. The world is a fascinating place, made up of fascinating people and things to do and see.



A family in Beijing

I travel because I am curious. I have a desire to see new things, experience new tastes, and meet new people. But I also travel for the chance to broaden my mind. We learn more about ourselves, when we learn more about the world and its people.

I also think that the more of the world you see, the more you understand the differences in people, and you become more accepting. There is so much bigotry in the world, but traveling helps to open your mind to people who are different, and to ideas that are different. You realize that really we are still very much alike.

So why do you travel?  I would love to have comments from anyone who is reading this.  Tell me what you love about travel, or what you hate.  Some people go to the same place year after year, they have found a place they like, and they go back, but why not try something new?  I'd like to know why.

Having dinner with my daughter in Paris

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." 
Henry Miller



London Tower Bridge

In 1989 my daughter was 20 years old. She had the opportunity to do a college semester in England, and since Shakespeare is her subject, it seemed the place for her to be. She flew over in January 1989 and did 4 months of studying. She had a flat in the Kensington area of London, and a room-mate. She was able to take advantage of some school trips that took them all over England and even up to Scotland. At the end of the semester her classmates and room-mate left for home, and I flew over to join her. That was my first trip to Europe. We had 3 weeks, no reservations anywhere because we decided we'd just “wing” it, and see where we went.

Eiffel Tower

We stayed in London in her flat for the first 4 days, then took the train to Dover and the hovercraft over to France. The train from there took us into Paris (this was before the Chunnel was put in). We found a hotel in the Opera district of Paris, left everything there and headed out to explore the city. We took a boat up the Seine, the elevator to the top of the Eiffel tower and did all the things that a tourist does on their first day in Paris. 

Parisians do not eat dinner until 10PM, so we had had a late lunch in order to eat at the proper time. We found a cute little restaurant that was near the Eiffel tower. As any good traveler should, I had learned enough French to greet the waiter and to ask if he spoke English. He assured me he did speak English, and we went from there. He asked if we would like something to drink. Now you may think that a 20 year old who is in a foreign country where the age requirements would allow her to drink, would order an alcoholic drink, which I would have had no problem with. But Kim has never been a drinker, and she really felt like a glass of milk, which is what she ordered. The waiter raised his eyebrows and turned to me, I ordered a glass of wine. He came back with his tray held high. He picked up my glass of wine and placed it before me and said “Wine for my lady!”  He then picked up Kim's glass of milk (by the tips of his finger, as if it were distasteful) and in a kind of snooty voice said “And MILK for the baby!” He winked at me as he went by. I started laughing, but I thought Kim was going to crawl under the table. It still tickles me to this day, and is a favorite story of mine. It is a typical French reaction, and I love their sense of humor.  I don't think Kim has ordered milk in a restaurant since that day.

Happy New Year

I would just like to wish everyone a happy 2012!  I hope it is a good year, and I wish everyone happy travels.  Laura