Street Foods

"Street cooks are magicians: With little more than a cart and a griddle, mortar, or deep-fryer, they conjure up not just a delicious snack or meal but the very essence of a place."
Unknown

 

Viet Nam, street food vendor with Banh Mi sandwiches

Whenever I travel I like to experience the food in the place I am.  Most of the time that means eating at local restaurants.  But it also means eating street food.  Street Food is any food or drink sold in a street or a market area or fair by a hawker or vendor, usually from a portable stall or truck.  Most street foods are also food that can be eaten with your fingers and are cheaper than food you would buy from a restaurant.  Almost any city you visit has street food that is very much a part of that place.  

Banh Mi Sandwich

Some people worry about eating in places such as this, for health reasons, but if you use a little common sense, it is not a problem. If you do not try something that looks good you are denying yourself an essential part of the travel experience.  Go where the crowds are, the locals know where the food is safe to eat.  And if it doesn’t look clean, then go somewhere else.  But try the local foods.

Suman, a street food in the Philippines

We lived in the Philippines many years ago.  I used to go out to the local market to buy fresh shrimp.  They would unload the boats of fresh fish early in the morning, and you could get fish and shrimp right off the boat. The shrimp were still alive and jumping. If you waited until later in the day, then it was no longer fresh, as it would have been in the open with the heat of the day, and the flies covering it.  I never went to the market later in the day.  But while there I quite often would also buy some of the Suman which is a sweet rice that was wrapped in banana leaves and cooked there in the market.  They were delicious.  I never got sick from eating there, but like I said, I got there early in the day when things were still fresh.

That was my start on street foods.  Over the years I have tried many more versions of street food.  Each country has things they are famous for.  When we visited Istanbul, Turkey, I noticed that there were many carts selling fresh corn-on-the-cob.  I love corn, and I bought and ear one day and ate it as I walked down the street.  It tasted really good.  The other street food I had in Istanbul, was simit.  Simit is a bagel style sesame bread.  I enjoyed that also.

Simits in Istanbul

Corn on the Cob in Istanbul

While in Germany we had bratwurst on a bun, cooked on a grill.  It came with onions and green peppers.  Another German street food is the pretzel, big doughy pretzels with salt or mustard.  We have some that are similar here in the states, but somehow they just tasted better there.
 

George with our friends Bonnie & Pete
Having pretzels at the Christmas Market in Germany

Baguettes in Paris

In Paris we purchased long sandwiches with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil in a baguette from a street vendor, and ate them in the park.  Another Paris treat is a crepe made with nutella. 

 



Frites in Belgium

Another place known for street foods – Belgium where you can get the crispiest, freshest fries (frites) served in a paper cup, or waffles from a street vendor.  For those who do not know, the Belgiums are the ones who originated what we now refer to as French Fries.

Israel is known for falafel balls served with pita bread.  Viet Nam has their Banh Mi sandwiches which are baguette bread filled with grilled pork and pickled vegetables.  Mexico has street tacos. 

 

We saw some really interesting street food in China.  There were scorpions on a stick and some drink that had smoke coming off of it, which seemed to be quite popular with the locals. 

Street Vender in China

Drink in China, Never found out
what it was

 

Singapore Street Food

And Singapore probably has the safest street food, and some of the best.  The government enforces health standards at all places that serve food.  Singapore is so clean, you could probably eat safely off the sidewalks.  And they are famous for their food stands, and food carts.  We went to a place that was famous for serving the local food.  It had probably 20 carts in an area with tables set up.  The tables had numbers on them, and you would order the food and they would deliver it to your table.  My mistake was that I didn’t know they had 2 sizes of plates.  I had seen little plates being delivered to the table, so I thought that is what I was ordering.  I decided to order a variety of food.  I wanted to try a little of everything.  When I realized that I was getting large plates of food, it was too late.  We had enough food to feed a small army.  We did waste some of it, there was no way we good finish it, and I’m sure the local people were laughing at us.  But everything we ate was good, and even though we ordered alot, it was cheap, so we didn't break the bank.

Hot Dog Vendor in New York

Even here in the states we have street food.   And I don’t mean all the fast food restaurants, that is not street food.  Food trucks are becoming quite popular all over the states, and many of them are now serving ethnic foods.  I know the Vietnamese Banh mi is becoming quite popular here because of the food trucks.  And if you go to New York or Chicago, you will see the hot dog vendors on the street corner, they are an institution. 

So when you are exploring a new place, make sure you take the time to also try some of the local favorites and get a taste of the place you are in.  Use common sense, yes, but be adventuresome.  Look for the crowds, and see what they are eating.  Sometimes the street food is really the essence of the place you are visiting. 

 

 o

My Favorite Places

"Laugh at yourself, but don't ever aim your doubt at yourself.  Be bold.  When you embark for strange places, don't leave any of yourself safely on shore.  Have the nerve to go into unexplored territory." 

Alan Alda

Probably everyone has heard of the book 1000 Places To See Before You Die.  Most of us will only see a few of those places in our lifetime.  There isn't enough time or money to visit them all.  I keep a list of only 10 places I want to see, but as I see them I cross them off and add new ones, because there are certainly more than 10 places in the world I want to see.

Quite often people ask me what is the place you have enjoyed the most.  For me that is always very difficult to answer.  I have enjoyed every place that I have been - really.  Whenever I go someplace new, I enjoy exploring that place and I find things I like about it.  But obviously some places I have liked better than other places.  I do have some favorites, but I can't really say that one place is my very favorite.  I can tell you my top 8 and why.

In no particular order, my top 8 are:
Venice, Italy
Crete, Greece
Moorea, French Polynesia
Paris, France
Great Britain
Beijing, China
Tenerife, Canary Islands
Philippines

Venice

Venice, Italy - The first trip to Europe that my husband and I took together was to Italy.  It was the one place I had always said that I just had to go to.  When we were finally able to go I was so excited.  It was our 25th anniversary trip.  I was almost afraid that it wouldn't live up to my excitement about going, but it did.  Everything about that trip was very special.  I loved Rome, and all the ruins.  The Forum and The Colisseum.  And then we went to Venice, and I really fell in love with that city.  I loved all the peeling paint on the buildings sitting in water.  I loved the boats and all the little alleyways between the buildings, and the bridges over the canals.  We also went down and spent a week in Sorrento, and visited Pompei and Capri, and enjoyed the beautiful town of Sorrento.  It was beautiful.  I loved every minute of that trip.

Crete, Greece - I actually loved all of Greece, and should maybe just put the whole country of Greece on the list.  But if I think about my favorite part of our trip to Greece, then Crete stands out. Maybe because we spent a week on the island and had more time to really explore it.  We did spend several days in Athens, and though it is a big city, I absolutely loved it.  I love the Plaka district, which is the old city, and I loved the Parthenon up on the hill.  And the people in Athens were all so nice.  And we took a tour over to Delphi and Meteora, both of which were wonderful, and not to be missed if you go to Greece.  I also loved the island of Santorini, where we spent 2 nights.  It is really lovely. 



Rethymno Harbor

But our week on Crete was fascinating.  We stayed in a condo near Rethymno, and our friends from Scotland joined us for that week.  I loved wandering around Rethymno's streets, looking in the shops and especially loved having lunch down by their harbor.  We drove all over the island, even went over and hiked the Samaria Gorge.  I did have blisters after doing that!  And we visited Knossos, which is a Bronze Age archaeological site.  We also had probably the best meal I have ever had in my life, at a farm in the hills above Rethymno.  They grow everything they serve on the farm, and we had a 10 course meal, on a hill overlooking the town, at sunset.  Even the feta cheese they served and the olive oil was made on the farm.  We swam in the sea and we explored the island, and it has to rank as one of the best weeks of vacation I have had.

Moorea, French Polynesia - We have a timeshare, and had to use the week we had deposited, or we would lose it.  I started looking online at places that were available.  A week in Moorea came up.  I had always wanted to visit Tahiti, so this seemed ideal.  I decided to go for it.  Since I worked at AAA at the time, I actually had some benefits that I could use towards the trip.  Air Tahiti Nui offers half price air to Tahiti for travel agents and I was able to take advantage of that.  And because I had sold a lot of Pleasant Packages, I had points with them that I could use for free inter-island flights and a free night on the island of Tahiti and 2 nights in an over-water bungalow on Bora Bora.  So we booked it and off we went. 

Cook's Bay, Moorea, French Polynesia

We spent our first night on Tahiti then flew to Moorea where we spent our week in our timeshare.  We had a condo with a balcony overlooking Cook's Bay.  We spent the week swimming, snorkeling and exploring the isalnd.  It was a relaxing fun-filled week on the beach.  The waters are sparkling clear, with lots of beautiful fish.  We took a catamarran trip to a motu - which is a small island, where we had a picnic lunch and did more snorkeling.  I thought Moorea was beautiful.  I had been told by others that while Moorea was beautiful, everyone usually liked Bora Bora the best, so we did 2 nights there at the end of our trip.  But for me Moorea was prettier, and there is more to do there.  I liked Bora Bora, but I loved Moorea.


Paris, France - Paris - the city of lights, the city of love.  Who could not love it.  My daughter and I breifly visited Paris back in 1989.  My husband and I went back in 2003.  I have not seen much else of France, but I do love Paris.  The city is beautiful, and vibrant.  Regardless of what people may tell you, I think the people are mostly charming.  There is so much to see and do.  I think I could live in Paris for a year or two and be quite happy.  As my husband says, "we'll always have Paris." 





Great Britain - England is the first country in Europe that I visited.  My daughter spent one semester of her sophomore year in London, and at the end of her semester I flew over and visited her, and we traveled around England, Scotland and Ireland, and even took a quick excursion over to Paris.  I have very fond memories of that trip.  And because it was my first European country to visit, it holds a special place in my heart.  I have visited Great Britain since that first trip.  I can't really name one place in Great Britain that I love more than others, although certain places stand out more than others.  


Crail Harbor, Scotland

I loved Cambridge, I found it to be charming.  And Penzance was a fun place to visit. And who could not love London, there is so much to see and do there.  I particularly loved Scotland, and we went back to Scotland this year.  We saw some new places, and re-visited a few places I had been.  I love the Highland cows, and all of the castles.  The harbour towns are very picturesque.  And the Scottish people are some of our favorites - we do have good friends there, so that helps.

The Great Wall
Just outside of Beijing, China

Beijing, China - I had been to Hong Kong years ago when we lived in the Philippines, it was a short hop away and a good place to get away for a weekend, but it was under British rule when we were there.  So a few years ago I suggested to a girl friend that a trip to China would be fun.  We went for a 12 day tour.  It was an adventure.  I knew I wanted to walk on the Great Wall, and we did that.  But I found all of China to be wonderful.  It certainly was one of the best trips I have ever taken.  We had a wonderful tour guide in Beijing.  His name was Tony, and we got to know him fairly well in the few days we were with him.  He took great pride in showing us around Beijing, and he was proud of the history of his country, and the sights he showed us.  He acknowledged that his country had problems, and he envied us our freedoms, but he was still quite proud to be Chinese.  I particularly enjoyed getting to know him.  And I loved all of China.  We went to Xian and Shanghai, and a cruise on the Yangtze, and re-visited Hong Kong.  But my favorite place was Beijing, and getting to know Tony, and learning about China through his eyes.  And of course walking on the Great Wall.

Tenerife, Canary Islands

Tenerife, Canary Islands - In 2003 our friends from Scotland invited us to join them in the Canary Islands for 10 days.  There are several islands that make up the Canaries, Tenerife is the largest, and that is the island that we went to.  They had a timeshare which was a 3 bedroom condo, so we had basically a full-size house, with a lovely patio, that we lived in for those 10 days.  We rented a car and we explored the island.  That was the first trip that we took with those friends, we have traveled with them since, but there was something special about our new friendship and the fun we had together on that trip.  I had never even thought about going to the Canary Islands, and I don't know if they ever would have showed up on a list of places to go to, but they invited us, and we went.  I absolutely loved everything about the place.  It is part of Spain, but actually closer to Africa, so it had a different feel about it then when we were in Spain.  We were close to a small village, and stumbled across one of their local celebrations, which we joined in on.  We swam in the ocean and enjoyed the beaches, and we explored the towns.  We had some wonderful meals also.



Banca boat on Capone Islands,
Philippines

Philippines - My husband spent 26 years in the Navy, so we moved around quite a bit.  Most of the times we were in the states, and quite a few of those times my husband was gone, to places where we could not go as a family.  We were only stationed overseas together as a family once.  That was the 2 years we spent in the Philippines - from Dec. 1978 to Dec. 1980.  We lived on a small base about an hour from Subic Bay. The base was called San Miguel.  One of the gates from the base led straight out onto the beach, where we could go and enjoy the warm waters of the South China Sea.  There were small boats - called bancas that we could get into and be taken out to the Capone Islands, where we could snorkel, or we could just stay at the beach and swim from there. 


In the two years we lived in the PI, we explored as much of the country as we could, taking trips to different areas, and seeing the sights.  The people near where we lived were all very nice.  We got to know some of them, and spent time in their villages, and their homes.  We were invited to celebrations as their guest of honor.  It was a wonderful two years, where we learned a lot about the country and the people.  Those 2 years hold wonderful memories for myself and my family.  I am so glad we were given that experience.

But even though these places stand out most in my mind when I think of the places I have traveled, I really have enjoyed every trip I have taken, and I have fond memories of them all.  And I know that with my future travels, some of those places will probably bump some of these places off my favorites list.  We are planning a trip to Africa for this coming year, and who knows, that trip may move onto my favorites list in the future.

Destination - Paris

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”

Ernest Hemingway

“We’ll always have Paris.” My husband and I sometimes will turn to each other and say this. I guess because our trip to Paris was such a nice break. Paris's seductive charms are legendary, and for good reason: Inviting sidewalk cafés, beautiful sights, world-class museums, and great restaurants make Paris one of the prettiest and charming cities in the world.

Eiffel Tower

I’ve been to Paris twice. The first time was with my daughter back in 1989, and then the second time with my husband in 2003. We only had a few days each time, but it was enough to give us a chance to see the main sights and to soak up a little of the culture. When we went in 2003 we were actually on our way to spend 2 weeks in the Canary Islands with our friends from Scotland. We could not fly directly to Tenerife, we had to stop somewhere in Europe, and I decided that if we were going to stop, we might as well spend a few days, get over our jet lag, so that we would be more rested and relaxed when we arrived to visit our friends. I chose Paris, because my husband had never been there, and also partly because the anti-French movement in the states was so high, and I didn’t agree with it. I wanted to go to Paris to help with the tourist economy, and to let them know that not everyone in the states had the Bush-mentality. We stayed at a charming little hotel in the Montmartre district, and we spent 3 days just wandering the streets of Paris, seeing the sights, people-watching, and loving Paris.

Before I go on though, I would like to reiterate something that I have mentioned before. Yes, the French people mostly know how to speak English, and they are more than willing to do it. BUT – they find it rude when Americans assume they speak English and make no effort to at least try a little French. You can hardly blame them, you would find it rude if someone just assumed you spoke another language and just started speaking it to you. So, before you go, please learn just a few basic sentences. These are probably the only ones you will need, and the first two being the most important, always greet them with Bon Jour and then ask them if they speak English, before you start speaking it:

Do you speak English? = Parlez-vous anglais? [par-lay voo English]
Good morning/good day = Bon jour [bon-zhoo]

Excuse me/sorry? = Excusez-moi [ex-koo-zay mwah]

Good-bye = Au revoir [oh ruh-vwar]

Good evening = Bon soir [bon-swar]

Hello = Salut [sah-loo]

I don't understand = Je ne comprends pas [jhuhn kom-prohn pah]

I'm sorry = Pardon [pahr-dohn]

Thank you = Merci [mare-see]

You may not get it exactly right, but if you make an effort they will appreciate the fact that you tried. I love this quote from Mark Twain:

"In Paris they simply stared when I spoke to them in French; I never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language”

Well, at least he was trying.

Paris

So now you have practiced some basic sentences. You are heading off for the city of Paris. What should you do and see while there? With expectations running so high, Paris can be daunting: nearly every square inch of the city seems to be seeping with history and beauty. All of it is worth seeing and exploring, but there are some Paris tourist attractions that simply shouldn't be missed. Here are my Top 10 Favorite Things To Do.

Batobus boat on the Seine

The River Seine, walk along the banks and head for the Pont de la Concorde for some of the best views of Paris. And make sure you take a boat ride on the river. There are one hour boat rides, there are lunch and dinner cruises on the Seine. Or buy a pass that allows you to ride their boats all day long, hopping on and off at different destinations. We did that for one day when we were there, and it saved us a lot of sore feet walking to different districts. You can get a one day pass, 2 day or 5 day. It is inexpensive and it is easy to go down and get on a boat whenever you want to change locations. And the views from the water are something you shouldn’t miss, it gives you a different perspective on the city. To learn more about the passes go to http://www.batobus.com/english/ If you have time there is even a company that does longer trips on the river that include canals and waterways and will get you off the beaten track, so to speak, of the river.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame is one of the main tourist attractions in the city, and it really is a beautiful church. I’m not a religious person myself, but when traveling in Europe I do have to poke my head into these beautiful churches that are everywhere, just for the architecture. Climbing the North tower to see Paris from the hunchback Quasimodo's vantage is essential, too. So go in and look around and enjoy, it is really quite pretty.  And the best ice cream in the city is nearby.  It is right there on the little island next to the bigger island that you are on. It is the Berthillon ice cream shop and is located on the Île Saint-Louis, and is world-famous for its ice cream. So although it’s far less visited than, say, the Eiffel Tower, don’t expect to turn the corner and find that you’ve got the shop to yourself. On the contrary, you’re likely to be able to locate it simply by looking for the exceedingly long line that stretches from the window.

The Eiffel Tower is of course the one place everyone recognizes and thinks of when they think of Paris. And you really must take a trip to the top of it, the views alone are worth it. And everywhere you walk in Paris, there is the Eiffel Tower, off in the distance. At night it puts on a light show. It is the symbol of the city.

The Louvre

The Louvre is the most famous art museum in the world. Some people go in and just head for the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, see them and leave. But there is so much more to see. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (district). Nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres (652,300 square feet). You might need a lifetime to really see it. The Louvre is definitely one of Paris' best attractions. Not forgetting the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, bask in the works of Vermeer, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and countless others. The palace itself is testament to a rich history spanning from the medieval period to the present. The adjacent Tuileries gardens are perfect for a stroll pre-or post-visit.

Musee d' Orsay and the Seine

The Mussee d’ Orsay is housed in a former railway station and is full of impressionist paintings and marble sculptures. French art dating from 1848 to 1915 with an extensive collection of painting from Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Manet, Degas and so many more. The interior of the museum is itself a work of art, with breathtaking views from one end of the train station to the other.

A quick note - there is a museum pass which you can buy that will save you money if you plan to go to several museums. It gives you entry to over 60 of Paris' world famous museums, art galleries and historic monuments including The Louvre and Arc de Triomphe.

The Arc de Triomphe which is located in the middle of the Champs Elysees is a fun place to go to. Do not try to cross the busy round-about street area to get to it. There is an underground tunnel that will take you across to it. Then go to the top of it and look down at the traffic which is weaving in and out. It is fascinating. We almost saw several accidents while watching, but surprisingly everyone made it around and out on the streets they were trying to get to. I would not want to drive in Paris, thankfully they have wonderful public transit.

Sacre Coeur

The Sacre Coeur is in the Montmartre district. This is the district that artists used to call home, but in the past few years it has become very touristy. It is still a beautiful neighborhood with cobbled streets and lots of little neighborhood shops, grocery stores and pastry shops. It is one of the most historic and interesting neighborhoods in Paris. And at the top of the hill is the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur. With its unmistakable white dome, the Sacre Coeur sits at the highest point of Paris on the Montmartre knoll, or butte. This basilica, which was consecrated in 1909, is best-known for its garish gold mosaic interiors and for its dramatic terrace, from which you can expect sweeping views of Paris on a clear day. Take the funicular up with a metro ticket and stop off at the Sacre Coeur before exploring the winding, village-like streets of Montmartre. And after expending all your energy climbing Montmartre's formidable hills and stairs, consider a traditional Parisian cabaret at the legendary Moulin Rouge.

Street in Montmarte

The Latin Quarter is Paris' traditional center of great thinking. Some of the world's most important artists, philosophers, and writers have passed through the area throughout history, frequenting the centuries-old Sorbonne University or the many now-legendary cafes around the area. The Latin quarter retains the nostalgic charm of past ages, while still being an important hub of education and ideas to this day. It's also a lush, picturesque area of Paris, with lots of quiet squares and gardens, winding backstreets, and vibrant open-air markets.

Versailles

The Palace Versailles is a short distance outside of Paris. You can book a half day tour to the Palace, or you can go on your own by train. The train is relatively inexpensive (around 6 Euros) and it is only a 5 minute walk from the station to the palace. Versailles served as the kingdom’s political capital and the seat of the royal court for more than a century, from 1682 to 1789 – the year Revolutionary mobs massacred the palace guard and dragged Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette back to Paris where they eventually had their heads lopped off. The palace is steeped in history, and is beautiful. It is well worth exploring, especially the Hall of Mirrors. The grounds are also spectacular. Because so many people consider Versailles a must-see destination, the chateau attracts more than three million visitors a year. The best way to avoid the queues is to arrive first thing in the morning.

There are certainly many more places to see. To mention a few, the Place de la Concorde, Sainte Chapelle Church, The Opera House (think Phantom of the Opera), The Catacombs, and all the different districts within the city. Looking for an offbeat tour of Paris? Why not try exploring the city's 81 miles of canals and underground waterways, running all the way from the Ile Saint Louis near Notre Dame to the northern tip of the city at the Canal de l'Ourq? A boat tour of Paris Canals is a unique way to see the city from an insider's perspective. If you've already made the rounds of classic Paris, this may be the tour for you.

Cafe in Paris

Make sure you take the time to visit some streetside cafes. Yes, it does cost more to eat outside than inside, they charge more for that privilege, but it just feels so right when you are in Paris, and it is a good place to watch the people of the city. Enjoy some of the best food in the world in some of their restaurants, sip some wine, and enjoy being in the City of Lights.

You'll fall in love with this romantic city more and more the longer you stay to explore its sights and take in the French culture. Paris simply has a certain je ne sais quoi - that special something that you can't quite put your finger on, but whatever it is, it makes you want to linger in Paris for as long as possible. And remember, “We’ll always have Paris!”

I also recommend renting the video "Midnight in Paris", the scenes in this delightful movie will get you in the mood for your trip before you go.

*Some pictures taken from the internet

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. 



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.

Link to trips we have taken

In the past few years, when we have traveled, we have sent emails home to friends and family. My husband usually writes them. His emails are a sort of blog about what we are doing while we travel. We don't have any from our early trips. For one thing, when we first started traveling the internet wasn't an option. We really only started doing this in 2003. But we have done a bit of traveling during that time. The trip reports are sometimes long. Quite a few of our trips were 3 weeks in length, and he does report on what we do from day to day. If anyone is interested in reading them just go to the links on the right hand side of the page - Trip Reports from trips we have taken - and you can click on the trip that most interests you. The only one I wrote was the one on China, as my husband did not go on that trip.