Notes on my 2008 Europe Trip...

I have probably forgotten most of my EU trip, but here goes....

Had a 6 hour layover in Washington DC at Dulles airport and took the
shuttle over to the NASA - Smithsonian airplane museum. It is a
really big museum building when you can park a space shuttle off in
the corner. Great start to the trip.



London
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Had a great flight. Quiet. Great movies. Lots of leg room.

Got off the plane in Heathrow and FIRST thing I see is a Jack Daniels
Lynchburg,
Tennessee billboard. Wow. I flew 6,000 miles for this!?!

First thing I went to the graveyard of author Douglas Adams (Hitch
Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy) --Should of been the Second thing, as
there was admission charge. And they didnt take plastic or US
dollars. Time I found a ATM, I was far far away. Sigh.

Stayed at a youth hostel on the river Thames (Thameside). The Mayflower Pub down the
street is where the puritans left England on the way to America. Wow.

Was saddened by how Americanized London is. Century 21's, mcDonalds,
Starbucks, Pizza Hut, etc. Even saw a British bus driver lose his
temper with a old Swiss man. I told the old Swiss guy (who reminded
me very much of my grandfather Toberer, "That's OK, nobody likes me
EITHER!" =)

I was surprised at the "older" people of the UK. They were the friendlier
than the younger folk in 1986. and 22 years later the reverse is now true.
Maybe the way the world is changing too fast, they are overwhelmed. I
know I sometimes am.

Amazing to me that Londoners are security photographed over 300 times
every day.

Took a bus/ferry to Paris. Didn't take the Chunnel as it is dark in there
--What would I see?

Took a ferry across the channel at Dover so saw the chunnel entrance.
Neat homes burrowed into the chaulk cliffs...



Paris
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Well, everything I have ever heard about France was wrong. I found the
people clean, not smelly, friendly and helpful.

Wish I went to Paris when I was 26. Oh well. Better late than never.
And much better to see it in peacetime as a tourist than as a soldier
in wartime --as our boys in W.W. I and W.W. II.

I had been in Paris only 40 minutes and THREE things happened!-- 2
people cuddled up to me from behind in the subway turnstiles to avoid
the 2 euro fare. (Hello!) and a old polish guy asked ME for directions
and wouldn't take "no" for an answer. I was worried I would misdirect
him, but in the morning I saw that I had sent him the the correct
direction. The Polish in France are like the Mexicans in America (Sorry,
dad)

Stayed at the '3 ducks' hostel by "Felix Favre" acouple of clicks
(kilometers) from the Eiffel Tower. Didnt get to do enough, but did
the high points and dug the city. Eiffel, Louvre, Montmartre, Champs
Useless (sp?), Notre Dame, Sacre Couer, yadda yadda yadda.

My first thought of seeing the Eiffel Tower was (excuse my French):
"THAT is a BIG sum'B'itch!"--which proves that you can take the boy out
of the Nebraska farm fields, but you cant take the Nebraska farm fields
out of the boy....

It is Much taller than the 33 foot tower in Paris, Tennessee
(pop. 9,750)

I see more Berets in Clarksville, TN than I did in Paris, france. BUT
Fort Campbell does have the 101st Army Airborne Division .

When I was looking at a subway map on a street corner, a tiny old
Parisian (maybe 4 ft tall?) woman who couldn't walk well, staggered
slowly over to me and loudly asked (in broken English) "WHAT are YOU
looking FOR??" I had been worried that she was going to ask me for
money or tell me she hated my president. Nice that I held my ground.
She didnt have to do that. And yes, I did really need some directions
at that moment.

Another elderly (87) American woman made an impression on me as well.
She was from New England, I think. She told her 3 daughters and 5
granddaughters she wanted one last trip to Paris, so these women were
steamrollering their mom in her wheelchair thru Paris and woe to anyone who got in their way.
(PS the ONLY way to see the Mona Lisa up close {yes, even under the rope}is from a wheelchair!)

I admit I went to mcDonalds and Starbucks ALOT (They have the best
bathrooms!) I dont think I used a knife and fork the entire two weeks.
Jambon (ham) sandwiches, crepes, and roasted chestnuts from street
vendors as my main fare. I also ate yellow cheese, white cheese, blue
cheese, pink cheese, brown cheese, blue cheese. Hard cheese, soft
cheese from cows, goats, pigs? (Cheeeze,Grommit!)

I was not happy that I was the fattest guy in Paris. They walk
everywhere and I drive everywhere. Even their subway is no excuse
to sit as you have to change lines twice or more for even short trips
and there are stairs stairs and more stairs! I hadn't walked so much
in ten years (except for the Bonnaroo big concert) --I almost went lame.

I had a yellow pullover wind/ski pullover jacket with a large front
horizontal pocket. Very handy for maps, cheese, change, papers, water,
small books. One brit guy said, "Look at you! You are like a little
marsupial with your pocket there!" I got more than my share of stares.
--Even a infant in stroller looked at me and his look said. "WTF?!"
(What the Heck?) --Yea, Hey, I am NOT from here!

I was constantly amazed by the fashion, the plumbing, the cars, the
3 wheeled mopeds, the phones, the art, the fun that these people cram
into their cramped lives! Parisians wear three colors: Black, Black,
and I forget the 3rd one -- OH! It's BLACK! (Well, until someone
invents something Darker!) They wear really pointy shoes (even the
guys) and faded Jeans with one bright cotton rear LARGE butt pocket
sewed on for style. Also having a ''crown'' embroidered on the jeans'
butt pockets is VERY popular with the girls.

Talking about Dark, I did light candles at churches I stopped at for
my dear departed sister, Jeanne', my uncle Bill, my Grandparents, my old
roomates/frat brothers ( John Sapp, Mitch Platter and David -- I cant believe I have
forgotten David's last name --it takes a village to remember a fact...) and other my
friends from school, and anyone else I may have forgotten in my travels.

Levi's, Northface, and Nike have sure conquered the EU. As well as old
American Motown music. I heard very little local music blared from the
shops/malls/resturants. (Dublin was a exception to this)

Small scooters, motorbikes and cars make a high pitched noise. I
instinctively turned around on a Paris street near where Lady Di died
(near the river) when I heard a Loud low pitched exhaust sound. I saw
a new bright red mustang with British plates roaring thru traffic.
Quite a sight! Especially when gas is $9 a gallon...

I was surprised by the kids under 30. They dont really consider
themselves English, French or Spanish citizens. They are European
Citizens. Interesting.

Everyone was asking me who the next president of the US would be. I told
them... -- (well, you never mind WHAT I told them -- whatever I say here
will upset somebody. -- I did say that person who I think is gonna win,
usually doesn't, so I am no predictor of those kinds of events!

I think the highlight of my Paris trip was Pere Lachaise. Most visited
cemetery in the world. Sarah Bernhardt, Isadora Duncan, Bugatti, Chopin,
Oscar Wilde, Maria Callas (she is no longer home, it is a long story
-- see wikipedia), Moliere, Balzac, Hahnmann, Edith Piaf, Marcel Proust,
Modigliani (complete with rained out paintings draping his grave as a
tribute), Rossini, Collete-- and some American guy named
Jim Morrison...

Did stop at a Parisian fire station (sapeur-pompiers) -- thought they'd
show me around for 11 minutes. They gave me the full tour for 2 and a half
hours. Learned alot. Never saw a Mercedes-Benz firetruck before.

Another funny thing happened while on a guided walking tour by the Louvre...
There was a guy and some friends were multitasking on a pedestrian bridge over the
river: He was enjoying a picnic of cheese, bread and wine with his friends,
people-watching and selling art that he had laid out and pinned up. I would
describe them as paintings on cut up linen tablecloths, not stretched onto
frames (so they did roll up and travel well) I found one I liked and he said
35 Euros. I was in a BIG hurry as the tour was moving along and I didnt want
to lose the group. So this guy (artiste'?) wanted to talk and share some food
and talk -- He spoke excellent English. I said I wanted a certain painting
and he said "35 Euros" and I said "Oui!" -- Well, he gave me ANOTHER painting
and and said "25 Euros" and I tried to tell him I didnt have more money for
more paintings. He told me "NO! 25 Euros for both." I was confused, I thought
he was trying to "hustle" me. So THEN he gives me YET ANOTHER (third) painting
-- I am thoroughly confused by this time (Maybe he wanted me to haggle, and
when I wouldn't he just "haggled" for me?) So I try to give him 25 Euros,and
he only will take 20 Euros. This all happened in the span of 2 minutes. So not
only did he not hustle me (I consider the paintings some of my best purchases
- they are in the style of Modigliani) --- apparently I hustled him! =) Maybe
he felt sorry for Americans. Or maybe he was intoxicated. Maybe I
misinterpreted the whole thing.... But I can think not many better ways to
spend a day, than hang out on a bridge over the river -- in the heart of Paris --in heavy
pedestrian traffic, enjoying food and drink, making a little money and confusing the tourists.


Took a overnight train from Paris to Barcelona. Every train is announced by
the only 2 prerecorded bars of a young sexy girl singing some pop song - (hard
to describe but like "ah LA" -- very odd to hear again and again, but it did
get my attention. (Can one google sounds? -- gosh knows, I google
everything else...)

Very comfortable BIG train seat. Simple pleasures. The railroad rails smooth as glass. Woke up at
morning light to the charming towns and vineyards of the South of France / North of Spain. -- the whitewashed buildings, red tiled roofs and the glistening blue Mediterranean sea. I was tempted to jump
off the train and never come home. CereBere and Port Bou stick out most on that trip. The French
ticket lady thoughtfully gave me a hour layover in Port Bou. So I could wander
to the sea, stick my toe in, grab a coffee and a donut-thingy and look at the
pictures in the foreign seaside newspaper, from a seaside table, in a seaside
cafe, in a small charming seaside town...



Barcelona!
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Party Town! Yikes. 24/7 party. Art, Art, art EVERYWHERE.... Stayed near the "Ramblas"
a wide pedestrian boulevard where one goes to see and be seen. Many buskers
(street performers) Stayed at the Full Moon hostel -- right by the Kentucky
Fried Chicken.


Gaudi architechure. It doesn't look built by human hands, --instead it looks
like it just sprouted organically from the ground. Sagrade Familia cathedral
is spellbinding and it isn't even done yet. Will be a big party in 2026 when
it is done. (I hope) Wanna Go with me? You can push my wheelchair!


Some neighborhood festival was going on. They very resourcefully shut down
the street, put out 100 tables, cut up some wood pallets for firewood, had some
old homemade grills made from 55 gallon drums, and were roasting up some fresh spring
onions with lots of wine, beer and garlic. (Beer and wine for the onions AND for the Barcey-
loney-own-yuns (or whatever they call themselfs.) =) (later note: Thanks
to the TV show "No Reservations" I now know this was the "Calsetada" --cooking
calsets (fresh onion shoots)


It is so warm there, I think some people do not own trousers or shoes as they
wear shorts and sandals every day of the year. There was something magical looking down from the hill of the Olympic Park (mt. juic or ''jew mountain") overlooking the harbor and old old city of Barcelona. Spent
a half day and night in the small town of Rues. Very pretty. More Gaudi
Architecture and modernsme. Took a Ryanair plane from Rues to Ireland.
Ryanair -- the Walmart or ALDI no-frills airline ---Advertising everywhere
and seats dont even recline back!



Dublin
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Stayed on the River Liffey near 4 courts courthouse near the spire-- spire is
useful to navigate by, day or night. (It had a tiny, yet bright light at the top.
James Joyce stuff EVERYWHERE. You can't throw a portrait (of a young man...)
without hitting some JJ historical thing-a-ma-bob.

I still dont understand why the toilets were so big and the sinks so small.
Youngest city in EU. Baby carriages everywhere. Friendliest city in EU.
Temple Bar neighborhood, great. Guiness brewery great -- they built a large round
all-glass bar on top on the old brewery )called "the Gravity Bar") and the view
is spectactular. I was the oldest guy in the room though. -- and at a AA meeting
I was the YOUNGEST. Go figure.



Well, have a good summer. Dont be afraid of the attack of the 3 ft Parisian
woman, kiss people on BOTH cheeks, Be glad you can figure out how your local
toilets operate, go stick a toe in your local body of water, steam roller a Mona Lisa,
grill some onions, dont worry about petrol prices, confuse a tourist, grab
some rock hard bread, some very soft cheese, some spicy ham. a bottle of well,
whatever =) --and blanket and picnic somewhere no one has picnicked before --your local
church, highway median or the bait aisle at Walmart, for instance.




-=jack green=-
Nashville, TN



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