What a fantastic trip!! I was in Paris when Sony Bono died and this headline pushed down the ongoing news about Clinton and Lewinsky. Yes, the "before time." I'm not surprised your sons continue to travel when this was their first experience. Experiencing that shift in perspective is life-changing.
Also love Bukowski and love this poem. Camus has always pissed me off too. ;)
I think the general response in Europe to Clinton/Lewinsky was "uh huh. So?" I'm so glad you like the poem! I have fun finding the right one for each post.
When I visited Paris the first time, some police chased a perp near Pompidou center and I got to experience proximity tear gas. Here's to Paris and fun times! [Clink]
Do I still love the city? Of course. I remember the park where 'Plaster of Paris' was actually mined. And a miniature Statue of Liberty. And a wine shop where the proprietor's handlebar mustache was imprinted on every cork and tatted into his cafe curtains. Oh, the restaurant where I did an all cheese meal. Excellent Italian gelato on Ile de La Cite. So many good memories.
Love to travel, in 1968 my new hubby and I saw a 3 week trip to Europe,$500 per person incl a rental car and one night at a pensione in Rome!
Used Europe on $5 a day and it worked!!!
Took 100% of our savings at the time
Even went to Greece on the car ferry, got arrested for us sharing a bunk as didn’t know our ticket was for separation of sexes in sleeping area, camped a few nights??? It was the trip of a life time and got us started.
Don’t make excuses, TRAVEL, we are 78 yrs old now and will always remember that trip….
I was so fortunate to have a mother from Scotland with a fierce love for her native land. She never became a US citizen even after 50 years of marriage to my American father. My mother always made sure that her children (myself and two siblings) saw the "bigger picture" concerning international affairs and news. She saved and took all three of us on adventures to Scotland in the early 1960's. She instilled a love of travel, cultures, and traditions within our hearts and for that I am forever grateful.
My first international experience was teaching at a private school in Cyprus in the mid-'80s. The school had an old Telex machine, which was how most contact with the outside world was handled. We seldom got news the day it happened, except what we could get through the BBC, which I still adore. I learned that life at a slower pace was every bit, and in some cases more enjoyable than life back in the states. I lived next to a bakery and woke up every morning to the smell of fresh-baked bread. I hated to leave that behind!
That sounds like a life-changing experience. I'll bet the scent of fresh-baked bread takes you right back to Cyprus! Have you ever gone back, or would you want to?
Prepare yourself for things being different. I lived in a YWCA in W1 London. I went back years later and it was gone. So sad. I mean, not surprising, considering the value of such prime real estate. I walked everywhere when I lived there.
What a fantastic trip!! I was in Paris when Sony Bono died and this headline pushed down the ongoing news about Clinton and Lewinsky. Yes, the "before time." I'm not surprised your sons continue to travel when this was their first experience. Experiencing that shift in perspective is life-changing.
Also love Bukowski and love this poem. Camus has always pissed me off too. ;)
I think the general response in Europe to Clinton/Lewinsky was "uh huh. So?" I'm so glad you like the poem! I have fun finding the right one for each post.
😆 I think you’re right about the European response!
When I visited Paris the first time, some police chased a perp near Pompidou center and I got to experience proximity tear gas. Here's to Paris and fun times! [Clink]
Do I still love the city? Of course. I remember the park where 'Plaster of Paris' was actually mined. And a miniature Statue of Liberty. And a wine shop where the proprietor's handlebar mustache was imprinted on every cork and tatted into his cafe curtains. Oh, the restaurant where I did an all cheese meal. Excellent Italian gelato on Ile de La Cite. So many good memories.
Oooh, an all-cheese meal! Yum. Tear gas, not so much. Where was plaster of Paris mined? I had no idea!
I guess my travel companion heard about it: https://www.itinari.com/parks-and-gardens-in-paris-the-buttes-chaumont-park-waa5
Wow, that's really interesting! I'll have to go there sometime.
Love to travel, in 1968 my new hubby and I saw a 3 week trip to Europe,$500 per person incl a rental car and one night at a pensione in Rome!
Used Europe on $5 a day and it worked!!!
Took 100% of our savings at the time
Even went to Greece on the car ferry, got arrested for us sharing a bunk as didn’t know our ticket was for separation of sexes in sleeping area, camped a few nights??? It was the trip of a life time and got us started.
Don’t make excuses, TRAVEL, we are 78 yrs old now and will always remember that trip….
What an adventure! Glad it brought you so many good memories.
And then you came to Italy, boys in tow. Can hardly wait.
No story there!
Whew!
I was so fortunate to have a mother from Scotland with a fierce love for her native land. She never became a US citizen even after 50 years of marriage to my American father. My mother always made sure that her children (myself and two siblings) saw the "bigger picture" concerning international affairs and news. She saved and took all three of us on adventures to Scotland in the early 1960's. She instilled a love of travel, cultures, and traditions within our hearts and for that I am forever grateful.
That's wonderful! What a smart, forward-thinking woman, and how lucky you were! Thanks for your comment.
My first international experience was teaching at a private school in Cyprus in the mid-'80s. The school had an old Telex machine, which was how most contact with the outside world was handled. We seldom got news the day it happened, except what we could get through the BBC, which I still adore. I learned that life at a slower pace was every bit, and in some cases more enjoyable than life back in the states. I lived next to a bakery and woke up every morning to the smell of fresh-baked bread. I hated to leave that behind!
That sounds like a life-changing experience. I'll bet the scent of fresh-baked bread takes you right back to Cyprus! Have you ever gone back, or would you want to?
It does…and I would love to go back. It’s on my bucket list. 😁
I hope you do!
Prepare yourself for things being different. I lived in a YWCA in W1 London. I went back years later and it was gone. So sad. I mean, not surprising, considering the value of such prime real estate. I walked everywhere when I lived there.
A very good observation, and any easy thing to forget. Nothing stands still except for memories.
I really enjoyed this installment. Travel is the best teacher in life. So glad you and your sons have experienced so much together.
Thank you so much!