The flight was short from London to Geneva, funny that it is a time change though. We were with a big group from the states on this flight and one girl behind us was doing the Rocola commercial and making us laugh.
The airport wasn’t that big and it had a train station inside, which made it easy to get to the center of town after getting off the plain. There is also a grocery store in the shopping area of the airport. This came in handy as the Swiss franc is worth more than the American dollar and in Geneva the dinners started at 25 francs.
We stayed at a hotel near the airport, which had air-conditioning and a big bathtub. I only mention that since I am short and it was tall and I had to climb into to use the shower. It was almost half of my height, defiantly built for taller people. It was a record-breaking heat wave that summer. At the end of the days I filled up the tub with a few inches of water to soak my feet. The water from the tap was ice cold and helped a lot.
We went on bus tour the next day, which was nice, up to Interlocken and the small quaint towns in the mountains. The country side was breathtaking and the mountains so dramatic. We also saw some of the government buildings. At the end of the day we made our way into the down town area, the fountain in the lake separates the older part of the city from the newer. Yes, there were Cookco clocks and watch stores. After wondering around and seeing the prices for dinner, we settled on Mc Donald’s. It was just too expensive. The next night we headed for the store in the airport and made dinner in our rooms.
During the days we attended a convention and made a lot of new friends. A few we are still in contact with. Salvi and Gio from Lenzburg, since we met them they have been to stay with us in the states. We have stayed with them in Lenzburg for two weeks in 2005. I
At that same convention we also met some nice people from southern France; we still need to go see them. In fact it reminds me to write them a letter soon. We did find a reasonably priced dinner and ate there a few times. We still remained quite during dinner and everyone else was, even children at the table were quite.
The city was very clean; we spent so much time meting people at the convention we didn’t really get a chance to get to know any locals. The ones at the shops were very nice, as was the staff at the hotel. One thing that American’s have come to believe is that good manners and worrying about good manners is for the rich and stuck up. In Europe everyone is concerned about good manners; it matters if you are rude.
The time we spent in Geneva was too brief. We may need to go back. The convention was over by Sunday. Monday we checked out and got on a train to Italy.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
London Part 3
For the woman who has everything does that include a diamond encrusted dagger? It does for HRH Queen Elizabeth II. We found that out when we toured the Tower of London and the exhibit of the crowned jewels. Since it was summer it was crowed, but still worth the wait. If I had been any bigger I would not have fit in the spiral staircases of the tower itself. As it was my hips were touching the sides.
On the way there we did some shopping and I was desperate to find some shoes that would be comfortable with all the walking around I had already done, and being overweight, my feet were already swollen. Not to mention we had two three more weeks and several more countries to visit.
Other than finding that looking at the street map and finding the tube makes don’t jive. We were still able to get to the places we wanted to go to. The key, finding the station nearest your destination, and the helpful Londoners that had mercy on us after watching us looking at the map for a while. Someone would come up and ask, “Can I help?”
“Yes please, we are trying to get to Harrods.” They were very nice and friendly. We met a man with a Scottie dog, and he let us take a photo. We did make it Harrods, landmarks in shopping for me. Behind the store were some nice homes, we looked around and found that some had blue plaques if someone historic had lived there. We found P.J. Wodehouse’s former residence. We also went into Harvey Nick’s, I wanted to see were Pasty and Edwina would shop at. If you don’t know that is a reference to AB FAB, shame on you.
After days of eating in our room we finally shook of the jet lag and made it to dinner. We had a coupon for a restaurant/pub. They claimed to be the oldest pub in London. It was the coupon that drew us in. When we arrived at the place the restaurant part wasn’t open. We got a pint down stairs and looked for a place to sit. An older gentleman waved us over. He asked where we were from and told us about places around the world he had traveled to. He had never been to the states. He was nice and we let him just talk. After a while he got up and put on a heavy wool coat that was bright red. (As in, The Red Coats are coming!) Since it was July I was shocked he could wear that coat, I figured it was his job.
We had a nice meal and after words the staff asked if we wanted to take a photo next the napkin. What napkin? The one that we are supposed to believe it was used by Queen Victoria. Whatever the case might be, it made for a fun photo op!
The next day we got up early and took the tube back to Heath row and got on our plane to Geneva. We got to see the crown jewels, the British Museum (No one seems to mind if you touch things) and Harrods, all the places we wanted to go see. We had wanted to be in the UK for our first European city, at least we knew the language, and the next countries were going to be interesting. On to Switzerland!
On the way there we did some shopping and I was desperate to find some shoes that would be comfortable with all the walking around I had already done, and being overweight, my feet were already swollen. Not to mention we had two three more weeks and several more countries to visit.
Other than finding that looking at the street map and finding the tube makes don’t jive. We were still able to get to the places we wanted to go to. The key, finding the station nearest your destination, and the helpful Londoners that had mercy on us after watching us looking at the map for a while. Someone would come up and ask, “Can I help?”
“Yes please, we are trying to get to Harrods.” They were very nice and friendly. We met a man with a Scottie dog, and he let us take a photo. We did make it Harrods, landmarks in shopping for me. Behind the store were some nice homes, we looked around and found that some had blue plaques if someone historic had lived there. We found P.J. Wodehouse’s former residence. We also went into Harvey Nick’s, I wanted to see were Pasty and Edwina would shop at. If you don’t know that is a reference to AB FAB, shame on you.
After days of eating in our room we finally shook of the jet lag and made it to dinner. We had a coupon for a restaurant/pub. They claimed to be the oldest pub in London. It was the coupon that drew us in. When we arrived at the place the restaurant part wasn’t open. We got a pint down stairs and looked for a place to sit. An older gentleman waved us over. He asked where we were from and told us about places around the world he had traveled to. He had never been to the states. He was nice and we let him just talk. After a while he got up and put on a heavy wool coat that was bright red. (As in, The Red Coats are coming!) Since it was July I was shocked he could wear that coat, I figured it was his job.
We had a nice meal and after words the staff asked if we wanted to take a photo next the napkin. What napkin? The one that we are supposed to believe it was used by Queen Victoria. Whatever the case might be, it made for a fun photo op!
The next day we got up early and took the tube back to Heath row and got on our plane to Geneva. We got to see the crown jewels, the British Museum (No one seems to mind if you touch things) and Harrods, all the places we wanted to go see. We had wanted to be in the UK for our first European city, at least we knew the language, and the next countries were going to be interesting. On to Switzerland!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Cut-backs
In these hard times we all have to make sacrifices in our normal routines and try to economize were ever we can. Here are a few things I have been doing to save.
Pull out the bread maker again. The ingredients are not that much, if you buy in bulk or just small amounts.
Half your portions: when I buy meats for dinner, I make sure to only use half and save the other half for another meal. If I am still hungry I make a salad and or just have a nice glass of wine or something to drink.
Cooking at home: The good old crock-pot. Stews last for a few days and can be cooked up while you are work, so can nice pork roasts. Beans with a good couple of ham hocks can make meals for a while. I have made beans and made them into frozen burritos that can be micro waved at work for lunches. My tip, put in some baking soda, it helps cut down on the gas factor.
My hens don’t lay eggs just yet, but they will help. Also their droppings will make the veggies I planted grow well. It is also great for your compost pile. The best gifts are ones you make yourself. I have been saving my corks and making them into trivets. Just get a large hose clamp at the AutoZone and use that as a belt and you don’t even need a hot glue gun.
Staying in all the time can be a drag; there is only so much on TV. The Getty is always free; you just have to make a reservation for parking. That is both at the Malibu site and the one in Brentwood. Why not absorb some culture for free? Need to get out to the movies, there is nothing like getting in early in the day, you get the discount and avoid the families and teenagers in the evening.
I don’t mind staying in if I have something interesting to eat. Spread your spending wisely and you can afford some shrimp. Make a little shrimp cocktail and have a night in. Much better than spending money on tips and parking, don’t you think? If things get worse, ballet slippers were not on the ration cards last time, they are real leather and comfortable.
Pull out the bread maker again. The ingredients are not that much, if you buy in bulk or just small amounts.
Half your portions: when I buy meats for dinner, I make sure to only use half and save the other half for another meal. If I am still hungry I make a salad and or just have a nice glass of wine or something to drink.
Cooking at home: The good old crock-pot. Stews last for a few days and can be cooked up while you are work, so can nice pork roasts. Beans with a good couple of ham hocks can make meals for a while. I have made beans and made them into frozen burritos that can be micro waved at work for lunches. My tip, put in some baking soda, it helps cut down on the gas factor.
My hens don’t lay eggs just yet, but they will help. Also their droppings will make the veggies I planted grow well. It is also great for your compost pile. The best gifts are ones you make yourself. I have been saving my corks and making them into trivets. Just get a large hose clamp at the AutoZone and use that as a belt and you don’t even need a hot glue gun.
Staying in all the time can be a drag; there is only so much on TV. The Getty is always free; you just have to make a reservation for parking. That is both at the Malibu site and the one in Brentwood. Why not absorb some culture for free? Need to get out to the movies, there is nothing like getting in early in the day, you get the discount and avoid the families and teenagers in the evening.
I don’t mind staying in if I have something interesting to eat. Spread your spending wisely and you can afford some shrimp. Make a little shrimp cocktail and have a night in. Much better than spending money on tips and parking, don’t you think? If things get worse, ballet slippers were not on the ration cards last time, they are real leather and comfortable.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
London Part 2
The next day was a Sunday, and while the museums and shops were mostly closed it was still a chance to look around.
We took the tube and got out around Big Ben. It was so quite around the river for such a big city Sunday was really relaxing. After takings some photos and looking around we walked towards Westminster Abby. The buildings around were all so short. I was shocked, this is one of the world greatest cities and there didn’t seem to be any buildings higher than 5 or 6 stories high. I guessed it was too much work to carry bricks any higher. Along the river I had seen some other high rises, just not that many.
Since it was Sunday and Westminster was holding services so we couldn’t tour. We kept walking towards the mall and Buckingham Palace. I have heard these names before it was funny to see that they are all within walking distance from each other. It was warm and a bit muggy that day. We waited around Buckingham Palace for a while. Not sure if they did the changing of the guard every day. The park around the palace was nice and green with great trees. We did see some guards on horseback by one of the gates and took photos. I wondered if that was any ones goals to be a guard here. I was told later that these jobs go to people in the military but ones from good families.
Next was on to Trafalgar square. I had seen these archways and later the lions in movies of course. There is something about going there yourself. After taking more photos we found a place to eat, we asked for breakfast. It came with beans and tomatoes and eggs and I think we asked for toast. I had seen a similar dish in a movie and I had wanted to try it.
I had wanted to go to Europe since I knew it existed. In my teens I spent a great deal of time watching British comedies and films set in Europe. What had I pick up on was phrases and vocabulary that is not used state side. (such as state side and the loo for the bathroom)
Still tired form jet lag after look around for hours we went back to our hotel to have a nap and then we planned to get supper. Unfortunately we over slept and got dresses and went to a pub, but the kitchen was closed. Across the street was a cornerstone and we got some more wine, bread cheese and salami for dinner. On TV were tons of American western movies. I haven’t seen than many westerns in a long time, funny I had to come to London to see them. On the news was a foot race for beer, it was held in Scandinavia and the men had to carry their wives and the winner won his wife’s weight in beer. One greedy man with a heavy wife was trying to win, but he dropped her. If you drop your wife, the rules are that you are out of the race.
With all the walking and the humidity my feet were starting to swell. It wasn’t fun and I had brought skirts and now needed a pair of linen pants. I found them the next day at H and M.
We took the tube and got out around Big Ben. It was so quite around the river for such a big city Sunday was really relaxing. After takings some photos and looking around we walked towards Westminster Abby. The buildings around were all so short. I was shocked, this is one of the world greatest cities and there didn’t seem to be any buildings higher than 5 or 6 stories high. I guessed it was too much work to carry bricks any higher. Along the river I had seen some other high rises, just not that many.
Since it was Sunday and Westminster was holding services so we couldn’t tour. We kept walking towards the mall and Buckingham Palace. I have heard these names before it was funny to see that they are all within walking distance from each other. It was warm and a bit muggy that day. We waited around Buckingham Palace for a while. Not sure if they did the changing of the guard every day. The park around the palace was nice and green with great trees. We did see some guards on horseback by one of the gates and took photos. I wondered if that was any ones goals to be a guard here. I was told later that these jobs go to people in the military but ones from good families.
Next was on to Trafalgar square. I had seen these archways and later the lions in movies of course. There is something about going there yourself. After taking more photos we found a place to eat, we asked for breakfast. It came with beans and tomatoes and eggs and I think we asked for toast. I had seen a similar dish in a movie and I had wanted to try it.
I had wanted to go to Europe since I knew it existed. In my teens I spent a great deal of time watching British comedies and films set in Europe. What had I pick up on was phrases and vocabulary that is not used state side. (such as state side and the loo for the bathroom)
Still tired form jet lag after look around for hours we went back to our hotel to have a nap and then we planned to get supper. Unfortunately we over slept and got dresses and went to a pub, but the kitchen was closed. Across the street was a cornerstone and we got some more wine, bread cheese and salami for dinner. On TV were tons of American western movies. I haven’t seen than many westerns in a long time, funny I had to come to London to see them. On the news was a foot race for beer, it was held in Scandinavia and the men had to carry their wives and the winner won his wife’s weight in beer. One greedy man with a heavy wife was trying to win, but he dropped her. If you drop your wife, the rules are that you are out of the race.
With all the walking and the humidity my feet were starting to swell. It wasn’t fun and I had brought skirts and now needed a pair of linen pants. I found them the next day at H and M.
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