European Experience: Observations and Reflections

It's been nearly three weeks since my wife Mary and I returned from our European vacation to London, Paris and Roma. 

Here are some reflections from our unforgettable journey:

Big Ben in London

• Which city did we enjoy the most? We liked them all equally. I know it sounds like a cop out but they are so different and distinct from each other. London has its regal atmosphere, Paris has its opulence, and Roma has its glorious history. 
• We had read and heard  so much about the rudeness among some Europeans, especially the French. We didn't encounter any of that in these cities. We found most of them to be friendly, and if not that, polite. I hope that means something coming from a person  who comes from a place known for its hospitality -- Kentucky.
• We read about pickpockets being so prevalent, especially around the historic sites in Roma. I'm sure they were there, but hey, pickpockets are everywhere large crowds with money congregate, and that includes the United States and anywhere else in the world. Just use commonsense. 

  

  The Eiffel Tower in Paris

• The traffic wasn't nearly as bad as we had read except maybe going from Heathrow in London to our hotel on the narrow roads with narrow lanes. And since traffic moves in opposite lanes in England, you see pedestrian warnings throughout the city to look both ways before crossing a street (look right first).  I almost got hit by a motor scooter in Roma (the driver came out of nowhere near a historic plaza and he probably thought I did as well). I will say I have no desire to drive in those cities and that's fine since they have excellent public transportation.
• While in Roma, we encountered a young man who said he was from Kenya (he was wearing a turban and brightly colored shirt) near the Castel Sant'Angelo. He gave us three small hand-carved trinkets -- two turtles and an elephant -- and said he didn't want anything in return. It was simply out of friendship. When I gave him a euro, and then Mary handed him one, he told us he was hungry and wanted more (he didn't appear hungry/starving). We then offered to give him back the wooden trinkets, but he refused, again  saying it was out of friendship. We then had a friendly parting of the ways, at least from our viewpoint. 

  

  The Colosseum in Roma

• We didn't see a lot of homeless people. That could be because we didn't travel to the underbelly of the cities (most guided tours take you to the places the cities want to showcase). Of course, there were vendors hawking items, especially in Roma. 
• Probably the most disappointing views we had were of

  

  Graffiti from the Seine

   graffiti, most notably in Paris and Roma. It's a shame to have these eyesores distract from the overall beauty and grandeur of these great and wonderful cities.  
• We felt safe and secure in each of the cities. The security areas at the airports were efficient, orderly and respectful. TSA in the United States could learn a few things from their European counterparts about moving people through security, especially in how to address and treat people. After returning to the U.S. at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, I thought about what our European visitors must think since we were all herded through like cattle. It certainly isn't a "Welcome to America"  message that TSA is conveying. 

We plan to visit Europe again, probably taking in other cities the next time (you only go around once in life). We're also thinking about going to Asian, African and South American countries if time and finances permit.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Until the next time...

European Experience -- "We'll Always Have Paris"

After spending three days in London, our tour group went to the train station in Kent and boarded a high-speed Eurostar headed to Paris. 

I don't recall much about the Chunnel -- the tunnel beneath the English Channel that connects England and France -- other than we were viewing the French countryside dotted with church steeples in no time as the train zipped along at 185 mph. 

And then Paris -- a city that is a feast for the eyes. So much to see and do, and like London, so little time to take it all in.

Basilica of Parve du Sacre-Coeur

After Mary and I got settled in our hotel, we had dinner and then climbed a hill -- Montmartre (the highest point in Paris) -- overlooking the city to the Basilica of Parve du Sacre-Coeur. The cathedral was completed in 1914.


The following day a local guide took us through Gardens of Luxembourg and Notre-Dame Cathedral as well as giving us a feel for how some Parisians live in this city of 2.2 million. Notre-Dame, which took nearly 200 years to build before completion in 1345, is an architectural marvel of French Gothic design. 

One of the many places in the Gardens of Luxembourg

The western side of Notre-Dame.

The next day we took a bus tour of some of the sights, which gave us a feel for the lay of the city. Mary and I then ventured out on foot to take in some other places.

The Arc de Triomphe

While walking down the Champs-Elysees, after viewing the magnificent Arc de Triomphe, Mary wanted a milkshake so we stopped at McDonald's. She went to the counter and placed her order, and came back with a warm cup of milk and a packet of chocolate mix -- for hot chocolate. I ended up drinking it. (I did go out later that day at a McDonald's near our hotel and bought her a chocolate sundae).

The Grand Palais, home of French presidents

We saw the Grand Palais and The Louvre as well as other stunning architecture along the way. We didn't go inside The Louvre -- it's huge, lines of tourists, and a place we'd want to spend more than a few hours. It will be on our list, along with a lot of other places when we return.

The Louvre

Our accordion player

On our final night we had a nice dinner at Noces de Jeannette, where we were serenaded by a delightful accordion player ("I'll be back!" she said sweetly after playing a few tunes and going to another dining area). It was at the restaurant where I tried to scoot my chair over, but it didn't move because of the carpet. I did, however, nearly tumbling into the next table. 

Night cruise on the Seine

That was followed by  an unforgettable boat ride on the Seine, taking in the more sights and watching the locals partying and relaxing on the banks. And then we were all dazzled by the brilliant and glittering  Eiffel Tower lighting up the clear night sky.

A glittering Eiffel Tower

One guide was upset about the Tour Montparnasse skyscraper (689 feet) as well as other tall buildings being planned as being distractions for the cityscape that has been dominated for so long (since 1889) by the iconic Eiffel Tower. I agree. The Eiffel Tower is a signature structure, one of the most recognizable in the world that helps define the elegance and grandeur of this breathtaking city.

The Eiffel Tower as seen from The Louvre's grounds

Here are a few more images:

A young couple having wedding photos
taken at the Basilica of Parve du Sacre-Coeur

National Academy of Music

Church of St. Augustine

A garden area shared by apartment dwellers

French philosopher and statesmen JulesSimon

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Rear of Paris Opera Building

One of the many impressive buildings

As novelist Ernest Hemingway once wrote: "If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."

I'm glad I was able to experience three days in Paris as an old man for I know it will stay with me until the day I die.

And finally, that famous line in the movie, "Casablanca," when Rick Blaine said to Ilsa Lund, "We'll always have Paris."

Yes, thankfully, we will. 

Until the next time...

European Experience -- The Beginning

On May 6, my wife Mary and I left our cozy Kentucky home for an 11-day vacation to Europe -- London, Paris and Roma, to be precise.

We made our decision last December to take that 10-hour flight across the big pond and make one of our trips of a lifetime. As you grow older, time is of the essence and one has no clue what the future holds in terms of finances, health, and other personal issues.

Three months earlier, we took another "trip of a lifetime" when we took a rail vacation to the western part of the U.S., making stops in places such as Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Yosemite National Park.

The initial stages of our trip were relatively uneventful other than me having a pat-down by a TSA official at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington. Mary and I figured out what set off the alarm when we reached the boarding area -- my top-of-the line Timex Expedition watch. 

The boarding area in Concourse E for our flight to London

We flew to the impressive Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where we had about a 3 1/2-hour layover. It gave us time to get a bite to eat at the Stock Car Cafe and then wait for our US Airways flight to Heathrow in London. 

Before boarding our flight, we took advice from some friends who recently traveled to Italy and moved our watches ahead five hours to help acclimate ourselves to the time change in London. We wanted to lessen the effects of the flight as much as possible.

On the way to London

We touched down at Heathrow around noon, local time. We were sent to the Customs and Border Patrol section. During the flight, an attendant was handing out forms. My ears were ringing,  Mary  was sleeping, and I thought it was for a credit-card application and told her I didn't want one. Well, it turned out to be a form that had to be filled out before going through Customs and Border Patrol at Heathrow.

Fortunately, a young woman on our flight seated behind us told us as we got off the Airbus what we needed to do. She guided us to the proper area to pick up another form and stayed with us until we were cleared to proceed to the baggage area. Her name was Francesca, originally from Shawnee Mission, Kansas, an ex-patriate who has lived in London for nearly four years. She also gave us some advice on places to see during our stay. 

H10 Waterloo Hotel

Our tour company had a driver waiting for us just off from the baggage area. I don't recall his name, but he was a Somalian who has lived in London for 13 years (and has a brother living in Minnesota, whom he hopes to visit later this year). He certainly knew how to negotiate the narrow highway in heavy traffic on our 45-minute trip to the H10 Waterloo hotel, even pointing out some of the historic sights along the way. 

We were exhausted when we finally checked into our room and unpacked, but after a quick nap, we had renewed energy when we met 34 fellow travelers at a welcome dinner, hosted by our experienced, cordial and knowledgeable guide Valerio, an Italian citizen.

More on the London visit  in my next post.

Until the next time...

(Some images from the trip can be seen at my Facebook page. And if you go to Facebook, please like Kentucky author Michael Embry page as well.)

Back to the Manuscript -- Part Five

After taking a two-week break, I've returned to my work in progress. 

I must admit that it was nice to get away from the manuscript. Why? Because for 11 days I was vacationing in the European cities of London, Paris and Roma. (More about my travel adventure in later posts).

Agatha Christie memorial in London (sorry for the horizontal placement)

For me, there's nothing like going to another environment, atmosphere, or whatever you call it -- perhaps an escape -- to get reinvigorated. And what better places than London, Paris and Roma to re-energize the body and soul! 

Honore Balzac statue in Paris

While I tried to totally immerse myself into the rich culture of those cities, during down times I couldn't help but think about the manuscript, especially during the 10-hour flights to and from Europe.  I even discussed my work with several of my fellow travelers, which provided even more focus on what I'm trying to accomplish.

When I opened the manuscript file this morning, I found renewed energy to go full bore in reworking some passages, dialogue, descriptions and so forth.  I know it will be much better after this third rewrite -- which is the ultimate goal.

Until the next time....

A Paris Icon: Shakespeare and Company Bookstore

One of my favorite discoveries during a recent visit to Paris was stumbling across Shakespeare and Company bookstore.

Shakespeare and Company bookstore at 37 rue de la Bucherie in Paris.

I was with a tour group that beautiful morning and we had just visited the resplendent Luxembourg Gardens. We were taking a leisurely walk before heading across the Seine to Notre-Dame Cathedral.

A place to read, relax and soak in the literary atmosphere.

I was momentarily stunned when we turned the corner and this iconic bookstore was before me. It wasn't on the tour's list of things to see, but it certainly ranked high on my list as a place I wanted to experience.

Now this isn't the same Shakespeare and Company that was founded in 1919 by Sylvia Beach and attracted such literary lions as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound and James Joyce, among many others, but it carries on in the spirit of that great bookstore that closed in 1940 because of the German occupation.

This bookstore, founded in 1951 by American George Whitman, follows in the same tradition of the original. Whitman named his store Le Mistral, but changed it to Shakespeare and Company, in 1964, in honor of great bard's 400th birthday and as a tribute to Beach. 

Through the years Whitman brought in literary greats such as Allen Ginsberg, William Styron, James Baldwin, William Burroughs and Richard Wright. 

Whitman, who was also a poet, died in 2011 at the age of 98. The bookstore is now owned by his daughter, Sylvia, who is named after Sylvia Beach, and she continues to run the business in the same spirit and tradition of her father and her namesake. 

Yours truly in his tourist attire.

I wish I could have spent more time at the bookstore, perusing the titles on the shelves, studying the photographs on the walls, and talking to some of the patrons. 

Perhaps I can if I ever return to this enchanting city.

Until the next time....

New Adventure in 2015

Last year my wife and I took a guided tour to "America's Beautiful West," which included riding Amtrak trains from Chicago to San Francisco and back. 

It was a memorable 14-day vacation, making stops at places such as Grand Canyon, Yosemite, John Muir Woods as well as cities such as Las Vegas, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City. 

Big Ben in London

This year we have international plans: London, Paris, and Rome. 

Ten years ago I spent about a week in irresistible Ireland, visiting such picturesque places as Dingle, Ring of Kerry, and Cliffs of Moher. Someday I plan to return and take in more of the treasures of the Emerald Isle.

Eiffel Tower in Paris

Since that trip, I've always wanted to go back to Europe. I'm still mapping out places to see in the Old World, which will be a New World for our senses.

We're looking forward to visiting some of the museums, art galleries and historic places and experiencing the sights and sounds of these great cities. 

Colosseum in Rome

If you have any tips or recommendations on traveling in Europe, please let me know. 

I wish I had the time and resources to travel to many European destinations, but I hope that will come on another vacation. 


I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts and photos from this new adventure. 

Until the next time... 

On the Road

For the past few months my wife, Mary, and I have made what we call  "mini-bucket list" trips to various towns in Kentucky (the only exception has been Madison, Ind., located across the Ohio River).

We try to keep our trips no longer than an hour's drive from our home. We are fortunate in that Kentucky, which was settled in 1774 and became a state in 1792, has a rich and varied history. Each town has its own heritage and distinctiveness.

 We visit a local restaurant for lunch and then we'll spend time walking to see some of the buildings around town. Since most of these places date back to the early 19th century, there are a few historical buildings we see on our short journeys.

I find the architecture fascinating as it ranges from Greek Revival, Federal, Georgian, Italianate and more. No doubt  many buildings were taken down through the years in the name of progress or whatever reason. It's gratifying to see that some historic preservation taking place, although it can be expensive to renovate these buildings.

I also take photos from our trips that I post on my Facebook page. Feel free to check them out. A friend asked me if these photos might be the makings of a new book. While I'm not currently pursuing that, the photos do take me back to another time and environment that I could incorporate into to my stories.

I try to take photos of historical buildings, churches, libraries and other places to provide a glimpse of what makes the town what it is. I will say that some towns are more interesting than others. Some seem to have more civic pride and try to promote their uniqueness. And some are more prosperous, which allows them to do more than others in terms of historic preservation.

But all are worth a visit.

Here are a few photos:

Madison Hall of Justice in Richmond

Boyle County Courthouse in Danville

Fayette County Museum in Lexington

Court Street corner in Owingsville

J.J. Newberry storefront in Paris

Harrodsburg Historical Society

Bluegrass Heritage Museum in Winchester

Old house in Warsaw

Schofield House in Madison, Ind.

Anderson County Courthouse in Lawrenceburg

Lincoln County Public Library in Stanford

 

Owen County Courthouse in Owenton

Veterans Memorial in Shelbyville

Until the next time...