by David McGuffin | May 12, 2008 | Uncategorized
Well I’m on my way to Europe! I began my journey this morning by leaving my home at 8:00 a.m. It’s an hour drive from home to the the airport, but luckily I had Charlotte with me and she dropped me at the terminal. Having to park, pay, and ride a shuttle takes so much more time.
HERE IS SOME NEWS for those of you flying in the next few weeks. It appears that most of the major airlines are imposing a $25 fee for checking more than one bag! Think about it before you pack that extra piece of luggage! There was a family of four in front of me who had a flatbed cart loaded with luggage. They had a least ten bags and made me think they were going on a round-the-world trip! But no, just to California for a week. Anyway the mom freaked out when she was hit with a $150 bill for the excess baggage.
After they got out of my way, I checked-in and told the agent I was checking no bags. He smiled with relief and then took ten minutes to try to read the fine print on my passport because his “scanner” was not working! Finally he handed me my boarding passes but no ticket jacket. I didn’t care, but he felt compelled to tell me it was a new cost cutting measure just implemented this week.
Finally…to the security line and luckily no problems!
The new Terminal 1 has just opened at Jacksonville Airport (JAX). It’s fresh, open, clean, and modern. You gotta check out the sinks in the new restrooms. Amazing!
by David McGuffin | Dec 23, 2007 | Uncategorized
After a flight up from Madrid, we arrived at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport by mid-afternoon. I rented a small car and soon we were out of the airport and on the highway toward Paris. It being Friday afternoon, I was prepared for some traffic jams, but so far it didn’t seem too bad. The highway leaving the airport was virtually traffic free, but by the time we reached the Périphérique, Paris’ big ring-road around the city center, we were in bumper-to-bumper traffic. It wasn’t quite at a stand-still, but we were inching along at less than 10 mph.
Knowing Paris and its traffic, I figured we were in store for at least an hour of stop-and-go traffic. But surely by the time we turned off the Périphériqueand headed southwest it would thin out to nothing. After two hours and less than 20 kilometers, I knew it would be hours before reaching Amboise. To make matters worse we had no hotel reservation, no real plan for the next two days, and no plans for tonight’s dinner. But getting to Amboise in the afternoon was out of the question with this traffic.
Luckily I had my GPS unit with me and we got it up and running. After another hour on the highway, and in this traffic, we finally found a two-laned road that would take us through the countryside to the Loire Valley. Well anything was better than sitting in this traffic for hours on end…so we took the little road.
Immediately there was no traffic, the road was clear, and it was smooth sailing. Uhmm…that is until we came to the first town. Friday afternoon must be the time for everyone to get out and go somewhere because there was lots of traffic. But it was no where near as bad as that we had encountered on the highway. The next hour passed with us speeding our way in the rural areas between each little town and then slowing down in the town centers. This wasn’t bad though. We got to experience several small rural towns in France like we lived there.
By now it was getting late, probably close to nine o’clock. I’d planned on finding a hotel in Amboise, but that was still an hour away. It really didn’t matter what time we arrived as long as we could get rooms for the night and a good meal. We were somewhere along the Loire River near Chambord when I saw it…and drove right on by. I know we had a goal and destination in mind, but that place back there looked like my kind of place. So at the next round-a-bout I did a 180 and decided we were going back to check it out.
The place was an old two-story stone building with lots of ivy climbing up the side. There, in huge painted-on letters, was a sign advertising “Hotel** and Grill.” Even with my limited French vocabulary I could tell we probably could find rooms and food. Pulling into the gravel parking lot I knew I’d made a good choice. There were several cars and the people milling around all were speaking French. I walked into the lobby and really had to dig deep into my French vocab to ask if they had two rooms and dinner. The lady at the desk said “no problem” offered a really good price and booked us for dinner too.
After settling in we walked back downstairs for dinner. The restaurant was just what you’d think a farmhouse grill would look like at home. In sort of the “Cracker Barrel” style there was ancient tools and stuff hanging from the walls and ceiling. On one wall there was a huge stone fireplace complete with a cozy fire. Large picture windows looked out in the back towards a little garden and the wheat fields beyond. I think we were one of the last seatings of the evening because all the other tables were either empty or filled with people involved in dessert or conversation.
The food was wonderful! Natalie and I had escargot, an assortment of duck, steak, vegetables, and dessert. All was washed down with the local Loire Valley wine. La Ferme des 3 Maillets is one of those rare finds that only happen if you let go of your inhibitions and get off the beaten path. Even though the staff spoke very little English and Natalie and I spoke very little French ,we all managed to get our points across and have a great time.
Often, I have people ask about the idea of the “French being a bit arrogant.” First of all, I don’t buy into it idea and secondly, the staff at the inn were wonderfully hospitable. They went out of their way to make our dinner and stay a grand experience. I’d go out of my way to eat and stay here again.
Recently, I’ve tried to research this place on the internet. I can’t find a website and very little search results on the web. But if you are ever in the Loire River Valley near the town of Avaray, find La Ferme des 3 Maillets stay a night, have a great dining experience, and really get a chance to explore another side of France.
-David
by David McGuffin | Dec 20, 2007 | Uncategorized
David’s notes: This was originally posted in July 2007.
I always thought I was good at watching and protecting my stuff when traveling…but a few weeks ago I had a lot of stuff stolen from me.
It all started when I set my backpack on the front seat of my tour bus. That normally is not a problem, but this day it was the wrong thing to do. Soon I began helping people load their luggage and was busy with the hotel checkout for the group. At some point (which no one in the group of 35 people can determine) someone walked onto my tour bus and grabbed my bag off the front seat. I did not discover it was gone until we were ready to roll out of the parking lot. Then it hit me that I’d been had…ughhh. That was a terrible feeling and it took me over a week to get over it.
The only positive thing about this experience was that I was wearing my money belt (tucked safely under my pants) and all my cash, credit cards, and passport were still safe.
Theft is a real thing, keep a watchful-eye and don’t get to feeling so cocky and think it will never happen to you.
During the last six weeks there have been two other people who have lost money and credit cards due to theft. Both events were in Rome. The first happened to a lady who, on her last night in Rome, was riding a crowded bus. She had her billfold in her “fanny-pack” in front of her, supposedly safe and sound. When she arrived at the hotel her billfold was gone!
The other theft happened when a lady left her billfold, containing credit cards and cash, on a bed in a hotel room. When she returned it was all gone.
The moral here is don’t trust anyone. Guard your stuff all the time. By all means tuck your most essential valuables under your clothes in a moneybelt. But hey, don’t worry, I still think Europe and travel are great..however I’ll always be more on the lookout for those people everywhere that cannot be trusted.
by David McGuffin | Aug 9, 2007 | Uncategorized
We’ve found that August is the month for the Italians to take off work and go to the beach. Walking the streets of any of the Cinque Terre villages, you are more likely to hear Italian being spoken than English. Normally, when we visit the Cinque Terre it is in May or June when the streets are loaded with Americans out discover this little niche of bliss.
But, there is a trade off with traveling in August. Charlotte and I have found that we Americans are not always treated fairly at restaurants. Two nights ago we were checking out a new restaurant in Riomaggiore. It was one of those fancy places with huge plated glass windows and linen table clothes. The long story short is they served us poor wine, poor food, and cut Charlotte short on the desert by giving her a small portion that had been sitting out all day. The Italian couple at the next table was served the same house wine (only out of an unopened bottle), hot food and fresh desert. There definitely was an advantage to being from Italy at this restaurant! On top of all that, they stuck us with an outrageous bill! Needless to say I will not be taking a group there!
Last night we dined in the village of Cornelia. We returned to one of my favorite restaurants where I know the people and they know me. La Lamparna serves up some of the best seafood in the region. The experience here was in total contrast to the evening before in Riomaggiore.
Guess it pays to know where to eat.
-David
by David McGuffin | Aug 7, 2007 | Uncategorized
Normally, when I fly to Europe I am in the working and touring mode. That’s to say that upon arrival in Europe, I usually have to begin leading tours and showing people around. So to prepare for this I get my “body clock” ready at home by getting up at 4:00 a.m. and going to bed by 9:00 p.m. I do this for about four days before I depart. Then usually, when I get to Europe I am pretty much on schedule. However this vacation trip to the Cinque Terre is different.
Charlotte and I did not prepare before leaving for our trip. We both had been busy and by the time the day of out flight rolled around, all we could do was get up and get to the airport. We traveled from Jacksonville to Newark and then on to Milan. No problems with the flights, just a lot of flying. Once we arrived in Milan we took a train down to the Cinque Terre. That was another three hours added to the travel. So all in all, we traveled about 20 hours by plane and train to get to our destination. But being on vacation in the Cinque Terre means no agenda. There are no tours to lead, no place we have to be, and no schedule. Today we slept until noon!
As we were laying out at the beach yesterday, we began thinking of the “first day” experience for most of my tour groups. It usually involves hitting the ground running to see the sights. Normally we go all day and finally get back to the hotel after dark. In some respects this is a necessity because of all the sights and activities we have to pack in during the tour. But wouldn’t it be nice to start a tour in a place like the Cinque Terre where all you had to do for the first day or two was to chill out and enjoy the location?
What do you think?
by David McGuffin | Aug 3, 2007 | Uncategorized
I’ve been home here in the States for about a week. I’ve had to make some mental and physical adjustments. It may seem odd, but being on the road in Europe for sixty days has been very comfortable. Yes, I miss my family, home, pets, and bed…but that’s about it. The life style in Europe is just so much different than the USA. Don’t get me wrong, I love my county and I don’t want to live anywhere else, but Europe does have a certain charm. Each counrty is a different culture and has other ways of dealing with life.Let me give you a few examples:
- During the last few days (while at home) I’ve developed a pretty bad “cold” which I chalk up to me being constantly exposed to air conditioning. Europe does have air conditioning, but it is not like here. Air conditioning can be found in some shop, fine hotels, and restaurants. That’s about it! Outdoor cafes, bars, public places, theaters, train stations, etc. have no air conditioning. People have always lived without it and it is a way of life.
- In the past week, the farthest I’ve had to walk is about 50 yards to my mailbox. Driving (and owning a car) is not that common in Europe. I know some of you would beg to differ having been caught in the hectic traffic of Rome or Paris. But all in all, most Europeans use public transport, walk, or ride a bike. My tour members can attest to the fact to an average walking distance of about six miles a day.
- I have enjoyed iced tea, real Diet Coke, and home cooking here in the last week. Just being able to “drive” to the grocery store, pick up some food, and cook it on my own stove has been wonderful.
- I can still do without ice in my drink, butter on my bread, free refills, and chain restaurants.
- I like water with dinner and I like it with gas (bubbles, carbonated). Many people in Europe drink it this way too. Some believe it has special healing properties and even call it mineral water. Hey, maybe I should be drinking it to cure my cold.
- Fresh vegetables can be found at any market in Europe. If it is not fresh and in season, you can’t get it. We wanted to buy some corn on the cob for a cookout in Tuscany. No one had it…it wasn’t in season and therefore not in the markets. But the TOMATOES were to die for. My granddad used to grow tomatoes in his backyard and we always marveled their flavor. He must have had a little French or Italian in him because the tomatoes were wonderful everywhere we ate them.
I could keep rambling, but you might start telling me to move to Europe! My point is only to make a comparison. Life is different and each culture has something to share with the other. I just happen to be flexible enough to enjoy it all.
I head back to Italy tomorrow. Charlotte and I are taking a week’s vacation in Liguria. Although I don’t relish the idea of getting on a plane for nine hours, I am looking forward to chillin’ out in the Cinque Terre.
-David
