Europeans Rejoice! Mai Tai Returns From 17 Great Days.
Oct 10th, 2003, 06:44 PM
#105
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Oh rats, just scrolled back through Tom's posts. He's going to be in Orlando on business on the 18th. <i>Any</i> chance you'd be williong to change your plans so you could meet your SF fans, Maitaitom?
Oct 11th, 2003, 10:29 AM
#110
Original Poster
"I would rather have the former suggested drink with an attractive lady, though."
Now you know my secret of how I've remained married to Tracy for almost ten years. Of course, I usually only make that drink in the privacy of my own home.
Germany will be on our minds tonight because we are hosting thirty thirsty people for our own little Oktoberfest party, so the last part of this saga will have to wait until tomorrow.
Thanks to all for the nice (and funny) comments.
Now you know my secret of how I've remained married to Tracy for almost ten years. Of course, I usually only make that drink in the privacy of my own home.
Germany will be on our minds tonight because we are hosting thirty thirsty people for our own little Oktoberfest party, so the last part of this saga will have to wait until tomorrow.
Thanks to all for the nice (and funny) comments.
Oct 11th, 2003, 11:51 AM
#111
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I am from the North, so this is a bit unusual for me, but I am sending you a cheerful "Yodel" that I hope suits the occasion- BTW you have a good excuse, if you can only manage to continue the day after tomorrow 
Oct 11th, 2003, 02:54 PM
#112
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Absolutely the best trip report I've read on this board. Unpretentious, fun and informative.
I've laughed out loud!
I normally would have no interest in a trip to Germany (no offense) but this isn't really about the trip it's about the fun journey.
Oh and I never, ever thought I'd see the words bling, bling on this board.
Can I come for Thanksgiving?
I've laughed out loud!
I normally would have no interest in a trip to Germany (no offense) but this isn't really about the trip it's about the fun journey.
Oh and I never, ever thought I'd see the words bling, bling on this board.
Can I come for Thanksgiving?
Oct 12th, 2003, 11:13 AM
#114
Original Poster
The last installment of the "trip report that will not end."
We said farewell to the Cinque Terre. For those who ask how far the Cinque Terre is from Malpensa, the answer is exactly two and one half hours (with very little traffic and some speeding...well a lot of speeding). We drove to our hotel for the last night (Villa Malpensa) which is located just a few minutes from the airport.
The drive was great because we had a really wild Euro Music station on the radio for most of the way. That pulsating music at 160kph is a great way to spend the morning. Tracy was writing down the names of songs (or what we thought could be the name of the songs) just in case they ever appear on Apple Music. The Spy music mix was our favorite.
We had 2pm reservations at The Last Supper, but knowing how well I drive in big cities, I also had reservations about driving into Milano. Was there a train? He told us there was a train called the Malpensa Express (certainly not to be confused with the Oriental Express) that left the airport at 12:45 and would drop us at the last stop in 40 minutes. The station is located near The Last Supper (about a five minute walk...eight when you stop to buy a bunch of cookies).
Tracy and I rented the English audio headphones for 2.5 Euro and at 2pm we went inside with a two other Americans and a Japanese tour group to see The Last Supper at The Santa Maria delle Grazie.
You get to stay inside for 15 minutes and the audioguide was informative. It told how the convent had been used as a stable and that some idiot enlarged the door underneath the painting, which wiped out Jesus' feet. The restoration looked fine to me.
Tracy had a friend who wanted a special memento of our journey to The Last Supper. After buying a Last Supper Refrigerator Magnet (there's really nothing like an ugly, cheap souvenir to let you savor history), we walked around Milan for awhile, ate some more delicious cookies and decided to get back to the airport to drop off our ugly blue (but dependable) car.
It had served us well. It had never been broken in to. It committed dozens upon dozens of traffic violations (helped by its willing driver), but it had never been caught. It traveled at speeds it probably never knew it could attain. "Goodbye Golf," I said. "Have many safe journeys." Tracy usually walks far away from me as I say goodbye to a rental car.
We took a cab back to the hotel (not a very happy driver to have to wait for hours for a fare, only to get a 3 minute shot). It was minimum 10.50 euro, and the driver was not very happy again when Tracy accidentally shut the back door on a helpless seatbelt, crushing it and sending the driver into a tizzy (now there's a word I don't think I've ever written before). Mamma mia, it must be time for us to get back to California, Toto.
Back at the room, we got out the Apple IPOD WorldWide Adapter, and it worked to perfection. The IPOD was ready for the flight home. I could hardly wait for the words, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash."
Before dinner, we drank a bottle of Alsatian wine that we had bought in Ribeauville (really good). We had a nice (but rather expensive) dinner at the hotel restaurant, left a wake up call for 5:30, and with no dueling church bells, received a nice night's sleep.
The next morning, fog enveloped Malpensa (sounds like a mystery novel...a bad mystery novel). Tracy had her VAT forms for the bling bling and my overpriced leather jacket (yes, sadly, buyers remorse was sinking in quickly). Of course, since it was early, there was no Customs Agent. Once we did find one, they said we had to have it stamped in Munchen, our last European destination before the U.S.
The fog was thick, and then I came to the realization that I had booked us on a prop plane to Munich. I fly a lot, but that doesn't make me crazy about doing it. Actually, the plane (operated by the famed airline of Augsburg) was very comfortable, and as soon as we rose above the fog and the haze, the Alps came into sight.
It looked like we were close enough to the Alps to pick up a pint of brandy from a Saint Bernard as we flew over. We arrived in Munich at 10:30 for our 11:20 flight. "Hope we can get that VAT thing done," Tracy said.
Well, since the last time we were at this airport, there have been some changes. Not all for the good, I might add. After the Lufthansa bus dropped us at the terminal, we saw a line longer than any I have ever experienced at The Rose Bowl. I wasn't so concerned about the VAT now, as I was trying to make our flight.
We, of course, got in the line with the Customs guy who gave everybody the third degree (especially if they were young, good looking women). We got through there at a little past 11 and scurried toward our gate.
We put our bags on the screening conveyor, and then things got interesting. Tracy went through first, and I guess she had the look of an international terrorist, because the guy proceeded to go through both her bags (carrying mostly medicine, magazines, books and...dum de dum dum.. the IPOD).
After carefully scrutinizing our toothbrushes, Kleenex, shampoos stolen from hotels in four different countries, and after making sure those tampons were not weapons of mass destruction, he finally let her through. Since I had angelic looks on this morning, he let me right through. Good thing, too, because the plane was nearly completely boarded.
We took our seats and awaited our long flight home. In Milan, I had stopped by a book store and bought a book that has made me want to travel to Great Britain. It is called "Great Tales From English History" by Robert Lacey.
The chapters are all very short but very well written and interesting. It tells stories of English history (thus the title, duh) from 7,000+ years BC to 1381 AD. It is a great read and it, along with the numerous nice Brits we encountered on the trip, has made us very interested in exploring that region of the world in a couple of years.
A couple of hours into the flight, I whipped out the IPOD, heard the words "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" and knew we'd be home in about ten hours and seven glasses of wine.
Couple of notes:
Our favorite hotel: Stella d'Italia - San Mamete
Our favorite budget hotel: Haus Lipmann - Beilstein
(interesting because both were recommendations from people on this board)
Least Favorite hotel - Clos Saint-Vincent in Ribeauwille. Really not a bad place, but for the price, they should really upgrade.
Favorite place - tough call
Grindelwald area. So beautiful and the weather gods were with us.
Loved also the Routes des Vins and Mosel Valley.
And, of course, we'll always have Firenze.
Best Meal (s) - Hands down, Stella d'Italia in San Mamete.
Honorable mention meals - Hotel Gletschergarten in Grindelwald.
Well, as my Looney Tunes friends would say, "That's all Folks." It's been fun writing the report and it does extend my vacation a bit reliving all our European moments. Thanks for the nice comments, and I'll look forward to hanging out on the board asking and answering questions.
And finally, I must add, no animals were harmed during the writing of this trip report.
We said farewell to the Cinque Terre. For those who ask how far the Cinque Terre is from Malpensa, the answer is exactly two and one half hours (with very little traffic and some speeding...well a lot of speeding). We drove to our hotel for the last night (Villa Malpensa) which is located just a few minutes from the airport.
The drive was great because we had a really wild Euro Music station on the radio for most of the way. That pulsating music at 160kph is a great way to spend the morning. Tracy was writing down the names of songs (or what we thought could be the name of the songs) just in case they ever appear on Apple Music. The Spy music mix was our favorite.
We had 2pm reservations at The Last Supper, but knowing how well I drive in big cities, I also had reservations about driving into Milano. Was there a train? He told us there was a train called the Malpensa Express (certainly not to be confused with the Oriental Express) that left the airport at 12:45 and would drop us at the last stop in 40 minutes. The station is located near The Last Supper (about a five minute walk...eight when you stop to buy a bunch of cookies).
Tracy and I rented the English audio headphones for 2.5 Euro and at 2pm we went inside with a two other Americans and a Japanese tour group to see The Last Supper at The Santa Maria delle Grazie.
You get to stay inside for 15 minutes and the audioguide was informative. It told how the convent had been used as a stable and that some idiot enlarged the door underneath the painting, which wiped out Jesus' feet. The restoration looked fine to me.
Tracy had a friend who wanted a special memento of our journey to The Last Supper. After buying a Last Supper Refrigerator Magnet (there's really nothing like an ugly, cheap souvenir to let you savor history), we walked around Milan for awhile, ate some more delicious cookies and decided to get back to the airport to drop off our ugly blue (but dependable) car.
It had served us well. It had never been broken in to. It committed dozens upon dozens of traffic violations (helped by its willing driver), but it had never been caught. It traveled at speeds it probably never knew it could attain. "Goodbye Golf," I said. "Have many safe journeys." Tracy usually walks far away from me as I say goodbye to a rental car.
We took a cab back to the hotel (not a very happy driver to have to wait for hours for a fare, only to get a 3 minute shot). It was minimum 10.50 euro, and the driver was not very happy again when Tracy accidentally shut the back door on a helpless seatbelt, crushing it and sending the driver into a tizzy (now there's a word I don't think I've ever written before). Mamma mia, it must be time for us to get back to California, Toto.
Back at the room, we got out the Apple IPOD WorldWide Adapter, and it worked to perfection. The IPOD was ready for the flight home. I could hardly wait for the words, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash."
Before dinner, we drank a bottle of Alsatian wine that we had bought in Ribeauville (really good). We had a nice (but rather expensive) dinner at the hotel restaurant, left a wake up call for 5:30, and with no dueling church bells, received a nice night's sleep.
The next morning, fog enveloped Malpensa (sounds like a mystery novel...a bad mystery novel). Tracy had her VAT forms for the bling bling and my overpriced leather jacket (yes, sadly, buyers remorse was sinking in quickly). Of course, since it was early, there was no Customs Agent. Once we did find one, they said we had to have it stamped in Munchen, our last European destination before the U.S.
The fog was thick, and then I came to the realization that I had booked us on a prop plane to Munich. I fly a lot, but that doesn't make me crazy about doing it. Actually, the plane (operated by the famed airline of Augsburg) was very comfortable, and as soon as we rose above the fog and the haze, the Alps came into sight.
It looked like we were close enough to the Alps to pick up a pint of brandy from a Saint Bernard as we flew over. We arrived in Munich at 10:30 for our 11:20 flight. "Hope we can get that VAT thing done," Tracy said.
Well, since the last time we were at this airport, there have been some changes. Not all for the good, I might add. After the Lufthansa bus dropped us at the terminal, we saw a line longer than any I have ever experienced at The Rose Bowl. I wasn't so concerned about the VAT now, as I was trying to make our flight.
We, of course, got in the line with the Customs guy who gave everybody the third degree (especially if they were young, good looking women). We got through there at a little past 11 and scurried toward our gate.
We put our bags on the screening conveyor, and then things got interesting. Tracy went through first, and I guess she had the look of an international terrorist, because the guy proceeded to go through both her bags (carrying mostly medicine, magazines, books and...dum de dum dum.. the IPOD).
After carefully scrutinizing our toothbrushes, Kleenex, shampoos stolen from hotels in four different countries, and after making sure those tampons were not weapons of mass destruction, he finally let her through. Since I had angelic looks on this morning, he let me right through. Good thing, too, because the plane was nearly completely boarded.
We took our seats and awaited our long flight home. In Milan, I had stopped by a book store and bought a book that has made me want to travel to Great Britain. It is called "Great Tales From English History" by Robert Lacey.
The chapters are all very short but very well written and interesting. It tells stories of English history (thus the title, duh) from 7,000+ years BC to 1381 AD. It is a great read and it, along with the numerous nice Brits we encountered on the trip, has made us very interested in exploring that region of the world in a couple of years.
A couple of hours into the flight, I whipped out the IPOD, heard the words "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" and knew we'd be home in about ten hours and seven glasses of wine.
Couple of notes:
Our favorite hotel: Stella d'Italia - San Mamete
Our favorite budget hotel: Haus Lipmann - Beilstein
(interesting because both were recommendations from people on this board)
Least Favorite hotel - Clos Saint-Vincent in Ribeauwille. Really not a bad place, but for the price, they should really upgrade.
Favorite place - tough call
Grindelwald area. So beautiful and the weather gods were with us.
Loved also the Routes des Vins and Mosel Valley.
And, of course, we'll always have Firenze.
Best Meal (s) - Hands down, Stella d'Italia in San Mamete.
Honorable mention meals - Hotel Gletschergarten in Grindelwald.
Well, as my Looney Tunes friends would say, "That's all Folks." It's been fun writing the report and it does extend my vacation a bit reliving all our European moments. Thanks for the nice comments, and I'll look forward to hanging out on the board asking and answering questions.
And finally, I must add, no animals were harmed during the writing of this trip report.
Oct 12th, 2003, 01:13 PM
#117
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NO ! no ! ~sob sob~ this can't be the end..
Tom, grab Tracy and go somewhere right away!! This has been sooo enjoyable and I will miss sitting down with my cuppa and pup and reading the funny parts out loud to him..he really likes your writing, Tom ((&
)
Thank you for the entertainment and of course, all the good travel advice.
Now get to planning the next trip!!
Scarlett
Tom, grab Tracy and go somewhere right away!! This has been sooo enjoyable and I will miss sitting down with my cuppa and pup and reading the funny parts out loud to him..he really likes your writing, Tom ((&
)Thank you for the entertainment and of course, all the good travel advice.
Now get to planning the next trip!!
Scarlett
Oct 12th, 2003, 01:27 PM
#118
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Grazie, merci Tom, It is a shame that your report is finished! I had such fun reading it, well all the good things must come to an end....I am glad that you had such a fantastic time!
Ciao,
kismet
Ciao,
kismet
