Ever been in a place in Europe where an event happened, good or bad, that made worldwide news?
Apr 8th, 2007, 08:12 AM
#101
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In Europe, no unless attending a Good Friday mass at the Colosseum counts. However, I was in Beijing back in September of 2004 when the military leadership in China changed hands. I was able to witness a large formal event at the Beijing Hotel where I was staying one evening. Security was very tight and a few members of the third estate were present, although nothing like the media coverage one might expect in the US.
Apr 8th, 2007, 02:33 PM
#103
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Growing up in a formerly military town in the 70's in England, I have lost count of how many time I've been evacuated because of bombscares.
Post offices, town centres, bus and train stations, schools and hospitals.
Last two were real bombs: the booby-trapped mountain bike under Brighton pier 93(?), followed by the diesel/fertilizer bomb truck left just by the Monument in London in 2002.
On reflection, not sure if either made the news.
Had they exploded I would be able to play this game, as we have no death count, I can't.
Post offices, town centres, bus and train stations, schools and hospitals.
Last two were real bombs: the booby-trapped mountain bike under Brighton pier 93(?), followed by the diesel/fertilizer bomb truck left just by the Monument in London in 2002.
On reflection, not sure if either made the news.
Had they exploded I would be able to play this game, as we have no death count, I can't.
Apr 9th, 2007, 12:03 AM
#104
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I was in Marrakech when Yassar Arafat died.
When taking the stairs up the Eiffel Tower on that same vacation, we heard shooting, and saw people running from the opposite corner of where we were climbing. Then once we got to the second stage, or third, don't remember but it wasn't the top most stage, we were told that it was closing time and that everyone had to leave.
I knew that we still had about two hours left, but they were escorting everyone, all of the concessions and shops closed, when we got to the base, it was cordoned off and no one knew what was going on. There were several police cars and I asked one police officer in French if this was an evacuation, and he replied, "C'est une bombe". I saw it in the news the day after, and apparently it was just a bomb scare.
When taking the stairs up the Eiffel Tower on that same vacation, we heard shooting, and saw people running from the opposite corner of where we were climbing. Then once we got to the second stage, or third, don't remember but it wasn't the top most stage, we were told that it was closing time and that everyone had to leave.
I knew that we still had about two hours left, but they were escorting everyone, all of the concessions and shops closed, when we got to the base, it was cordoned off and no one knew what was going on. There were several police cars and I asked one police officer in French if this was an evacuation, and he replied, "C'est une bombe". I saw it in the news the day after, and apparently it was just a bomb scare.
Apr 9th, 2007, 04:42 AM
#105
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We were in Spoleto the night of the '97 Italian earthquake -- in fact, we'd just left Assisi that day. Our Assisi hotel was next to the Basilica, too.
In Spoleto, we were woken up by the tremors in the middle of the night -- I thought at first it was just a bad dream (I'm not at my best in the small hours)! We heard someone screeching in the corridor and a lot of rushing around. My husband and I got up and looked out the window onto the square outside --
everything still seemed to be standing, so we went back to sleep.
In Spoleto, we were woken up by the tremors in the middle of the night -- I thought at first it was just a bad dream (I'm not at my best in the small hours)! We heard someone screeching in the corridor and a lot of rushing around. My husband and I got up and looked out the window onto the square outside --
everything still seemed to be standing, so we went back to sleep.
Apr 9th, 2007, 06:15 AM
#106
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We were in the South of France on 911. We didn't even know until that evening that it had happened. I didn't sleep that night at all.
I was in London when the next big crash happened (out of NYC, flying to the Dominican Republic). I was in an Indian restaurant with a friend of mine and after the meal the waiter came up to tell us that there was another crash out of NYC but he didn't want to ruin our meals by telling us while we were eating as it was unclear at that point if it was another terrorist attack.
I'm sure there are others, I travel a lot - but those stick out.
I was in London when the next big crash happened (out of NYC, flying to the Dominican Republic). I was in an Indian restaurant with a friend of mine and after the meal the waiter came up to tell us that there was another crash out of NYC but he didn't want to ruin our meals by telling us while we were eating as it was unclear at that point if it was another terrorist attack.
I'm sure there are others, I travel a lot - but those stick out.
Apr 9th, 2007, 02:30 PM
#107
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Not all Europe but all eventful:
-Rome in 1980 during the very bad earthquake that devastated many towns in the south.
- NYC 9/11 (my hometown)
- London in 2001 when the Queen Mother died.
- Rome in December 2005 when the Tsumami hit Asia.
- Israel 2006 when the war with Hezbollah broke out (just left Tzfat the day before it was hit with rockets).
-Rome in 1980 during the very bad earthquake that devastated many towns in the south.
- NYC 9/11 (my hometown)
- London in 2001 when the Queen Mother died.
- Rome in December 2005 when the Tsumami hit Asia.
- Israel 2006 when the war with Hezbollah broke out (just left Tzfat the day before it was hit with rockets).
Apr 9th, 2007, 03:46 PM
#108
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London when the Queen Mum died - I was there, too. It was actually over the Easter hols in 2002. (Saturday - day after Good Friday and before Easter). I took several pictures of half-mast flags the next day...
Apr 9th, 2007, 04:34 PM
#110
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We were coming out of the Vatican Museum in 2005 when we noticed there was absolutely no traffic around St. Peter's. We finally found out from a British correspondent that the Pope was extremely ill and probably wouldn't last the night. Later, we attended a prayer vigil in the square. We were on the way home when the pilot announced that he had died.
Apr 9th, 2007, 05:12 PM
#112
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Oh, I just rememebered, I was in the Dordogne when OJ Simpson killed Nicole (TELL me he didn't 
.
I was in Lalinde with my two young (then) kids, and we were at a café and ordering breakfast. My son wanted orange juice with his croissant. So I asked for a glass of "jus d'orange." And the waiter looked at me funny and said "Oh zhay?" and I said "comment?" and he kept saying "Jus d'orange...Oh zhay?" and I thought he was a nutcase. And then he took my hand and pulled me out of my seat and over to a TV set where a bunch of those French guys who drink wine for breakfast were hanging out, and there on the screen were the pix of OJ Simpson in the SUV fleeing the cops on the LA Freeway.
Took me awhile to digest what was happening and relate it all to the request for a glass of orange juice...
.I was in Lalinde with my two young (then) kids, and we were at a café and ordering breakfast. My son wanted orange juice with his croissant. So I asked for a glass of "jus d'orange." And the waiter looked at me funny and said "Oh zhay?" and I said "comment?" and he kept saying "Jus d'orange...Oh zhay?" and I thought he was a nutcase. And then he took my hand and pulled me out of my seat and over to a TV set where a bunch of those French guys who drink wine for breakfast were hanging out, and there on the screen were the pix of OJ Simpson in the SUV fleeing the cops on the LA Freeway.
Took me awhile to digest what was happening and relate it all to the request for a glass of orange juice...
Apr 9th, 2007, 05:18 PM
#113
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The day I arrived in London for my semester abroad, an IRA bomb went off and the city was shut down for a while, so our charter bus had to circle the city for a few hours.
I was supposed to be on Pan Am Flight 103, flying standby. Fortunately (obviously) we didn't make it on; we took a later BA flight. We were unaware of what had happened until we got home.
I was supposed to be on Pan Am Flight 103, flying standby. Fortunately (obviously) we didn't make it on; we took a later BA flight. We were unaware of what had happened until we got home.
Apr 9th, 2007, 06:19 PM
#114
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Budapest Hungary in June 2004 when President reagan died.
In Fürth/Nürnberg Germany in 1968 when the Soviets went into Czechoslovakia to get things "under control" again.
Same location when the 6-day war took place in the middle east.
Same location for RFK and MLK assassinations.
Very turbulent time when I lived there, as if today was much better.
MvK
In Fürth/Nürnberg Germany in 1968 when the Soviets went into Czechoslovakia to get things "under control" again.
Same location when the 6-day war took place in the middle east.
Same location for RFK and MLK assassinations.
Very turbulent time when I lived there, as if today was much better.
MvK
Apr 10th, 2007, 11:32 AM
#115
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http://tinyurl.com/35pr7h
And I'm headed to Morocco on Thursday.
(I know, I know - it's Africa, not Europe, and I'm not there yet. But I played by the rules with my earlier post, so I'm taking a liberty or two.)
And I'm headed to Morocco on Thursday.
(I know, I know - it's Africa, not Europe, and I'm not there yet. But I played by the rules with my earlier post, so I'm taking a liberty or two.)
Apr 10th, 2007, 12:42 PM
#117
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On an aircraft carrier off the mouth of the Nile when King Farouk was overthrown, Col. Naguib took over, and we were on standby to evacuate any American citizens who wished to leave Egypt. As things turned out, there was no evacuation needed, all was peaceful, and we withdrew to Crete.
May 7th, 2007, 06:36 PM
#118
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Yes, I was in Europe for an event that made worldwide news:
We were in Rome during the funeral and visitation at the Vittorio Emmanuele monument for the Italian journalist killed by US troops in Iraq. We attended the visitation which was very sad, and very formal. We walked all through the Vittorio Emmanuele, lots of soldiers, honor gaurds, etc. Inside, we finally reached an area that was set up like a funeral parlor. The family as there, sitting in front of the coffin, along with many officials, and personal friends. It was a bit weird, with thousands of people passing through this "parlor" area.
We were in Rome during the funeral and visitation at the Vittorio Emmanuele monument for the Italian journalist killed by US troops in Iraq. We attended the visitation which was very sad, and very formal. We walked all through the Vittorio Emmanuele, lots of soldiers, honor gaurds, etc. Inside, we finally reached an area that was set up like a funeral parlor. The family as there, sitting in front of the coffin, along with many officials, and personal friends. It was a bit weird, with thousands of people passing through this "parlor" area.
May 7th, 2007, 07:07 PM
#119
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I was in Rome after Pope John Paul died and was lucky enough to attend one of the masses in his honor. Then a few days later, I watched on television when they announced the election of Pope Benedict. I was staying in a villa in Umbria and that was the day we hired chefs to come to us and teach us how to cook a traditional meal. It was interesting to hear what these Italians had to say about the choice of Pope.
May 7th, 2007, 07:27 PM
#120
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I don't know if this qualifies as an "event" although it nearly eclipsed my fabulous two weeks in Italy. We boarded our plane in Rome, headed for Frankfurt for our connection home. Six seats remained empty on an otherwise packed flight, up until the securing of the door, etc. (I know we were all eyeing those seats as potential extra space.) Then the six passengers boarded, and I noticed maybe three of the six were monks, and three in suits. My husband quips hey, it's the Dalai Lama. I am mortified as I jab him and whisper, SHHH not all monks are the Dalai Lama. But yes, he was correct. Directly opposite me was the Dalai Lama and 5 traveling partners. (Yes, coach) I read the following day about his visit with the Pope to discuss moving our planet toward Peace. I know all aboard felt the precious presence. Upon my return to work my flight with him eclipsed all other stories of a fabulous two weeks!
