Tip of the day: Try some pastilles My throat was a little scratchy this morning, so I sucked on a blackcurrant pastille (Cassis Pastilles) . They are a wonderful chewy consistency - nothing like the hard candy type of cough drop/throat lozenge we have here in the US. A few years ago, scratchy throats were going around a workshop I attended in Germany. My wonderful German roommate got me a box of Ricola Krauterpastillen (Blackcurrent Pastilles). They are so great for a sore throat. We have Ricola cough drops here in America, but no pastilles. Pity.
Tip of the day: Mosquito in any language or country = problem American home -- windows have screens No bugs, no flies, no mosquitoes in the house. When you get to Europe, there may be screens on your hotel window, but be prepared for smaller hotels and residences where there are no screens. Italian Pensione - no window screens - site of 26 mosquito bites over 2 nights. Bring something to repel the mosquitoes (unless you can sleep with a mosquito buzzing in your ears AND/OR you don't mind mosquito bites). There are natural products, chemical products, and bracelets you can wear. One bracelet is made in France and sells at pharmacies there . http://www.parakito.com/ I love the windows in Europe - with charming handles that swing the windows in or out - but, I am not so charmed by the mosquitoes.
Tip of the day: To see Paris by bicycle, get a credit card with a chip I had heard about the Paris Velib bicycle system on a radio show and was eager to try it out. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14429468 . This bicycle system was attributed with making Paris more friendly. The Velib bikes stood out and could not be missed - long racks of bicycles near the great tourist destinations, Parisians picking up bikes, dropping them off at the racks, tourists and citizens riding around the city. At this point I was ready give my feet a rest and cover some ground on a bike. We looked bewilderedly at the rental kiosk at the rack we happened upon. Then a kind citizen gave a half hour explanation (in French) to Kurt -our Swiss travel companion, guide, friend, and linguist. Kurt said "she tells me you need to have a chip in your credit card to place the deposit on the bicycle." Air rushes out leaving me deflated like a balloon smashed empty on the sidewalk. B...
I so love being in Paris, fountains, hidden gardens, wonderful bakeries, brasseries, oh, could go on and on!
ReplyDeleteI hope that Grant can go to Paris this year too.
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