Trip Tip a Day

Tip of the day: Rates are different for calling a European landline vs. a mobile from the USA! Verizon $ 4.99 per month plus 10 cents per minute to a European landline, 30 cents/min to a Euro mobile AT&T Cell International Calling $3.99/month plus 22 cents/min to a Euro mobile Skype 23 cents/min to a Euro mobile AT&T Worldwide calling $30 prepaid calling card 25 cents/min to Euro mobile Pingo USA to France 2.25 cents per minute to a landline 14.5 cents/min to a Euro mobile Looks like Pingo wins to both landline and mobile. http://www.pingo.com/ (photo is a New Hampshire USA peppermint patty- yummy)

Tip of the day: Enjoy the fountains! What do I love? Fountains. And Paris has some beautiful fountains.

Tip of the day: Float the River Aare in Berne Switzerland Ever since my Swiss "brother" Kurt, told me about floating down the River Aare in the summer, I was determined to experience this. As a long time swimmer and current master's swimmer, I love the water. I even talked my daughter into accompanying me. Kurt acted as cameraman for us. In late July, you can see that we were the only (crazy) souls floating that day. The water was freezing. I don't even know what the temperature was, but it took your breath away upon entry. It was too cold for the Swiss to float, but for us "perhaps once in a lifetime Americans", we went for it. See our little heads coming down the River? The gorgeous blue of the water? I can't wait to go back and experience this again - maybe next time all the way to downtown Berne in August. Too fun. Your comments are welcome! I'd love to hear from you dear readers.

Tip of the day: Visit the Vatican Do your internet research at home before launching a Vatican visit in Rome. We just dropped in, and I didn't have my shoulders covered. I wasn't permitted to enter St. Peter's Basilica, but there is a nice virtual tour of it at the Vatican website: http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm Here is a photo of the large screen that shows the Pope when he gives mass to the masses! St. Peter's Basilica