European Adventures 2018 - 1. Off to Europe

Off to Europe…. 

We just came back from New Orleans and already we are up in the air, flying to Frankfurt, Germany. 

We were invited to celebrate the wedding of Stefan Knopf in Heidelberg, Germany. To just fly in for the wedding and then fly out did not make sense, so we combined our trip with visiting cousins I had not seen for decades, some of them I found only recently on Facebook. And then we planned to skip north to see some Scandinavian Countries.

The flight to Germany was the, by now, typical hassle of going through a thorough search to just sit in an aluminum can and then be flown to another spot on earth. You know the routine, be there hours before the flight, check in your luggage, go through customs, a security screening and then wait on the other side of this ‘barrier’ to be lead, like cattle, into the plane. 

Air Canada Planes

Ah, another thing, you cannot carry anything ‘dangerous’ like nail clippers on you, or regular sized toothpaste. I know for sure, because this stuff was confiscated by the TSA (Transport Security Agency).

Did you notice I hate this kind of treatment?

I often ask myself if all this security is needed. I have a NEXUS card, so I am pre-approved in many ways; still it’s a hassle to use public transportation. Or in this case fly with an airline. We used Air Canada because we had found this flight months ahead of time for a price that then was the cheapest. But no matter what airline you fly or what ‘class’ of seat you have, it’s more or less all the same treatment.

Flying used to be ‘glamorous’ it is no longer that way. People do not dress up to fly, they dress down to fly. If they would allow pajamas, I am sure a lot of people would wear them. Some of the clothing I saw reminded me of PJ’s. I am sure they were comfy for the wearer but what a sight they present.

We always try to be ‘early’ because there are so many possibilities that get one delayed. 

After we passed through the TSA, we now had to get to our gate. 

Have you ever flown out of Pearson Airport in Toronto? Our gate was 300 miles away; to walk it would take as long as to fly to Germany. 

Carol is not a good walker, so we arranged to have a ‘shuttle’ take us to the gate. But that in itself is a hassle that can only be described by saying: Try doing this once.  You need to get a wheelchair and a pusher. No, I could not push the wheel chair, an assigned person did that. 

Air Canada - But Not Our Plane

In relay-like fashion we were handed off. The pusher brings you to a spot where a train trolley will pick you up. You then sit there and wait for the ‘train’. THEY (the trolley crew) decide you have plenty of time and let you just sit there. When the train comes they will take all the others folks first and tell you they will be back for you later. Once you get on the train, they will drive you down to the far end of the terminal, close to your gate; but only close to it, where there is another group of wheelchairs with pushers to roll you to the final gate, your gate.

Ah, it is cumbersome but… from the check-in point to the gate is literally a mile or more. Sure they have rolling ‘walkways’ we could take if you walked but then you have all your carry-on bags and paraphernalia and you need to haul that along, too. At a certain given age, an airport is not a friendly place to visit.

I am not a good passenger on any transportation. I see shortcomings in the way they handle people. But I also see people who are hopelessly lost and incompetent. I just don’t like being around people like that. Some people are pushy beyond belief. Some are as slow as turtles. Yuk, I don’t like flying.

We made the flight, sitting in coach, trying to be comfy in a seat designed for the average Japanese person of 160 cm height and a weight of 60 kg. I don’t fit the seat... being 190 cm and 120 kg makes a difference. You say lose weight?  Right… how about genetics?  Want me to shrink, too?

The plane is designed to maximize the load capacity; especially in coach. Sure I could fly Business or 1^st Class, but that would triple or quadruple the cost of flying. Let’s be realistic and make all seats equal, but comfy. I am sure there is a better way. I could design it, if you paid me for it.

I really, really don’t like flying or being treated like cattle going to slaughter.

Ok, I used this entry into Europe as a venting tool, but hey, it’s my blog.

That is how I think about flying…. I would rather drive or ride if that would be possible.

So, off to the next chapter……arriving in Europe, 1^st day in Europe.

7. Getting Home

7) Getting Home

The ride back to Toronto was all highways.

While the Club had set up a meeting place in Wellsboro, PA to meet some other Club members who could not make the NOLA trip, Carol and I had to get back to Toronto. We only had 6 days to get home, repack and then fly to Frankfurt, Germany.

Yes, we had made arrangements to be in Heidelberg, Germany for Stefan Knopf’s wedding…

I will write about that on my next blog…

What a wedding that was…. HOLY SMOKE!

When we left via the motorcycle in the AM on May 14 I heard someone yell…

                              Ya’ll come back, ya hear …!

And I thought…. Ok, we will!

6. So What Did We Do in NOLA?

6) So What Did We Do in NOLA?

He Talks To Everybody

Mainly we ate!  I told you, this is a paradise for foodies. We walked around and looked at the Two Sisters Restaurant but did not go there. We found some smaller, not so famous places right near the hotel, a bakery with fresh croissants, every morning. A place for lunch the locals told us about that is not in any tour guide book. Ask the bums on the street, they know. Just talk to anybody; all of them are very friendly. 

Checking Out the Bead Work

Mardi Gras Beads on Her Bike

I chatted with young girls who crochet their bicycle with Mardi Gras beads; they loved to tell me how they did it. 

Homeless But Happy. Have They Seen the Weed Truck?

I spoke to hoboes and they stopped smoking, happy to show me, tell me where to go. Think of life as a party, just dance.

Some people of our group went on a tour to see the old mansion and plantations; Oak Alley being one of their favorites. 

But we have been to Oak Alley so we took a ride on the Mississippi with the Delta Queen, a paddle steamer. It was just an up and down the river kind of ride, but we saw NOLA from the water side. 

Creole Queen

We saw the old sugar processing factories where still millions of pounds of sugar are produced. The River has a history, even older than NOLA.

I cannot list each activity but NOLA was not boring, even at night.

Instead of going to the infamous Bourbon Street, we went to the newer section on Frenchmen Street. Again, locals told us to go there for the latest great Jazz. And it was good. 

Night Market With a Resting Place For Weary Shoppers

Most of the people of the club joined us to see Frenchmen Street. We had a hoot. Not only were the orchestras inside the bars, no, young men and some young women were having a ball just doing their thing right in the street, right on the corner. And… those folks were good… and the music was ‘new’ not what you hear on TV or radio. 

I felt alive walking around NOLA. During the day as a tourist, at night as a visitor and never did I feel any kind of danger. NOLA is a town which celebrates.

Even death, as you can see in the photo is celebrated here.

Oh when the Saints go marching in….

Gone But Not Forgotten

We spent 3 full days in the city, doing what tourists do. Doing what older people do, because we did not stay in the bars until the early morning light.

Gathering In the Courtyard of Our Hotel

I liked NOLA. The weather was in our favor; it did not rain but it was hot. We had a great get together of the Motorcycle Club people in the court yard of the Hotel a few times a day but especially at night.

Naturally, we went to the Supermarket or a Liquor Store to buy our own beer or spirits. So we did not spend huge amounts of money having a grand old time.

An Evening In the Party Room

Ken and Rita booked a hotel room to stay with us even though they could have gone home. But being the social folks that they are……it was better that way; they could have a drink and not worry about driving after. Very responsible, don’t you think?

More Party People

Well, thank you for bearing with all of us while in NOLA, Ken!

We should do this more often, visit you and Rita and listen to your stories.  We all had a great time.