Memories of my first European Trip - London, Paris and Rome; a particular experience at a French Restaurant when writing POST CARDS.
Pic: Keith at a Restaurant in Paris, July 2016
What a blessing it was to be sipping on some delicious French Wine in Paris! (Shhhh – I had wine with almost every lunch and dinner on my trip in London, Paris and Rome!)
Here I was in July 2016 sitting at a table of a quaint, romantic restaurant in France after my first visit to London and writing some Post Cards to loved ones back in the United States!
How special it was to be on my first trip to London, Paris and Rome on a solo visit that I had planned in January- and met so many international travelers through the hostels that I stayed at!
I actually had tried to be a Chaperone for the World Youth Day that happened at this time in Poland with Pope Francis presiding, but I had not been able to secure any definite arrangements per parishes or the Diocesan Youth Office, so I pursued some things on my bucket list!
My wife had certainly been encouraged by me to come along, as our 33rd Wedding Anniversary came to fruition during this time, but she did not feel comfortable travelling with all the concerns about terrorism, etc; she gets tired of me saying, “You gonna go one way or the other!”
A Parisian native walked by, smiled, laughed and then said first in French, “I haven't seen that in years!!!” (“Je ne l'ai pas vu que dans les années !!!”)
We chatted briefly, as he was bilingual, and he said that he was attracted to the bright Green “Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area Memory Walk/Run” shirt that I had on from Baton Rouge, and was so intrigued that I actually was writing a Post Card – as he pointed to everyone else sitting around me clicking away on their phones, laptops or other devices!
Also, I love to journal with a ball point pen, so interspersed with my Post Card writing I would jot some memories from my trip in my note book – as I could hear a cacophony of clicks from folks using their hand held devices!
What is a Post Card?
No, it is not a Facebook, Instagram or Twitter Post!
Do Millennials or Generational X, Y or Z's even know what that is without “googling it?”
The young beautiful waitress for the restaurant came up next to me, offered her advice for an exquisite meal (marinated salmon on cheesed bread) and also was obviously amazed that I used a hand writing instrument to record things.
After some small talk and flirting (Shhh – don't tell my wife!), she kissed me on my cheek – WOW!!! I was flashed-back to that wonderful old movie, “An American In Paris,” that my wife and I used to watch on a VHS (Does the younger generation know what that is???)
Next, I took out my “unlocked phone” that had been given a new “SIM Card” from the one I used in England, and called my wife.
“Maria, 'Hello, how are you'” – echoing the Adele song now so famous!
After some pleasantries and words of love and affection, especially since that was our anniversary day, I told her about my adventures, but I made sure NOT to tell her how nice the French ladies were!!!
She was very happy about the flowers that I had ordered for her from Billy Heroman's Florist for our day and that had been delivered!!!
Also, it was so neat to have taken on my trip a mini-guitar that I had gotten from the late, great Mark Hunter, who used to write so many wonderful “Faith” articles in the Saturday Advocate.
So I next took out my stringed instrument and sang some songs to the folks around me – they especially liked the “You Are My Sunshine” tune that a former Governor of Louisiana, Jimmie Davis, had written!
Thanks, Europe, for giving me such a splendid time; there's not enough space to include the great times I had also in London and Rome – especially, taking a Scooter tour of Rome like I did; will pen that for another Human Condition …!
Keith John Paul Horcasitas, LCSW, MHA
1133 Knollhaven Drive
BRLA 70810
khorcasitas.yahoo.com
August 8, 2016
I was looking for a little bit more adventure. But I would agree that sidewalk eating (anywhere) can be pleasant when you have all the time in the world and are not distracted by electronic devices.
I am always disturbed by people who pick Europe as their international destination of travel, largely because they seem to be interested in their Western heritage and not willing to explore cultures that are really unfamiliar. While I did briefly stop in Europe on my world tour, my travel to, and staying in low places and with family of students I met, gave me a perspective of people that most don't get on guarded tours with like-minded people. For example, when I stayed with a family in Karachi for four days in 1977, I bonded with my host like a brother and the neighborhood reminded me of Southern California with a secular lifestyle that rivaled what we had. That's stay as with a Muslim family has given me great insight how state religion can disrupt lives.
I'm glad you went despite went wife's unnatural fears. What happens out there when viewed from the news media becomes internalized as "us" is really unfortunate and the source of so many unnatural fears. I'm glad you went, though. From my experience: "We can't go to San Francisco! The earthquake." My girlfriend wouldn't go with me to a planned trip to see her mother and friends after the Loma Prieta earthquake. She also wouldn't go with me to visit my parents in McAllen Texas during historic floods Christmas holidays 1989. Both trips went off without incident, but without her.
My current partner is even worse. After our accident last year in Louisiana, she won't travel with me at all. We all have to remember, and your experience in Europe is a good example, that the world is generally a friendly and helpful place with wonderful experiences like happened for thousands in Rio for the last two weeks and that we are sometimes the cause of bad experiences by our ignorance in foreign lands.
Thank you for sharing precious memories of your trip to Paris. Post cards are a wonderful souvenir to share at-the-moment experiences with loved ones who couldn't be there.
A new client talks attorney Stan Turner into acting as his executor and trustee of his estate if he should die. Stan reluctantly accepts, but when the client is murdered before the ink is dry on the paperwork, Stan realizes he has been set up and mus
What a blessing it was to be sipping on some delicious French Wine in Paris! (Shhhh – I had wine with almost every lunch and dinner on my trip in London, Paris and Rome!)
