More French Moments! Experience, Watch or Imagine

Each day in France is amazing! 
                                Experience It!

 Picnic Time! I liked a lot!

Watch it!

or Close Your Eyes and IMAGINE it!

Don't Worry! Needs are met at the right time!

Over and over, my needs were met throughout my stay in Europe. I am very grateful. Even the smallest of details were taken care of. One day, I experienced two interesting examples of how things showed up at just the right time. They may be small examples, but I saw them as reminders that God was watching out for me.

 One morning, my fingernail tore but not completely. It tore in a painful way. I desperately needed a fingernail clipper, so the tear would not go deeper in the nail bed. 

I asked my hostess, if she had a nail clipper. She brought me a full size scissors that could not possibly fit the task. I tried, but the scissors was too big and quite dull. The hanging nail was actually pretty painful. Anyway, I needed to catch a train, so I left the scissors behind and proceeded on the train with the hurting nail.

Within moments, a man sat across from me in the train. He opened up his bag and began working on his nails.  I couldn't believe it! I had been on many trains but had never seen anyone give himself a manicure on a train. However in that very instant, when I needed a nail clipper, one shows up.The man could have sat anywhere on the train, but he sat directly facing me. If you look closely at the photo, you will see a nail clipper in his bag. Although I never used his clipper, I found the scenario profound.

 This same man told me about a special restaurant that served Cod cakes in the city where I would be visiting. I thanked him for the information and went on my way. After sightseeing for a couple of hours, I decided to check out the restaurant that the manicure man had suggested. I found the general vicinity but could not find the restaurant. I asked directions several times.

 Finally, when it was almost time to catch another train, I asked a lady who was getting in her parked car if she knew where the restaurant was located. She said, "Yes, I'll drive you there, if you'd like...just hop in the back with my 10 year old son. My elderly mother is in the front." I took the advice of my hostess... "why not!" So, I hopped in the car, after the lady told her son to scoot on over to make room for me. The lady, named Olga introduced her family to me. Not only did she drive me to the restaurant, but she went inside and spoke Portuguese for me, asking for the Cod cakes. Unfortunately, they were sold out. So then Olga drove me a few blocks over to the train station and gave me her cell number in case I needed any additional help. Olga's kindness reminded me...don't worry...needs are met at the right time.

Finding something you don't expect!

I was told over and over again to taste Pasteis de Belem while in Lisbon. So one evening, I made a two hour round trip from the palace that I was staying to indulge in this special pastry of the region.Why Not! Pasteis de Belem has been around since 1837.

The sweet treat was delightful but even more so were the kind Portuguese young people that shared time with me. They were all bilingual and very friendly. They were the best find!

Porto, Portugal: Why Not!

The gated property opens in Porto, Portugal. As I enter, I see my new home for the next two nights The estate is magnificent with orange, mandarin and fig trees. There is a large outdoor pool on the property. The gated property is protected by two Shepard dogs that prowl the property with great intention. 

The head of the household only speaks Portuguese but expresses his hospitality clearly by filling my glass with wine and my plate with food, including seconds. His wife is very sweet. No matter what the situation, she often would say "Why Not!" "Let's have ice cream--why not!" "I believe you should visit a nearby city with canals--why not!" One time, I mentioned to her that I would like to eat a Cod fish cake (because it is a specialty in Portugal.) Within moments, we got in the car and went on a search for Cod fish cakes. She said, "Why not!" I love this attitude.

A bird got stuck in the plane engine!

 

One fine day...a bird decided to fly into the engine of my plane. Oh...the havoc this decision caused. This is my story:

I like adventure, and I was having plenty each day, but I truly was needing rest. It was day 40 of my 40 days in Europe! As a matter of fact, I had only 3 hours of sleep in the last 24 hours, when the alarm clock rang at 4:00 a.m. (Portugal time.) It was time to catch the Metro train to the airport. Hopefully, when I catch a plane to Madrid, Spain. I will get some rest. The flight was short, so there was no time to rest long.

While in the Madrid Airport, I was looking for Marcona almonds. These Spanish-grown almonds are quite tasty. I had discovered these special nuts a year ago on one of my travels in the U.S. and knew that when I was in Spain, they would be on my list of "must-haves." Unfortunately, my quest for the nuts in the airport shops proved unsuccessful.

As I entered the British Airways plane in Madrid, strong British accents prevailed. It was not long after I entered, an announcement was made by a flight attendant with a very strong British accent. He stated that a bird had flown into the engine from the previous flight. We would be detained in the warm cabin for at least an hour for the engineers to assess the matter. The plane was full of patient Latinos.

As I was standing in the aisle with the others, a very attentive flight attendant must have noticed my plight.

 Not only was I low on sleep, I had not had breakfast or lunch...or water for that matter, and it was now afternoon.The combination of the warm cabin, little sleep, and lack of nutrients and hydration was taking its toll. Much to my surprise, the attendant brought not only water but 4 packages of Marcona almonds...the same almonds I had been looking for in the airport. I couldn't believe it!

Eventually, the attendant announced that the problem was resolved, but later notified us that it had not been. We again waited an hour, causing me to miss my connecting flight in London, as well as the U.S. Little did I know, it would be 56 hours before I would arrive home to my bed.

My story is meant to shared: I lost my journal in London!

London Heathrow Airport is a very busy place. After the bird in the engine episode, I had missed my flight back to the U.S. Therefore,  I had to speak with connecting agents in London to consider my options. I was told that another flight would be leaving later in the afternoon, and I should be able to make it. The concern was that I had to go back through security. I'm not sure why. The security seemed unusually strict. I was asked to remove most everything from my carry-on bag and a sack with souvenirs and my journal. This cost me some valuable time. Hurriedly, I headed to get a drink and a salad at one of the cafes. Really there was no need to hurry, this plane had issues, too...another delay...approximately 2 hours. I waited and waited and was told that I would be going to Washington, D.C. instead of Nashville, TN. No problem... I was used to adapting. Eventually, I got on the plane. Oh no...where's my sack with souvenirs?...where's my journal with all my thoughts from the last 6 weeks?...where's my Marcona almonds?

The answer: I do not know, perhaps I left it at security, or the restroom, or the cafe' counter when I was paying! I do know that I was sad to lose my writing, my ideas, my thoughts that I had carefully written throughout my journey in Europe. Then, I had a revelation...MY JOURNEY IS MEANT TO BE SHARED! Whoever found that journal probably needed to find it. If they read all my innermost thoughts, perhaps, they were inspired by the journey. If this is so, then I feel my mission was accomplished. As for the special nuts and souvenirs...well, those are added bonuses!

The Broken Suitcase and Another Missed Flight!

Eventually, I made it to Washington D.C. from London.  I look at my watch, and it reads 3:00 a.m. I must sleep on the flight to Nashville. (I was too tired to sleep on the London-Washington D.C. flight.) First, I needed to get my bag out of baggage claim before catching my next flight. (It is a rule when traveling internationally back into the US.) Oh no...my 23 kilo suitcase is missing a wheel. I must do my best to balance it on 3 wheels and head back through security. This is a task for a rested person... but I am not a rested person at this point.
What's that? I hear my name being paged in the deserted Washington airport. I wonder what for. I went to a counter, but everything was closed...no personnel. Then, I found a police officer. I was given a piece of paper telling me that I had missed my connecting flight to Nashville due to the European airport delays. I would need to find a hotel in Washington D.C. with my 3 legged suitcase.

A storm hits Washington D.C. More Delays!

After a lovely night in the Hyatt Recency Hotel, I headed to the airport to catch my new flight back to Nashville. It was quite a treat to stay in a hotel, since I had not stayed in one hotel during the 40+ nights I was in Europe.

The paper I received, last night from British Airways shows that my boarding time is at 1:55p.m., so I arrived around noon. To my surprise, I was told by the agent that no such flight exists, and that he is confused as to what he is to do with me and my 3-legged suitcase. Eventually, I was given a boarding pass for a flight leaving Washington D.C. at 10 p.m. on United Airlines. For the next several hours, I walked around Washington D.C. with my carry-on luggage. I had no desire to stay at the airport, because there were travel alerts in the airport regarding the measles. I had never had measles before, and I sure did not want to get them now. 

So off I went. Navigating the bus and train in Washington D.C. seemed like a breeze to me compared to all the itineraries and modes of transportation I had experienced in Europe. 

As I walked around Washington D.C., a turtle crossed my path, reminding me of the importance of "getting out of your shell," if you want to get places in life. The turtle was a very nice example of stretching yourself and fit very well with my message to live an inspired life.

 Eventually, I made it back to the airport to catch my 10:00 flight.
 What was I thinking?...This is way to easy! Then, a series of announcements were made regarding storms.  Ahhh, more delays... I was feeling right at home again! What could I do but be patient! Later, another announcement was made stating that my plane had to make an emergency landing in Richmond, Virginia due to the storm...and that it would be hours before it would arrive in Washington D.C. With all the delays, my 40 day journey turned into 43 days.

Washington D.C. Airport waiting for the storms to pass at 1:00 a.m.

I imagined that if I sat down, I would fall asleep and miss my flight, so I kept moving. Then, I started talking to this young lady who had been traveling Europe for 6 weeks, too. She left Nashville on June 20th, and I had left Nashville on June 21st.

We both had been traveling for 6 weeks! 

I eventually made it back to Nashville, TN and got reconnected with my 3-legged suitcase.

56 hours of delays in 5 airports! I must rest! I finally went to bed at 6:00 a.m. (That's 1:00 p.m. in W. Europe.) 

Live Your Passions!

 

Live your passions, why not! Throughout my journey, I saw many cool things...creative ideas...passions where ordinary people did extraordinary things. The architecture in Europe is fascinating. I will post more on that later, but for now... 

here are some simple passions to ponder...I did!

I particularly like this manifesto of the brothers

 who live life to the edge by saying, "I CAN!"

This company has a brilliant idea! They advertise WC's (Water Closets...another term for restrooms) as being the sexiest! 

 Why Not!

Check out the toilet paper! 

 

This man is very passionate about sculpturing using sand!

 This man has a real live baby on his back and a young boy...and a live chicken to create an authentic old time look...to make money on the streets. His music was uplifting!

 I wonder what is his story!

Chocolate...Lots of Chocolate and Why We Should Eat it!

I went to the chocolate museum in Cologne, Germany...a fascinating place! Throughout the museum, chocolate prevails. They even give you chocolate when you are walking around! I liked that!