My daughter, granddaughter and I are doing the girls’ tour of France. Stop two was Mont San Michel, in my opinion, the most amazing place in the world. But it comes at a price!
I decided we should stay on the Mont to get the maximum benefits of not only the Abbey, but the quiet time in the morning and the amazing tidal events. So we stayed at the best hotel on the Mont: Le Mere Poulard. It’s a three star hotel. Whoever gave the stars was extremely generous.
To get there we took a train from Paris. Then we had to transfer to a bus taking us to the visitor’s center where we took a tram to the site. The tram drops you off about 1/3 of a mile through hardened sand and packed rock to the entrance.
We dragged our luggage into the site and found Mere Poulard. Whew! We checked in. Our room was on the third floor. This was a bit of a misnomer because it was on the third floor of the building up the side of the Mont, accessible by three flights of stairs, one of which was an outside narrow rock stairway. Then we went up two more flights of stairs. There is no elevator and the hotel does not have bell service. The kind desk clerk carried the two heavy pieces while we carried the rest to our room.
The room was sparse, but clean. There was very little light in the bathroom, no washcloths, and they took our dirty towels but did not leave new ones. The worst part was there was no air conditioning and it was in the low 90s. So window open! It cooled down at night to probably 75 and we listened to the noisiest seagulls you ever heard.
Undaunted we spent the next full day on a great tour of the abbey and nearby Bayeux.
I decided a taxi was in order to avoid the long trek with bags to the shuttle and bus to the train station. It was about $75 more than the bus. Well, unfortunately we were told we would have to go back via the tram and meet the taxi in the parking lot and there was nobody at the front desk in the morning to help us.
I asked, “So there is no way we can have a taxi pick us up here as we have lots of luggage and I’m elderly.” (Yup, I pulled the old card.) He replied, “No, only if you are a very special guest.” I wasn’t feeling special.
We cancelled the taxi, made it to Lyon where we stayed in a five-star hotel, Cour de Loges. This amazing place deserved 10 stars! Guess what: We didn’t have to schlep our luggage.
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Suggested New Year's Resolutions
Suggested New Year’s Resolutions
People either believe in or complete discount New Year’s resolutions. I always have a resolution but I always make sure it’s achievable, like one year I decided to give up minding my own business. Another year I pledged to drink one glass of wine per day. (Notice I didn’t say ONLY one glass.) Here are some things I should resolve to do next year. What about you?
• Stop lying to the dentist about how often I floss.
• After I have finished working out on a machine at the gym I will no longer add 20 pounds to the weight before I get off so I look tougher.
• Come to a complete stop at the stop sign and avoid another California stop ticket.
• Take the dog shampoo out of the shower so I don’t accidently use it again.
• Double-check what bill I paid so I don’t send some large amount to the incorrect payee on my online bank account.
• File my 2012 and 2013 tax papers somewhere rather than have them stacked on the floor of my office.
• Learn to use my boat radio. It apparently is not used for playing music, which I discovered when my boat stopped for no reason in the middle of the harbor.
• Refrain from the eye roll when a passenger at the airport does something stupid like wear his Mr. T jewelry when going through the scanner.
I’m not sure if I will pick any of these as none are probably achievable. But I wanted to give you food for thought!
Happy New Year!
People either believe in or complete discount New Year’s resolutions. I always have a resolution but I always make sure it’s achievable, like one year I decided to give up minding my own business. Another year I pledged to drink one glass of wine per day. (Notice I didn’t say ONLY one glass.) Here are some things I should resolve to do next year. What about you?
• Stop lying to the dentist about how often I floss.
• After I have finished working out on a machine at the gym I will no longer add 20 pounds to the weight before I get off so I look tougher.
• Come to a complete stop at the stop sign and avoid another California stop ticket.
• Take the dog shampoo out of the shower so I don’t accidently use it again.
• Double-check what bill I paid so I don’t send some large amount to the incorrect payee on my online bank account.
• File my 2012 and 2013 tax papers somewhere rather than have them stacked on the floor of my office.
• Learn to use my boat radio. It apparently is not used for playing music, which I discovered when my boat stopped for no reason in the middle of the harbor.
• Refrain from the eye roll when a passenger at the airport does something stupid like wear his Mr. T jewelry when going through the scanner.
I’m not sure if I will pick any of these as none are probably achievable. But I wanted to give you food for thought!
Happy New Year!
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Last pleasure trip before hard work!
On the spur of the moment I decided to meet my friends in Rome. It was her birthday and she and her husband were kind enough to invite me. We had a wonderful time and I had a bloggable trip home. Here’s what happened.
I got to the airport at 5:10 AM. The cab diver drove 140 KM (about 110 MPH). I'm still alive so that's good.
I had to go to three different customs places before I got to the right one to get my VAT tax back. Here's how it works: If you are checking luggage you check your bag and bring boarding pass and luggage tags to the customs counter. I only found this out after I had visited 3 earlier customs counters.
Each is manned with one person, he/she is usually helping people who have some sort of issue that is handled with numerous shrugs and “no’s”. But I finally got mine taken care of and dropped it in the cute little mailbox.
They tried to make me check my bag in Rome and not let me carry it on. I sweetly begged and started to choke up teary-eyed and he got a supervisor so I didn't have to check.
On the flight from London to Denver, the guy in the seat next to me was a snot. The flight attendant thought we were together and gave me a customs form but not him. I called the flight attendant back and said he needed one. When she indicated one per family I said the man and I had only just met and weren't married yet. The guy grabbed his form and slammed up the window between us indicating marriage was not in our future. Grouchy pants.
But it worked out fine. They had a very fine sauvignon blanc that I indulged in prior to my nice nap across the pond.
For some reason, when I tried to check in online the site had directed me to Kenya Airlines for the Denver to LA part of the trip. In London they printed my boarding pass but when I got to Denver, it was missing info so I had to go through a number of different levels of TSA. I said nothing about Kenya or the “e” word.
When I got there I realized there was an earlier flight. No first class but I said it was okay. I ran to the flight and still had time to spare. It was a really small plane and the first class was separated with a curtain. I got a really good seat right behind first class that had more leg room than first class. At the last minute they had an open seat in first class and gave it to the last guy to get on. He was so excited and happy I didn't care. The only difference was free drink in first but I had had plenty of wine and just wanted ice water.
Anyway I got home 3 hours early which was great. Now I’m busily travelling up and down the state educating tax professionals about Obamacare!
I got to the airport at 5:10 AM. The cab diver drove 140 KM (about 110 MPH). I'm still alive so that's good.
I had to go to three different customs places before I got to the right one to get my VAT tax back. Here's how it works: If you are checking luggage you check your bag and bring boarding pass and luggage tags to the customs counter. I only found this out after I had visited 3 earlier customs counters.
Each is manned with one person, he/she is usually helping people who have some sort of issue that is handled with numerous shrugs and “no’s”. But I finally got mine taken care of and dropped it in the cute little mailbox.
They tried to make me check my bag in Rome and not let me carry it on. I sweetly begged and started to choke up teary-eyed and he got a supervisor so I didn't have to check.
On the flight from London to Denver, the guy in the seat next to me was a snot. The flight attendant thought we were together and gave me a customs form but not him. I called the flight attendant back and said he needed one. When she indicated one per family I said the man and I had only just met and weren't married yet. The guy grabbed his form and slammed up the window between us indicating marriage was not in our future. Grouchy pants.
But it worked out fine. They had a very fine sauvignon blanc that I indulged in prior to my nice nap across the pond.
For some reason, when I tried to check in online the site had directed me to Kenya Airlines for the Denver to LA part of the trip. In London they printed my boarding pass but when I got to Denver, it was missing info so I had to go through a number of different levels of TSA. I said nothing about Kenya or the “e” word.
When I got there I realized there was an earlier flight. No first class but I said it was okay. I ran to the flight and still had time to spare. It was a really small plane and the first class was separated with a curtain. I got a really good seat right behind first class that had more leg room than first class. At the last minute they had an open seat in first class and gave it to the last guy to get on. He was so excited and happy I didn't care. The only difference was free drink in first but I had had plenty of wine and just wanted ice water.
Anyway I got home 3 hours early which was great. Now I’m busily travelling up and down the state educating tax professionals about Obamacare!
Monday, September 29, 2014
Rental cars
I admit. I’m not the best driver. I have backed into saplings in a parking lot planter (one got stuck under the rear window washer), a giant rock, and many posts. One day my son asked me what I hit on the way to work. I looked oddly at him and asked why? He said there was a giant branch coming out of the grill in front of my car. HMMM???
I can personally attest to the fact that the Do Not Back Up – Severe Tire Damage is true! Not my fault. I was coming out of a rental car lot and there was an arm going across the driveway where the person is usually in the little house. But unfortunately the arm was broken off. There was nobody there and I went on through. The tires deflate within 20 seconds. Again, not my fault!
Well, I have just started my travel season and I picked up my rental car yesterday. I always rent the smallest, cheapest (oops, most economical) car as I just need wheels and simple is better.
But I hadn’t realized cars came so little. After going through the quickie line, I walked to my car. It was the little red roller skate of death! Tiny, but mighty. Well, not mighty.
I looked around the car for some other person’s dents and saw nothing but a giant bug of some kind stuck to the grill. I got in the car and headed away with my new dead pet bug.
On my way back to the airport, I stopped for gas at the station on the airport property. I filled the roller skate with the cheapest gas and then, guess what, before finalizing the transaction, they asked if I wanted a car wash! Are you kidding? You think I’m going to treat the rental car place with a car wash and premium gas? No, No, and No Way! So the bug is still on the grill. And it’s not my fault!
Happy travels!
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Saving $370 at Tour d'Argent
I took my daughter and granddaughter to Paris. I have always wanted to eat at the Tour d’Argent – a famous Michelin-rated restaurant, albeit only one star. But it’s the place to see and be seen and I wanted my granddaughter to experience culture in its finest sense.
I told my offspring that we would eat at cheap cafés, buy bread and cheese, have the free breakfast at the hotel so we could afford the $200+ drinks at Tour d’Argent. So, I’m thinking it’s going to be about $750 for the evening.
I was concerned that my granddaughter’s dress was not quite nice enough so I bought her a new one at Galleries Lafayette. And, since I bought her one I thought I deserved a new one too. But they were "solde" (on sale).
We came back from sightseeing early and showered, did our hair, makeup, and all around made ourselves beautiful. We came downstairs and got in our cab. The driver had never heard of the restaurant! Really, where is he from, Tunisia? Actually, yes, he was.
Traffic was terrible and we were going to be late. So I finally called the restaurant to tell them that we would be there but were stuck in traffic.
They could not find our reservation. I gave them the reservation number and while I waited for her to find it, I looked at the email again. It started Dear Madame, we are so pleased to be of service to you but - OMG – they did NOT have room for us on that night, not that they did have space.
I begged and pleaded – could we just come in for a cocktail? Non, non, non. We regret that we are completely full.
Just at this moment, we are pulling up at the front. I ask the Tunisian taxi driver if he knows of another restaurant. Sure lady, maybe in Tunisia. He sees the starch-suited bellman who opens the door, takes my money, and gets out of “Le Dodge”
The bellman takes me in and explains to the gatekeeper who says, no food at the inn. However, he will run across the street to their “sister restaurant” and see if by any possible chance they can seat us.
Amazingly, they could. We were squeezed into a table in the middle of the empty restaurant where we ate for $185. We had a great laugh and had a fun dinner. I figure we saved about $370 ($750 expected cost of dinner minus $200 (dresses) and $180 (cost of the real dinner).
You always have to look on the bright side. This restaurant even had a cat!
I told my offspring that we would eat at cheap cafés, buy bread and cheese, have the free breakfast at the hotel so we could afford the $200+ drinks at Tour d’Argent. So, I’m thinking it’s going to be about $750 for the evening.
I was concerned that my granddaughter’s dress was not quite nice enough so I bought her a new one at Galleries Lafayette. And, since I bought her one I thought I deserved a new one too. But they were "solde" (on sale).
We came back from sightseeing early and showered, did our hair, makeup, and all around made ourselves beautiful. We came downstairs and got in our cab. The driver had never heard of the restaurant! Really, where is he from, Tunisia? Actually, yes, he was.
Traffic was terrible and we were going to be late. So I finally called the restaurant to tell them that we would be there but were stuck in traffic.
They could not find our reservation. I gave them the reservation number and while I waited for her to find it, I looked at the email again. It started Dear Madame, we are so pleased to be of service to you but - OMG – they did NOT have room for us on that night, not that they did have space.
I begged and pleaded – could we just come in for a cocktail? Non, non, non. We regret that we are completely full.
Just at this moment, we are pulling up at the front. I ask the Tunisian taxi driver if he knows of another restaurant. Sure lady, maybe in Tunisia. He sees the starch-suited bellman who opens the door, takes my money, and gets out of “Le Dodge”
The bellman takes me in and explains to the gatekeeper who says, no food at the inn. However, he will run across the street to their “sister restaurant” and see if by any possible chance they can seat us.
Amazingly, they could. We were squeezed into a table in the middle of the empty restaurant where we ate for $185. We had a great laugh and had a fun dinner. I figure we saved about $370 ($750 expected cost of dinner minus $200 (dresses) and $180 (cost of the real dinner).
You always have to look on the bright side. This restaurant even had a cat!
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
talking to computer people
Have you ever had a computer problem and gone to your IT specialist or a friend who knows about computers? When I have a computer problem I do everything I can think of before taking a deep breath and asking for help because I know what’s about to happen.
I will not only feel like I caused the problem, but also be subjected to a long dissertation about the history of computers and why I, a word person, could never truly understand what I’ve done.
The first thing the computer guru will ask is, “Did you reboot your computer?” What I want to say is, “What’s that mean? How do you do it?” Of course I have. Instead I say – on the verge of tears – “I don’t know what happened. I’ve rebooted twice.
The laptop is whisked away for a computer physical. When it comes back, held lovingly and gently by its savior, I’m told in detail what is wrong, what has been done to fix it, and what to do and not do in the future.
Shortly into this conversation my mind starts to wander. Gee, I never noticed that picture is a little crooked. There’s a little dust ball in the corner. I think I’ll have a turkey burger for dinner.
Now it’s time for a favorite expression at our company, "So I should save my work to a separate file?" This means I have no idea what you are talking about; I don't care; and I’ve have stopped listening.
The first time a computer guru hears these words, the response is a blank look and then a string of more technical computereze sort of like, when talking to a non-English speaker yelling will bring comprehension.
At this point I’m reminded of another famous expression we have at our company. Years ago, a our web guy was chastised for not posting the content he had been asked to put on the web. He madly looked for it and then announced, “I posted it. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there!”
Computer people: Ya gotta love ‘em! And what would we do without them!
I will not only feel like I caused the problem, but also be subjected to a long dissertation about the history of computers and why I, a word person, could never truly understand what I’ve done.
The first thing the computer guru will ask is, “Did you reboot your computer?” What I want to say is, “What’s that mean? How do you do it?” Of course I have. Instead I say – on the verge of tears – “I don’t know what happened. I’ve rebooted twice.
The laptop is whisked away for a computer physical. When it comes back, held lovingly and gently by its savior, I’m told in detail what is wrong, what has been done to fix it, and what to do and not do in the future.
Shortly into this conversation my mind starts to wander. Gee, I never noticed that picture is a little crooked. There’s a little dust ball in the corner. I think I’ll have a turkey burger for dinner.
Now it’s time for a favorite expression at our company, "So I should save my work to a separate file?" This means I have no idea what you are talking about; I don't care; and I’ve have stopped listening.
The first time a computer guru hears these words, the response is a blank look and then a string of more technical computereze sort of like, when talking to a non-English speaker yelling will bring comprehension.
At this point I’m reminded of another famous expression we have at our company. Years ago, a our web guy was chastised for not posting the content he had been asked to put on the web. He madly looked for it and then announced, “I posted it. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there!”
Computer people: Ya gotta love ‘em! And what would we do without them!
Sunday, May 11, 2014
In the air again
It’s been over a month since I visited the airport. I’m currently in my “third office”, the airport. (Office #1 is real office; Office #2 is home; Office #3 is airport; Office 4 is Starbucks.)
Now that we have that down, I’m nested into my chair, laptop in my lap thinking about what happened between my car and here.
Things don’t change at the airport. Funny people doing funny – or icky – things.
I went to check on my return flight so I had to go to the counter. As soon as I’d finished my question, the gate agent says to her coworker, “I should have flossed.” TMI! But glad she warned me because then she proceeded to peck at the computer with one hand and pick her teeth with the other. She was having little success with either, so fortunately, she excused herself and went to the back.
While I waited a man stepped up to check his bags at the counter next to me. The agent asked if he had boarding passes. He said he did but that he was a bit unhappy because he wanted to sit with his wife. His number was A25 and hers was A27. The agent looked at him strangely. It seems he wasn’t aware that it wasn’t his seat number but the place in line they had and with those numbers there was little chance they would not be sitting together. He said, “Well, I guess it’s okay. We’ll just be a few rows apart.” Gate agent just looked at him and called, “Next!”
When my helper came back, she had gotten my answer and had shiny white teeth. Relief on both counts!
Finally, a man in front of me going through security takes his belt off as instructed. His pants drop to his knees in the screening tube. He grabs them. He wears grey jockey shorts.
Off to Vegas! Maybe I’ll be crazy there! But I can assure you I won’t be flossing in public.
Now that we have that down, I’m nested into my chair, laptop in my lap thinking about what happened between my car and here.
Things don’t change at the airport. Funny people doing funny – or icky – things.
I went to check on my return flight so I had to go to the counter. As soon as I’d finished my question, the gate agent says to her coworker, “I should have flossed.” TMI! But glad she warned me because then she proceeded to peck at the computer with one hand and pick her teeth with the other. She was having little success with either, so fortunately, she excused herself and went to the back.
While I waited a man stepped up to check his bags at the counter next to me. The agent asked if he had boarding passes. He said he did but that he was a bit unhappy because he wanted to sit with his wife. His number was A25 and hers was A27. The agent looked at him strangely. It seems he wasn’t aware that it wasn’t his seat number but the place in line they had and with those numbers there was little chance they would not be sitting together. He said, “Well, I guess it’s okay. We’ll just be a few rows apart.” Gate agent just looked at him and called, “Next!”
When my helper came back, she had gotten my answer and had shiny white teeth. Relief on both counts!
Finally, a man in front of me going through security takes his belt off as instructed. His pants drop to his knees in the screening tube. He grabs them. He wears grey jockey shorts.
Off to Vegas! Maybe I’ll be crazy there! But I can assure you I won’t be flossing in public.
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