Thought on Polynesia

One of the first things you notice after you land are the beautiful women.  Beautiful smiles, long hair and every so friendly no matter where you are or what you are doing.   Everyone is so friendly, greets you – even someone not working at the resorts.  They are just a friendly people.

The fruits and vegetables are magnificent, although I think Moorea had a better selection and the oranges tasted better there.  Each island grows specific things; Moorea had the papaya, kiwi and a bigger selection of fruits at breakfast. 

No bugs on Moorea; bugs on Bora Bora.  It is hot, the women wear pareos more so on Moorea than here on Bora Bora.  Everyone wears thin cotton and the native women are always in a cotton pareo or cotton dress, no shorts or slacks.  The men all wear shorts with flowered shirts of some type, not always bright colored ones.  Men working outside also wear pareos.   Drinks are cool, but not cold.  Ice is available for tourists. 

Skin lotion or softener is coconut oil; women even use it on their hair.  They use coconut for many things.   Vanilla is a big crop – and is used in many sweet and savory recipes.  I am not fond of vanilla flavored things to start with and their vanilla is just too sweet tasting for me.  It is practically the only thing I tasted that I did not care for since arriving.  I have eaten several different looking fruit and vegetable, some I don’t even remember the name!

Everyone is very easy going, there are no signs that you may not do this or that like at home.  No rules.  20,000 people live on Moorea and there are only 11 policemen.   Everyone seems to get along.  The resorts really have no rules posted. 

We were really surprised by the number of people with children here, babies to teenagers.  There are a large number of Asians, some French and only a few honeymooners.  It seems much different than advertised.

15% of families on Bora Bora are a relative of GI’s who were here during the war.  We couldn’t find any relatives in the phone book but Jim thought several times he may have seen a niece or two!!

The South Pacific is incredibly beautiful and still very rustic and primitive in ways.  One of our guides told us he spear fishes for Mahi Mahi.   Most men (and probably some women) work 2-3 jobs to take care of their families.  Taxes are very high and everything is incredibly expensive, even for the natives who pay a percentage of tax to France and to Tahiti government.   Not sure which is which, but on our bill from the supermarket there was a 4% charge and 16 % charge for tax.   We were in the market shopping with the locals who must work hard to pay these taxes.

 The travel to Tahiti is a killer and actually we feel that once we have seen it we have no desire to return.   Meals (just the main course) were about the equivalent of $25 to $80 each and that is before your water or glass of wine.  Same prices were noted at the resorts or local restaurants.   We were told that there used to be 15 resorts on Bora Bora and now there are 11 – tourism is down due to high costs.  The Pearl Resort in Moorea was much nicer – they were crowded.  Bora Bora, the most expensive of the islands was not very crowded.  It is however the end of the low season.  June, July, August is their busiest times.

And, as an added note:  we will never fly Southwest again.  Luckily I did pay the extra charge to get us a better seat – we were “A” list on the way home and allowed to be among the first to board but it is still a zoo.  The general seating is a joke, and the folks trying to cram their big bags into the overhead bins where there are already bags (like ours!) are rude and obnoxious.  On British Airways, one can store their laptop bag up there without worry.  Glad I had my little net book in my purse clutched close to me.  She would have been killed in the overhead bin by this obnoxious woman.  Also, LAX is a zoo…and we hope not to see that again either.  JFK and now LAX are both on my avoid list!!

Also, if you plan to go to Tahiti – fly Air France or take a ship!  Air Tahiti Nui are very nice folks – no problem with the staff, timing of flights or the food.  However, their Airbus planes for such a long ride are ridiculous.  We always have more room on our British Airways 767 or 777  and more room on the Airbus planes in Europe to fly to Germany, France or wherever.  Truly for 8+ hours we were jammed in like sardines.   They plan Tahitian music, give you little flowers…all very nice except for the seating room!!

Truly, being in the South Pacific one feels like they are in a movie!

Last Day in Bora Bora

Dinner at Bloody Mary’s last night was incredible.  The ride there from our resort (after the boat) was around 30 minutes.  The floor of the restaurant is sand; you sit on palm tree stumps for chairs!    I knew all of this but it was a surprise for Jim!   When you walk in there is a display on ice of all the fresh fish for today (and there was lonely strip steaks) – everything is already seasoned and ready to go on the big grill next to it.   After the hostess explains what everything is, you tell her what you want to eat and are then seated at the table and order your drinks.  We both had Bloody Marys; Jim had a kabob for appetizer and marlin for main course.  I had red tuna sashimi for appetizer and swordfish for main course.   The fish names may be similar to east coast but they taste different – wonderfully so – because the fish swim in warm water there and cold water here.

This morning was our last day on the beach and afterwards we went to have lunch at the pool restaurant.  After showers, our bags were picked up, we checked out and sat looking at the lagoon for the last time until our boat shuttle took us to the airport.

A quick 40 minute flight to Papeete…and then a wait for our 10:50 PM flight to LA.   Arrival in LA around 10 AM and then a 12:45 PM Southwest flight  home!  15 hours in the air!  

Bora Bora Day 4

Woke up this morning, Jim was coming in from outside.  Holy cow, he is never bothered by bugs, little gnats being a pest so he was coming back inside.  I decided to get up, looked at my can of Schweppes Lemon and thought about saving it.  Drinks are very expensive, 5 francs a can here, I had bought that one in town for 1.25 francs.   But, I though some of our friendly gnats probably made their way inside so was dumping it out when it felt like there was something inside....very quickly a head peeked out and then out came the rest of the gecko!!!   He was a large one and startled me so much I gave a yell.  Then I called Jim and got my camera - this was the biggest one and prettiest one we have seen.  He posed briefly before taking off up into the ceiling.

Others we have seen are babies, only about 2-3 inches long.  This must have been mom or dad!

How wonderful is this - I am sitting here on the beach, just few feet from the water (under a palm tree in the shade ) and I have a great wi-fi connection!  In fact, everything I read about poor connectivity simply has not been true for the Pearl Resorts.  Costly, but great connectivity!!  Jim has his Kindle and reads incessantly. Boring.  I will play video games or email.  Much more fun!!!!

While I am thinking about it, last night our waiter pointed out to us the Southern Cross - one would never know if unless someone showed you.  What is amazing here is that last night we sat outside, under the stars - the stars are bright and amazing.  We don't see stars any more at home - too much pollution.  

We both got dressed in pareos to have our complimentary massages at a hut on the beach. We took photos of one another, but I don't think they are going to be made public!!!  The table faced the beach and lagoon, but when you got on the table, what you saw as you faced down was a bamboo bucket with a BIG red hibiscus floating in it.  Tahitian music was playing in the background.  One got to pick the oil for the massage and I chose Tiare, the Tahitian gardenia.   All I can say is WOW.  It is only the second massage I have had in my life and what an experience to have it here on Bora Bora with all the trimmings!

We are getting ready to go to dinner at Bloody Mary's restaurant.  It seems since it was prepaid,  the restaurant is  willing to come to our boat dock to get us!  So, shortly we will be headed to the boat for our ride across the lagoon.

Bora Bora Day 3

After breakfast this morning, we took our boat shuttle over to the mainland and then a bus into Vaitape, the main and largest town on Bora Bora.   Check out the photos to see “downtown”!!

We did a bit of shopping, got a bottle of wine, cheese, and cold drinks and sandwiches to bring back for lunch.  It is very confusing.  The bus as the resort described it is a designated bus for tourists and only meets the boat shuttle (which is a dock in the middle of nowhere) at certain times.  Miss the bus and you could be stuck on the mainland for hours or worse, all night!!  We thought they had been talking about the regular Bora Bora bus which circles the island.   In any event, for a price ($12.50 RT each) we made it over there and back.    The Bora Bora Pearl Resort is not as organized as the one in Moorea; they do not offer explanations and give clear information.  A good example is the internet.  If I had bought 3 days’ worth, I would have had it yesterday and been paying less than I just paid to have it for 2 days.  Too late now!  I just found this out when I went to purchase it.   In Moorea, they explained everything to death – but it was helpful.   We have paid for meal reservations at the Bloody Mary’s restaurant tomorrow night and as of this moment we still don’t know if we will be able to get there.  Part of this problem was also the travel agent.  I am finished with travel agents, never will go anywhere again that I cannot plan myself.  The arrangements were basically good, but she gave misleading information which further confused things.  At least the resort is helpful ironing some of these problems out.  We had a reservation for prepaid meal at Blood Mary’s (on the mainland) for tonight; the first thing we found out when we got here was that the restaurant doesn’t pick up Pearl Beach folks on Tuesday nights and they quickly changed it to Wednesday when there is a pick up.  Hmmm.  Seems to me that is a mistake on the part of the travel agent.  But, we also found out that Bloody Mary’s car won’t meet our boat unless there is at least 2 couples.   See what I mean?  We still don’t know if we can get there tomorrow night!   I wouldn't care if we hadn't already paid for it.  Travel agent was concerned about us not getting one if we waited until we arrived and to give her credit she was right about that as folks who wanted to go on Monday couldn't get a reservation.  So….I had asked last night about it and Julia told me that sometimes when they have only one couple they have to call Bloody Mary’s and cry a lot….hope that works.   If you could see the distance that they have to drive to pick up people, you would understand. 

VERY hot and humid when we came back from Vaitape, we have been in our room with the AC since them.  Just heard a horrid noise, thought someone was outside with a leaf blower….nope, looked like a leaf blower but it was spraying the bugs!!

We have been eating at the main resort restaurant each night.  Very expensive and very Polynesian, Pacific type foods are on the menu.  I am contemplating the Risotto with Squid Ink tonight….each meal has been like that and served in small French portions.  Lunches, which are slightly less expensive but stop at 4 PM have pizza, burgers and the regular fish type items one sees here.

I will have the internet until we leave, so updates will continue!!

Bora Bora Day 2

The bugs are in Bora Bora!  At breakfast this morning, everything was covered or under a mosquito net.  Some man next to us freaked out over a gnat on his fruit plate.  Actually, they are not gnats but tinier no-seeums!    I really don’t care what any of them do if they don’t bite.  As I write this sitting in our air conditioned room, one is crawling across the screen.  Croissants of all shapes this morning were available this morning, including coconut ones and apple filled ones.  They make them small so you can eat many different flavors.

After breakfast we sat on our deck until the breeze died, thinking this garden suite was not the greatest during the day.  We took a very short walk to the beach and we the only people there, hermit crabs, those crabs that live in the rocks and a few pretty birds were our only company.

After the beach we packed up for our 4WD Safari tour of the main island.  One takes water, suntan lotion, bug spray, sunglasses and then it’s off to the shuttle from Pearl Beach to the mainland where we were met by Etienne in a 4WD.  He was not our tour guide, but our shuttle to the tour vehicle to meet Moana our guide.  He drove slowly along the coast road, pointing out all sorts of history and interesting facts.  It was probably a 20 to 30 minute ride to reach our tour guide and his vehicle.    We rode straight up onto the mountain, stopped at various points to look out at the motu, the airport runway and again were given much information.  Basically, the people of Bora Bora are grateful to the American GI’s during the war who built the coast road (the only paved road) around the island, built the airport and many other things to be helpful  to the people of Bora Bora.  We learned we are in Polynesia, NOT French Polynesia.  No one here is fond of the French for taking over and making things go their way. 

There are 8 cannons on the island; we were able to go off road up to the two that protected the airport.  We were very surprised when Moana (our guide) pointed out the inscription on the cannon.  There were made in 1907 at Bethlehem Steel!!  Those same cannons had served in WWI.  For those who don’t know, I lived as a child not far from there, and many folks were Beth Steel employees, including my Uncle Jack who went to work there after the war.  After our tour, we were brought back to the Pearl boat shuttle by our guide and in 5 minutes were zipped across to our motu where the resort is located.

After a muddy off the road ride (I got splattered a bit), it felt nice to jump into our spa for a brief soak – to get rid of the bug spray and suntan lotion before I actually took a shower!  My bug spray works – one of the guys on our tour was being eaten alive.  He and his new bride are staying at the Intercontinental and he said the mosquitos are really bad at their Over the Water Bungalow.   No bugs here at our resort, but there were today on the main island and they would light on me and take off right after landing!  The Deet spray works!  I never used a bug spray that really worked before – perhaps it will be good on Eastern Shore mosquitos and flies as well! 
Tahitian people are the warmest, friendliest people you will ever meet.  On the ride back to our boat dock, Jim’s hat blew off in the wind and went flying up the road.  It was his hat from Nice, so it was too bad.  We got on the boat, and just before we left, someone came up and handed the hat to the staff and he gave it to Jim!  Imagine.  Whoever was following us got the hat and followed our open truck to our boat dock!   We had no opportunity to thank anyone, just were amazed at the whole thing!!

It is very humid here, but the breeze from the lagoon is fantastic.  Our garden suite is great early in the morning and in the evening.  The rest of the time, the beach is a better place…or I suppose one could go to the fresh water swimming pool.  Not being a fan of pools, it makes no sense to me to go there when the beach is a few feet from the real lagoon.  Of course, if one would be squeamish about crabs and wild life….guess the pool is for them.

Bora Bora Arrival Day

We actually had a fairly decent sized aircraft for the 40 minute flight to Bora Bora.  Props yes, but much better than the last prop American Eagle we flew on in the past.  The airport in Moorea was 10 minutes from Moorea Pearl and had one run way in/out – and two men who loaded luggage in and out of planes.

Upon arrival our Bora Bora Pearl guy was there with leis for us and after we picked up our luggage…they are sort of put on a big tray and one can get it after the poor guy takes it off the cart and puts in there.   Short boat tide and we are have officially arrived at the Pearl Beach Resort.

The feel of this island is different; the entire motu (islet) is dedicated to the Pearl Resort.  We are in a garden suite.  Just look at the photos!!  One feels like Ramar of the Jungle!!  There are different bird calls and flora, and apparently many different creatures.  Upon entering our “front door” the first thing we saw was a little brown gecko scurry away; the hostess saw the holes in the sand and told us we have a crab here with us too.   When you see the number 64, the photos after that our own place!  We have private fenced in area with a deck, lounge chairs, spa, a covered table with fan above it and lights for the evening.  The room is magnificent – and the shower really is outside.  Incredible!!!

We went for a walk around some of the property; it is much larger and has mini golf, tennis courts, billiard tables and who knows what else besides water activities.  Speaking of water, it is cloudy today, so initial photos will reflect that, and during our walk it started to rain a little.  Only a short baby shower – so not really annoying, and therefore nothing to really complain about.  By the time we were unpacked, we could settle in our lounge chairs on the deck – after we got in the spa a little while!

There is a bar that has happy hour early like usual, then again from 9 to 10 PM.  The bar also shows movies…Mutiny on the Bounty and 2 others!!

Jim has his bottle of gin from the duty free shop in LAX – what was left of my bottle of white wine from Moorea was left behind.  All stores on main island are closed today (Sunday)  and going to the mainland requires our hotel boat shuttle to take us over there to “the base”, then a bus from there to the nearest town of Vaitape.  We cannot do it tomorrow morning, because of the bus schedule – we need to be here at 1:15 PM to take the boat to “the base” and then be met for our open truck tour of the island of Bora Bora.  So we are stuck with the very expensive Boutique (general store) and the mini bar for now and tomorrow. 

When we walked along the beach earlier, we saw many holes – in fact I was just walking and my foot fell into a hole – crabs, big guys of all sorts.  We found many of the living in the rocks; they smiled to have their photos taken.   Being a good grandmother, I tried to collect some tiny baby shells to bring home.  Most are very unusual and perfectly shaped.  Upon putting the second one in my pocket I felt  a tiny bite on my finger!  Hermit crabs in most of the shells.  OK, I put him back on the beach for anyone wondering.

We got a free 30 minute massage scheduled at the spa for both of us on Wednesday – something not to be missed.  Sadly, the real spa is being refurbished, so they have set up massage center in 2 huts on the beach!!  The fitness center is closed due to refurbishment so no one has to feel guilty being unfit!!!  We also had a gift of various coconut oils and healing oils left in our room from the spa, receiving all this because our travel agent belongs to some sort of VIP group.   Nice!

Our housekeeper just came to do turn down service, put little towels on the floor by the bed (heaven forbid you step onto a cold hardwood floor) – and she put our little slippers on the towels.   I could be happy being a princess and having servants.

It is getting dark…magically lights are coming on.  After dinner I will take photos of our little home in the jungle (whoops, garden) with its flood lit ambience.  It is so quiet here, and seems to be mostly adults.  In Moorea we were surprised at the amount of people with infants, toddlers, and children of all ages.   People snorkeled; jet skied and kayaked in front of our bungalow.  Total privacy here, one needs not even dress to get in the spa or sit on the deck!

We had dinner in the main restaurant.  Wow.  I was starving so decided to have an appetizer of 4 different ways they serve raw tuna.  It was magnificent.  For the main course we each had a fricassee of Mahi Mahi and Pacific shrimp.  I am loving the raw tuna – a way of life here.   No dessert as I was stuffed.  Just espresso to end a great meal!

No internet today, I will pay for it when I know we are going to be here and not go on any outings to the mainland. 

Moorea - Day 3 & 4

Adventures in Paradise continues.  Extraordinary breakfasts, then just beauty everywhere.  My view of fish has been through the glass coffee table - and one episode sitting on the dock throwing them bread.  We did venture out yesterday through one of the beaches, picking our way through the coral...trying to snap some underwater shots.  Difficult not killing a living being, or being stung by someone's tentacles or spines.  Up to my waist is enough for me, after all, I could drown.  We did walk over to where our bungalow was and at that point realized there was no way I could get to the ladder to climb up as suddenly the bottom dropped down much lower and the water became deeper.

Well, Jim isn't crazy about it either.  Today we stayed on dry land on the deck.  The regular beach is nice...but today was a bit breezier and I had no desire to get wet.

Last night we went to the Tahiti Village Theatre for an explanation of how things were done in the past, a buffet dinner and a show.  The folks who did the tour and served our food were the performers!   They all were so nice and the show was fantastic.  Native food was on the menu and it was great.   There were many different dishes including pork and chicken ones beside fish; and an array of fruits and salads and desserts.

Tonight  we are "staying home" here at the Pearl Resort and going to dinner in a few minutes -- and they are having a Polynesian Show as well.  They have not lit the torches around the pool since the first night we arrived, so looking forward to a nice spectacular event!   It is a buffet and I have been wondering all day what will be served.  The food here is just wonderful, fresh and flavorful.  And tonight, we have only a short walk.   Last night we had a 20 minute ride to the other side of the island.

Tomorrow we will go to breakfast and then be picked up at 9 AM for our transfer to Moorea Airport for our flight to Bora Bora.  It will be a 50 minute flight on some sort of big mosquito .  Actually, the travel agent said it could be 6 or 60 seater - so we will find out when it is time to board!

I have no idea about cost or connectivity to wi-fi in Bora Bora...so I will be back when I am able to connect!!

Meanwhile, Bora Bora is supposed to be more beautiful and spectacular than here, if one can imagine that!!

Moorea - Day 2

Breakfast was one exotic happening!  The fruits are magnificent: pineapple, bananas, papaya, kiwi, mango, oranges – all of which are grown here.  They are all different tasting in a better way.   The tropical juice was so different and fresh tasting!  Limes are so plentiful that they are everywhere as garnish!  I also ate another fruit which was fabulous, and have to find out tomorrow what it was – I have never seen anything like it.  But, you know me, I had to eat it!

We were picked up at 8:40 AM to go on the ATV safari.   Louis was our guide, he pronounces his name “Lois”.   He led the group of us and 2 other couples.  One was a young couple from Chicago, the other from Paris…so he spoke in French and English to explain what we were seeing.  We went high up onto the mountains, on deep rutted trails, over big rocks, through puddles and a river, sometimes having to switch the ATV into 4 wheel drive.   It very bumpy, I had to hold on, so most of the photos were taken when we slowed down or stopped.  We made stops at various locations, including The Belvedere, Magic Mountain and in the middle of a pineapple farm.  We also stopped in a area they refer to as The Bounty because both the original Mutiny on the Bounty with Marlon Brando, and the later version were both filmed on that spot – it is a crater that sits in the middle of all the mountains on the island. 

We also were given information about the local fruits and he pointed them out as we drove along.  Avocados here are round; the bananas fatter and shorter, papayas look like coconuts growing on the trees.  It was a fun day, we got rained on one time (brief shower) and we also stopped at a local place where I had banana ice cream and bought a jar of lime jam.  It is sort of like jam, but not really sweet and it may come home with me or be devoured over here.  The jury is still out on that one!

I spent the afternoon washing off the mud from the ride - in the beautiful sparkling blue clear water – so I did not have to bring it all in our room.  I also made a valiant effort to venture down our ladder into the beautiful water – but I am afraid it was too deep for me.  So, I am destined to walk from the beach out to cool off – and just sit on the deck to talk to our fish.  So far, looking through our glass coffee table, I have seen green striped fish, parrot fish, bright yellow ones, a beautiful big yellow & black angel fish and this afternoon, for a special appearance, 2 sea urchins have stuck their tentacles out of the coral to say hello.   There is never a dull moment.

We walked to the local grocery store – everyone here at the resort sends you there to buy cheap wine, liquor, snacks – so you don’t have to pay the high prices here at the resort.  “Town” is also a bank, a pizza place, and couple of other shops.  We bought a baguette and Moorea goat cheese, white wine, a lemon drink and pears and oranges.  The local oranges are green!  Our fruit will be our snack tomorrow afternoon.  Breakfasts here are huge and then one only needs plenty of liquids and a snack during the afternoon. 

So, I am headed out to the deck to have wine, bread and cheese!  No internet today – will probably post this tomorrow some time.  This evening we are being picked up at 7 PM to go to Rudy’s restaurant – someone from there will come pick us up and bring us back after dinner.  We hear it is only a short drive up the road.   

Tahiti at last! Moorea

Our Air Tahiti Nui flight was one hour late last night due to "technical" problems.  When they cancelled boarding at 11:30 PM, a number of us went to the bar.

We were so tired, but managed to stay awake long enough for our "light supper" of little ham & cheese sandwiches, salad and chocolate pudding.  They shut out the lights, and we did sleep for awhile.  They gave us a hot breakfast of crepes, croissant and fruit salad and landing was uneventful.  At the gate there were musicians, a dancer and very slow, long line to get through immigration.We went immigration (we each now have been issued a number which we have to turn in when we leave the country), got our bags and immediately found Marama Tours, were given a lei, exchanged our ferry voucher for another and were told we would be taken to the pier for the ferry in 30 minutes.  All very nice - someone took our bags and put them in a van, we took our carry ons and got on a bus.  At the pier, we were told to stay in one line, someone came and took us to another line, then be exchanged our vouchers for tickets.  Phew!  Finally on the ferry, which was running on island time (15 minutes late).  Arrived at the ferry dock, where are our bags??   Fork lift bringing crates of bags out - good luck in the crowd trying to find ones bags.  I finally went and pushed my way (being the better pusher in the family) and found our bags (which were on the 3rd crate brought out of the ferry; then we found Albert Tours who took us on a fairly long ride out to the Moorea Pearl Resort.  Chinese fire drill - never so saw much chaos.   And on arriving at the resort, of course our bags were buried way under the bus, but we finally got them and were greeted by a young lady with a little flower and told we could sit down.  BEAUTIFUL, and we were so glad to sit some place cool under the thatched roof.  Next, here comes another young lady with cold cloths and a cold lemon drink.  Reception girl came to us with a folder and we checked in while sitting in comfy chairs.  Our room was going to be an hour wait, we were offered showers or to go to lunch - chose lunch.  AH.....Poisson Cru for the both of us and a glass of white wine.  Poisson Cru is marinated raw tuna in coconut milk and lime juice, served with bits of cucumber, tomato and greens.  It is to die for!  I may end up eating it for every meal.

We verified ( or rather the hotel did)  our reservations for the ATV Safari tour tomorrow and the Tiki Village dinner on Thursday.  Then we also made reservations for Rudy's restaurant for tomorrow - they will come pick us up - hotel reception arranges all this.  They has specialties of Parrot Fish.   We have nothing to do but have a good time.  We were told Saturday they are having a Polynesian show here, so we will be here for that which will be our last night in Moorea.  And, Rico the man who drove the bus load of us here to the resort will email the hotel what time he will pick us up on Sunday morning to go to the airport.  Incredible!!

I paid the money for the internet - $20; and I may do it again at the end of the week.  Our foreign cell phone sees the local service but will not connect to it, so I had no way of letting anyone at home know we had arrived safe and sound.  It was a necessity to have it!!

While I was sitting here uploading photos, a knock came to our bungalow - there was  a young lady with a letter and big tray of fresh fruit - compliments of the resort.  We have already nibbled at it and will put the rest in our fridge.  In the middle of this fruit display is a coconut with a straw in it for sipping the coconut milk, slices of papaya, pineapple, oranges, kiwi and flower petals....always flower petals, they are everywhere.   Floating around on the floor from the wind blowing them.

Jim just shut our big patio door.  We do have air conditioning.  The young lady, Tiare (same as the name of the flower)  who took us on a tour and brought us to the bungalow told us to shut up the place at 5 PM.  Mosquitoes are out from 5 PM until 9 PM and then they simply go away!!  Jim didn't really believe this but just came in saying mosquitoes were biting and yes, it is 5 PM!  Sun shining brightly on the gorgeous blue water and bugs biting!

Just look at the photos....they say it all.  I feel like I am in the middle of Adventures in Paradise!  OK, who remembers that show???

Sitting here in luxury.....

Hollywood and LA

We spent an exciting day on the Rasta Bus with our tour guide Kameko,  taking the tour of LA and surroundings.  Our first stop was Venice Beach, and then we basically saw or drove by every exciting thing one can imagine.  We did get out at Venice Beach, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Farmer’s Market at the Grove,  Greystone Mansion (where Ghostbusters, the Shining and many others were filmed),  and high up in the Hollywood Hills to see and take photos of the Hollywood sign.

Venice Beach is home of more strange folks and beach bums than one can imagine.   It was probably the most interesting place of the tour!   We rode past places where folks were murdered, the house where Michael Jackson died and many other exciting places, i.e. the Hotel California, Whiskey A-Go-Go, and too many other famous places to mention.

If you know who Mario Lopez is, watch  Extra,  I think it is called – I have several photos of him filming the show.   New to me, I have never heard of him.  

We saw many of the stars homes, and even though they cost millions and millions of dollars, they are all crowded and jammed together.  It is awful!!   We have homes the same size out where we live; they cost less and have acres of grown around them.   What one must pay for prestige in Hollywood!

I never did get to see Barry’s star, it was too far to walk in the time we had on Hollywood Blvd.  But I did see and take photos of many others including Alice Cooper, David Bowie and so many others that I cannot remember them all.

Grauman’s Chinese theatre was the greatest!  We saw handprints of Abbott & Costello, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Red Skelton and so many others….photos taken, of course! 

We saw the CBS studio with folks standing outside to get into The Price is Right.  It is just a big white building with the CBS eye in black on the outside.

We had Brazilian food for lunch….great!

All in all, we think that Los Angeles, Hollywood and California in general are over rated.  What we did enjoy is how pleasant and courteous everyone is everywhere you go.  People talk pleasantly to one another, strangers talk to one another.   At home, if a stranger talks to you one tends to be wary.  Folks in California are pleasant, friendly and helpful.   There is a good share of nuts around, folks talking to other folks who aren't there, keeping house on park benches with their entire household in carts.  Lots of expensively dressed folks and a lot of weirdness.  They don’t refer to  it as Holly Weird for nothing!  It is very crowded and we simply just don’t have a desire to see any more of it.  Perhaps on another journey, we would like to see San Francisco.  By the way, part of their weirdness here is their building of multi-million dollar homes on the edges of cliffs which you can see are falling apart.  So many of these homes are not insured!   One of the biggest ones we saw (which they have not been able to complete remodeling for the last 3 years - due to mud slides) is the home of Ron Howard.    Totally nuts.

Tax is very high…just about 10% on everything.  We thought 6% at home was bad!  

We arrived here at LAX around 6 PM but weren't able to check in until about 7:30 PM.  There is nothing on the other side of security but the gate so we are sitting waiting for it to be time to go through security.  Basically the international terminal here is very nice, very organized.   Terminal 1 that Southwest uses is more like a zoo.   I don’t know yet about security here, but check in with Air Tahiti Nui was a breeze. 

So, we will soon be Tahiti bound.   

Santa Monica & Hollywood

Ate at a great English pub last night, totally authentic, nothing like you would find at home.  Complete pub menu, authentic desserts (including Sticky Toffee pudding, Rhubarb Crumble  and English/Irish beers on tap!!   I had a Newcastle Brown Ale and Jim had a Smithwicks.  He had a steak and kidney pie and I had the steak and mushroom pie made with  Guinness ...all this came complete with an English waitress from Leeds in Oxfordshire.  Very nice.

We ate breakfast - croissants and bagel with Illy cappuccino for me!  This place was just as authentic as an Italian bar.  Place your order, pay at the bar and pick your table.   There are many ethnic restaurants, very few American type ones and I'm thinking it would be fun to eat here.

However, soon we will take our bags downstairs for day storage while we go off to see Hollywood on the Rasta Bus!   Then later tonight, we are off to Tahiti!!!!!

LAX to Santa Monica

Our Southwest flight arrived 20 minutes early, we found the shuttle bus from LAX to the Big Blue Bus stop where we then paid $1 to take us and our luggage to Santa Monica!

The Big Blue Bus is Santa Monica's bus and we will take it back to LAX tomorrow evening and then take the airport shuttle to the International terminal.  All again for $1 each!   Taxi's are $45 we were told by our hotel.

We spent the afternoon at the Santa Monica Pier, and came back for a rest prior to going out to dinner and hopefully using the Pier as a photo op if the lights are pretty.

We are adjusting to the 3 hour time difference; funny watching Sheppard Smith and O'Reilly in the late afternoon!  Also very strange to us hearing people speaking English.  We are so used to be landing in a country that is not English speaking that we actually felt more at home when we heard girls walking behind us speaking in French!

Tomorrow after breakfast we will go on the Hollywood tour, then make our way to LAX and eventually after another 8+ hour flight we land in Papeete, Tahiti!

I was able to upload some of the Santa Monica photos here; after tonight just don't know about connectivity.  Take a look!

French Polynesia 2013

la Orana!

The next adventure is about to begin!  Plans are to fly to California and spend the first night in Santa Monica.  The next day we will take a bus tour of Hollywood, including seeing the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  After all these years I will finally be able to see Barry's star!!

After the bus tour, we will head to LAX for our 11:30 PM flight to Papeete, Tahiti and then take a ferry to the island of Moorea when we arrive in the morning.   We will spend 4 nights in Moorea before flying to Bora Bora for the next 4 nights.  Then it will be one very long flight back home!

French Polynesia has wi-fi but reports are that it is very slow and difficult to connect.  Most likely, I will able to post text, but doubt I will be able to upload large amount of photos.   In that case, photos will be posted upon return home.

There are some new links to fun things we will be doing, a new song from an old favorite movie of mine (Donovan's Reef 1963) and folders just waiting for photos to be added.

The currency is beautiful, almost a shame to have to spend it!  It may seem like a lot of money, but 5,000 French Pacific Francs is only $55!!

Oh, and I may learn a few new Tahitian words,  but I will not come home wearing a grass skirt!

Follow along.....

Thoughts on Christkindlmarkt

This trip has been everything I expected and more.  It was like being in a winter wonderland.  The markts are all different, many different themes and attractions, some more focused on children and also, the foods are all different and each markt provides its own experiences.   I have never seen more beautiful Christmas decorations and displays and the food is a German girl’s delight!   We met St. Nikolaus, Krampus and saw the Christkind in Nurnberg…..everything I hoped to experience!  An extra treat were the carols by the children and adults from the blind school.

I learned that my stollen I make tastes just like the stollen in Germany!  I was delighted.  Now I must master the terrific gingerbread.

We are very tired, but it is a good tired.   One is outside all day while visiting these markts.  I quickly learned that no one worries about their hair and that one wears a hat all day, a scarf and gloves.  Long underwear, wool socks, boots!  No earrings, they become little cold pieces of metal turning your earlobes into ice cubes!  We were already prepared for this, but I rarely wear a hat at home unless I am shoveling snow….and I got used to wearing a hat every day and even pulling my hood up over it!!

I bought a new parka from LL Bean before leaving and I loved the thought that it had fake fur around the hood.  I used to have one like that back in the ‘70’s, but I was wondering if it would look out of place now.   No one at home seems to wear them but I have always liked them.  It seems I certainly wore it to the right place as everyone had down coats and most had fur on the hoods!   It was perfect!  I was in style!

Aside from being outside all day, one walks and stands all day as all the food is at the stands with the very European system of having little tables everyone stands around.  Everyone just crowds in together and huddles with their meal or snacks and warms their hands with their mug of Gluhwein.   There is no gluhwein like the kind we had on this trip.  We buy it at home – even the kind sold in Nurnberg at the stands, but it certainly isn’t as tasty as what we had at the markts.   Some of the stands had cookie jars with bars of gingerbread to go with your gluhwein – there is just no other treat so tasty when your hands are cold and the snow is pouring around you. 

The snow was wonderful, the temperatures 27-34 degrees every day and Jim suffered in silence, although he did put on a face for one of the photos at the Salzburg markt when the snow was falling heavily!!   It was fun being able to be out in the snow (they put cinders on the sidewalks) and not have to worry about driving.  We walked, or in Austria took the bus to and from the station.

Most of the decorations and items I would have liked to buy were the sort I probably would have had trouble getting back into the country….real nuts, greens, twigs and things that probably would be frowned upon and truthfully, most of them were too big to carry home.  So, sadly I left them all there.  Also, these handmade delights are also very expensive.

Hopefully, there will be another time I can return to such a great time.  Now however, we are headed home to 60 degree weather.  Heaven only knows when I will get to wear my hat again, as I have grown to like it!!

More photos have been added, especially to Munich - and video will soon be on a CD

Friday, December 7, 2012 continued

Friday was a very busy day!  After breakfast we went shopping to have a look at just some of Munich’s exciting stores.  It was fun window shopping, looking at all the decorations and at the same time stopping at the Christmas stands. 

After walking through the big market, which ends in Marienplatz, we somehow managed to end up there at noon to see and hear the glockenspiel at the town tower.  Throughout this entire trip, we seemed to end up in the right place at the right time.

Then we were off to walk to the medieval markt, known as the Munchner Adventsspecktakel.  On the way, we ran into another small one, the Weihnachtsdorf markt at the Kaiserhof Residenz .   We did a tour of that one and then continued on our way.

At the Medieval Markt, all the people cooking and working the stands were dressed in middle ages costumes.  The stands were entirely different; one had Middle Ages dresses and costumes for men, another handmade bows and arrows, another handmade knives and sharps.   There were skins of all sorts of animals, as well as products made from them.  Best of all, were the food stands!!   All of the foods were being cooked or roasted in old time ways.  Many coal fires were burning under big grates, a pig was being roasted, chestnuts roasted and then I found a stand with a huge bubbling cauldron of oil.  Potato and breads were being fried in the oil.  This is one of the only times I had trouble reading the all-German menu on the board – BUT, I am very good at asking for help and one of the girls working there  knew a couple words of English and we figured out what I wanted.  She said, “flour or potato”  and I said potato and pointed to the oil.  Success!!  My potato pancakes were being fried while I watched them floating in the cauldron of oil.  Wow!   The most fantastic treat I think I ever had since I last ate one cooked at home by mother or aunt.

Jim did not partake of such a delight, so when we left to stroll back to the main Christkindlmarkt, he got another of those wonderful smoked pork sandwiches we had the other day, and we both got a mug of Gluhwein.   Seems a shame to miss a chance at buying stollen, so I bought a slice which is now in a tin in my suitcase!    I had just had some in Nuremberg, made in a shape of a star, so I thought I would save this piece for later!

We then went back to our hotel to shower and pack for our flight the next day.  Suitcases were made totally ready for our early flight, and then we were back out, headed back to the markt to hear the carolers at the town hall at 5:30 pm.  We arrived just as they started and Jim got some of it on video.  They were singing very traditional German songs with horn accompaniment, but after a few we decided to leave and go to eat.

We went to the Hofbrauhaus, where we have been several times before.  The photos will explain it all - but it is the biggest and best beer hall in Munich. 

To walk back to the hotel, we had to walk through the markt, which gave us a nice look at all the pretty stands before we went to bed.  And to end the evening, there were some snow flurries.   Alarm was set for 4:30 am!!

Friday, December 7, 2012

This morning we are off to shop on the pedestrian streets here in Munich, then later will go to the Medieval markt and the big Christkindl market.  Tonight our plans are to visit the Hofbrauhas to end our celebration.

We must get up in the wee hours of the morning to take the S-bahn to the airport, so this may be my last post until we are home.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Today we walked to train station and took a 2=hour train to Salzburg, Austria.  After getting off the train, we went down the escalator at the station to the Localbahn train which took us to Oberndorf.  The chapel is about 1 mile away from the station, and eventually we couldn’t find our way, seem to lose track of the signs pointing to it.  A wonderful little boy showed us the way…he spoke English…or we might still be looking for it!

I copied a little about Oberndorf and the Stille Nacht chapel so I wouldn’t have to explain it.  See the following:
 

It was at the Romanesque parish church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorf that the Christmas carol "Silent Night" was first performed in 1818. The story goes that Joseph Mohr had composed "Silent Night" as a poem in 1816, then on Christmas Eve 1818, Franz Xaver Gruber composed a melody to go with it.

The two creators were the first to perform it: Mohr sang tenor and played guitar, while Gruber sang bass. The reason for the guitar, and indeed for the performance of the song itself, is said to be that the organ was not working that night.

TheSilent Night Memorial Chapel, which stands on the original site of the St. Nikolaus Church, was consecrated on August 15, 1937, after 13 years of construction

It was great seeing the same place that I watch on webcam on Christmas Eve when they have a big celebration to sing Silent Night.  It was one of the highlights of the trip for me.  Soon after coming out of the chapel and museum, it started to snow and didn’t stop all day and evening!!

We returned to Salzburg station and took a bus into the old town to the markt.   We had a great time, ate more sausages and had gluhwein in the snow and was surprised by a visit by St. Nikolaus who gave treats to the children.  And, as usual Krampus was there also – he is supposed to frighten children into being good, but Krampus is not a mean character but rather a humorous one.  One of the came after me hitting me with his tail, the other one grabbed me, took off my hat and messed up my hair.  I kept saying I’d be good, but I don’t think he understood English!

It was a beautiful time, many stands at the markt, but Austria seemed more commercial that the one in Nurnberg  and the one here in Munich.  Each is different however, and seem to have different things.

We ended the evening having a bite to eat at the train station..which is almost a small city in itself.

.

Wednesday, December 5th

The hotel’s internet was out this morning.  They were working on it, and she told me it was ready as we were going to the train station.   So, yesterday’s post and this one will be done tonight, hopefully if I am still awake after our return.  We had a terrific breakfast and will take the 11:50 am train to Nuremberg.   The train ride is an hour and our tickets say we will leave Nuremberg to return to Munich at 8:27.  Nuremberg has Germany’s largest and most popular Christkindlmarkt, so we are expecting it be crowded. 

AND…..Nuremberg was fantastic!!  We were able to see the Christkindl give gifts to the children and we got to take her picture and adults got a postcard!!   The market was too wonderful to describe and it is late at night and we must get up early to catch the train to Salzburg.

We did watch a blind children’s choral group sing carols at the markt, and they were magnificent and I should mention, it started snowing during their performance. 

The whole Christmas markt experience is magical and the decorations are wonderful.  I hope to post some pictures either now, or perhaps on Friday….but Jim’s video will be the best description of the markts. 

Tomorrow, Salzburg, Austria and Oberndorf where Silent Night was sung the first time!!

Tuesday December 4th

We arrived at our hotel a bit later than expected.  Our flight into LHR ended with the pilot not being able to park because the automatic stairs that were supposed to connect to our plan broke down on the tarmac in front of us.  We sat with engines running while repairmen frantically worked to either get it to move out of the way so we could park, or move into place so we could get off the plane!!   Finally, they were moved out of the way so the pilot could park and we could get off.    Many flights in LHR just park on the tarmac and one walks down the steps and onto the buses which take you to the terminal.  Gone are the days when moved the stairs into place, they are all remote control these days!

When we arrived in Munich,  all of us passengers were waiting for luggage to come in and the sign kept saying it was delayed.  It seems they had hired a new firm to move bags from planes to terminal and that new firm did not have enough staff for all the planes that had just arrived!  Eventually we got our bags and took the S-Bahn (sort of a subway) into the city of Munich. 

We walkted to our hotel, the Cocoon.  It is great!!  It is a funky sort of place and our room is a cocoon.   The photos will explain it all.

After getting organized, we took a walk into the Marienplatz and the Christkindlmarkt.   Just beautiful and fantastic!  We had a mug of gluhwein and then also got a sandwich of hot Schinken (pork) to go with it.   The sign at the booth said it was “port”.  Good thing our German is better than that!     There were so many wonderful choices of food, and so many places to buy gluhwein.  I wanted a mug from each place!   We shall return there on Friday when we stay here in Munich all day.

Around 8 pm all of a sudden it started sleeting, which quickly turned to snow!   It was so beautiful!!  It didn’t last long, but long enough to make me happy walking through the market in the snow!   The markets did close around 8:30, and it seems the gluhwein stands stayed open as long as folks were drinking!  

CHRISTMAS MARKETS 2012

HO!  HO!  HO!  It's off to the Christmas Markets we go!! Thanks to British Aiways miles, we are going on a whirlwind 4 night trip to Germany and Austria, with flights and hotel covered by our miles. We will be staying in Munich, and will take to the train to Nuremberg and Salzburg, including a side trip to Oberndorf where Stille Nacht (Silent Night) was sung for the first time.

What is fun about this trip is that we have been to all of these places before (except for the little town of Oberndorf) so we know our way around, know where we like to eat, etc. We can just focus on the markets at each place, some cities having more than one.

Check our the web cams in Munich and Salzburg (where they are live) and next week watch for me waving and drinking my Gluwein (hot spiced wine) while eating sausages and gingerbread. Photos will be updated and loaded in on what I hope will be a daily basis.

Plans are already made to go to the Hofbrauhaus as soon as possible after the plane lands!!! I want to see the big tree in Marienplatz and then off to the Hofbrauhaus for refreshment!

Thoughts on Germany

The first thing have I have to say about Germany is that it is CLEAN.  Every place, everywhere is CLEAN.  In all of our hotels, you could have taken a Q-tip and cleaned corners with it and have it come back sparkling white.  Even ladies rooms in the smallest of places, were always sparkly and clean.  Everything had a shine to it.

 The second thing is that it is a much more economical place to travel than France or Italy.  Hotel rooms were lower priced and meals were the same. 

 Traveling on the roads there is similar to UK and Ireland in that you have to know the names of the towns in the direction you want to go.  Routes are marked on the motorways ("A" roads) but on the "B" roads, it is anyone's guess what the route number is - unless you stare down at the grass along the roadside.  Only then, you may see a small sign (much smaller than a mile marker in the US) that has the route number on it.  Best bet, just follow the voice on the Garmin.  We didn't use maps.  Took one again this time, next time will just leave them at home.  There were so many twists and turns and roundabouts and road changes going from Beilstein to Bacharach that even Jim said we would never have found it without GPS. 

 Audi’s drive faster than other cars.  If you see an Audi coming up behind you, get out of the way.  Jim doing the equivalent to 90 on the motorway, with Audi's flying by.....9 out of 10, it was always an Audi.  Our little Opel was a trouper, but no match for an Audi!  And, even though usually I pick the smallest car Avis has - this time I had upgraded to the next size due to plans to use the motorways.

 There is no sauerkraut like the sauerkraut in Germany and even in the Alsace region in France, where they call it simply cabbage - it is wonderful.

 Germans are like the Swiss, they do like their ice cream.  Sometimes difficult to find a place serving food during the day - one had to separate out all the Eis Cafe's.  Both men and women eating either big, really elaborate sundaes there or else eating their midday meal in a bakery with these fantastic pieces of cake or strudel.  Sweets are not Jim's favorite although he did eat an ice cream sundae of the first days we were there.

 I ate more fruit and fiber while in Germany than ever.  Wonder brown breads with all sorts of wonderful seeds, including nice, crunchy sunflower seeds.  Breads were crunchy on the outside, moist and wonderful on the inside.  Fresh fruit salads every day - big cherries, strawberries, pineapple...terrific!

The lunchmeat for breakfast is not our favorite.  I haven't had what we old folks in Baltimore call "summer baloney" in years.  I had it every morning in Germany, usually with tomatoes and also a soft or hard boiled egg.  Muselix was the second runner up, and like in Switzerland it cannot be beat.  Many nice things to eat, but the Germans really go for the lunch meat and cheeses - even Brie and Camenbert for breakfast.   And I guess it isn't surprising that no one eats lunch meat sandwiches for lunch!!!!  It is amazing to watch them eat.  First they go to the buffet and come back with a BIG bowl of fruit, then they go get a bowl of whatever sort of cereal and then it's the lunchmeat, cheeses and bread.....and then, they go for slices of cakes - more like pound cake than a coffee cake. 

Well, since the German's all eat like this and then consume beer all hours of the day - they also ride bikes!  They have serious bikes with big tires, many gears - and they ride all over the country.  If they aren't on their bikes, they are hiking - serious hikers, seen way out in the country. 

Every afternoon I felt myself being thirsty for a beer - didn't even mind what food came with it - started looking for my afternoon beer!!!

(The last of photos from England have been uploaded)

On the way home

Currently we are at 34,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and on our way home.

We left Bacharach and drove an uneventful hour to Frankfurt Airport, dropped off car at' Terminal 1 and took Skytrain to Terminal 2 for our flight to London Heathrow.  We were lucky there and had jet way attached to plane so all we had to do was walk right in to the Airbus.  So many times in these larger airports, one must take a bus  out to the tarmac where the plane is parked.

Flight to LHR was 1.5 hours, we landed, got our bags, went through immigration and had just passed through customs when my mobile phone rang - our taxi driver from Swan Cars wanting to tell us where to meet him.  It was all timed perfectly and 30 minutes or so afterwards we were at Ann's house around 2:30 PM.

It was very warm, near 80 and after saying hello we were sitting on her patio having a beer and immediately felt right at home.  We spent the next 3 days catching up and just relaxing, and since Ann & George had a previous engagement to attend a birthday party for a dear friend and neighbor - we were invited to attend as well.  It was our first English garden party - and was quite the experience.  It seems if you say "party"' women seem to get their best cocktail dresses out, their high heels and head off in fancy dress.  The men arrived in plaid shirts, jeans (some in shorts), carrying cases of beer and ready to drink!!  There was music playing, a dance floor at the back of the house - and lots of food.   There were burgers cooked on the grill and later little English sandwiches with different fillings and various salads.  Sandra, Ann's friend celebrating her birthday, was vegetarian and also had the best veggie burgers I have ever tasted.  We have nothing like them to compare at home.

One night we went to dinner at The Harvester, and then Ann & George had their wonderful Sunday afternoon barbque .  George always cooks chicken, burgers, and those wonderful little English bangers on the grill and Ann's sets out various salads, potatoes and other goodies.  Shortly after this wonerful meal, the George and Jim  had to take naps and Ann and I along with her son David watched TV.  Her other son Steven disappeared as too, probably napping as well.  We were all stuffed from a wonderful meal.  We drank beer, Shandy's (half beer/half lemonade), sherry and lemonade....and ate and ate!!  I might mention here that we do not have any sort of beverage in the USA that compares to the clear lemonade they use in these drinks.  It is also the mixer that is used with Pimm's and it is very sad that we don't have the proper mixer in the US.

Saturday morning Ann dropped us off in Walton to shop.  I've known Walton since I first met Ann, and it is amazing how much it has developed over the years.  It is no longer just a tiny village with small shops.  After looking around a picking up a few things we headed to Sainsbury's for my tea shopping trip.  I'm sure everyone will be happy to know that I now have a new supply of my favorite tea - 960 tea bags to be exact.  That should keep me happy for awhile.  Also picked up a pack of McVitties's biscuits coated with  milk chocolate.  I could have had 2 grocery carts full - and been barred from entering the USA with all my favorite English goodies that I would have liked to bring home.

We were also treated to George's wonderful fry up one morning.  Eggs, bacon, tomatoes, beans, and toast.  We certainly were treated royally and await the day they will come see us so we can return the favor.  Ann and I have known one another 50 years (scary thought) and I have been trying all that time to get her to come see us.  I do think we may be getting closer to the event and that we may see them before we are all old and gray!

We left their house this Monday at 1 pm, and after arriving at LHR went straight to the BA kiosk which wouldn't give us a seat or a boarding pass and printed out a slip for us to take the Flight Manager desk.  Uh-oh.  Well, no real queue there and within 15 minutes we did have seats and our boarding passes.  It seems this was the result of not having internet access at Ann's and not being able to check-in on line.  The woman at the desk actually had to call and get us seats, couldn't do it herself on her computer.  She said unfortunately, BA expects people to check in online.  They also over book flights.  She was very nice, understood of course that everyone doesn't have a computer over there.  And as our luck has it, Ann's son Steven does have a work iPhone but had so many cranks calls on it that his work had disconnected his old one and he had to wait a few days for his new number  - or else he could have helped  us check in.  And, the little town of Hersham and Walton do not have cyber cafes!    In the end, we are sitting here in our World Travler Plus seats, with the footrests, bigger seats and had a traditional English roast with potoatoes and beans for our meal - with a cloth napkin, real silverware and glass for our wine.  And, before that we had cocktails, and before that a warm cloth to wipe hands and face.  Hoping BA offers this seat again next for next year....as we don"t really want to spend the extra $$ or miles to do this again!  There are only 24 seats in this separate class....and we are sitting in front of the sardine class in the back.

Either later today or tomorrow I will add the rest of my photos and some thoughts on Germany. When you see this posted, you will know we are home, and I will be planning the trip for next year!