Hotels in Europe (well, Switzerland and Italy, at least) don't have alarm clocks. The clock is in the TV, if at all.
Getting connected to the Internet is expensive.
Elevators are small.
Bring more books than you think you'll need. I finished the two books I brought early. Funny thing about Europe -- the bookstores don't have any books in English. Weird, huh?!
Husbands work really hard and really long hours when they're there.
It's much easier adjusting to the time change coming home (Europe to US) than going over (US to Europe). I had the best night's sleep I've had in 2 weeks last night. But then I was wide awake at 5 am this morning....
This whole idea that you don't tip waiters in Europe really isn't true.
Getting in from dinner on Wednesday night at 11:30 pm is early.
Nothing is open on Sunday. NOTHING.
Is it weird that I craved sushi while I was over there?
NBA games make the sport highlights on BBC and CNN. Not a mention about US professional football though.
What the heck is cricket?
What a weird show.
Bidets.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Sorry, I Only Speak English
Matt is blogging about our Italy vacation adventures last week over at his blog so I won't duplicate efforts.
Matt is hard at work in Geneva, Switzerland this week and next week. I'm here this week with him getting to eat dinner at some of his favorite places and trying to do the tourist thing solo.
Yesterday, I took it easy, slept late, read, met Matt for lunch, etc. Today, however, I ventured out. Went to lunch on my own and then caught local bus 29 to downtown Geneva. I was going to try to catch a bus to do a 2 hour city tour but couldn't find the depot location. Still a good afternoon, though, and I got my Geneva and bus legs. Managed to catch the bus back and wind up where I wanted. Hurrah! I plan to head downtown again on Wednesday and Thursday and explore old town one day and see all of the international organizations the next.
But I had to share what happened today.
Crossing the street, I catch a gentleman in his 40s (I'm guessing) looking at me. He walks up to me and starts speaking Russian. Yep, Russian. In Geneva, Switzerland where most everyone speaks French. So, of course, I say, "Sorry, I speak English." Then he starts speaking English and explains that he is currently studying Russian and, looking at me, he thought I was Russian. Don't know how many of you out there know this, but my Dad's father was 100% Russian - my great-grandparents immigrated from Stebnik near the Carpathian Mountains in the 1800's.
Okay, so the interaction only gets more bizarre from there. After a few moments of pleasantries, he asks me if he can talk to me about the Lord. And proceeds to witness to me for a good 15 minutes. Really. Seriously. And I listened. I didn't feel threatened or anything. I think he just decided when he woke up this morning he was going to witness to at least one person. And I just happened to be the person he picked, probably because he thought I was Russian.
Anyway, anybody else just find it bizarre and ironic that I travel thousands of miles from Kentucky which is in the heart of the Bible belt to be witnessed to about the Lord in Geneva, Switzerland?!
Matt is hard at work in Geneva, Switzerland this week and next week. I'm here this week with him getting to eat dinner at some of his favorite places and trying to do the tourist thing solo.
Yesterday, I took it easy, slept late, read, met Matt for lunch, etc. Today, however, I ventured out. Went to lunch on my own and then caught local bus 29 to downtown Geneva. I was going to try to catch a bus to do a 2 hour city tour but couldn't find the depot location. Still a good afternoon, though, and I got my Geneva and bus legs. Managed to catch the bus back and wind up where I wanted. Hurrah! I plan to head downtown again on Wednesday and Thursday and explore old town one day and see all of the international organizations the next.
But I had to share what happened today.
Crossing the street, I catch a gentleman in his 40s (I'm guessing) looking at me. He walks up to me and starts speaking Russian. Yep, Russian. In Geneva, Switzerland where most everyone speaks French. So, of course, I say, "Sorry, I speak English." Then he starts speaking English and explains that he is currently studying Russian and, looking at me, he thought I was Russian. Don't know how many of you out there know this, but my Dad's father was 100% Russian - my great-grandparents immigrated from Stebnik near the Carpathian Mountains in the 1800's.
Okay, so the interaction only gets more bizarre from there. After a few moments of pleasantries, he asks me if he can talk to me about the Lord. And proceeds to witness to me for a good 15 minutes. Really. Seriously. And I listened. I didn't feel threatened or anything. I think he just decided when he woke up this morning he was going to witness to at least one person. And I just happened to be the person he picked, probably because he thought I was Russian.
Anyway, anybody else just find it bizarre and ironic that I travel thousands of miles from Kentucky which is in the heart of the Bible belt to be witnessed to about the Lord in Geneva, Switzerland?!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)