Let's look at why you travel and what you hope to receive from your visits. If you just want a interesting place to go, I suggest your local library. A fun place? There is always Disneyland. But, if your reasons are like mine, you want to experience a different culture and the persons that people it, you will go expecting to be changed. I am a different person after a long road trip through the Alps. I have a different understanding of the world after a sustained visit to countries in southern Africa.

    More specifically I have seen the shoes of Jews murdered on the bank of the Danube in Budapest. I have seen the hundreds of nooses in the memorial in South Africa. I walked the cemetery at the holocaust museum in Prague.  I have met a young man in Scotland that taught me about American politics. I sat chatting with a woman in Bavaria who at 101 was learning about what the Nazis were really like. I was gifted with understanding the potato famine in Ireland.

    I took a long stroll with Peter, a young man in Botswana, who wanted to learn about the United States. I drove through the back roads of Spain without much knowledge of Spanish. Well, my wife and I did it together and we learned a great deal about one another along the way. We went to be changed not to change the world.

Madrid City Hall: a sign in English: Refugees Welcome.

Not far from the hotel where we were staying in Madrid is a large municipal building. Hanging from the front is a sign which you would not likely see near our home in California. They welcome refugees. 

 

Amsterdam by small boat

        There are many cities that are dependent on water for transportation. Most of them have canals which change with the tides. Venice actually floods with some high tides. We were in St. Mark's Square and had to walk on the moveable platforms in order to get into the cathedral. 

        Bruges is one, but Paris also has some canals. The most famous is likely Amsterdam. You can see the city by bicycle or by large tour boat, but the best way is to hire a small boat as you can go where larger boats cannot go. We took one with two other couples and really enjoyed it. However, I was not sure about the couple in the stern that smoked weed all the way. By the way, Cape Coral, Florida is the city with most canals - over 400 miles of them.

 

Saint Peter's, The Vatican

Saint Peter's is a huge church which is not in Rome. When in Rome you cannot visit the Sistine Chapel because it is not there. 

The Vatican is its own nation-state which happens to be surrounded by Rome.

It is true that a visitor may have trouble figuring out the boundaries.

You can count this as another country you have visited. 

 

Saint Giles, Edinburgh Scotland

Saint Giles is a major landmark on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

It is symbolically about half way between the castle (military might).

and Holyrood (The Royal residence).

It is the home church of Presbyterianism and The Rev. John Knox.

We have been there twice. Worship is a tad dry. 

 

The Helpful Hints of Mike

   

 When you are in Florence do NOT go to restaurants and cafes that advertise in English. Look for the places where Italians eat. You are in Europe for a reason. Learn at least three words in the local language "Yes", Thank you", "Please". Our experience is that almost everywhere people speak English or know someone who does. Try their language and you will find the English speakers. It took me several days to say "thank you" in Czechoslovak. Stop when entering at the airport and buy a fast pass for places of interest. When you go immediately to the front of the line you will thank me. If going to Africa or Costa Rica bring at least one hundred dollars in one dollar bills. They welcome American money. We like Bed and Breakfast inns over huge American style hotels. You go to Scotland to meet a Scot or two. Plan ahead and still be flexible. More to come.

 

Street Market Food: Prague

    There is a street market across from the Municipal Building in Prague. It was only a block or so from our hotel and at the beginning of the Old City walls. They sold flowers, fruit, and leather goods. Of course they also sold food and beer. It was Prague after all. I saw this young woman with a sandwich consisting of sausage, kraut, and cheese. It look too good to pass up. And while I have a strong desire never to post pictures of food, this was not food. It was an adventure. This photo is of it as it had been placed on a picnic table. I had to work fast because it did not last long. Prague is wonderful and this has to be included in the trip.