It's been a crazy hectic work week for both of us, hence the dry period with a lack of post. We're gonna attempt to make up here with a recap of this wonderful week.
First of all, with our vacation looming ever closer (one week from today we'll be taking off to London, yippeeee!!!), we've spent every spare minute reading and preparing for our trip. Here's a small collection of what we've been burying our nose in:
We'll be the most knowledgeable tourists in all of Europe, ha ha ha...
We've also been practicing our French. Apart from the everyday bonjour and merci, here are some useful phrases we've mastered so far:
- En anglais, sil vou plais- Translation: Speak English, please. What we really meant to say: We're just a couple of stupid American tourists, what do you expect?!
- Est-ce qu'il y a des WC publics pres d'ici- Translation: Is there a public restroom nearby? What we really meant to say: I know what you French do but we actually use the toilet
- Ca fait combien?- Translation: How much? What we really meant to say: How much?!?!?!??!?!!!
Don't worry, we're not just counting on our phrase book French to get us by (otherwise you may have to prepare to bail us out of jail in case we said something real bad). We're actually meeting up with Henning, aka "der Kommander" or "polar bear", Jacques' buddy from Hotel Vitale who recently moved back to Germany, while we're in Paris. He purportedly speaks some French (I guess all Germans think they speak French?)... Anyway, get the bail ready.
Sadly deflated US currency and potential experience with the French jail system aside, we're REALLY looking forward to this trip. Not only that we need a break from work, but this will be our first trip to the great European continent. And, not only do we get to immerse in all the history and arts (and shopping) in London and Paris, we'll also be visiting my dear Uncle Allan, who lives about 2 hours from London along the coast in Southampton/SW Hampshire, who will escort us around to see the English countryside (high tea, anyone?)
7 days and counting...
