ALMOST NO LUNCH

                                       French Sidewalk Cafes                                  

     Although sidewalk cafes are popular in many places, and I have eaten in so many of them, perhaps the first place to really popularize them was Paris.

     During the lunch hour most stores in France close and tables and chairs of cafes spill out onto the sidewalk or patio, which may or may not be covered. Umbrellas are often present and the same is true for tablecloths and candle center pieces. The French tend to linger  as conversation flows over 

   After a long docent-led walk/tour of Bordeaux, France it was well along, almost after, the lunch hour when we finished. Nearly mid-afternoon my friends and I found a different picture of French lunch time. By the time we started scouting for a lunch location, many tables and chairs had been taken inside leaving the sidewalks bare and the cafes closed.

     We wandered a good distance checking various establishments along the  way and glanced down many an empty alley. When we finally spied outside tables down a cobblestone alley we hurried to the café to get there before they also took everything inside. Although they were about to close they took pity on four very tired old American ladies and allowed us to eat.

     Our gracious hosts did not rush us in any way. We thoroughly enjoyed a delicious lunch accompanied with a glass of very good wine---of course!  We indulged in  lively  conversation. We all felt regretful it had been time to surrender our bikes and we all shared particular highlights of a fabulous trip. It was a lovely warm day and we were in the country known for its sidewalk cafes.

    Leaving we all left generous tips and thanked our waiters who had been so pleasant and kind to us.

Subnarine Ride

                                                Submarine Ride

     Admittedly I am quite claustrophobic. I don’t like elevators and take them only when necessary to travel several stories up. I have to do a lot of self-talk to remain calm when in tunnels and mines and am always happy to see daylight.

     So in Grand Cayman a few years ago I hesitated to take a submarine ride. Although I snorkel, I do not scuba dive, even though I was a good swimmer. However, the people I was traveling with urged me to take the submarine ride. Reluctantly with some reservations  I did consent to go along.

     In my younger days I had boarded various submarines—the real ones—and toured them, but never sailed on one.

     On entering the sub I learned that each seat had its own large porthole for viewing.  As the sub quietly submerged, the voice of a naturalist came over the microphone to explain everything that was happening and to describe what we were seeing.

     The lower the sub went the more fantastic the scenery became. The oohs and aahs were loud and constant reminding me of kids in a candy store.

     We descended over a reef deeper and deeper into the ocean. Seeing things I had never seen before intrigued me. Besides the colorful fish I remember lots and lots of barrel coral. Each time interesting things came into view, the sub turned around so that the scenery, sea creatures, and fish could be seen by all on both sides of the sub.

    The submarine in Grand Cayman was the first of the several ‘tourist’ submarines that are now popular and located all over the world.

     Suddenly the sub started its ascent. I couldn’t believe how quickly the time had passed, and I hadn’t once thought about being enclosed in a small space under the water. Afterward I was so glad I had taken that ride!