SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE SEA...EUROPE CALLS TO ME

"Hello." "Aloha, Charles." It was my Swiss friend Peter on the phone. "I'm calling to invite you to Switzerland." "What?" "Yes, I want you to come over here. I am not able to go to Hawaii this summer, so you come here." "Oh, Peter I can't afford that." "Yes you can...I have all these miles that I need to use. If I don't I will lose them. So you will use them, quite simple." We went back and forth, me saying no, he saying yes. "I insist! We will have a great time." I finally gave in to his insistence. Two weeks later I boarded a flight out of Honolulu. The itinerary included two layovers, first Dallas, Texas then Raleigh, North Carolina. Thirty two hours after leaving Honolulu I landed in Paris.

It was 4PM and I was to catch Bullet Train, TGV#9297, leaving Paris est at 5:54PM, arriving Zurick at 10:54PM. I walked to a little shop where I purchased a bottle of red wine, a loaf of crispy bread and some cheese. Seated by a fountain, I watched people stroll about, a policeman direct traffic and the flight of pigeons. The wine tasted superb. The bread and cheese were tres bon. I bought a second bottle of the same wine and crossed the boulevard making my way to the train. I was here in Europe....La joie de vivre!!!!!!