Wish You Were Here
FRANCE: Newark’ s Maureen and Frank Ad diego traveled to France in celebration of their 40 th wedding anniversary, Maureen’ s 70 th birthday and 50 years since her first trip to France tome ether pen pal whom she began writing to in high school French class .“We toured the northern half of France. We saw all the sites in Paris as well as traveling to see the chateaux of the Loire Valley, Versailles, Fontainebleau, the Bay eux Tape ste ry, The Beaches and Cemetery of Norm andy, Mont St. Michel, and the of Lascaux II .” ”We toured the Burgundy area where my pen pal’ s family house is located, and sampled lots of great wine of different wineries ,” Maureen says .“We spent two nights in Amsterdam to visit the Anne Frank House and Van Gogh and took ac anal boat conveniently located across from the Anne Frank House. We ended our journey in London visiting my cousin and her family, whom I first met that summer of ‘67 after visiting France and Ireland. They took us to Stonehenge and Bath before our flight home .”
TRAVEL TIPS:* “I have a handicapped placard and certificate for my wallet, so even though I did not bring the placard with me, I had the certificate. I was able to avoid the lines to all the sites by walking up to the ticket window and showing my certificate and license. In addition, we paid no admission to most of the places we visited like Versailles and the Louvre. Occasionally, I alone had free admission. If nothing else, the price was reduced. It was worth it to bring the paper and present it to avoid the long lines and admission fees. BELGIUM: Livermore resident Jessica Hsiung visited her brother, David Hsiung, who currently works in Brussels. “Of course, everyone has to stop by a chocolate shop, since Belgian chocolate is so famous,” she says. “Here we are at Wittamer, trying to decide which chocolates to buy — and whether they’ll survive a trip back to the Bay Area.”
TRAVEL TIPS: Waffles are a Belgian delicacy, but toppings are extra and they add up. “Don’t pay anything more than a euro for a waffle. It might add up to seven euros apiece, and you won’t be able to finish it standing on the side of a street.” ROME: Don and Mickie Hornback of Pleasant Hill took a two-week vacationto Venice, Florence and Rome.
TRAVEL TIPS: “October is a good time for travel,” Mickie says. One tour aday is good, but spend time exploring on your own. Lots of walking so bring-comfortable walking shoes.”