The Empire Strikes...

39 Days To Go

With 39 days to go and train tickets booked, the French rail system has gone on strike! This includes the Eurostar. The main issue in the dispute is the French governments plan to raise the mandatory retirement age to 62! The gall of the gauls!!! The Belgians are also on strike, but since I am not going there, it is of little concern. Today I find out that the London Tube ( subway - trains, not the restaurant) is also experiencing intermittant work stoppages.
Add to this a warning from my mother that I shouldn't be going to "Europe and thoses places" because Wolf Blitzer says there will be terrorist attacks. SACRE BLEU !!! Now I know how Claire feels in this picture.
Terrorist threats may mean that the crowds will be smaller... there is always a silver lining.

I've made some contacts with Rotary Clubs in France and Ireland and hope to get some visits in. Rotary Clubs always make you welcome and are a great source of connections and local information.

DOC CAMPBELL MOMENT

Spoke with fellow SA Alum Nancy Woolgar on Friday and she reminded me to look for Doric, Corinthian and Ionic columns while on my travels. Thanks, Nancy!

So Much To Pack - So Little Space

44 Days to go

I have been getting lots of advice on what to pack and what not to. One thing that everyone is telling me is to always wear something that will identify me as a Canadian so as not to be confused with our friends from the south. I thought I should wear my Canadian hat but opted for a small lapel pin instead. I am also looking for a Canadian flag to put on my backpack.
Plans are in place for most of the trip, just the England end to look after. Megan Capstick is looking after my visit to Coronation Street in Manchester and Craig Barrington is preparing a proper welcome for me when I get to London. I believe the Queen is booked for that day... but not at our event.

... to be continued

I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER

53 days to go.

My itinerary is starting to come together. This thing called the Internet provides me the opportunity to book travel and accomodations from the comfort of my home. I hope it catches on.

My schedule has me arriving in London on Saturday, November 28. I take the Eurostar that afternoon and arrive in Lille, France in the early evening. I will spend two days there and will get to Vimy Ridge.

On the 30th I board the TGV for Mont St Michel. Spend a few days there then the train to Cherbourg for a cruise to Ireland aboard the Irish ferry, Oscar Wilde ( how delightfully ironic) It is an overnight journey, arriving in Rossale, Ireland mid-afternoon December 3. My only fear is that the ship will sink and the headline in the Cape Breton Post will read MUISE GOES DOWN ON OSCAR WILDE. 

From there I plan to go to Dublin, Derry and Belfast before heading to the north of England.

 

Watch for my next post where I try to figure out how to pack.