Dust off the suitcase

It's time to dust off the suitcase.
On Friday October 2, we set a course to Switzerland and northern Italy. Having just wrapped up helping #1 son Jeff finish a 7 month dive school in Seattle (he's headed to Guam), I decided that this was NOT the year to be traveling (have you see the Euro lately?...argh!).
But soon I realized that the real enemy here was not money (or the lack thereof), it was time. Because comrades, you're only allotted so much time on this planet. Best use it wisely.
And... by the way, I wanted to see scenes like this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb6yBsVW0ug&feature=PlayList&p=5DAD38FB678110C3&index=4

Above is best played at home, with the speakers turned way up (wait for the commercial to end).
Ciao 4 now
Phillippe

You asked...

$1,115.10

Better living through modern chemistry

So, we leave Munich late, natch... seems they loaded the plane incorrectly and now they had to restow the bags. Late departure plus fog in Amsterdam put us in with 45 minutes b4 our flight. First thing we check is the departure board and we've been delayed two hours until 12. OK... now we've got a little while to stretch our legs, grab a bite and look at all of the overpriced shit in the duty free store. Remember when duty free meant WOW... look how cheap this shit is. Now it's 15% higher than in the states. It's kind of like Costco... mainly an illusion. We go through another security check, wait... get on the plane, wait... taxi out to the tarmac, wait... go to the end of the runway for takeoff, wait... 1 hour and 15 minutes later we take off. Shit. They serve us a pretty good chicken lunch and it's now time for drugs. The clock sez we have 8.5 hours to go. I can't find my Atavan, so sis give me two Clonopin...it was somewhere over the north sea that the drugs kicked in... got up once to stretch my legs... back to the seat and the next thing I know, the clock said 1.5 hours to go. 7 hours gone. Now, that makes this trip somewhat bearable... cuz lets say it folks, the romance of flying went out with the DC-3. Now its just one cattle call after another. So, if you can find yourself any medicinal relief... TAKE IT.
We arrived home, cleared customs (a non event), and now I'm home. We had fun and we learned a lot... jeez, that's sounds a lot like life, doesn't it. I'll give you a follow up on the Hertz situation, if there is one.
Ciao 4 now.