Today was probably the only field trip more boring than a trip to the box factory: the EU statistical agency. It sounds boring and it really was. Fortunately we started in the afternoon, so we had many fewer sleepers than usual.
Yes, we are in Luxumbourg now. We had to leave early from Strasbourg, because the princesses on the tour couldn't handle our hostel. Granted it was a pretty crummy hostel, and we payed a lot for our tour, but it was far from our most glorious moment. So, we had no time to look around the city. But we will have extra time here in Lux. We went out briefly last night, and it looks very much like it lives up to its billing as the EU's richest country.
I can't remember exactly what i wrote about Frankfurt, but we had a fun time there. The bank really has a lot more money than the other institutions. We had excellent refreshments, and constantly refilled sparkling water at our seats. Unfortunately there was a terrorism drill at the end of the day, and we had to walk all the way down from the 36th floor. It also made an already late day, VERY late, since we couldn't get back upstairs until the all clear was called, and as visitors we had the lowest possible priority. The temperature in Frankfurt was also pushing thirty degrees... mixed with suits, it wasn't very nice. We also saw none of Frankfurt. This may all have contributed to the negative reaction to the hostel. That and the glass in the beer, and weird funky smelling Heineken, furnace like rooms, hundreds upon hundreds of 12 year old French kids, and the barracks like sleeping arrangements. The dinner was surprisingly good though. Unfortunately it didn't endear France to anyone, and everyone is pining away for Germany, where everything was cheap (unlike Luxumbourg) the rooms were nice (unlike France) and the service was (relativelY) charming.
I'm here for another couple of days, and the excitement tonight is for the big match btwn. Liverpool and AC Milan.
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PS, I forgot to mention the annoying American tour group at the ECB (European Central Bank)... they asked the most jingoistic, arrogant questions that you can possibly imagine. They were the perfect embodiment of the ugly/gormless/clueless American abroad. It created some animosity. Fortunately for us we met some other Americans at the hotel, who gave us a much better impression.
PPS Milan won, much to the delight of the local pizzarias and scooter drivers. We went into town to watch the game, and I only caught snippets because we went out to take pics at half time. Shows what a hard core fan I am.
There's a guy at our church that sounds like the box factory man. Really. Dave calls him the Box Factory Guy since he doesn't know his name.
ReplyDeleteI'm fascinated with your European adventures, T. I must mosey over there someday myself, likely with husband in tow. I think he's more interested in going south again though...I guess he can visit the hot European countries with me and I'll do the colder ones myself.
- Janet
P.S. L-I-V-E-R-P-O-O-L
actually the ECB was a bit like the box factory too. Every question we asked was pretty much answered by a "well, we don't actually to that here, for anything intersting you'll have to ask X, as we don't take an official position on that topic." Drag Dave over, surely he'd enjoy a beer tour of the old continent.
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