A Few Things...

A few things we've contemplated since we have been on the road:

• If you stop in to visit a family be prepared to eat whatever they offer or you will probably offend the cook.
• Find what is available and plentiful where you are instead of wishing for what is plentiful somewhere else.
• The summer heat is a cabbies best friend, they will be full, so plan ahead.
• The paramilitary policeman in front of the Notre Dame cathedral should have had better things to do than to make sure he gave me that extremely hard stare, especially since he was carrying a submachine gun and had so many of his co workers to explain that American tourists traveling with large families are really no threat.  Damn, they made me miss the police in Egypt, who understood that basic principle.
• Had to check myself when the policeman in Valencia cut in front of me, immediately in front of me, to see if I would snap or something.  I didn't take it personal, but I did take it as racial, but I just left it there.  Although for whatever reason, I want to say he grabbed himself Michael Jackson style afterwards, even if it isn't quite true.

Times I wished I had my car back:

• When the old Asian man on the bust burst out en Francais at the old man who exited a second before.  He didn't stop for at least 15 minutes.  He looked like the evil Vietnamese Mr. Miyagi spewing a pidgin of French and Chinese.  He finally got off the bus.  To add insult to injury, guess who is on the bus on our ride home.  You got it, the evil Mr. Miyagi.

• When the whole bus was lit from the fumes of this cat who smelled like he had followed us up from the Catacombs.  When this old lady asked me if it was okay that she could lift the window, I wanted to hug her.

• When we were in Marrakech and I realized the cabbies had like a mafia or something going there, they charge what they want and ultimately all you can do is either argue or pay.  Coming off the bus, train or plane if they smell you are fresh to the country they will try to charge double. Probably best to arrange pickup from your hotel who will charge nearly double, but at least it will be more comfort and a bit more value.

• When it was over 100 degrees in Fez and the cabs kept being full, and the one cabbie who stopped first said that the medina was too far for him to drive.