How many more minutes to ___ ??

This trip was our long awaited reunion with my son and his wife. It was six long months and halfway through their world journey. Luckily for us Laura arranged everything beforehand. She even sent us a color coded calendar entitled Europe with the Cifaldis detailing our transit, accommodations, activities, and food info. That's the teacher in her -- great organizational skills. This was no minor feat since we were visiting four major cities -- London, Paris, Bruges, and Amsterdam -- in 12 days. Wow! Just thinking about it is overwhelming.

LONDON

Our European adventure began with London after a long 8 hour flight arriving at Heathrow. We were supposed to meet Laura and Matt at our hotel after we landed. Although we are extensive travelers, we are still not experienced in mass transportation. We did try to use the train, but the ticket machine jammed, and then the attendant announced the train stopped working; a mad rush to the Tube ensued. So we decided to flag down a black taxi which proved to be costly, but we made it to our destination in a timely manner.

Finally we met up with Laura and Matt and got back into our groove instantly!! With Matt usually every trip includes food, and this was an exceptional one. A short walk away was a market filled with food booths and lively music. We were able to lunch at Berenjah Borough -- a Persian delight with excellent breads, scrumptious dips and chicken kabobs. Onward and upward to St. Paul's Cathedral, a magnificent structure known for its domes. It's the only English Baroque style cathedral in the country and the site of Charles and Diana's wedding.

We strolled the streets of London taking in the sights, walking over the Millennium Bridge, and seeing the minute art masterpieces displayed within its metal tread. The artist Ben Wilson paints pieces of dried chewing gum trodden into the ground. He has been turning a tiny piece of discarded rubbish into something beautiful for over 19 years. As we headed toward the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, one of the oldest pubs in London, we couldn't resist taking a picture of the iconic red phone booth and downing a pint or two where Charles Dickens once imbibed.

Early the next morning we boarded the River Thames cruise. I was soo excited because I LOVE boat rides, especially on ones where you get to learn fun facts while viewing landmarks like the Eye, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and my favorite skyscraper The Shard. It's 1,916 feet high and the tallest building in Western Europe.

As we disembarked we headed towards Buckingham Palace, but it was so crowded we decided to sidestep it and by coincidence spotted the palace guards on horseback on a side street. Then we strolled to Coventry Gardens for a lunch at Fishworks to sample the traditional fish and chips -- yum!

The following day we were all looking forward to an afternoon high tea at Millie's Lounge set amidst the Grand Banking Hall in The Ned, an exclusive hotel. It did not disappoint -- finger sandwiches, scones, and desserts with unlimited teas. Adding to the ambiance was the live music. I felt so "British" and proper.

Our last night was spent attending a performance of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors at the Globe. It's an open air theater reconstruction based on an Elizabethan playhouse first built in 1599 for which William Shakespeare first wrote his plays. It was a once in a lifetime experience and the hilarious play had a great twist at the end.

PARIS

The next day we rode the Eurostar train through the Chunnel to arrive in Paris in a little over two hours. We were greeted with a horrendous rainstorm coming down in sheets. We were totally soaked from head to toe but got to see Notre Dame Cathedral, still a very impressive structure.

Our first night in Paris we dined at the Sacre Fleur, which was a true culinary delight from our escargot to steak to warm chocolate cake. Matt sipped on sangria proudly made by our server. After dinner we climbed to the Sacre Coeur Basilica in the Montmare district which had amazing architectural details. It was a challenging walk that was up a steep hill and cobbled streets. This is where the infamous phrase, "How many more minutes to___?" started. My 74 year old legs were starting to give out, but I made it with my husband's help as he dragged me up to the top. It was definitely worth the strenuous hike for the breathtaking views of the city.

The next morning our marathon day began -- first to the Louvre, a palace converted to an art museum. Of course we snapped Joe "touching" the I.M.Pei glass pyramid in the expansive courtyard.

Then a stroll through the Tuileries gardens dotted with sculptures and tree-lined promenade.

Next to the Hunting and Nature museum with unique exhibits -- leaf sculptures, taxidermy -- very interesting and different!

Matt, the food connoisseur, made our dinner reservation at a Michelin rated restaurant near the Eiffel Tower -- superb. It was a surreal experience for me to think I was actually here in France seeing the Eiffel Tower.

Our last activity was a narrated boat tour on the Seine River night cruise -- LOVE IT. The highlight was the Eiffel Tower glowing with miniature sparkling lights.

I was so tired at this point that the phrase, "How many more minutes to___?" was repeated several times. Laura informed me we had walked around 20,000 steps.

CHAMPAGNE REGION

Our next few days were spent in Epernay. It's the capital of champagne. We strolled down the Avenue of Champagne lined with grandiose mansions featuring great names like Moet & Chandon. Sitting in sunlit courtyards sipping champagne (my favorite beverage) was a dream come true.

On the way to Belgium, we took a self-guided tour of the Pommery in Reims. One hundred sixteen steps down to its cellar with unique contemporary art sculptures, a large beating heart, and monumental bas reliefs. It was truly a one of a kind exhibit. Another champagne tasting topped it off.

We travelled to our next Airbnb with a stop at a cheese shop called Wolves Bridge Farm where our first language barrier ensued. But with a lot of pointing and use of his cell phone Matt was able to hand pick several cheeses. We enjoyed a renovated farmhouse with a sauna and sunken hot tub, a much needed relaxing time while sipping on champagne and our cheeses.

BRUGES

Next stop Bruges, a quaint town with picturesque canals, medieval buildings and tons of cafes. The Markt square is bustling with cars, horse carriages that clip clop on the cobbled streets, and plenty of tourists. The Belfry, 272 foot Tower, was the main attraction. This was definitely a foodie stop as we sampled delicious chocolates throughout the afternoon and at night sampled huge buckets of mussels, a specialty of the Poules Moules restaurant.

Our last leg of the trip included a short lunch stop at the Trappist brewery where we conversed with some natives who were celebrating their relative's retirement. They had family back in the States from South Carolina. They gave us great suggestions of what to do in Amsterdam. I found most Europeans friendly and polite. Countless times when we were crammed in a subway or tram someone would offer their seat to me. They respected their elders which impressed me. My gray hair was a positive there.

AMSTERDAM

Finally when we reached Amsterdam, within an hour we were off to sightseeing around the center. The phrase "How many minutes to ___?" resurfaced -- so many steps to see the sights but definitely worth it: touring a houseboat, the canals and bridges, the architecture, the Rijksmuseum with Van Gogh's self portraits and Rembrandts and cheese stores. One had 100 different types of Gouda -- really??

The last day of our European whirlwind ended with a bang, literally. Matt informed us that it was Gay Pride Week and its highlight was the Canal Parade with 80 elaborately decorated barges. I was psyched. Tons of spectators dressed in rainbow colors partying, just celebrating life! It was wild -- my favorite was the silver costumed guy using a water jet pack flying overhead spewing confetti on the crowds blasting loud music. It was a spectacular finish to an unforgettable trip. Six cities, four countries, and so many memories shared with my son and his wife. Thanks to Matt and Laura for being the greatest tour guides. As always, you lead, we follow.