SUMMER 2000

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THE PASSENGER STOP TRAVELER

By Tish Brooks, PASSENGER STOP'S founder and former owner

"Preparing for a trip with my granddaughter"

It's no secret that I love to travel. I'm not terribly adventurous, but I really do love to travel in Europe and the USA. When our first grandchild was born over ten years ago, I made a silent pledge that I would take her to some of my favorite European spots when she was perhaps sixteen. Well, this year, she is ten years old, almost eleven, and she and I are embarking on our first transatlantic trip together.

How does one plan for something this big? She and I have always had a close bond, talking about my visits to faraway places, looking at photos and discussing history and geography.

I chose British Airways so that we could fly out of Baltimore, with family in attendance. We'll land in London and spend time in this city so rich in history and full of fun things to do. A great place for the first time traveler, because there is no language problem to deal with, Well not totally.

My rough, adaptable Itinerary includes The Tower of London, Madame Tussauds, Greenwich (where time begins) and other sights including the theatre.

From London we will travel by rail under the Channel to France. We'll visit Old Strasbourg, a magical city with lots to do and see, that is close to the German border.

We'll take several day trips across that border so that she can practice the language she is studying in school. Through the internet I discovered that this is a Gutenberg Celebration Year so we'll try to learn more about the invention of the printing press. We will continue on to Paris where I hope to share with her the excitement of seeing the Elifel Tower, Sacre Coeur, and the River Seine, to mention just a few things that keep me returning to the City of Light.

I know that if my Granddaughter had her choice we would ride the Centennial Ferris Wheels in London and Paris but that and climbing to the top of towers are not part of my agenda. She knows this ahead of time and we will look for other things like biking in parks, taking boat rides, and riding on carrousels whenever we see one.

We will travel by Eurail as well as the Eurostar (the Chunnel Train), which will take us back to London for an overnight stay and The Lion King on stage before flying home. We will have to strike a happy medium as far as hours and stamina are concerned. I think we are both up for the challenge. I am writing this just prior to our leaving, so I will follow this up in the next Newsletter.

While I'm prepared to live with a ten year old for two weeks, I don't know if I could live with a 16 year old in six years. That is why we are taking this trip now.

-Tish

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