France - The End

We received  an email from our France Trip Leader Sophie with her Power Point PDF which she showed to us on the last day. So much fun. I saw her take pictures and hoped we would receive them. 

Thank you, Sophie!

Sophie's Power Point

(The Power Point is rather large and can't be previewed. It needs to be downloaded ... but can be deleted right away after looked at. No harm done.)

We enjoy the memory of this trip. We enjoy looking at the blogs. Memories are forever!

Can happen to anyone

Panic is over and we are sharing this because it can happen to anybody. 

When we finally arrived Wednesday evening sometime after 9 pm we were tired, very tired and eager to just go to bed  Getting ready for that James could not find his phone. I helped and we found all the obvious place … all pants pockets, pockets in other clothing he had worn, backpack, between sofa cushions we had set briefly …

When I remembered “Find my” and clicked on “devices” on my own phone (because we are linked to each other) it clearly showed where James’ phone was  

In Philadelphia we did not have a super-long layover. We arrived with AA in Terminal B and of course had to walk first to immigration. Then we had to claim our suitcases and walk through customs to “transfer” to drop them off again. Then another long walk and standing in line to go through security again for our connecting flight. Might this be were it got lost? After emptying all our pockets again?

After that we had to take a bus to Terminal F. The screenshot clearly shows that is was list in Terminal B.

As soon as we realized what happened, where James’ phone was we were really worried though. The big question: was it lost or stolen? Yes, I am very paranoid about internet safety. I calmed down after a while when I noticed that the phone didn’t move when I checked the “find app”. 

After googling to find out what to do we learned that we can lock the phone long distance and we did that from James” iPad. You can put a message on the screen of the phone and which telephone number to call (mine!).

But how to get the phone back? Searching on the internet I found a telephone number for the airport but only reached a robot. After more searching I found a number and got a real person advising me to go to https://aa.com/lostandfound/ and make a claim there. I was first very sceptical because I thought that it would only be about checked luggage which didn’t  arrive. But no, there was a section about item lost in the airport. I was impressed and filled it out. 

Next day at lunch time I received the text that the lost phone had been found. James and I were so relieved and happy. 

An email told us that the phone would be mailed. We filled something out and payed the FedEx fee. As soon as that was done we got a tracking number. 

Unbelievably the package arrived a day early. When we came home Sunday from church we found it. 

That was unexpected too and we felt like little children on Christmas morning. 

Look at James’ face!

And this was the rest of the story. 

I decided to write about it because the moment we had realized what had happened we felt so helpless not knowing what to do. Finding out that there is actually things one can do was such a relief. I just wished I had known what I know now then. And now you know what I learned!

France Day 16 - going home

Wednesday September 25

Last night we had asked the hotel reception to order a taxi to the airport at 5am (Sophie recommended) and a wake-up call at 4:15am. The trouble with packing/leaving is that you can’t totally pack because you need some things in the morning. Oh well, we were ready even a bit earlier and went to the (deserted) lobby  when we asked if the taxi could come earlier they said that could not be changed  

But the taxi was punktuell and our grandsons will be happy to know that it was a Tesla. And it seemed a very posh one. Of course I don’t know whether there are any not posh ones.

Once at the airport we figured out where to go and everything went well.

7:39am and we are taking off to London Heathrow.

Breakfast? The best BA could do.

In London we had a 5+ hours layover. Plenty of time for breakfast. When we were seated we remembered that we had been there before. I found the recipe and we were at "wagamama".

James ordered a full British and I had this very tasty noodle dish with pickled ginger on top. 

And then finally we were in the transatlantic plane, BA but operated by AA. It was totally full  and when we booked no seats next to each other. So we had aisle seats behind each other. 

We landed in Philadelphia pretty much on time but found long lines in the transfer at the security check. 

It is not very comfortable standing around like this until you finally can take the bus from Terminal B to F and then walk all the way to F39. The advantage was no more waiting but straight into the plane. We could text our ordered ride home that we would be on time. 

We were home around 9pm and all was well until bedtime when we had a panic attack.  

Hope to write that blog on Monday 😀👋 when we can do 👍

Happy to be home. Grateful for this adventure time with “learn and discovery”. Thanking the Lord for all our blessings.

France Day 15 - Antibes + Cannes

Tuesday September 24

Our last day of this trip and post tour. Our itinerary says to be in the lobby at 9 am. We are taken by minibus to olive oil mill Alziari. 

First we are in a show room and watch a video. Then we sample and it is very well done. She has a spritzer and squirts just a little on our spoon. She explains each sample  I had no idea that olive oil can be so different … and why.

Then she takes us to the mill machines themselves. They are very old and still used twice a year. They don’t look that appetizing this moment and I mention that to James. 

But then we get the process explained which is interesting and all is ok because extensive cleaning will be done.

Back into the minibus which takes us to Antibes.

In Antibes we are let out at the yacht harbor. Oh my, there are a lot of rich people in the world.

In the far is an old fortress to see. 

We are going into the old town though. The internet says: Antibes is a resort town between Cannes and Nice on the French Riviera (Côte d’ Azur). It’s known for its old town enclosed by 16th century ramparts with the star-shaped Fort Carré which overlooks luxury yachts moored at the Port Vauban marina.

Most towns/cities we visited have lots of art museums. James and I like museums but didn’t visit any on this trip. But it seems that there is a trend right now because much art is shown in public / around the towns. 

This statue is by Nicolas Lavarenne (born 1953) and we see several on our walk. He seems famous. Google his name. 

Several in our group were looking for toilettes. This public one was strange though. There was only one and if people didn’t enter and exit correctly the door mechanism could leave the next person suddenly in the dark. 

Sorry, we had a good laugh about that.  

In one of the side streets Sophie showed us .... (wording from the internet)

In the heart of the old town of Antibes, the Saint-Bernardin Chapel, named after Bernardin Albizeschi (14th century), dates to the 16th century. Its side door on Rue Saint-Bernardin, in solid walnut, is dated 20 March 1581. The Chapel has been listed as an historical monument since 1989 and was fully restored between 1995 and 2011.
On the outside, the façade facing Rue Rostan is in a neo-Gothic style. It is crowned with turrets supporting the outlines of hooded penitents in white on the sides.
Above the door, Lucifer is represented as a terrifying winged dragon with a tail and huge with long, sharp claws. He reigns over three worlds: underground, earth and sky. The dragon twists and roars at the foot of the cross, beaten down by saints and protective angels.

Inside, three statues represent Saint Roch, Saint Sébastien and Saint Bernardin de Sienne. On the sides, the ceiling is in starry ultramarine blue. You can also admire 16th century frescos representing the table of the Apostles. The altar is adorned with four twisted gilt wooden columns in a baroque style, and embellished with Acanthus leaves.

Then we wandered away from the touristy center into the old part, a little uphill. 

Art here too. Somebody adorned a ruff stone wall with tiny little faces. You saw more suddenly popping into your view when you just kept looking. 

We were impressed with the well-kept narrow streets and front doors. And plants blooming here and there. 

We came to the shopping center again for “free time”. Sophie offered to take us to the Grimaldi Castle and James and I were the only ones looking at it but only from the outside. It is now a Picasso Museum. Sorry, not interested. 

Wandering around was nice though. 

Sophie likes markets as much as I do. James and I had a peek. 

With time running out we decided to look for some refreshments and may be some nibbles.

We had to laugh though. Just two tables further were others from our group. We had not seen them when we sat down.

When we left we were sure we didn’t need any dessert. But only a few steps further was “gelato” . There is always room for that especially when there are new tastes to try. 

Back into the minivan we were taken to Cannes, famous for the movie festival. 

We wandered towards the famous red carpet but could not get close. Actually the area was a mess because they were setting up for some other event. We took a look at the tiles of famous stars. 

Then we wandered into the other direction. This was a bit friendlier. Lots of people playing pétanque. Incredible how many courts there were for that. There were groups of obviously retired men. Several of them had cords with strong magnets so they did not to have to bend down to pick up their balls. But there was also a family with a young girl of may be 6 or 8. Everybody brings there own game. 

Back to the minibus. Everybody was punctual. At the edge of town this house came into view and I managed to get a photo. I love that kind of art. 

At 6 pm we met for a farewell drink on the 8th floor. Time to say good-bye. Time to give back our whispers etc etc. 

Wendy and Dough had found a great restaurant yesterday and asked whether we would like to go there for dinner tonight. Another couple joined too and the 6 of us walked there. Wendy asked for a table for 7 because she had invited Sophie who came as soon as she could. 

Wendy and Dough were right. The food was very good. James had the bæuf bourguignon and I had some pasta with black truffles. Oh was it tasty! And I am not usually excited about pasta. I enjoyed every bite.

That was a fitting last meal for this trip. And now to the hotel to do the packing. Oh no!