A Nostalgic Interlude Continues: We'll Always Have Paris
In the thirty years since I lived in Europe I have flown back 15 times, but, strangely, I have never been back to Paris or Amsterdam, both places that I frequented as a student. Oh how I longed to dine and lodge not as a poor scholar (God knows Mrs. Jailer has gone back with friends after her student days, but I digress). Could there be enough Michelin stars at the places I would eat upon my triumphant return?
And so, when my daughter mentioned as an aside that the two places she would like to go next were CDG and AMS (although, strangely, she does not use Airport codes), like MacArthur I started planning to return. But, between thinking and going there was this little hiccup in the economy. However, I figured that it must be possible to live like a king on a pauper’s purse. And, not spending a ton, or tonne, might keep me out of the doghouse. The book Europe on $10 Per Day from our era has morphed to Europe on $50 Per Day. Hell, I could do that: the goal for this 14 day was to spend less than $1,400 between us, all in...everything. "No worries, Mate", I said to myself, this will be easy Although, there were some unforeseen expenses, like my 18 y.o has developed a taste for gin and tonic and respectable wine (glad to know my tuition went for something useful); although these expenses were kept to a dull roar as I taught her the fine art of gambling for drinks with expense-accounted drunks in hotel bars.