Friday June 17, 2011

Friday actually started Thursday night. Suzanne had Pat drop her off at the Newark Airport way early, so she could take advantage of the First Class Lounge. It was lovely - first a Bloody Mary, a plate of cheese and olives (for practice,) great European breads, peppered hams, followed by a glass of wine, and some time just sitting and reviewing all the travel information she had printed out from VirtualTourist.com.

On board, Business Class passengers were served immediately with a flute of champagne. A menu was produced. Champagne was followed by hot wet towels to freshen us up. Then an appetizer of grilled eggplant and creamy bleu chese. Main course of slamon and potatoes, with a dessert of cherry cake and coffee. Three glasses of Spanish wine during dinner. The view out of the window was spendid - a full moon over a floor of clouds. Slept some in the pretty nice seats which also had a massage button. (I could see the First Class cabin - I think they had double beds. They had a vase of red roses at the start of the flight...) Breakfast was meats, cheese, fruits and breads. In the airport upon landing, Suzanne went to the ladies' room where she spied a woman throwing a perfectly good paperback in the trash. Rescue!

Suzanne got off the airplane in Switzerland, but she was supposed to get off in France. So Jane had to run around the block to Switzerland and find Suzanne. We drove to the Carrefour in Mulhouse, France where we immediately got yelled at: "You're doing it wrong!" by a woman on roller skates. Played around in the wine AISLES (plural!) and took some pictures of prices to torment Ray. Bought 2 weird tomatoes (called "oxen heart") and a black tomato and some other fruits and veggies. Then on to the cheese department let us test drive a few cheeses. We tried four, bought 8. Off to a great start!

 

Chocolate aisle

On the checkout conveyor belt

On the way to Gundelfingen, Jane's GPS girl, Brigitta, kept telling us to turn around. She was also letting us know that there were animals in the road up ahead. We refused to turn around because we wanted to see the animals. It turned out she wanted us to turn around because we were going in the wrong direction. We made it almost back to Basel before we realized, and we never did see the animals!

Got to Jane's and Gerald was on Suzanne's bed. We made a picnic dinner and ate on the balcony. Had some champagne, broke out some chocolate and watched "City Slickers," and discovered a new ploy to get off the phone: "We're going behind a butte."
[pics?]
Gerald slept with Suzanne, right on her pillow, like Thomas used to do. He knows. He always knows.