Some things I learned from signage in Europe: ‘Concession’ means ‘reduced price for seniors/pensioners,’ not food stands. ‘Give Way’ really means ‘yield’ and ‘Elderly People’ with bent stick figures and a downward arrow means ‘walk here, you dithering, dottering old fool.’ I also learned a new preposition: ‘outwith’ (outside?). But I’m still not quite sure about the meaning of the same sign I saw twice along the roadway: ‘Heavy Plant Turning.’ Perhaps it refers to big trucks coming out of a manufacturing plant? And the most disconcerting sign relates to which hotel floor you’re on. Zero is the ground floor. The numbering of rooms can also be weird. Right now we’re in room 317 and it’s technically on the second story but is marked as level 1! Between strange-sounding businesses and signage showing how to use a toilet properly, I sometimes shook my head in disbelief.

I’m glad that, prior to this trip, I had learned that it’s important to bring your own washcloths. Pack light, as you have to carry your luggage up many steps, and there may not be a ‘lift’ (elevator) available. Don’t look off the road even for a second if you’re driving, be prepared for an incessant number of roundabouts, and always be vigilant to stay in the left lane (wrong, as far as I’m concerned).

We did encounter some scary stuff—almost getting sideswiped more than once, and witnessing a young man collapsing at the Frankfurt Airport. He was taken away by ambulance. And to hear that one of our family members back in the States now has Covid, it’s a helpless feeling.

We’ve enjoyed this trip, but I’ll admit it hasn’t been totally relaxing. Educational and interesting, absolutely! I did see a guy in lederhosen at the German wedding, and a dude in full kilt attire in Scotland. Yep. That alone proves we were there. 😁