Eiffel Tower Magic

Dear Friends,

A few newsletters ago, I told you about being mistaken for the President of Croatia. That event was by far NOT the most important event of the trip...though it might have been the funniest.

Isn't it weird that we had to go to Paris to meet our best friends?

In 2018, we took a Viking River Cruise, specifically the trip "Paris to the Alps." On the second day, we took a bus tour, including a stop at the Eiffel Tower. Martha and I left the bus to get a couple of pictures. I forget who said what first, but someone said, "Can you please take our picture?" And so, we met Jerry and Debbie Sloane from Houston, Texas. You can see them with Martha and me in the picture below on the left.

It's unusual for two couples to become friends when the girls like each other and the guys like each other. We had dinner together and hung out for the first few days of the trip—all of us having a lot in common.

Two days later, we boarded a bus for the Viking boat, which was moored near the headwaters of the German Moselle River.

But before reaching the boat, we stopped at a regional welcome station in the French Region called Champagne (yes, THAT Champagne). As you well know, American welcome stations usually have vending machines, restrooms, a few benches, and maybe a playground for the little kids.

This particular stop was a full-blown souvenir shop that sold lots of varieties of Champagne.

Martha picked out three of four bottles and gingerly carried them back to the bus. An American gentleman approached her and suggested he noticed she had enough for the entire cruise. In her usual playful way, she replied, "These won't last the night."

The man laughed and introduced himself and his wife as Tim and Verna McElderry from Glendale California. We were all so amused, we struck up a conversation with them and got to know them well.

This chance meeting was on the 3rd day of a 13-day cruise. The six of us were thick as thieves for the rest of the trip, going on every excursion together.

Jerry and I are early risers, so we met early in the morning in the dining room (next to the coffee machine) and discussed everything from guitars to politics to geology to how river locks should work. These discussions were the foundation of a great friendship. We talked for hours about the stuff you only talk about with good friends or perfect strangers. I've done both.

It's funny how you have to go halfway around the world to find people who touch your heart and become your best friends. Since then, we've visited each other frequently, taken more cruises together, and met together in great locations, like Charleston, SC, and Beaver Creek, CO.

I hope you've had the chance to make lifelong friends like we have.

If not, it's time to go looking for them! Have an outstanding day!

Cheers and Regards,

Kim

PS: I personally read and respond to all messages you send to me.

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