Sammy's Surprise
February 17, 2024
Bob and I stopped into Sammy’s last week and got a big surprise. Now, in our area, Sammy is about the last person you would expect to travel. The grade 12 school trip to Sault Ste. Marie and the Mackinac Bridge satisfied his curiosity about the wider world, and he has been cutting hair, right here, ever since.
It seems he has been talking with a travel agent and has plans made and tickets purchased. Folks better hurry if they need a cut or a styling. In ten days time, he will be on the continent, as they say in Europe.
It’s a big tour, starting in Paris. He will see the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, Notre Dame and Florence Nightingale’s family estate. Munich is next, with its beer gardens and clothing optional parks. At forty-two, let’s hope he has the sense to remain clothed.
Then, it's on to the Swiss Alps. Through some online chat group, he’s met a couple of women who love to hike. They’ve invited him to join them for a quick walk up the Matterhorn. After his recovery, he is off to Venice to meet some women kayakers and paddle the canals.
Rome is on the agenda, with plans to take in a fight or two at the Colosseum, visit the Sixteen Chapels and the Vatican. He is hoping to meet the Pontiff and interest him in a fishing trip. The man could use a vacation.
From Rome, he rents a car and drives to the Amalfi Coast on the Mediterranean. After a day or two of whale watching and dolphin fishing, it’s off to Pamplona to participate in the “running of the bulls.” How our friend Sammy is going to stay ahead of Spanish bulls with their really sharp horns, racing down cobblestone streets, is a mystery.
If he survives, his next stop is Seville to watch matadors make really big Spanish bulls, really mad. He’ll get to see just how close to the bulls those matadors are standing as they go charging past with those long curved horns. We asked Sammy to pay attention to the technique. Maybe we can train up a few of Henderson’s milk cows to bring in some more tourists to our area.
London is the last official stop with visits to Buckingham Palace, Q Gardens and a day trip to Stonehenge with a group of Druids.
On his return, he flies into Boston to visit the Sam Adams Brewery and then onto good old Toronto to see a game at the Maple Leaf Gardens. Timing will be tight. He needs to be there before the play-offs begin.
From there, it’s onto Winnipeg, with a quick trip to the shopping mall and a Greyhound Bus ride back home.
After Bob and I wished him good travels, we walked back to Bob’s, too surprised for speech.
On the drive home, I couldn’t help but wonder if it’s too late for me to see Europe, what an online chat group is and if I closed the back door before heading into town.
Ricky
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