An unexpected incident

When travelling, I enjoy going in all types of stores. I get to see the things the locals can buy - similar and different to home. I also enjoy seeing the prices of things, and comparing them to home.

This morning, I was in a Lidl store in Naples and I caused an incident. I was walking by the wines, looking at the types and the prices. Even their most expensive bottles were a fraction of the price I am used to in Canada.

I took a photo so I could possibly post it here, and also share with friends at home. Well! I guess you don't do that at Lidl. The manager, who was nearby, flipped out. No explaining possible. I guess I am part of the competition...even though the Italian that I speak is with a Canadian accent.

I have done this before in Lidl stores, as well as other stores in Europe and wherever I travel.

I guess some people just aren't open to the idea of sharing cultural experiences, which I consider this to be.

Even at home, I often take photos in stores, so I can remember items and prices for future reference. It would be harder for me to survive if I could not do this.

(N.B. For the record, this photo is not from the Lidl store. Heaven forbid that I would cause a bigger incident.)

Don't shop without it...

Of all the ridiculous rules you experience when travelling, I think one that I experienced the other day in Munich airport is among the most stupid.

We were waiting for a connecting flight having flown in from Frankfurt as part of our 'never-ending saga' due to the job action by Lufthansa pilots. By now we were over 36 hours in transit, for what should have been about 23 hours in total.

There were machines that distributed different kinds of coffee found frequently along the concourse, but in one word the coffee was 'brutal'. In fact I would question if it was coffee. When I went to the washroom, I decided to check out the shop further along the concourse for a soft drink. It was probably a total of 5 minutes walking from where we were waiting for our flight. 

I got my drink and waited my turn at the cashier. When I got there I was asked for my boarding pass. Huh! What? I had left my pass back with my friend with whom I was travelling. A boarding pass for soft drink? Really? How ridiculous!! I was totally exhausted at this point in the trip, and did not have the energy or the patience to get it and return. I left without my drink. I have been asked for my boarding pass when making a duty free purchase, but for a bottle of a soft drink. Since then I have been trying to rationalize this rule, but can't.

Is it a security measure? I was a long distance from security, and being in transit, I never had been near security at Munich airport. I did not know that soft drinks were a duty free product. Paying 2.90 euro for it doesn't seem like a duty free purchase.

So, if you want to purchase anything, at least in Munich airport make sure you have your boarding pass. To me this rule smacks is an ultimate waste of bureaucracy.

Buffalo is not just chicken wings...

Buffalo, New York, I believe, is under-appreciated for all that it has to offer.  Buffalo is not just chicken wings, or what you see as you drive by on I-90.  If you go off the expressways and go in to the actual city you will find that it actually has a lot of character that is often overlooked and possibly unknown.

House on Delaware Avenue

Buffalo's location is of geographical importance.  It is located at the western terminus of the Erie Canal, a major transportation link between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean, built in the 1800s.  The importance of the canal decreased over the years with the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the building of substantial highway systems.  However, much of Buffalo's older architecture reflects its glory days of the canal.  Go into the centre of the city along Delaware Avenue you will see some of the large stately homes still standing from that era.


Even today, it's location is significant.  It sits at the point where Lake Erie flows into the Niagara River.  Across the river is Canada.  Fort Erie, Ontario to be exact.  The Peace Bridge which crosses the river acts as a main crossing point between Canada and the United States, not just for travellers, but also for the transportation of goods between the two countries.

Albright-Knox Art Gallery

Buffalo has numerous cultural offerings.  There are many art galleries in the area.  The Albright-Knox Art Gallery is the largest and best known.  It has an excellent collection of modern and contemporary art.  The main building is beautiful in the beaux arts architectural style.



Kleinhans Music Hall is the home of The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.  Shea's Performing Arts Centre presents many theatrical productions and concerts.

Buffalo has an extensive system of connected parks and parkways.  Many of them were part of an original plan developed in the mid-1800s by Fredrick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.

Walter V. Davidson House

Buffalo is the home to some amazing architecture.  About 80 buildings in the city are on the National Register of Historic Places.  There are a number of examples of art deco architecture among them the Buffalo City Hall and the Buffalo Central Terminal.  A number of examples of the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright are also in the city.


The sports teams of Buffalo cannot be overlooked.  There are the Sabres the National Hockey League team that plays in HBC Centre.  The Buffalo Bills that play for in the National Football League.  The Buffalo Bisons .....  As well, with a number of colleges and universities in the area there is a well developed sports program at the college level.

Elmwood Village

As already alluded to, Buffalo does have good shopping.  There are numerous malls around the city.  The Walden Galleria is the largest on the east side of the city just off I-90.  As well, another shopping area is on Elmwood Avenue.  Many interesting shops are found there, as well as numerous eateries and cafes.

Chicken wings

Of course Buffalo is known for its chicken wings.  There is the Anchor Bar, that is renowned as the home of the chicken wing; however, the dish is not exclusive to this restaurant.  You can find a variety of cuisines available in Buffalo.  A Taste of Buffalo, an annual two-day food fair, is held in July (July 11-12, 2015).  It is an opportunity for many of the local eateries to show off their best.

Winter storm November 2014

Yes, there is the weather.  Winter has been known to not favour Buffalo.  However, the major snowstorms are a time to show the strong sense of civic spirit in the city.  Where else would you find local citizens volunteering to shovel out the stadium of their hometown NFL team so that a game could be played?






Buffalo deserves more than a drive-through on an expressway.

It is easily accessible by car from many areas of the US northeast and Canada.  It is served by the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.  Amtrak has a station in Depew just to the east of the city.

Bargain Shopping in Paris

For some reason Paris and bargain shopping do not seem to go together; however, it is possible to find shopping at reasonable prices.  This article gives some tips on how to shop in Paris and not blow the budget.  Having been to Paris a few times I would agree with the tips about shopping around Porte de la Clingnancourt and in the Marais.  As well, one of many street markets selling great food produce three or four days of the week is just down Boulevard Ornano from Porte de la Clingnacourt (around Metro:Simplon).

Bargain Shopping in France