Travel Tip no 9

One of the problems encountered by the cost conscious traveller is where to go for a meal. Preferably somwhere a little different or very cheap and filling meals. My tip is to look upwards. For some strange reason many Department Stores often have restaurants on their top floor. In Paris, Printemps is a huge department store with a roof top restaurant including an open air part. Eating outside seems to make the food taste better and In Printemps you have a fantastic view of the whole of Paris. Another store by the Seine is La Samaritaine, again it has a roof top restaurant. In Switzerland, Manora is a similar department store and in Lucerne the restaurant is again on the top floor and you can eat outside in Summer. Aparently in Zurich its the same story. Finally in Porto, we had a snack in the Cortez Ingleses, again it was on the 7th or 8th floor with a fine view of Porto. Although the food wasnt that great we could pretend to be Riff Raff for a few minutes. Picture of Printemps in February 2003.

Recycling, an Irish Tradition

In Ireland as in many other countries when children make their first Communion, a great effort is made by families to get their children ready, money is spent on clothes and all sorts of presents. many Families in Ireland spend thousands, maybe hundreds on dresses especially, even if they cant areally afford it. I remember over 25 years ago Olive who lives in Canada also told us how expensive Communion dresses were in Canada, and Mum actually made a Communion dress for Olives daughter and sent it over. I think Olive made the final adjustments over there, the material was bought in Dublin. Mum probably went all over Dublin looking for all the right buttons, material and additional little bits.
Later on when Frank got married to Joan, Mum made the Wedding Dresses and Bridesmaids Dresses.
Back to the recycling bit, when my first Niece Karen was to make her First Communion again Mum made the dress. Usually the dress gets used once. But over the years as Frank and Joans children came to make their Communion the dress was re used. Mum made the odd alteration, added a veil, changed the sleeves and other details known only to the Ladies.
From what I hear from people in work and in Dublin, this would be unheard of. As mentioned before up to 1,000 euro is spent on a childs dress and never used again. My 3 Nieces don't really mind, they seemed to like the idea that they shared the dress, not to save money and Mum delighted every time in doing up the old dress.In the picture are Aisling, Lauren and Karen (left to right)