I’ll be leaving for Belgium on Thursday, landing there on Friday afternoon, and knew I would need some money (Euros) for tips, busses, etc. when I got there. So I went down to my local bank to get some just in case they had to have extra time to get it themselves. They couldn’t get it, or at least, that’s what the tellers told me. It is a local, independent bank, and I know most of the people there. I was a little surprised, and then I panicked, not knowing exactly where to go.
I have a small Bank of America account that I use when I’m out of town to get cash from ATMs without paying any fees. So I came home, got on their web site and checked out their customer service. I found that I could order money!! Is that great or what?! I could order up to $5,000 worth from any country if I used my Bank of America bank account or VISA card. I have both, so I ordered 200 euros. I could have it delivered to the closest branch (Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo) for $7.50, or I could have it delivered to my house, also for $7.50. I chose the house (duh!). I have to sign for it when it comes, so I’m tied down until then. The exchange rate isn’t very good, $1.45 per Euro, but it’s getting better every day. Apparently the jerks on Wall Street that screwed up our economy have affected Europe’s as well.
I did go to Kalamazoo last week to let Bank of America know that I would be in Europe, so don’t cut off my ATM or credit card availability when they see unusual charges. I didn’t tell them, but I’ve never been outside the United States other than trips to Canada (that’s like being in the US so it doesn’t count) and a day trip to Tijuana (that’s not really being in Mexico), so they’ve never seen foreign charges on my ATM or credit card.
Matt just sent me an e-mail telling me to be sure to have a suitcase with wheels since we’ll be walking a lot with our bags. The trip over shouldn’t be bad, but the bags may be loaded on the trip back. I’ll be bringing back refrigerator magnets for Margee, poker chips for Tommie Campbell, and rocks (not diamonds…actual rocks) for daughter Sara. Also, since I didn’t do any races in 2007 and only two in 2008, I’m running short of t-shirts that don’t have food stains on them. So I may (hold onto your seats) actually buy some clothes while I’m there. That won’t leave any room for beer, but I’m sure I’ll have a couple while I’m there.
I’ve checked out the weather over there and it looks like it will be much like it is here in the fall. Highs in the fifties and, sometimes, sixties and lows in the forties at night. The one downside is that there is likely to be widespread fog on Friday, both in Brussels where the trip ends, and Frankfurt Germany where I have a stop after an eight hour flight. The plane is supposed to land at around noon their time, so maybe the fog will burn off by then. If not, wherever we land won’t be in the US, so I’ll be in awe.
Matt is in Amsterdam this week after a long weekend in Munich for Oktoberfest. He and three friends left Munich yesterday for a few days there before meeting me in Brussels on Friday. I gave him the Dad advice…have a safe trip…don’t go anywhere with strangers…and don’t sample “the wares” in Amsterdam. He didn’t know what “the wares” were. He’s such an nice, naive boy, doesn’t know that prostitution is legal over there, and I didn’t want to let the cat out of the bag (no pun intended), so I told him it meant that I didn’t want him to break his teeth on hard candy. On the off-chance that he and his friends have gone there to check into the Amsterdam branch of the Betty Ford clinic for a couple of days after too much beer in Munich, I don’t want to know about it.
Just (Looking For My International Travel Clothes) Jack