Thefirst time I did it, I was with Becki, one of my best girlfriends who had been beaten bloody by her later husband (he got help, and adores her). I made a lot of money waitressing in law school, so I paid for her trip.

The whole right hand drive thing is initially hard to get used to. And I was doing it with a stick shift. When my husband taught me to drive a stick, I thought he’d have a heart attack from screaming so loud at me. Now rental cars come with automatics so it’s not a big deal, but I can’t smoke and drive at the same time.

The best thing the English ever gave us was roundabouts (here, rotarys) but we f*** them up with traffic lights, which completely defeats the purpose of the roundabout. DC is a perfect example.

The first one I negotiated was in central London – like Picadilly Circus I think. I completely understand Chevy Chase’s screaming “I can’t get left! I can’t get left!” in European Vacation. Becki was a champ, though.

Later about the roads that turn into wagon lanes and you come head on with a tour bus….

Speaking of sidewalks, and I did not make this up – I read it in Town and Country Magazine, one doyenne who prefers to remain unnamed said: “It’s not spring in Palm Beach until Ted drives down the sidewalk”.
) I prefer to hear him screaming to Boston’s finest: “I will NOT drive between the lines!”.

Mike, I want to go to the Italian Rivera (Hotel Splendido) and see the Cinque Terre. I think I would like living in Italy, but France better. Italians have even funkier plumbing than the French. And, if I got sick of you, I could go over and see Johnny Depp.:-)) Are you sold on `Tuscany? I was thinking of Michigan City just for me – I never thought I’d ever have a companion. John refuses to go anywhere or travel or anything, so the few trips I’ve had, I’d had to take alone. But I’m cool with Italy – with periodic trips to The States – and of course, the UK!!!