'Suppose we should have told him it's a WC in Europe?'

Ah, yes. The joys of international travel, with a newbie to it along. This will be an adventure.

Between the three of us, besides English, I speak a little (tres petit) French; my wife can understand more German than she can speak; and the nephew-in-law took Spanish in high school, and did decently. Unfortunately, in some of the countries which we will traverse, we will encounter Italian, Slovenian, Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian (with Cyrillic characters, just like mother Russia) and at the far east end, Istanbul and its' 15 million, Turkish-speaking inhabitants.

And to think, the late Congressman from Minnesota's Iron Range, Jim Oberstar, spoke EIGHT languages fluently. I admire people who apply themselves like that. Unfortunately, my life never worked that way. I'm lucky some days that I can put three coherent sentences together. But at least I'll admit it. And speak the local language, like 'I need three tickets on the train to...'

And, of course, I get a notice from the US Embassy in Ankara, reminding all that the Embassy and all other consular functions (including the Consulate office in Istanbul) are closed the entire time we are there for Turkish Victory Day (August 30) and US Labor Day (September 2).

And then, there's other, more personal details we have to get straight. Like what we, in the US call a toilet. In the UK it's a WC (water closet). In Spain? El Bano. In France, it's Le WC. I'm thinking it's a real good idea that all three of us have iPhones along. We will be wearing out translator apps quickly, especially in the Balkans.

We had a sit-down dinner last week and hashed out a lot of the little things, especially about Paris (I discussed that in the last post). Over BLT sandwiches, I'm afraid we kinda put the fear of God in the poor boy; he doesn't totally realize what he's getting into. Yet. Soon, though, he'll figure it out. He'll have to. Besides, he'll only be there a week.

Hopefully, we'll provide the best experience possible. The real fun of the week he's with us, we will be seeing Europe thru his eyes. All the history, the architecture, the societies that have developed, how the conflicts over the centuries have dramatically shaped the map of Europe, and the fortunes of mankind. All this from a train window. Or two. Or, maybe, eight.

What Obi-Wan Kenobi said to young Luke Skywalker in the original STAR WARS will hold true for our young charge on this trip: 'You've just taken your first step into a larger world.'