My business career as a professional speaker is, somewhat over. I am 66 soon to be 67, retired due to an acute stroke 6 years ago. It was a good run-in business for me, and I did some amazing work with some fantastic clients. Many of those clients are some of my dearest friends to this day. During that time, I had the great opportunity to do sales and management development/training classes in Europe. We did many in the Netherlands, France, and Germany. My clients treated me like GOLD, and I will never forget the experiences and the relationships built.
My Friend and Past Client , Mr. Frank Rameckers:
One such client and now good friend is Mr. Frank Rameckers. I met Frank in Amsterdam at the very young age of 31. I remember it as if it happened yesterday. Frank did not know what to think of me at first. He was much more used to my then boss, John Holiman, who was very stern and dry presenter. I was very young and seemed to take things far less seriously while training his group on Financial Sales Skills. My entire idea was to have fun with the class, enjoy each other’s company while providing usable techniques to improve performance, yet still sustain client satisfaction. I remember before I did the first session, Frank scolded me that training was “Very Serious”. I said, Frank, “what if we could have a great time while having serious training”. He was skeptical but let me have some rope. After the first day, he just smiled at me. His trust in my abilities and professionalism after that day created a foundation for the rest of my professional life.
There were many visits to Europe, during the weekends, Frank would take me to all kinds of different areas to visit, sightsee and enjoy. Paris, France, October fest in Germany, and the castles in Netherlands. The first week early on, after a long daily session of training; Frank and his class played tricks on me. Like telling me I had to drink “Jenever”, which was a very powerful Dutch alcohol. I was told if I did not take all the Jenever like a tequila shot. If I did not, it would insult the class. That was rough because Jenever was, let’s say super strong, but I got over it. For your information, Jenever is meant to be sipped. If they did not like me, they would not have joked with me. It was never offensive because I simply could not believe I was doing this kind of training at this stage in my professional life.
Frank, also taught me a lot about European culture. One night after training, the class was watching soccer in the bar, when a box of Cuban cigars was being passed around. I took one and put it in my mouth and started to chew the end. That was the way my father smoked cigars. Frank very quietly said, “Gary, take the cigar out of your mouth.” I did as clearly instructed. Then with great kindness, detail, and emphasis he taught me how to properly smoke a wonderful cigar. He said, “Smell the cigar. Taste it with your tongue. Embrace it and make love to the cigar.” Sound a little dirty but it made its point to me. To this day, I smoke cigars as Frank taught me. Frank did the same thing with how to eat spaghetti properly at a restaurant. I recall in the same Italian restaurant, I asks, “Frank, can I use my bread to wipe the Italian gravy from my plate?” He said, “yes, it is a complement to the chief.” I did just that and the next think you know, the chef was at our table thanking me for the complement.
Yet another lesson which I use to this day was, which fork or knife to use first in a very fancy restaurant (Outside, to inside was the rule). I can remember the second trip to Europe, Frank’s company took my boss John Holiman, his wife Candy, and my wife Tami to the fanciest restaurant I had ever been to too. Its theme and/or logo was a Duck. This was one of those seven courses, four-hour meals we all read about. I used the fork and knife closest to the plate and the waiter would take the outside clean knife and fork away. I was completely confused. This happened a few more times and I asked the server why he kept taking the clean utensils away, leaving the dirty ones. He said, “Because sir, you are eating improperly.” Frank heard this and I got a quiet lesson on fine dining which I have never forgotten to this day.
Frank was a kind of father to me in many ways. He was a major influencer in teaching me to slow down and truly enjoy life. Today, Frank lives in Brussels and he is involved with amateur Italian sports car racing, which has been his love for as long as I have known him. I would not be the person I am today without Frank.
How this Idea of Traveling Europe with my Daughter Came About:
During those many trips to Europe, American Express Platinum Card had a Companion Fly Free program. That AMX program is long gone. Back then, if Frank’s company bought me a Business Class Ticket, a member of my family could join at just tax, which I would gladly pay. One year I took my wife Tami, and she had a wonderful time. Tami got to meet Frank’s wife Edith. They both loved flowers, plants and natural things that make the world beautiful. Another year I took my son Alex. Frank took us out to lovely dinners and to Paris for the weekend. Alex had never had an experience like that before nor since.
Then Frank retired and I did not go back to Europe for business anymore. My daughter Alyssa always felt like she got the short end of the stick. An American slang term meaning she never got to go to Europe with her dad. For no less than 15 years, she reminded me of this fact. She even went alone to Europe after she graduated from college at the University of Alabama. Well, that long awaited Father and Daughter European vacation is a mere 30 days away.
Thank You, Delta Airlines:
The stimulus of this trip was Delta Airlines. Delta upgraded my status from lifetime Platinum to lifetime Diamond level which is their highest elite status. This gave me four (4) global upgrades per year to Delta One Business Class from Delta Premium Select. The next day, Delta sent me an email saying they were having a sale to Paris, France. The stars aligned so I booked Alyssa and me on Delta One Suites Business Class to Amsterdam and Air France Business Class from Paris, France back home to Birmingham, Alabama. My daughter has never flown Business Class International, and this will be her first experience. Can you imagine being 32, going in Business Class to Europe with your dad for the first time. I can, Frank had me do just that when I worked with him. I was over the top thrilled back then as I am sure Alyssa is today. To add to the enjoyment for both of us. The flight up is in the brand new Delta One Business Class Suites and the flight back is in the newly renovated Air France Business Class on the A350 wide body. This Air France leg was a Bucket List flight for me which I thought would never happen.
My normal mode of travel for vacations is a Semi-Luxury Cruising. As a matter of fact, I did a lovely 10-day Mediterranean Cruise on Oceania Cruises with our best friends in November 2023. That cruise was a AAA plus experience. For that cruise to Europe, my wife and I were once again in Delta One Business Class Suites. There is a huge difference going to Europe for holiday rather than business with some holiday thrown in. Less pressure, stress, and more time to just chill out. My time and experience with Frank made the ports of call for my group cruise so much easier. I was never afraid to use public transportation, venture out on our own and find places that the locals frequent. I hope to show Alyssa some of those same experiences, but I also know she did it alone, so she has no fear either.
Amsterdam, here we come:
Amsterdam, Netherlands was not on our list until Alyssa brought it up. We were going round trip to Paris, France. Now, our first stop will be Amsterdam. I have been there many times and all over the country. Alyssa, who is the tour director for this trip, wanted to go see the Tulip festival which would have ended just a day or two before we got there. My wife Tami had NO interest in joining us but when she heard about the Tulip festival, I saw her eyes light up. Still, Tami is not a traveler and prefers to stay home with her plants and her best buddy, Otis our French Bulldog. Alyssa and I will be in Amsterdam for less than 24 hours and jet lagged while we are there for sure.
We take a flight from Amsterdam to Rome, Italy on day two utilizing KLM. Again, Delta Status made a huge difference since my new status is so high. KLM and Delta are sky team partners. My wife and I just stopped in Rome during our cruise for about eight hours and went to the Vatican and the Chapel. Just a taste of Rome and really left you wanting more. Alyssa and I will be in Rome for two full days. In 2025, my wife and guest will have the opportunity to see Rome again and I will use my newfound experience to make it great. Alyssa and I have informal plans, but the Rome fountains are one of them. We both like to kind of get lost, go where the locals go, eat street food, and find a café’ somewhere interesting. Kind of an adventure of sort. We will stay in a boutique Hotel which is much different from the major brands I have stayed in all my life. This type of decision is what makes Alyssa such a good travel partner. She is all about unique experiences. Heck, it is what she does for her career with her company. She is an Experiential Manager. That skill is now to our benefit and on full display.
High Speed Bullet Train Is Next for Us:
We then do something I have always wanted to do, take a Bullet High-Speed Train. These trains can go as quickly as 170 mph. We will go from Rome, to Venice, Italy. The trip will be about four hours and because Alyssa is traveling with Daddy, we will be in the first-class coach. It gives up time to plan our vacation video. Again, a unique experience so why not do it first class. I learned a valuable lesson about booking Europe Trains in advance, you can get scammed very easily. I booked the trip using Google and was charged close to double by a travel company that I thought was the actual train brand. They come up first on the google list. You live and learn. It all worked out, but it let me know, I was nothing, but a tourist and scams happen to the best of us. Pushing that aside which is hard for me, we are off to Venice, Italy.
Venice, home of the Gondola:
In Venice, Alyssa did it again. The hotel is in the dead centre of town and across from the most famous bridge in Venice where the Gondola’s travel. You can see the water from your window and the back door of the hotel is next to the bridge. I would have never found this place. If it was not a Marriott, I am lost. Now there is a big difference between 32-year-olds and 66-year-olds when traveling. She is using TikTok to find her places, events, and experiences. I use the longer format of YouTube.com. When Alyssa books a hotel, I watch the video of the hotel on YouTube. I put the information in a YouTube Playlist called Vacation so I can reference it. She never watches it, so it is mainly for my benefit. If it is over two minutes, it is discarded by 32-year-olds. She finds the place and I get the lowdown prior to visiting it by watching the longer video. I also focus on the getting to and from locations. Like having cars pick us up from Airports, Train Stations, and Hotels rather than Taxi’s even though the online bookings I do see they are a Taxi service. I also love using trains in Europe if you don’t have much luggage. For example, Amsterdam Airport to the center of Amsterdam where our hotel is located. Alyssa finds the interesting place or events like having the perfect gondola ride in Venice or where to have the best hot chocolate in Italy. I found the best local restaurants that the locals go to and focused my attention on the travel areas.
Brussels, Belgium to bring back past memories:
Venice will lead us to Brussels, Belgium. I have some very fond memories of Brussels from my days with Frank. Brussels to me is a smaller, kinder, and nicer Paris than Paris actually is. My memory was flying into Brussels, taking a cab to my hotel. Knowing that my plan was to stay up until midday, take a short nap and go out to dinner that evening. It would allow us to be better on the local time that way. Frank used to put me up at a small, boutique hotel, in a small-town square with a church as you entered it. I would venture out first to the David/David Cigar store on the corner of the square. It had the Cuban David/David Cigars which are not available in the United States. I would then walk to the town square, have a nice lunch, and walk back to the hotel for a nap. Our time is short in Brussels being under 24 hours and of course we will buy some Belgium chocolates to take back home. Alyssa is less excited about Brussels than I am. I hope she sees the place I remember. The next day we do my ultimate bucket list item. Bullet Train to Paris. With Frank, he always wanted his car available to get around Paris. We would drive from Brussels to Paris which would take four hours. The Bullet Train takes one hour and 15 minutes. Again, Alyssa and I are in First Class on the train, because I am an old, spoiled man and Bougie. This Bullet Train is also something I always wanted to do.
What is Europe without some time in Paris, France:
I am slightly uncomfortable going to Paris because I don’t speak French. However, I also believe if I am respectful to those I meet, they will be respectful to me. I have my French Translator on my phone ready to go. On to our destination which is Paris.
Alyssa’s whole focus day one is to vintage flee market the moment we get there. So much so that she wants to hire a tour guide for the flea market. I would rather have Root Canal without Novocain than to do that. However, I will go along with it for her experience. My favorite time in Paris is not what most folks would have thought. It was a visit with Frank. Frank’s brother is a famous artist. He lived in a flat in Paris. Frank got us a small table outside a café’ in Paris. We ordered a bottle of wine and if my memory serves me well, it came with a loaf of Crusty French bread. Frank went to see his brother and I sat having the wine while people were watching. For whatever reason, I remember this experience over all others. There was a very slight chill in the air yet the way the woman dressed was, well different. A woman would walk by in a tiny mini dress followed by another woman in a full-length mink jacket. From one extreme to another and I loved it. Sure, I did the normal tourist stuff, but this is my memory from decades ago through the lens of a more mature person.
I know it is strange but the thought of being in Paris leads me to want to go to Disney in Paris. Of all these things, while in Paris seems to be quite a waste of time. Who knows, we will see what happens. Stranger things have happened. Another strange thing I am looking forward to is both the Air France Business Class Lounge and the newly designed A350 Air France Business Class flight. OK, I am always honest. I really wanted to go Air France Le Premier First Class, but those flights don’t go out of Atlanta direct. They go out of JFK and cost a fortune. The Hotel in Paris is yet another Alyssa choose which is small, local and in the right place to enjoy the city.
I am currently watching an older couple on YouTube that moved to Paris and now do travel videos. I am not a French food kind of guy but when in France. My hope is to find a local place, the locals go to and have a nice meal that won’t break the bank.
Let’s Do a Vacation Blog or Vlog:
I love to write blogs about my vacations on CruiseCritic.com, when it is a cruise. This is as far from a cruise as possible. However, we have an alternative which is made available by Alyssa. She purchased a new video camera for bloggers. It is so cool. She claims she will capture our vacation and post it on the many sites she goes on and I don’t. As a side note, during a family cruise in 2021, Alyssa made a TikTok video of me and it went viral. So, she will attempt to do it again.
With an average of 7 hours per international flight, 3 hours per train trip, and other down time; we should have plenty of time to write, edit and finalize. My hopes are that it won’t be all about getting the right pictures or videos. It will be about the experience. Maybe interviews during a video of how we feel. Something that is fun to do and interesting/entertainment to those watching. Who knows, maybe others will appreciate our experiences. We sure will.
Well, there you have it. An adventure for daughter and dad in Europe. Very different for me but still something truly to look forward to doing. To those soon to be retired parents. All our lives as with mine, most people dream about doing things just like this. Many of us wait too long. We have health issues, financial issues or simply lose motivation. Before it gets too late, step out of your comfort zone, and do something you always said you would do. For Alyssa and me, please wish us luck with our “Once-in-a-lifetime-adventure”.