1987 Christmas (12/22-30/1987)

Tuesday, December 22, 1987

Had our Christmas today, letting Kyle and Erich open their stockings and family gifts, including a video camera.

Christmas decorations from the PT party

Christmas tree

Erich and Kent open the family gift

Erich, Kent, and Kyle

Kyle and Erich chillin'

Gave Ruth and Martin Providence sweatshirts. They have been with us since Monday, December 21, after their 14-month trip across the US. They have picked up a cat along the way, and had to get a health certificate for “Pancho” in order to take him home to Switzerland.

Pancho

Friday, December 25, 1987

Merry Christmas!

We were told to be at Mary Jane’s at 7:00, but the kids had been up since 5:00! When we arrived they were able to come down and were through opening gifts at 7:30.

Kyle and Erich

Erich

Breakfast of yogurt mixed with wheat germ and fruit, eggs and bacon, and muffins. Left after 9:30 after seeing the Nintendo Video Game System in action. Back at home Ruth and Martin were ready to do another puzzle! We had a big lunch of ham with noodles and salad. We said our goodbyes to them when we left at 16:00 to pick up Kyle and Erich and head for the airport. Checked in and through x-ray except the video tape and the Nintendo games. We left on time at 17:45 on USAir for Pittsburgh. Given beverages and a boxed snack of corned beef, turkey, and cheese on a roll, a bag of Cape Cod potato chips. A lotus biscuit (cinnamon-flavored cracker), and a jelly candy. Erich had the window for this leg, and we had to wake him from a deep sleep when we arrived late into Pittsburgh at 19:25. Somehow we had to go through x-ray again for the 20:35 flight to Cleveland. Took off with a slap-happy crew. The guy next to me couldn’t recline his seat or turn on his light, but he was just happy that the plane could fly. A half hour later we were in Cleveland, getting our luggage right away. Kent’s parents apparently were expecting us on a later flight, and were surprised when we called to say we had arrived. They came 20 minutes later at about 21:45. Back at Kent's parents’ house, we exchanged a few gifts and had Christmas cookies.

Saturday, December 26, 1987

Fruit cocktail for breakfast. Watched football games. Lunch of cold cut sandwiches and Doritos, and more Christmas cookies. Watched the big game, the Cleveland Browns against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I kept nodding off. When the Browns finally managed to win, we piled into the van to check out Christmas light displays. First went to East Cleveland, to the General Electric Nela Park industrial complex. Had to inquire at the police station for its location, on Noble Road up the hill. In front of General Electric’s buildings were several “arrangements” of lights in scenes: soldiers in front of a castle, forest animals, etc. Neatly done, but “Old.”

We headed downtown to see how brightly lighted Cleveland becomes. A huge tree on top of a building, bells on the telephone building in lights, tiny white lights crowded in all the saplings at the new Galleria. Then Public Square with three-dimensional light displays of a carousel, castle, and train featuring the Care Bears, since this is headquarters of American Greetings. A large bear in a stocking on another building, a huge metallic wreath in the BP building (formerly Sohio). On the way home we stopped at a private light display on Bonnieview Avenue in Lakewood, run by computer timing the lights in a tree with a star, another tree, Santa Claus in the chimney, skating snowmen, lights outlining the house, and lights scripting the words “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year.” That was the most impressive of all!

Dinner was a special Viennese fish dish with sweet potatoes, rolls, cherry gelatin mold salad, pickled beets, and ice cream or sherbet for dessert.

Sunday, December 27, 1987

Fruit cocktail or cereal for breakfast. Went to the Rocky River Presbyterian Church for the 10:30 service, and wore name tags! Kyle and Erich were given activity booklets and crayons.

Children's activity booklet A

Children's activity booklet B

Long and very serious sermon. Kent's parents were sorry we wouldn’t hear the regular organist and choir, who had the day off since they gave quite a performance on Christmas Eve. Brunch of sausage and egg casserole, and blueberry muffins. Later we headed to Cleveland, and Kent and I were dropped off at The Museum of Art, and the rest went to the Natural History Museum. We had 1-1/2 hours, first going to the Byōbu/Japanese Screen exhibit.

Byōbu/Japanese Screen exhibit brochure

Then upstairs to see the W Eugene Smith photography exhibit with photo essays, mostly for Life Magazine, on a wide variety of subjects. Kent particularly liked “Life Without Germs,” with a guy in a space-like suit being bombarded with droplets of something in a booth. Also saw an exhibit of Master Drawings from an English collection, small exhibits of an English collector and photos of the Mideast, and a lace exhibit with examples from France, Italy, and Belgium. There were some absolutely amazingly intricate designs. Checked out the gift shop and looked for another exhibit that naturally, doesn’t open until January! We left the museum just as Kent's parents’ van pulled up; great timing! We headed for the Flats by the Cuyahoga River where lots of night spots are now popular. Then the Emerald Necklace of the Metroparks system to look for the bridge similar to the Adolphe Bridge in Luxembourg City, the Detroit Road Bridge (but much smaller scale). Saw three white-tailed deer with their tails raised like flags.

Back at home to play games and to video-tape how time was spent with the grandparents!

Kyle playing Nintendo

Kent and Erich play the electronic soccer game

Dinner of Hawaiian chicken, Swiss vegetable medley and rice, with ice cream or sherbet for dessert. Worked on a jigsaw puzzle until bedtime, when I said my formal goodbye to Kent.

Monday, December 28, 1987

Kent left at 6:30 to catch the 7:10 flight to Providence and work. After breakfast, we drove to the airport, or actually next door to the Lewis Research Center of NASA. At the gate the guard gave us a visitors’ pass and had us follow a blue line to the visitors’ parking lot. We walked across the street to the Visitors Information Center and picked up some pamphlets, seeing hundreds of models of aircraft and rockets on the walls.

NASA brochure

We hung up our coats and went through the exhibits, many with video or audio presentations, as described in the pamphlet. Saw examples of prototype aircraft now being researched. Covered the first floor and entered the auditorium for the 11:00 multi-media presentation showing all the responsibilities of the research center, in conjunction with two other centers. Upstairs were a few more exhibits, the most interesting showed everyday applications of technology developed by NASA for space exploration. It was hailing when we left the center, and became big flakes when we arrived home. Had lunch of sandwiches and fruit, and more delicious cookies. While Grandpa went shopping and Grandma napped, I played Yahtzee with Erich until Grandpa returned to take my place. Dinner of leftovers, ham and potatoes, mixed vegetables with potatoes and ham in it, and cookies and ice cream for dessert. Started working on a 2000-piece puzzle.

Tuesday, December 29, 1987

After breakfast, I was taken to the Triskett Metro station to take the train to Terminal Tower/Public Square, where my mom was waiting at the exit at 10:00. Great architecture in the Terminal Tower. Walked through Public Square in an icy cold wind! In the Sohio/BP building we saw their Christmas tree with a railroad ringing it. There was a small display of railroad memorabilia and prints. Walked over to the Arcade with several levels of wrought-iron railings and it was beautifully decorated in red and green with a poinsettia tree. We found the Fidelity Investments office for mom to open a Keough account. Continued over to the Galleria, a huge glass enclosed arcade-like mall. At 11:30 we went to meet my dad for lunch at Mr Hero, for Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches with waffle potato fries, and small Coca-Colas that were actually large. The largest size looked like little buckets! Dad returned to work, and Mom and I went through the May and Higbees department stores to the Terminal Tower to pay our dollar fares and go though turnstiles to catch a modern-looking rapid transit-type train, unlike NY subway type train I took from Rocky River. We got off at Shaker Square, a really quaint square surrounded by colonial style brick buildings filled with shops. Walked a short couple blocks to the Shaker North Apartments, with a canopied walkway and locked lobby doors. Up to the second floor to Suite 201. Couldn’t unlock the door, and went to get the manager. She had shown the apartment, and couldn’t lock the door from the outside, so had pushed the safety lock button! A maintenance guy had to be called with the master key. I opened my gifts, and Kathy had sent along our 1980 trip journal and scrapbook. Dad came home for dinner of steak and mushrooms, potatoes and green beans, with pastries from a local shop for dessert. Time for lots of slides!

Wednesday, December 30, 1987

After breakfast I took a shower, then couldn’t turn off the hot water. The maintenance man had to come up to turn off the water, and he would be back later to repair it. We all left at 10:00 to drive around Shaker Heights with its mansions and large houses on curving lanes. It was a planned community built around the Shaker Rapid Transit. We followed the Van Aken/Blue Line out to Warrensville, and went to an exclusive shopping mall to go to a bookstore. We drove to a high point to look back on the hazy Cleveland skyline. We returned to the Shaker apartment and had lunch of stew, before I left with dad to catch the Rapid. Here you just board, and pay when you get off. We got off at 34th Street to transfer to the Red Line, showing a transfer to get on. Dad got off at the Terminal Tower to go to work, and I continued to the airport. Arrived about 13:30, and as I came out of the station, I saw Kyle and Erich, and Kent’s parents walking from the parking lot! We stopped so I could transfer gifts into suitcases, and then we went to check in for the 14:20 flight to Providence, which is when we boarded. Said our goodbyes and thank-yous to Kent's parents. This time Kyle got the window as we flew first to Washington National, getting a beverage and peanuts. We landed at National at 15:20, and were told to stay on the plane, scheduled to take off at 15:50. Erich was now at the window. Another beverage and peanuts, and we landed in cold windy Providence at about 16:45. Kent was there to meet us and drive us home. We had to sort a few things, and then Kyle and Erich were taken to their mom’s.

Stopped for dinner at the Peking Restaurant in E Providence before going home to unpack.

1987 Thanksgiving (11/26-29/1987)

Thursday, November 26, 1987

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kent’s parents arrived last night, and came over at 9:15 for a breakfast of Danish and juice. Kent and I had already prepared the sausage stuffing and had the turkey, which he got from work, into the oven by 9:00. Made oatmeal bread, cranberry sauce, and readied the pumpkin pie. Kent picked up Kyle and Erich at 10:30, and we had lunch of sandwiches about 13:00. Made wild rice, peas, sweetened yams, and heated up croissants. The big turkey dinner was at 17:00, with a relish/pickle tray, but we forgot to put out the cranberry sauce! Everyone helped clean up, and after watching slides of our Europe trip, we had pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Later the kids were put in bed, and the grandparents headed back to the Suisse Chalet in Seekonk, MA.

Flower arrangement with hostas from the yard

Friday, November 27, 1987

Again Danish and juice when Kent’s parents arrived for breakfast. I baked a chocolate chunk cheesecake, done before the kids got dressed. At 11:00 we went to the end of Smith Street to the Roger Williams National Memorial Park. Kent’s mom had her National Parks Passport stamped, after Kent’s dad helped the clerk find the stamp. Watched a three-minute slide presentation on Roger Williams, and saw a scale model of the park.

Walked out to the wall and site of a fresh water spring that was the center of the common area.

Back in the Ss’ van, we drove along the Providence harbor to the Edgewood and Pawtuxet areas to look at houses, then took the highway back to Oak Hill and the East Side. We returned home for a turkey sandwich lunch, and had the cranberry sauce! While the kids played Monopoly with the grandparents, Kent and I did some shopping for a video camera and groceries on Federal Hill. Dinner was veal in cream sauce with mushrooms, rösti, and broccoli. Later we shelled pecans that came from Kent’s Uncle Bob in San Antonio. After an hour we had a quart of pecans, and still plenty of pecans, still in the shell, left. What a mess!

Saturday, November 28, 1987

Kyle and Erich had basketball practice from 9:00-10:30. Kent’s parents arrived at 10:00 for a breakfast of bran muffins, cereal and juice. The kids had sandwiches after practice, and then we headed to Smithfield-Johnston to take a hike around Dame Farm and the Rattlesnake Dens. A nice sunny day, but it was also hunting season, so the trails were closed.

Dame Farm

Erich and Kyle climb on the grandparents' van

We drove into Cumberland to the St Joseph’s Church for a baseball card show. Followed by a hike in Lincoln Woods.

Lincoln Woods pond

Kent, Bert , and Ada

Erich and Kyle on the big rock

Backlighted tree

Back at home, the kids played on the computer, and Kent and I took his mom to the A&Z Haywood Factory Outlet sale, and she got a watchband for 50 cents! There were many items of fine jewelry, but mostly gauche and/or Playboy things. Kyle and Erich were taken to their mom’s at 16:00, when the grandparents went back to the motel for a rest. At 18:00, we went to pick them up for dinner at La Paloma Mexican Restaurant. We had a long wait, but they were short-staffed. I had huevos charros, very hot!, corn tortillas topped with ground beef, a red sauce, jalapeños and poached egg, with rice and refried beans. Kent had the chicken fajitas, flour tortillas in which you put a mixture of grilled chicken strips, red peppers, sautéed vegetables and top with guacamole and sour cream. He had a Dos Equis Light beer, and I had a lemon-lime seltzer, Kent’s dad had Tecate beer with a lime, and a Sonova. A chicken chimichanga. Kent’s mom also had a Tecate, with Enchiladas Suizas, with chicken and spinach, and Swiss cheese. Kent’s dad picked up the bill. We visited with them at the Suisse Chalet before going home.

Sunday, November 29, 1987

Cleaned and did laundry before Kent’s parents arrived at 11:30, and we drove to LaSere on the East Side for brunch. I had tomato juice and three poached eggs en casserole with Canadian ham, broccoli in a Mornay sauce, along with fried potatoes and a croissant. There was raspberry butter. Kent had Breakfast American of two eggs over easy with potatoes, ham, and a croissant, and orange juice. Kent’s dad had three large pieces of French toast and tea, and his mom had Breakfast American but with two poached eggs, and decaf coffee. This time Kent was able to treat. Leaving $30. We drove back through Pine Street, the armory area, and the capital area (questionable transition neighborhoods) to get home. Kyle and Erich arrived from Adam’s birthday party at about 16:30. Dinner was tortellini and baked crumbed vegetables. Said goodbye to the kids at 19:30, and to Kent’s parents at 21:00, as they are heading back to Ohio tomorrow.

1987 Halloween (10/31/1987)

Saturday, October 31, 1987

Kyle's and Erich's Jack o' Lanterns

Kyle's Jack o' Lantern

Erich's Jack o' Lantern

 The boys make the design, and Kent cuts.

Erich as a Knight and Kyle as Dracula

The Knight, Dracula, and the Headless Horseman

1987 Low Countries: Battlefields (10/10/1987)

Saturday, October 10, 1987

Today we left at 9:00, with everybody in the Ls’ marvelous blue Volvo 740 series sedan. It was sunny and comfortably cool, as Tom drove us out on the Ring and headed south through the Forêt de Soignes, one of the largest green spots in Brussels, full of hiking and bridle trails. We saw a couple horses, and passed the Hippodrome. The trees were just beginning to be tinged with color. We went beyond the town of Waterloo to the Butte du Lion, with a huge bronze lion statue made from molten French cannon, which faced south “menacing France.”

Butte du Lion/Butt of the Lion (just kidding)

It was placed on top of an earthen mound, tremendously steep and high, which was supposedly formed pail by pail by local housewives on the spot where the Duke of Orange fell in 1815. It opened at 9:30, and we followed the guard in.  Tom and Dot sent us up the stairs, and Kent set a torrid pace. Stopped about halfway up to have our photo taken. Not a place to stop if you don’t like heights, plus the wind was fiercely blowing! Once at the top, we viewed the underside of the lion, where the base is marked “18 Juin 1815,” the victory day of the Battle of Waterloo. Here, the Duke of Wellington, with the help of the Duke of Orange and Dutch troops defeated Napoleon. There were 220,000 troops versus 120,000 French.

Head of the lion

We surveyed the farmland below where the battle took place, and saw a map showing troop placement.

Waterloo farmland

The stairs

As we descended, we counted steps, and I came up with 218, and Kent had 236. The guidebook says there are 226 steps. Since we kept hold on the railing, we ended up with orange dust on our hands from rust. At the Panorama we paid 60 BEF/$1.60 each to see the huge mural in the round, depicting the battle, with important figures and places marked. There was a tiny museum that included a copy of Napoleon’s death mask.

Panorama ticket

We returned to the car and once back on the highway, several driver blunders were pointed out to illustrate the incompetence of Belgian drivers who, up until 1974, were able to apply for a license through the mail. Now there is a road test to pass. The roads are excellent, but the drivers are not. Looking down from the Ls’ apartment, we saw people stopping in the middle of the rotary!

We passed flat farmland, where they get three plantings per year. Saw many a farm “hof,” farm buildings around a walled-in courtyard, like the picture at the farm of Huguenot, where British troops holed up at Waterloo. Crossed the Meuse River with the city of Namur to the right, and steep cliffs of the gorge to the left. We were moving along a quite a clip, 135 kmh/85 mph. Went from route A4 to N4 towards Bastogne. The countryside became hilly as we approached the Ardennes region, the area of Shakespeare's “As You Like It.” Drove through the town of Bastogne, and followed our noses to the Mardasson Monument on Mardasson Hill, a monument to the 70,000 US soldiers who fought in the historic Battle of the Bulge in the bitter winter of 1944 under Brigadier General Anthony MacAuliffe, who responded to the German demands for surrender with the word “Nuts!” American troops held an overwhelming number of German troops at bay until weather conditions improved for Allied reinforcements to be flown in.

Mardasson Monument

The 101st Airborne Division kept Hitler from turning the tide and perhaps winning the war. The star-shaped gallery memorial had the names of the states and branches of the Armed Forces units involved. It was designed by Georges Dedoyard and dedicated in 1950.

Gallery

US Sherman M4 (105) tank

Tom, Dot, and Kent with German Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer

Town of Bastogne

I used a restroom for 6 BEF/15 cents, and the attendant asked if she could exchange quarters for dollar bills, as the local bank did not accept coins.

We saw mole trails,

Mole hills

slugs, and a sign saying “Do Not Urinate” in three languages, but in English it said, “Commit No Nuisance.”

Huh?!

Saw cows, rolling countryside, and peeked into a crypt. Three tanks stood outside the museum.

We drove back through town to find the road to the Duchy of Luxembourg. Stopped at a red light at the border, but no one seemed interested. We continued into the charming country where we felt like we were on a road through a national park, with mountainous forest and campgrounds by the river. There were new shoots in the fields even up here. Stone or stucco houses with shutters or exterior blinds, whereas Belgium had no window protection. Wound through the town of Ettelbruck and found the statue of General George Patton with an eagle on the pedestal, and a Sherman M4 A1 tank nearby.

General George Patton

The statue is a copy of the one (1950 by James Earle Fraser) at West Point. Apparently all of Luxembourg was a WWII battle ground, but it doesn’t look it.

Also saw a thatched roof house. We made our way to the castle town of Vianden in a little river (Our River) valley, looking a bit like Switzerland. Stopped at a point to look across the valley towards the castle.

Vianden Castle

Vianden Castle close-up

Lower castle tower

We drove through the crowded town to a park, and ate at a terrace restaurant looking out on the swift running river. It was very sunny. The others had Diekirch beers, and I had Rosbot sparkling mineral water. Three of us had the Truite/Trout Meunière with salad and French fries, fried and served whole. I shared mine with Kent who had the Jambon d’Ardennes/smoked ham like prosciutto, also with salad and fries. Kent and Tom had second beers and the bill came to 1455 Luxembourg francs (LUF)/$38.30. Belgium and Luxembourg are on the same monetary system, although LUF are not accepted in Belgium. Kent tried to pay, but Tom prevailed (Dot and I were in the restroom).

Went to see the bust of Victor Hugo who died in Vianden.

Bust of Victor Hugo (replica of 1902 bust)
by Auguste Rodin

Castle and bridge

Drove back to the other side of town and Kent and I were let off at the castle. We paid 80 LUF/$2.10 each to enter the castle that had been gutted in 1871, but restoration work began in 1978. It was first constructed about 1100, with additions built into the 13th century, with a final addition in 1621.

Vianden Castle ticket

Vianden Castle guide

Made a quick tour through the rooms, some empty, and some furnished. Apparently the lower chapel was for prisoners who could at least hear the Mass in the upper chapel.

Kent at Vianden Castle

View down on the town

View of Vianden Dam (1959-1964)

View of countryside

View of the River Our and Vianden

A few of the bigger halls were set up for a wedding and banquet reception, with something that looked like waffles on a vertical souvlaki-like skewer. As we left, we noticed police and army personnel, and crowds of people who looked like they expected someone well-known to arrive for this event.

We walked down the main road to meet Tom and Dot at 15:15 at a café, then hopped in the car to drive to Luxembourg City. A woman guided us in backing out of the crowded parking space. We have seen several women sweeping the street in front of their curbs. It was getting cloudy.

I finally got the fishbone out of my throat, which had been stuck for most of the afternoon! Kent said he missed the TV antennas on the rooftops.

Luxembourg City was a challenge with one-way streets. Saw a flea market at Place du Theatre. Went to the Liens’ secret parking space below the Adolphe Bridge, where the tourist train usually begins. We walked up to follow the casemates to Place de la Constitution, and looked down the steep ravine at the trickle of the Pétrusse River in a concrete trough. Kent said there was an Adolphe Bridge in Cleveland. OH. I think he meant there was an open spandrel bridge like the Adolphe Bridge!

Adolphe Bridge (1900-1903) designed by
Frenchman Paul Séjourné and Luxembourger Albert Rodange

The casemates in Luxembourg are said to have miles of tunnels. In Place de la Constitution, there was the Monument de Souvenir/Remembrance, a memorial to the Luxembourgers who died in the first World War, which the Nazis tried to destroy.

It started raining when we entered the Cathedral of Our Lady of Luxembourg, built in 1613-1621 in Gothic style with a Renaissance entrance. It contains the crypt of the royal family. Pilgrimages are made to the miraculous statue of the Holy Virgin. There are some paintings and stained glass windows.

Next the large Place Guillaume with the City Hall to one side, normally the place for the Saturday market. Then Place d’Armes where we were to meet the Ls in about an hour, but it seemed like only 15 minutes! The rain had let up, and there was an Apple Festival going on, with a band on a mobile bandstand. People were squeezing apples and I had a cup of very fresh apple juice for 20 LUF/52 cents. Why, it tasted just like apples! The others had a glass of Mousel beer, and Kent and Tom had Thuringer sausages with caraway seeds on hard rolls. Dot bought an apple kuchen to take home. We started heading home at 17:30, and it was already dark. No one at the border. The whole highway is lighted with yellow or red street lights. We arrived in Brussels and the Woluwe area where the Ls live, drove up Avenue de Mai to an Italian restaurant called La Romana. The three others got Maes-Pils, and I had a Spa. Dot had the avocado stuffed with crab salad and Tom had a pizza Quattro Stagione. Kent had the tortelloni (the big ones!) with pesto sauce, and I had spaghetti carbonara that was very rich. The others had a second beer that came in Carlsberg glasses. Beer is supposed to be served in properly decaled glasses, and my water usually comes in a plain glass. At lunch, I did have Rosbot glass. Again Tom took over paying the bill of 1450 BEF/$38. We noticed that Tom leaves the coins from the change.

Back at the Ls', Kent tried a Pauwel Kwak beer, an Oud Hoegaards, and a Bush beer. The Kwak was very berry fruity. The Oud was very light but cloudy, and tasted orange-y. The Bush was a very strong beer.

Sunday, October 11, 1987

Up at 7:30 to shower and pack, managing to squeeze in everything. For breakfast we had the apple kuchen, with a cake-like crust and with raisins in it, and not as sweet as our apple pie. We left at 9:30 to the airport, where Tom dropped us off and went to park. We checked in and managed to take our bags as carry-ons. We met Tom and went to a café for drinks. I had hot chocolate, Dot had orange juice, and the guys had espressos. This time Kent was able to treat, a whole 300 BEF/$7.90! At 10:30 we said our goodbyes and thank-yous, and got in line for the border check. At the x-ray, they took Kent’s garment bag to check for a knife, but it turned out to be the hook for hanging the bag. In the duty-free shopping area, we bought a couple t-shirts and chocolate, spending another 1000 BEF/$26.30.

Brussels to Boston boarding pass

Boarded at 11:20 and left the gate 5 minutes late at 11:45. We were in another DC-10 that seems to need to run the length of the runway to take off, because of fuel weight. This time we both rented headsets for $3 each. We got our beverages, and Kent got a blue pin for his first beer, a Maes-Pils. Lunch was at 13:00, but 8:00 Eastern time! Light brown beef-tasting chunks in a white sauce with noodles and baby carrots. A salad of one piece of lettuce, a tomato wedge, an olive, lots of bean sprouts, and canned mushrooms in a white sauce. Also a roll with butter, crackers and Gouda cheese, a pear tart and Spa water. Kent got another beer, this time a Tiger beer from Singapore, sponsored by Heineken. Read an abbreviated version of USA Today available for free at the airport, listened to music, and dozed. Watched “The Fourth Protocol.”
At 17:00, or noon Eastern time, we had another meal; a sandwich with liverwurst and a slice of cheese, a boiled egg and a tomato wedge, fruit cocktail, and a tiny Godiva chocolate, with water.

Godiva chocolate wrapper

Kent got a Stella Artois beer. We landed in Boston 5 minutes late at 14:10, where it was cold and rainy. Things went smoothly through passport check and customs, and we were able to catch the 14:30 bus to Providence. Seemed like half the bus trip was sitting in the tunnel, even when taking the long cut to avoid traffic. Home in time for peak autumn colors, and some still-green trees. We arrived in Providence at 16:15, and I called Donna P who came right down to pick us up.

End of 1987 Low Countries trip.