Category: Europe
French cafes -- R.I.P.
The daily news is horrific. Our retirement funds are tanking. And a broken ankle that should have been fully healed by now is taking its own, sweet time. But we've tried to remain optimistic.Oh sure, we've had one too many glasses of wine here or there, but we've gotten up each day, promised ourselves that we'd appreciate our blessings, and gotten on with it. Until today. Today, we're officially depressed, thanks to an article in the New York Times.
According to the Times, in 1960, there were 200,000 cafes in France. Now, there are fewer than 41,500, with an average of two closing every day. Ouch.
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Cruise deals to good to pass up.
Back when the economy was kind of predictable, cruise lines would look at the load factors of their departures and discount fares on sailings that weren't selling according to plan.If a voyage was really underbooked, they'd start lowering the price to fill up the ship. Big cruise ships are like movie theaters - they make their money on concessions. Because an empty cabin represents a lost opportunity to sell shore excursions, drinks, and poker chips, the cruise lines do what it takes to fill their berths.
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Lufthansa one-day sale.
If you’re feeling good about your finances, there are some deals out there for spontaneous travelers.Lufthansa is having a one-day sale on October 22, 2008. Details are unavailable, but the last one-day sale, which took place on October 1, 2008, offered fares as low as $257 each way for winter/spring travel from the U.S. to Europe.
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Visit Iceland for half price.
If last week's financial news has you reeling, be thankful that you're not an Icelander. When Iceland's three leading banks were unable to refinance their existing debt, the government had to step in and take them over. As a result, the local currency has lost nearly half its value, and the life savings of many Icelanders is in jeopardy.The Swedes have pitched in $702 million, and the government of Iceland has asked Russia for a €4 billion loan to help stabilize the economy. Although a full recovery is likely years away.
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