Then swore I that I was a stranger here. A

As I have previously mentioned, I have had the opportunity to travel quite a bit.

Traveling to a foreign country can be difficult.  When you don't speak the language of that land, navigating it can be difficult.  I would say if you were going to spend any length of time in one area, learn the language.  If I had been able to learn ALL the different languages of the lands that I was going to be visiting, it would have been very intense.  Although I visited each port several times, I was never spending an extended period of time in any one port.  The longest would be Germany for a few weeks and it was quite tough not knowing too much German.
However, if I were to move to Mexico, I would learn A LOT more Spanish.  Likewise, if someone moves here to the United States, they should have a strong grasp of the English language.
I applaud anyone who is able to to communicate in more than one language with little or no difficulty.  Being bi-lingual is very cool.

I am getting a little of subject.

As promised, I will know tell regale you with some of my adventures I have had.

France:

They DO NOT want to speak/understand English even if they know it...

I was not too excited when the itinerary included France.  Partly because the company would say that the ship stops in Paris, when this was not the case.  The stop was actually La Havre.  It was an additional two and a half hour train ride to get to Paris.
I was not planning on making the additional trip to Paris.  I would just hit the mall in La Havre.  I do not speak French except for a few small phrases.  I could just as easy not be understood in La Havre as I could in Paris without the extra expense.
The more I thought about it I figured, "when will I get to go to Paris?", so I decided to throw caution to the wind and take the trip.  I had no idea which way to go when I got there...

Upon arrival, the first order of business was lunch.  As mentioned, not knowing the native language, I headed for the familiar golden arches to get some food.  I figured, if nothing else, I could order like they suggested in Pulp Fiction.
"One Royal with Cheese meal please!"
Blank Stare
"Quarter Pounder?"
Smile and nod and I proceed to pay the insane prices after conversion from USD to EU.  (Much disappointment brought to me by Quentin Tarantino that day.)

After wandering around, seeing some cool architecture and what I am pretty sure was an announcement for a public hanging, I happened to stumble across the Louvre.  The courtyard was HUGE!  Then when I got to the far end of it, there was the Eiffel tower.  It did not appear to be far away but looks can be deceiving so I chose to head back to the train station.

Sound easy?  IT WAS NOT...  Apparently no one told the French (or any of the Europeans) that it is much easier to make streets in a grid formation.  I was pretty much lost.

I then proceeded to ask people (very humbly, not 'cocky American') where the train station was.  I even had a nice little prop, a train schedule I had picked up prior to leaving the train station. I mostly received a silent shrug from the various Parisians.
If I remember correctly, I even had found the McDonalds so I knew I was close.
When I finally found the train station, I discovered it was right on the same block and across the street from MANY people I had asked...

I then made the trip back to La Havre only to discover that the shuttle to go from town back to the ship was done.  I was on my own to get back.  (Here we go again.)
Fortunately I found a bar with some younger people and a fast food place Quick Burger?  Maybe another McDonald's in which they were able to call me a cab to take me back to the ship.

After my excellent cabbie got me back to the ship with about 30 minutes to spare before all aboard (cutting it VERY close for me), and me showering him with the Euros I had left, I made it back to my tiny room and collapsed.

Russia:

 I WAS ROBBED!!!

Not as exciting as it sounds but still very traumatic for me.

It was a process to get off the ship in St. Petersburg.  Unless you were going on a shore excursion, had a Russian passport or a visa from your home country, you were not allowed off the ship.   The company made 'shore excursions' for the crew meaning a shuttle from the port into St. Isaac's Square.  From there you could walk to The Church of the Spilt Blood, or get a 'cab' to where ever you wanted to go.  I say 'cab' because pretty much anyone with some room in their backseat and some extra time could and would be a cab for you.

Back to the robbery.

I was not forced at knife point into a alley and shaken down and all my money take from me and left with only my socks...
At some point, while walking around the well populated areas (I am not THAT stupid), someone very skillfully opened up the zipper pocket on my Old Navy back pack and removed my mini tri-pod for my camera and my hacky sac.

I warned you it was devastating.

Fortunately I had my passport in the interior portion of the pack and my cash and camera were in the front pockets.
Now, I am not that good at hacky sac (I have this thing were I am reluctant to practice in public for a fear of people mocking me...  Flashbacks to High School I guess), and I have a steady hand for photography so it is was not a major loss but I still felt violated and not in the good way...


I know this is going a bit long so:

To Be Continued