WATER, FOOD, GAS NOT CHEAP IF YOU’RE staying home for Christmas, this column will likely be of no interest to you. Mind you, if you're preparing your home for the annual on- staught of Christmas house guests you might keep i: on hand as a way of preparing yourself for the worst. travel wise Barbara McCreadie To start, here's a message for anyone heading for Europe to spend the holidays with family or friends there — as a houseguest, Have you any idea what your visit will cost your hosts? They may be glad as hell to see you, but North Americans can be horribie guests. You see, we don't have any real comprehension of the cost of living overseas, The foods we take for granted can cost the earth in Europe. Keep your grubby litle hands off the milk bottle — the stuff we pay about a dollar a litre for can cost Unree times that amount there, Even more staggering is the cost of heat — and hot water. If you want to give your host an attack of the shakes, here are two guaranteed ways: * Announce, loudly, ‘‘Migawd it's cold in here!"’ Or: ® Spend 15 minutes in the shower every morning. You can add to the problem by leaving your towels in a heap for the laundry, While you're ai it, do a couple of loads of personal stuff, Use lots of water. What do you care that it's metered? You might console yourself with The cruise that comes with a Walt Disney World? ry vacation free. Cruise 4 nights to Nassau and the Bahama Out Islands. © Sail from Cerral Florida’ Port Canaveral on Premiers StarShip Fleet — voted “Cruise Line of the Year” e Gourmet cuisine. spark- ling entertainment, fulicusings, and the largest staterooms, 9 The most comprehensive chil- dren's program in cruising. @ Disney char: board every sailing. the the idea, “Mil take the whole fami- ly out for dinner to repay them for theirs Rospitality.”’ Good luck — and bring lots of money. Even if you choose a relatively modest restaurant count on your tab-per-person to exceed $100. If you think I'm joking, try it. “The foods we take for granted can cost che earth in Europe. Keep your gruchy little hands off the milk botile — the stuff we pay about a dotlar a litre for can cost three tintes that amount there,” . me ne Spars Another fine method of leading your hosts clase to binkrupicy is allowing them to drive you around, Drop a few hints about tourist sites you'd love to visit and let them han! out the family vehicle to take you there. They may not be able to afford to drive their car until next June but what do vou care? Yow ll be home by then. The guidelines for being a good houseguest, especially in Europe, fall into theee Categories: (1) What you bring. (2) What you use while you're there (3) What you leave behind. My European friends tell me SEA LION CRUISES NANAIMO From Public Market (next to B.C. Ferry) Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, 1:30pm Doily December 21-3) (except dec. 25) Adults $15.00. over 65 $13% 4-14 years $10.00 For Reservations & Information Cail 1-756-@70C0 EAST iSLAND GUIINGS a”. Plusafree 3-day Disney vacation befor: or after your crusse. ® Stay Snightsatone — « of Orlande’s best hotels (even “on-site” resorts van be free Uf reserved 6 months in advance ). © Budget or Alama rental car for Tdays, ¢ 3-day admis- sions io Magic Kingdomand Epcot Center, @ Tour of Spaceport USA“ at nearby Kennedy Space Center. January space now available from $695 us. ot Waalt Piercy Went CALL YOUR TRAVEL AGENT CK PREMIER MARKETING Suite 260 - 900 How? St., Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2M4 Tel: (604) 689-3888 Fax: (604) 884-4529 that the best guests raid the duty- free shops here before they leave. Even if your hosts neither drink nor smoke, liquor and cigarettes can be wonderfully useful com- modities to have on hand. lk may sound like food gifts are in the **Bundles for Britain’’ cate- gory bat they can be well disguis- ed, A whole B.C, sockeye salmon, professionally packed, is a good choice. So is a whole beef tenderloin. Bz sure to check that these items are acceptable to the authorities abroad. Keep your emphasis on ‘Made in Canada’ and youl run fale risk of offending. What you use while you're there is the next hurdle, Be Guctful about the clathes vou bring — don't wear your down-filled dacket at breakfast, bul pack your thermal underwear and warm slippers, Pack your gasoline credit card, use into Fill their gas tank and keep your tears to yourself, Give chem the gift of free time. Get out of the way! The European housekeeper relies far more on seratel: foods than we da bus the preparation takes time. Turn of f lights, Don't let faucets Crip. In short, be aware of conser: vation and be diligent. Bring enough clothes that) you won't need to do laundry. fo light of what I've said: before, don't drink a drop from their li- quo: supply without providing a replacement. Homight be helpful if you take a nerve pill before you “Mixed Nuts Trophy Satted or No Sait StGS LB. 2.100 GRAMS 41 - Sunday, December 10, 1989 - North Shore News 3e a perfect Eurcpean shop for liquer in Europe — ex- pect prices at least double ours. What do you leave behind? Good houseguests know that departing gifts are always appreci- ated. | hope that by this time the best gift you caa give isn’t: your own departure. If you're uncertain about what to leave, my experience has been that you can positively doie on INCLUDES quest children and elderly relatives. You must take a bit more care in choos- ing gifts for your coatemporaries. Letters of thanks are man- datory, but sets of photographs are a nice additional touch. 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