The euro, McDonald’s and the road home

Whew. I am on the road again, but this time it is the road home. My three colleagues and I have enjoyed the World Money Fair in Berlin. Our thanks go to everyone who made it possible, most especially Hans-Henning Goehrum, president of WMF.

Weather problems in Paris completely changed our travel plans and will put us back in Iola a day late. Instead of returning late Tuesday night, I am now scheduled to arrive late Wednesday afternoon. One good thing about it is the schedule was changed soon enough that I could sleep a little later this morning and spend some of the delay in the Estrel Hotel rather than in the airport.

Monday was spent writing stories and submitting them to the office in Iola for use in World Coin News, which goes to press at noon on Wednesday. We sent photos to the office as well.

Yesterday started with Tom Michael and I making a quick dash to a nearby McDonald's for breakfast and then I didn't eat again until supper. It is interesting to spend euro coinage and the trip for fast food allowed me to give and receive change. I paid for my breakfast with a 2-euro coin and two 50 euro cent pieces. I received as change a 1 euro cent piece. Prices ending in 99 are effective in Europe, too, but I find I do like the European practice of building the tax into the price. When my breakfast comes to 2.99, that's the final price. I am sure, though, that this practice will not catch on in the United States.

The differences are what make the world go round.