Nuremburg, Germany

Bonjour Y'all!  We made it safe and sound to Strasbourg.  Left St. Gaudens around noon yesterday and arrived here just before midnight, via trains.  To think we only got stuck on the train in the "middle of no where" once.  Annndddd only one of the four trains we took was late.  Aaannnndddddd when we arrived at our final destination .....the pay off.....a cab was waiting at the curb for us!  Woot, another successful travel day!

The train rides through the countrysides of France have been just the same as if traveling round the Smokies.  Beautiful!  But then yesterday, we past Marseilles and saw the sea.  Beautiful!  And we past several castles on the way.  Beautiful!  Hopefully we will get to see both up close and personal... and soon.

Last year, the tourney in Strasborg had a ranking cut off of 693 in the singles qualifier.  This year it is 330, not good for Natalie.  One of the main reasons we can to France was this tourney.  Since the USA has lost 3 WTA level tourneys, Natalie has to go out of country to chase points.  Only 6 WTA events left in the USA.  Unfortunately, many other players thoughts were the same as ours and they came too.  Bumping Nat out, she is 7th alternate.

Natalie and Melichar are trying to get into doubles in Nuremburg, Germany.  Melichar went there to try to get into singles.  Their plan all along was for both to try to get into singles then double at either tourney they could get into.  So, it looks like we will board a train around 2 o'clock today and head to Germany.  At the present moment, they are team 8 out of the 11 that have signed into to play doubles.  Meaning....they have a very high percentage of getting into the draw.  Registration ends at noon, if they get in....we will make the mad dash to the train station.

Just a lil extra info....the Nuremburg tourney is a WTA tournament which means it's purse is over $100K....in this case $250K.  This will be Natalie's third doubles appearance in that level of tournament.  Please keep in mind, it is waaayyyy easier to get into doubles then singles at any of the tourneys....except the Grand Slams.  Why you ask the difference for the Slams??  Because a player may use their singles or doubles rankings to get into the Slams....a rule that needs to be revised in my opinion.  For a player that doesn't play a doubles match all year can get into a Slam on their singles ranking over a player that has played only doubles all year.  Change is needed!

Ok...off my soapbox!  And back to packing....Love and Blessings....Sherry!