http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Cyndi-D/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Cyndi D en-us Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:05:09 +0000 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:05:09 +0000 Cyndi Jeff and I leave early for Versailles. We take the RER Rseau Express Rgional train from Paris. It takes about 45 minutes to get to Versailles from Paris. Once we arrive at the train station near Versailles we have about a 10 to 15 minute walk to the gates of the palace. The palace and the grounds are immense http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-451224.html We left for Notre Dame early on 87 in an attempt to arrive before most of the visitors start lining up in Place Parvis to climb the bell tower of Notre Dame. Although we arrive before 9 am the line is already forming and at 9 am the line is long. The gates for the tower do not open until 930. Only 20 people at a time are allowed every 10 minutes into the tower so it is 1015 by the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-448697.html August 5th was Jackiersquos last full day in Paris. We visited the Marais district which included Rue Des Rosiers Place des Vosges and Victor Hugorsquos home. In the evening after having dinner with Eric at Restaurant Chartier Eric took us on a night tour of Paris. The following morning Cyndi and I take Jackie to the airport and return our leased car. Later Cyndi Jeff and I visit Opra G http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/blog-447576.html On our first full day in Paris we visited Place de la Concorde LrsquoOrangerie and Jardin de Tuileries. In the afternoon we went to Angelina's for dessert and then to Muse de l'Arme Les Invalides. The next day Jackie and Jeff went to the Latin Quarter while Cyndi and I walked around Paris. We saw many sights such as the Seine River Pont Neuf Place Dauphine Ste. Chapelle Notre Dame P http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-446729.html After leaving St. JacquesdelaLande we headed east to the Loire Valley. The Loire River is south of Paris and flows from east to west. This riverrsquos valley is the home of hundreds of castles palaces and chateaux. The Loire Valley has rolling hills fertile fields and vineyards. We stayed at La Roseraire a hotel in Chenonceaux for two nights. While in this area we stopped to view Ch http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/blog-445030.html During our final two days in St. JacquesdelaLande we visited Carnac The Gulf of Morbihan Arradon Vannes Fougeres and Broceliande Forest of Paimpont. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Brittany-/blog-443822.html After we leave Mont St. Michel we drive southwest to Rennes the capitol of Brittany. On the way we see old style windmills that are built on the reclaimed fields overlooking the bay where Mont St. Michel is located and our first Menhir standing stone . Our next home exchange is in St. JacquesdelaLande a suburb of Rennes. This home will be our base for the next few days. Over the next fe http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Brittany-/blog-443041.html These pictures were taken in Bayeaux and at Mont Saint Michel Abbey on July 25 and 26. the Bayeaux tapestry is now displayed under glass but was originally hung around the nave of the Cathedral in Bayeaux. Mont Saint Michel is an island abbey that has been a pilgrimage center since A. D. 708. The Bishop of Avranches built this abbey after receiving instructions from Michael the Archangel. It http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Lower-Normandy/Mont-Saint-Michel/blog-441544.html The following pictures were taken in Normandie France. They include Veules Les Roses Rouen Etretat Giverny Ponte du Hoc Bayeaux. They were taken between July 19 and 24 2009. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/blog-441298.html On our way to Dublin we visited Cahir Castle Swiss Cottage Rock of Cashel and Cashel Cathedral. We stayed one night at a BB The Rockville House in Cashel. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/blog-439782.html The following pictures are from July 7 8 and include The Dingle Peninsula Circle Tour Dingle Town Inch Beach and Killarney National Park. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Kerry/Dingle-Peninsula/blog-439163.html We hope you enjoy seeing some pictures from our first week in Ireland. If you want to read more in the blog it was from June 30 July 6. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/blog-438801.html Well we have been home over a month now and have begun to edit our photos so far we are down by two thirds from 3000 to 1000 Don't worry we wouldn't post them all but we thought you might like to see a few. These are from our first days in France. July 1719 which we spent with our friends in Deauville and visiting the DDay beaches and American cemetery. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/blog-438633.html Sunday August 9Basilique du SacrCoeligur Musee Rodin and Place du Trocadro Dean went to the pool first thing then we all went to 11 orsquoclock Mass at St. Peterrsquos in NeuillysurSeine before boarding the metro for SacrCoeligur the mosquelike Cathedral on the highest hill in Paris. When we came up from the metro the streets were mobbed To get from the metro stop to the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-428376.html Friday August 7NotreDame Cathedral Sainte Chapelle La Conciergerie We rise early so that Jeff and I can climb NotreDamersquos tower. The line is already long at 900 and they do not open the gates until 930. Dean holds our place in line while Jeff and I see the inside of the Cathedral. Notre Dame was built on an island in the Seine River le de la Cit. It stands on the site of Par http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-428107.html We Have not been lost but so busy that I have not had time to update. We leave for home this morning so I will have to post our last 5 days from US soil hoping for not too much difficulty with taxis check in security and customs. See most of you soon http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-427508.html Wednesday August 5 Museum of Jewish Art Rue DesRosiers Place des Vosges Musee Shoah and Dinner at Chartierrsquos Today is our last day with Jackie so we want to do a few things that she might not have seen last year. I know that in the Caen museum we had all been disappointed that the special exhibit on the Jewish children had been in French only. I had read that the Museum http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-427142.html Monday August 3 part 2 Place de la Concorde Jardin deTuileries Musee LrsquoOrangerie Angelinarsquos and Les Invalides The metro drops us at Place de la Concorde about 1215 and we climb the stairs to our first real sight of central Paris. Turning 360 degrees we can see the Egyptian Lexur obelisk which is 3200 years old the Jardin deTuileries fountains and th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-426190.html Saturday August 1 Chateau Chenonceau Chateau Cheverny and Chateau Chambord Dean and I begin the day in the patisserie with caf au lait and croissants. We bring one home for Jeff Jackie has gf bread cereal and fruit in her bag and wake them up to go to the chateau. Rain is predicted so we bring our jackets. It is a fiveminute walk through the village down a treelined path and acro http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-425978.html Thursday July 30Fougeres and the Forest of Paimpont Brocliande Today is our last day in St Jacques. When Dean returns from the pool we pack a lunch and drive to Fougeres another walled city but this one with the chateaucastle restored. From the tourist info center we walk past the points of interest to the church of St Leonard. Behind the church are amazing public gardens that cover t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Brittany-/Lorient/blog-424568.html