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Published: April 27th 2007
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I got ahead of myself and was uploading pictures when I "published" the wrong blog entry so I guess you can view the nice pictures of France and wait until I enter the story later. That is why I should have gone to bed after I send the last blog...enjoy!
Now that you have seen all of the pictures, I will add some information for those of you that want to read.
Once I arrived in Paris, I walked to another terminal where I could catch the bullet train to Rennes, but had about two hours to wait, which was nice so I did not have to rush. The high speed train is same type that broke the land speed records a month or so ago. It was not the same train, but it was same type. Oh, the train ride in France was so much better than the one in Russia. It was three hours with a few stops, but very comfortable (second class) and oh so quiet! It was also a lot more roomie as compared to a plane and it much easier to get up and move around. I wish I would have found the
club car on the way there to get something to drink, but it was very nice and with train rides like this, I can see why my Unlce Ed likes them so much. If they get the trains moving as fast as planes, I could see myself becoming a fan of the trains, but for now, I will still take a plane.
Oh and before I forget, I have to tell on myself. I am not sure if it was the BMT Subway sandwich or the sushi or just all of the travel, but I came down with something on Saturday night. It was not uncontrollable, but I needed a restroom regularly so when I was on the plane, it made for an interesting flight to Malin. The cabin pressure "blew me up" like a balloon and there was not much I could do while the fasten seat belt sign was on so the poor person next to me. I tried to control it but with the cabin pressure and whatever it was for the day before, all I know was it was a very bad reaction...lol I also have a much greater appreciate for the onboard bathrooms that
Bullet Train
I do not think this was the one that set the world rail speed record, but it is like it and oh how quiet and comfortable it was! Even though we made a few stops, it was so much nicer than flying especially if they can get the speeds up so it is comparable to flying. the women have to use. There is a huge difference which way the toilet faces and I have alot more respect for what women have to go through to use the restrooms in public places! I know all of this is just way too much information for most of you, but since it is my blog, I decided to post it...lol.
Back to the train ride; it was so nice to see the country side and it was so different than Russia's! I really did fall in love with France. I have never been a fan of Paris so I am really glad I traveled outside of Paris and got to see more of France. I now want to go back and see more of the country.
It is also a good thing I had more pages added to my passport, which was a story in itself with Misha. Before telling that story, I forgot to tell most of you, I have a new translator. His name is Denis and so far he is working out better than the last two so hopefully I will keep him for awhile. Now back to Misha and my passport. I called
Toto...
... we are not in Moscow any more! What a huge change. I loved the country side as we traveled along from Paris to Rennes. It was like this most of the way and I must say, I really enjoyed France once outside of Paris. the US Embassy to make sure Misha could hand deliver it on my behalf and as long as I completed the online form, printed it and enclosed it with my passport, there was not suppose to be any problems. I knew Misha did not want to go to the Embassy, but I doubled checked a Russian could enter who did not speak English. Well, when he got there, I am not sure exactly what happened, but he called Denis to tell Denis they would not let him in and I would have to go. I told Misha to stay put while I called the Embassy again. Misha did not want to go and had already left. I told Denis to tell him to turn around and get back there because whether it was today or tomorrow, Misha was going to get my passport taken care of. Well to find out, he was in the car, but had not left, he was just hoping I would tell him he would not have to go into the Embassy. The second time (or maybe really the first time he actually tried) he got in without any problems and go the pages added.
So now back to this trip. I left Moscow, which was one stamp, entered and left Warsaw, two stamps, traveled through Milan one stamp, but I guess becauase it was full EU country to full EU country, they never stamped it in Paris arriving, but on my departure they did but not in Milan this time but that was two more then once more when I arrived in Moscow. I had one empty space left in the passport so I would have made it but I did not know for sure.
Once I met up with Alan and Andre, our sales person, we decided to visit Mount Saint Michael. I hate to say it, but at the time, I did not know anything about it, but I really glad we went to see it. It use to be an island when the tide was coming in/going out from high tide and could only be accessed when it was low tide. Over the years, the tide has brought sand and dirt in so it is no longer an island at high tide, but the water does come up to the "mountain" but does not completely surround it. According to Andre,
they are going to make it back into an island again. Unfortunitely we got there after the abby was closed, but it was still neat to walk around and see the shops and restaurants.
The following is what I obtained from the post cards I bought; et, Editions Normandes LE GOUBEY - Caen; 50 A, Rte de Bretagne - 14760 Bretteville-Sur-Odon, no date given.
"The 'Merveille de l'Occident' up to 266 feet high, was build on a granitic island amidst large sandy beaches between Normandy and Brittany....The difference in depth of water between low and high tide can reach forty-six feet. The tide is amoung the strongest in Europe. The Bay uncovers at low tide (up to 9 miles). The fast and winding waves of the flood tides on a shaky clay, know as 'tangue' is a danger for the walkers. During pilgrimages, you walk across the bay with guides. If the Mont attracts millions of tourist from the whole world, it is a place of worship at first."
My pictures do not do it justice and it would be well worth another trip to go see!
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Gale
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Such beautiful pictures! I'm sure everything is more beautiful in person though but these are really nice to see. We get to see things you don't see on TV about these foreign places thanks to you. What you are doing for us is something we will never get to do or experience ourselves and I thank you so much! It's an adventure each time I get a notice that you've posted something! lol Just got back from a few days in Memphis on the Blues tour of Beale Street, Sun Studios then Graceland with Ken's family and our daughter who's been here a week. It was a nice vacation although I had to work Friday for a Silliker audit. We did good though so that was alright. Take care and keep in touch.