Today was amusement park day! We went to the Parc Asterix just north of Paris. It was mainly cloudy but got sunny later in the day, perfect for a day walking of around. We all had a great time. The only downside was the large number of smokers. We really are spoiled back in Ontario where you seldom even see a cigarette. There are lots of smokers in Paris and they can smoke anywhere, even in lines for rides! So, after a whole day of exposure, I think we were all feeling a little woozy (plus the effects of the rides of course). Correction from yesterday's blog - should have been Bois de Boulogne (the park in Paris we rode around)... read more

Friday we rode our bikes to the Foret de Clamart. We took the scenic route there (and by that I mean the long-we-got-lost route, not the prettiest route) and when we got to the forest, we could only find the hiking trails at first which were very steep, rocky and not too bike-friendly. So, back down the big hill and finally found the bike trails. These were steep too but at least they were paved and ridable. This forest was well used by people running and biking. We ate our picnic in the woods and then biked around some more before heading home. The next day was off to Chartres. This town is famous for its Cathedral (dating back to the 1100's) which is spectacular. We could see it from miles away driving in. We parked ... read more

Yesterday was a partly drizzly day (first mildly inclement weather so far!) and we did not do too much so not blog-worthy.....Today we were up early and it was still overcast and a little drizzly. But by the time we headed out at 7:30 (am) the rain had stopped and the roads were dry! So, back on the bikes and off to Versailles! It was about an hour and a half to get there (which includes lots of stop lights but shockingly no stops for map checks!). The ride was pretty good and both kids are impressing us with their ability to keep up (although we are not in big rush). We were trying to get there by 9am when it opened and we did but there is nowhere to park a bike anywhere near the ... read more

Today we headed out to Fontainebleau by car. It was under an hour and we made our first stop at the Chateau de Fontainebleau. This is the chateau that was lived in the longest by a string of nobility spanning over 400 years, including two of the Napoleons (I and III). The chateau itself was extensive, having been expanded over the centuries several times by each resident King. Once beyond the chateau and into the grounds, there was a huge pond stocked with large carp (including one albino one), extensive gardens and several additional buildings (likely stables, living quarters for the staff, etc). Next stop was the Grand Parquet. We had expected to find a fun kids fair but instead today turned out to be the Gran Prix of steeplechase horse racing. A seriously major event ... read more

Today will be a short blog. Nobody was up early so we decided to have a quiet day around here. I went off to the park for a while and Nigel and the kids rode bikes to pick up a few groceries around the corner (supposedly). Two hours later they arrived home and only had baguettes! Apparently they got very turned around and Nigel lost his bearings (not like him at all) and they ended up riding up some big local mini-mountain and back down. Finally they found a familiar landmark and made it home. Only to turn back around to go to the store right down the road from us. We had an afternoon of trampoline, soccer, reading, track running, researching France, and relaxing. We should all be well charged for another outing tomorrow!... read more