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Europe » France » Île-de-France » Paris October 28th 2005

Today started similarly to yesterday. We arrived at the park early and stalked Mickey in front of the gate as he greeted arriving guests. Then we took silly pictures with Halloween decorations along Main Street. However, instead of heading to Fantasyland, we started our day in Discoveryland. When the gate opened, we joined the stampede and headed for Space Mountain. But we didn’t get into line, we opted instead to get fastpasses and then we went to the Orbitron. Orbitron is basically a rocketship version of Dumbo. Once again, Dad sat out to take pictures, and I got queasy from spinning around in circles at high altitudes. (However, to my credit, I can handle the spinning teacups, no problem.) We then decided to choose a place to meet up after each of us rode Space Mountain. ... read more
Hubba, Hubba!
No Caption Necessary
Meeting Minnie

Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées October 28th 2005

I did not realize that I wasnot publishing my blog so a lot will come through at once. some days I am too lazy. sorry. I was soooo glad to hear from Pat, Jullie, Jean, Heather and everyone. About email. Sometimes I can pick it up but I cant reply. So this is my only commuciation. I can always get news on the blog tho. While I miss my friends and family, I am not ready to come home yet. I havent figured out how to use a contraction on this keyboard. ha! We have kind of settled into a routine. It is the best of both worlds. Live in the country and work in the city. When we go home at night it is like nothing I have ever experienced. Right in the middle of ... read more
Room with a view in France
Room with a view1
Room with a view2

Europe » France » Île-de-France » Paris October 27th 2005

Katie and I decided to make pumpkin cake with chocolate chips in it some time ago to celebrate fall. The Parisians just haven’t discovered the joys of pumpkin croissants here yet! And until they do, let me just warn you that you must go forth into the great metropolis with a strong will and a good friend if you are to succeed in making that oh-so-coveted favorite fall treat of pumpkin cake. Well, the journey began last Tuesday, the one day that both Katie and I have no school. We brought our formidable list of ingredients translated from English into French to the local grocery store, but unfortunately they did not carry pumpkin, baking soda, or baking powder, so we hiked to the much larger grocery store near by with all of our bags. There, we ... read more
Katie and I with the Eruption and Another Cake in Good Form

Europe » France » Île-de-France » Paris October 27th 2005

Thursday, a toddler’s dream day… We decided to devote this day to everything that a toddler would love. We arrived at Disneyland Park early and we were at the front of the line (almost) when Mickey opened the gates to Main Street. Mickey was very friendly and greeted Katherine cheerfully. Older kids formed an orderly line to get autographs and have their pictures made, but Katherine just kept standing next to Mickey, watching his every move, basically stalking him. He took a break from the kids in line and greeted Katherine again, which he didn’t have to do, but I was grateful, because after that she was ready to move on, and we walked down Main Street taking pictures with various Pumpkin Men statues. It was still before 9:00 a.m., so we waited at the foot ... read more
Katherine Stalks Mickey
Sleeping Beauty's Castle
Dumbo

Europe » France » Île-de-France » Paris October 27th 2005

Sightseeing... Day 2 Morning... I woke up around 5am and just had to get up. That bed is the bed from hell. I was hurting too much to lay there any longer. It turns out Kelley was up too so we headed to the showers which have no water pressure and have to be held onto because they don't stay firm on their own and flop down spraying the wall with what little water they squirt out... Took forever to take a shower. Such a difference from my first trip to Paris last fall... Had a great hotel room, with a bed that felt like sleeping on a cloud, and FANTASTIC water pressure... Oh well... Anyway breakfast is served from 7:15am - 9:30am so at just before 7:15am we were down in the lobby. I have ... read more
Goofing around
Oh boy stairs!!
Look at all those stairs....

Europe » France » Île-de-France » Le Pré-Saint-Gervais October 27th 2005

We've just spent an interesting week in St Gervais which is a village of about 800 people just across the Rhone river from Orange. We made the most of travel locally, taking day trips out from there to Avignon, Pont du Gard, Uzès, Orange, Chateauneufdupape, Pont St Esprit, and Chartreuse--all different, all interesting. We tasted local wines (bought some to drink back at our lodging), local foods, and saw many interesting sights. A highlight for me was our guided tour around St Gervais itself with a local historian who not only knows an incredible amount about the ancient and modern history of the area, but has also participated in helping to identify and restore artifacts found from pre Roman times and later. At first, this little village did not seem to have much to offer, but ... read more

Europe » France » Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur October 26th 2005

Hi Again. To cqtch up on the rest of our time spent around St. Gervais. We spent time in wonderful outdoor markets with everything imaginable for sale- vegetables, olives, clothes, baking etc etc. We also went to q couple of wineries for " degustation" wine stqtion including the fqmous Chqteau Neuf de Pape The latter was built as an alternate residence for the Popes who also hqd moved their residence to Avignon, which we also toured. Orange is qnother place dating back to Roman times and we went to the Ampitheatre which is still quite intqct. This was for human qnd animal fights. On entry to the city of Orange is an qrc de triomphe built by the Romans and copied by Napoleon in Pqris. We stopped in Arles and toured a musee full of dioramas ... read more

Europe » France » Midi-Pyrénées October 26th 2005

Bon jour! I want to write a bit about my lovely host and hostess, Marleen and Ivo. They are from Belgium and moved to France about 12 years ago. They qre parents to Niels and Helena Hullaert They bought some acreage in the midi-pyrenees region. They started a chocolate shop in Foix, selling Belgium chocolates, which are the finest you can buy. She also sells coffee, hot drinks and ice cream. Right now there is a mother with her 2 little girls in with some friends enjoying a treat. It is a charming shop with a eye catching display of her chocolates. She has a local artist who frequents the shop and has a display. She sold a painting just last week. There is a local association that has an organic garden. There are many families ... read more
midi-pyrenees
Ivo picking figs
Marleen and Ivo picking grapes

Europe » France October 26th 2005

As always when travelling, I am curious about the design details. This trip, besides looking closely at doors and ardhways, I have been noticing the plumbing. My special interest is in the bathtubs and showers. Nearly everwhere we've stayed, I have seen the deep but narrow bathtubs with gigantic telephone type showers mounted on the long side of tub, low down--no shower curtains. I've taken to having what I call a "shath". I can put a small amount of water in the bottom of the tub, sit and soak my bottom and my feet at the same time, then just reach over and grab the shower head and shower off. Toilets are another whole topic! We've got lots of tales to tell. Even using the toilets is an adventure here! Warning/ don't try sharing a pay ... read more

Europe » France » Île-de-France » Paris October 26th 2005

The hotel... So our hotel is on Rue Rodier, a tiny little road... The hostel across the way was called The Woodstock Hostel, just kind of funny because I live on Woodstock!! Anyway, the hotel is tiny, phone on the bottom floor, but the front desk people are amazing nice. We get breakfast (well cafe au lait and warm baguettes and jelly) every morning. Yummy! I love the food here! Our room is up the stairs on the 4th floor, I counted, 74 stairs to our floor. But on the bright side the lift is so small and slow it makes you want to go up those stairs and work that ass!! The hotel room... Oh my god... the room was tiny, but it was so cute! The key was very old school, probably from when ... read more
Me and Kelley
Jenn, Kelley, Me day 1
me and jenn




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