Memories

Michelle and I went to Purple Moon, a bead store in Grayslake, yesterday to buy clasps and additional beads to create our memory bracelts. Here's mine, with the Eiffel Tower and "P" charms I bought in Paris.



Click on the image above to see a picture of the entire bracelet.

P.S. Michelle and Jo solved the scarf dilema. Jo knew an international ed student who's visiting here from France. She was able to translate the parts I couldn't decipher with Babelfish. Michelle tested it out last night, and while we're not exactly sure if it's right, it's close enough to get the job done.

For those of you interested...the knitting store used a scarf pattern featured in an issue of Marie Claire Idees to make the kits we purchased. Unfortunately we're not sure which issue it was in and, even if we did, the magazine is only published in French anyway.

La longue echarpe cravte

Translating the scarf kit I purchased from the knitting store in Paris is much more difficult than I had anticipated. I thought I'd be able to come home and google my way to a lovely new scarf in no time. As it turns out, the number of French women who are fluent in English, happen to be knitters who read Marie Claire Idees, and document their work online seems to be just about zero.

I suppose I'll have to embark on this journey armed with babelfish, a fading memory of the actual design, and relatively no knitting experience under my belt (with the exception of a still half finished scarf resting comfortably in my drawer of crafting projects that time forgot).

I'll be sure to take pictures of the monstrosity as soon as it's complete.

Online Photo Album

I've started posting some of our pictures to flickr.com. You can visit our album at http://www.flickr.com/photos/parispals/.

Hope you enjoy!

P.S. My shoes still have Paris dust on them and every time I see them it makes me smile (several of the sites we visited didn't have any ground cover and by the end of the day we were covered head to toe in dust and sweat. Michelle lovingly referred to it as being 'smarmy').

Last day post and some more pictures

I finally got my last day in Paris entry posted. I also added some pictures to the earlier entries(there is one of the famous David hidden in there too). I still have tons and tons to sift through so check back over the next few days for more updates. Michelle will be adding her pictures soon too.

We're Baaacckk

Our plane landed a couple hours ago. Michelle's family picked us up at the airport, she was very ready to be back. I could have stayed another week, or month, or year.

I'll be posting the details of our last day in Paris tomorrow (which will include the conclusion to the David saga for those of you who are dying to know how it all ended). For now, I'm tired and I have a mountain of laundry to do and two very talkative kitties who are soaking up the affection as quickly as I can dish it out. Thanks to Shirley for watching over them while I was away.

I'd also like to thank all of the loyal readers who followed our adventures along the way. It was great to receive your feedback through comments and emails. We looked forward to visiting Internet cafes at the stops along the way so we could check in with everyone back home. It made the distance seem smaller.

I'll have some more pictures up tomorrow as well.

Have a great Memorial Day!

We'll Always Have Paris

As Michelle mentioned, we took a morning bus ride to Versallis. I didn't think I'd ever be happy to get back on another bus but this one was a sight for tired feet. It proved to be a very welcome change of pace for our travel mates as well.

We toured the gardens at Versailles first, and they remained my favorite part. I expected more of a show from the fountains and music, but it was nice just the same. A couple of the human statues that lined the pathways had small tails, I found this very interesting, I have no clue what it means.

My senses went into overload upon entering the main building. It was so crowded and hot. The tourists here were very pushy, the worst we had seen on the entire trip. The rooms themselves were so overly opulent, by the time we hit the third or fourth room we were shuffling through rather than taking time to really look. I know what I am about to say is going to sound horrible but, by this time on our trip we had seen a lot of painted ceilings, gilded statuary, and crystal chandeliers. Even some of the paintings here were featured in the Louvre. Our brains just couldn't absorb anymore. We probably would have gotten more out of it if we went the first or second day, but the water show in the garden only plays on weekends so Bob scheduled it this way.

We boarded the bus and headed back for the hotel where we were left on our own for the rest of the day. Michelle and I stopped in at the Internet Cafe for one last session then we went to the knitting store again. I purchased more buttons and clasps and a patch. The store is so happy inside and is filled with tons if inspiration. The girl who helped me was so sweet. She didn't know much English, but did a great job and was very patient. She was really cute too. She had cool hair and a small diamond nose ring, one of the first I've seen that actually looked good.

We stopped at Starbucks for lunch and coffee. It was nice - again - to have American coffee with chocolate and whipped cream, just like home.

By the time we finished lunch we were fairly tired but we decided to stroll through the Chatelet a bit to look for clothes (I bought lots of cute little tee-shirts and a pair of capris like the ones we saw all over Paris) and tablecloths (which we never found).

We took the metro back to the hotel for the very last time. It had been a great asset on our trip, and was very easy to learn. Great for people watching too.

We ran into Lee and Joanne in the cafe next to the hotel. They asked us to join them for dinner, but we declined and returned to our room. We had a picnic to prepare for and time seemed to be moving very quickly.

We stopped at the cafe that had the yummy quiches and purchased two. We also stopped by the grocery store to pick up coke and wine, then we headed up to the church. Michelle bought a bag along the way so she could take all her newly purchased items home. Somehow I managed to cram everything into my suitcase and carry-on.

We had a nice leisurely walk. Michelle only grumbled a little bit about walking up all the steps again. This time it was her idea though (but I know she did it for me). We found a spot on the top set of steps in front of Sacre Couer and ate our quiches as we gazed upon the marvelous view of Paris.

After we ate and cooled down a bit we walked around the back of Sacre Couer to the start of Montmartre. When we turned the corner guess who was standing there? He threw open his arms and kissed me hello on the cheek. We exchanged some small talk then he asked why I hadn't called. I told him I thought he would call me and then I asked him why he didn't. He said he was waiting for me to call him. He asked me what I was doing for the evening and I pointed to Michelle and told him we were planning on walking around Montmartre then going back to pack. He wanted to see me after and asked me to call him. I said I'd try, but I'm sure he knew I didn't mean it.

Michelle started to walk away and I turned told David I had to go. He kissed me on the corner of my mouth and said goodbye. Then he leaned in and kissed me gently on the lips. It was better than I had imagined it would be, soft and warm and lovely. The kind of kiss that makes time stand still and music swell in the background. The kind that promises amazing things to come.

He touched my nose with his and gave me a crinkly eyed smile one last time. Somehow I managed to pull myself away and join Michelle. We continued along the shops of Montmartre, stopping here and there to admire a scarf (I bought another one, but it was only 6 euro and I couldn't resist) a tee-shirt, or a touristy nick nack.

On our way back towards Sacre Couer we ran into Nicole (pronounced Knee-cole), David's artist friend. He stopped us and talked quite a bit about life and love. He speaks English very well, along with German and Spanish. Quite an interesting character. When he heard it was our last night he wanted to hang out later on in the evening after he got finished. I told him I had to pack but he gave me his phone number and we exchanged email addresses. I guess I have a new pen pal now.


Nicole

It was still light out when we left Sacre Couer. We decided to walk back even though we had planned on taking a cab. The setting sun on the clouds made the sky look like a painting come to life.

We stopped off at the cafe next to our hotel and had coffee and ice cream and did some people watching one last time. It was the perfect end to an amazing adventure.

Paris will live in my heart forever. I couldn't have asked for a more magical time.

Versailles

Today, we went to Versailles, on a bus! Hallelujah!

The gardens of Versailles are magnifiscent, very formal with statues and fountains. The fountains started at 10:30 a.m. It's cooler today, thank you very much! We've got a little bit of our juice back.

The interior of Versailles is filled with gold leaf, magnificent paintings of the various Louies and Marie Antoinette. It's easy to see why the French revolutionists hated Marie A. and her husband. Their country was in ruins and here's the king, queen and court living it up at this country estate. The crowds inside were so numerous that I skirted that outside of each room, read the signs quickly and moved on.

The Hall of Mirrors is going through its first renovation ever. That was rather disappointing although you could tell what the room looked like based on some of the remaining mirrors; lots of reflected light and more gold leaf, chandeliers, and views of the formal garden.

Now, Julie and I are on our own. We're going back to the knitting store - Julie's idea not mine.

Tomorrow, we leave dear friends. We'll be adding and editing so check back for further details.

Personally, I'm ready to go home. I can't wait to see the family! But, Julie will be sad I think. I do believe that we're overloaded as to sightseeing though. A nice tour of the french countryside maybe.....

M

Another Church?

You may say, "you visited another church?" Aren't you getting tired of them?" I thought the answer may have been yes but I would have been wrong.

Day started at 9:00 a.m.

Each church gets better and better. Yesterday, we visited Sainte Chapelle. The stained glass windows in the church are so beautiful! I actually sat down and just looked at all of the bible scenes that were depicted in each of the panels. Much of the church and some of the windows were destroyed during the French revolution but its been restored. Even so, when you walk in on the first floor, you think, what's the big deal? Mnay of the columns are losing paint and some big chips have been taken out of the plaster. However, you walk up the very tight circular staircase, into the chapel reserved for the aristocracy, and you say "Wow!" Julie took many pictures so you'll see it too!

From Sainte Chapelle, we journeyed to the Louvre (yes, we walked!) in 90F+ weather - can we say "smarmy?" Julie and I both lost our drive in the Louvre. We saw the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory and the Venice di Milo; we saw Greek, Roman, and French sculpture, Egyptian antiques, Italian paintings, all of it more beautiful than the last. But its the ceilings that no one tells you about. They are just as beautiful and oppulent as anything else that we've seen.

From the Louvre, we went on our dinner cruise. The food was good but we had better after we visited Giverny. We did have some fabulous wine though and the cafe creme brulee was very good. It was hot though; Julie and I were seated on the sunny side of the ship. The cruise lasted about an hour and a half.

Then, we walked to the Eiffel Tower; Julie and I thought we were going to take the metro. Bob sure loves to walk. By the time we made it to the Tower, I had to use the wc; it cost .40 cents but it was clean and had toilet seats. I didn't care at that point. Compared to Wednesday morning, the Eiffel Tower area was jammed!

We saw the lights lit on the Tower - I still think it looks better from far away. But Julie was happy because she took her night time shots of the tower.

Time day ended included metro ride home 11:15 p.m.

Michelle

Yesterday seems so far away...

We were so busy yesterday by the time we got back to the hotel the internet cafe was closed. I'm tired today, so I'll keep this short and fill in later.

We saw the highlights at the Louvre... Mona Lisa, Venus De Milo, Winged Victory, some of the Egyptian exhibit (part of it was closed). I never knew the ceilings were so wonderfully painted there. It was quite a nice surprise.

We took a relaxing dinner cruise on the Siene River. It was very hot and the boat didn't provide an overly impressive view, but after a long day of walking it was nice to sit and eat. For the dinner itself we each got to choose from a menu of four items for the appetizer, main course and desert. I had the smoked salmon (not the best thing I've ever tasted, the sauce was too strong for my taste), the chicken in mushroom sauce (also stuffed with ground up mushroom, very nice), and coffee creme brule (can I say YUM?!), and two glasses of wine a piece. The second serving of water even had ice cubes in it, unfortunately they melted upon pouring the water into the glasses. It was kind of fun to see the Statue of Liberty's twin in front of the Eiffel Tower. (A scale model of New York Harbor's Statue of Liberty is mounted on a pedestal overlooking the Seine. The original full-size statue was completed in 1884 under the direction of sculptor Auguste Bartholdi. After being displayed for a year in Paris, it was dismantled and shipped to the United States as a gift from the people of France. source)

After the dinner cruise Michelle and I walked to the Eiffel tower with Larry, Nancy ,Lee, Joanne, and Bob so we could see it lit up at night. I must say, it was much more impressive this time around than it had been the first day we went to see it. They put on a light show every night at 10 p.m., the whole tower sparkles for 10 minutes. It's very pretty.

We took a bus to Versallis today. Very ornate, overwhelmingly so. More on that later, my brain is tired, and there's a city waiting out there for me to say goodbye.

I never heard from David...maybe I'll run into him at Sacre Couer tonight (Michelle and I are going back up to have a picnic on the steps).

This will be my last entry until I get back to the states. Michelle and I will edit these entries and add more after we get back and get settled in. I'll have the pictures up as soon as I can. We will also be doing an informal brown bag (sometime this summer) for those of you interested in seeing the pictures and hearing about our adventures in person. We'll keep you posted on that.

See you in a few days.

X's and O's
Julie

(As a side note...Have I mentioned all the stores we stopped in on this trip have had American music playing? It's a little odd and kind of comforting at the same time. Also...babies rarely seem to cry and dogs seem to walk themselves no need for leashes.)

Bob, like time, marches on, and on, and on...

It's h-o-t, hot today...

Today was kind of a free day for us. Some of our group went to the French open, some went to Euro Disney. Michelle and I decided to stay with the main tour plans and go with Bob and Nick to see Jim Morrison's grave at the Pere Lachais cemeteryry, visit the Catacombs (which we found out after we got there are closed until June) and the Musee d'Orsay.

Finding Jim's grave in the cemetery felt a lot like a pilgrimage. It is nestled between several other graves and has gates around it in an attempt to keep people from destroying it any further. Several tombstones in the vicinity have names and dates and Doors lyrics scratched into them. We didn't see any loyal fans lighting up in his honor though.

We walked to the Luxembourg Gardens from the cemetery but Michelle and I just cut through with Nancy and Cindy as we decided to visit some shops and eat along the way to the Musee d'Orsay, rather than look at more flowers. Now that Michelle is out of film, with no plans to purchase more, I think she's lost some zest for visiting things that may be similar to what we have already seen. I have to confess, I am feeling the same. We'd prefer to be shopping and mingling with the people.

After walking for what seemed like an eternity, we stopped at a grocery store and bought premade salads, coke and candy and took it too a little park nearby to eat. It was a nice lunch.

We then began another long trek from the park to the Museum. By the time we got there we had blisters. The first of the trip. I guess we should be glad we made it this far into our travels with little trouble or pain. And, all in all, we really are not that bad off, just a little tired from a long day.

I really enjoyed the Museum. I think "Femme Nue Couchee" by Jean-Francois Millet was my favorite painting. Michelle likes "Raboteurs de parquets" by Gustave Caillebotte.

I have to catch up with Bob to find out the significance of a cat in a paining, there were several. Also, why the women who were wearing gloves always seemed to have one glove on and the other hand exposed.

I really enjoyed seeing Van Gogh's "The Church at Auvers 1890" visiting Auvers-sur-Oise and seeing the it in person yesterday.

I haven't heard from David yet. I'm not sure I'm up to going out with him tonight as it has been such a long day, but I may see if he would like to meet up on Saturday night so I can say goodbye to Paris in a way that fits the city of light and love.

Dog tired and the D'Orsay

I spoke too soon. After another Bob march (that's what the trippers call these long walking hauls), Julie and I now have blisters. We clocked 5 miles of walking to the D'Orsay. This did not include the return trip through the metro. Our feet are TIRED! But, we'll take baths tonight, soak away our blues, and be ready for another day because we've only got 2 left!

The weather? It's got to be 90; I've been sweating since 11:15 - it's HOT! We didn't get to go to the Catacombs - it opens during the last 2 weeks of June. (It didn't say that in the travel guide.)

We did see Jim Morrison's grave at the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery. I was glad to see that there wasn't a lot of grafitti like I had seen on the web. Our little group numbered 9 and we picked up 2 other Americans wandering around. Took us a little time to find Jim but we managed. I've never been to a cemetery that was so old. Many, many masoleum type buildings but much smaller than what I've seen in the movies. The cemetery reminded me of the New Orleans cemetery where the voodoo witch is buried. (Her name escapes me right now.)

After the cemetery, we walked through the Luxembourg gardens - basically a park with wonderful statues in it and a palace at the end. We split from the group with Nancy and Cindy with us and headed to the D'Orsay on our own. We stopped at a grocery store and picked up "to go" pasta, mozzarella & tomato salads and drinks and ate in a little park on the way.

That's where we made our mistake. We should have rested a little longer. Instead, Julie and I developed blisters on the way. Sigh.

The D'Orsay is a beautifully renovated old train station. Statues are arranged on the first floor with he Impressionist paintings on the 5th. It is definitely one of the highlights of my trip - Renoir, Manet, Monet and Van Gogh. So wonderful up close and a thousand times better in person.

Julie and I decided to head back. She assured me that her feet could make it because we were on a pilgrimage to the knitting store La Droguerie. We located it with little problem and HOLY COW!!! It's one of the best organized and beautiful stores of its type that I've ever been in. Julie's been such a good sport about these two stores - first the quilt store (where she bought fabric) and then the knitting/bead store (where she bought yarn and bracelet fixings) - I told her it made me happy she bought stuff because then it wasn't a wasted trip.... ha ha, another convert!

How do you know if a woman is a Parisian?

* skin tone, olive
* skinny, size 1 or 2
* shoes, extremely pointy or very sporty
* wearing dark clothes with one item of bright color
* muliple layers, dresses over jeans
* large rings
* gold jewelry
* multi-colored hair

Michelle's top 5 European trip elements:

* Giverny
* Eating dinner on the steps of Sacre Couer
* watching a woman take off her shoe after she got the stiletto heel stuck in a cobblestone
* the Grand Place in Brussels
* the Museum at Bastogne, WWII memorial
* Blogging
* Notre Dame

Tomorrow, we got o St. Chappelle which is supposed to have fabulous stained glass windows, the Louvre, and a Sein River cruise (with dinner.) Julie and I are going to the Eiffel Tower afterwards for night time pictures of the tower. Then Saturday, its off to Versailles and then.... HOME (on Sunday)!

Au Revoir, Michelle

Not what I expected

Michelle covered most of our day very well, so I'll just fill in with a few of my thoughts.

I found these shoes (they look nicer in person) at the mall after we saw Star Wars (which I thought was good, better than the rest of the new ones, I loved the first light saber scene) and fell in love at first sight. They look better in person and cost a lot less online $75 vs. 100 euroes so I think I'll wait till I get home to buy them.

It was nice to finally see the Eiffel Tower up close and personal but somehow it was less impressive that I had imagined. Michelle thinks it is because we don't have a personal tie to it. We've only gone there to take pictures, not much of a memory, but we did have fun. But, the tower has been the symbol of Paris for me since I was a child, as it is for many others, and seeing it in all of its glory today just didn't warm my heart the way I thought it would. I liked it more the first day, peeking through the trees on the steps of the Sacre Couer.

Now when I think of Paris I will think of Montmartre and Sacre Couer, the metro and the beautiful countryside, the crowds and the heat and the friendly shop keepers. I will think of the amazing food and the architecture with its rich history and the artists both famous and unknown. And of course, when I think of my new Paris, I will think of the frenchman who melted my heart with one crinkly eyed smile.

View of Paris

Paris from the steps of Sacre Couer, the highest point of the city. We've climbed the steps there 6 times now. I think Michelle hates me.

I took this with my cellphone, that's why it is such poor quality. I can only upload my camera photos when someone in our group with a laptop signs on in the hotel lobby, and our new hotel charges outrageous prices...10 euro for 2 hours. At the cafe we get 1 hour for 2,50, but he usually only charges us 1,50 euro. (They use commas instead of periods to indicate cents).

These shoes were made for walking....

Remember when Julie and I were searching for the ultimate traveling shoes? Well, my shoes are holding up admirably, if I must say so! Keen's - Black Mary Janes

I've had no blisters (Julie has a tiny one on her foot) and although my feet are TIRED at the end of the day, they're ready to go by the next. May I say that Julie and I are walking noticably slower these days?

Today, we went on a Julie and Michelle pilgrimage. #1 thing to do: get pictures of the Eiffel Tower during the day.

Our day dawned bright and perfect - no clouds! I think that's a first for this trip and the weather was fabulous - 72F.

We bought a 3 day pass for the Metro - the woman at the train station spoke no English but we managed to get our point across and obtain tickets. We even managed to get ourselves to the correct colored train; Unfortunately, by the first stop we discovered we had gone the wrong way. Remedied.

Time: 8:25
Paris - Rush hour
Need I say more? We had to wait for a second train since we couldn't even get in the door of the first.

After we climbed the Metro steps, we searched the horizon for the tower. Unfortunately, it was behind a building so it took us a litle bit to figure out which way to go.

Time: 9:10 a.m.
Julie took many pictures (I used my last roll of film) in a variety of angles. I will say, the tower is prettier from farther away. We did not go up in the tower car; it costs about 10 Euro; Julie wants to go at night. I'm skipping it. I liked the skyline from Sacre Couer. There's a park between the Eiffel Tower and some sort of military building which we walked through. Nannies had children in tow and Parisians were walking their dogs. Very peaceful.

Time: 9:45 a.m.
Notre Dame is by far, the most awesome of all the churches we've seen. The interior was breathtaking. The craftsmanship awe-inspiring. What made the entire experience was the choir singing to the heavens. Their voices just soared in the space. The interior of the church is huge - wood carvings, statues, you name it, its in this church. There were silent prayer areas around the sides and back of the church. A woman was praying the rosary at the rear.

Time: 11:00 a.m.
Quilt Store - yes, they have these in Paris! And, you know, if they have one, I'll find it. The fabric was beautiful and Julie and I bought enough to make (small) quilts to preserve our memories.

Next stop: Movies
We managed to get to the movie metro stop with no problem but had a bit of a problem locating where the cinema was. We asked a fellow American (I thought she was American since she was reading a Patricia Cornwell book in English) and later a hotel clerk. Turns out we should have stayed in the underground since that's where the mall is.

Time: 2 p.m.
Revenge of the Sith - Cost: 9E
Fabulous; the beginning was a little slow but it felt good to sit down; my feet were worn out! The end made up for the slow beginning. Now we can say we've seen Star Wars in Paris.

After the movie, we stopped at Starbucks (gasp!) and got Mocha Frappacinos! They werre sooooooo good - nice and cold!

Julie is searching for the shoes that all the Amsterdam and Belgium women are wearing - a type of slipper sneakers. Puma makes quite a few styles but they're very expensive - 120E. She just looked them up on the web and it'll be cheaper to get them at home.

Time: 5 p.m.
Finally back to the hotel; we saved ourselves until we got back to our hotel for the bathroom. We tried to use the one at the mall even though they were charging 40 cents to use it. I thought it was no big deal until I saw that there were no toilet seats. Luckily, we could wait until we got "home."

Time: 6:35 p.m.
Ending this blog entry. We leave tomorrow at 9 a.m. for the Catycombs and all sorts of other things - we'll be back with the group.

Thank you to all of our wonderful readers - the answer is: yes, we will be happy to do a lunchtime brownbag for anyone who's interested once we get our pictures ready.

Au Revoir - Michelle
Time to eat....

Comments

Terry just let us know that the commments were set up so that only registered Blogger members could comment. I've changed it now so that anyone can leave comments...sorry about that.

From Paris With Love

Michelle climbed the steps at the Sacre Couer again for me, she's so sweet. This time we took the ramp part way up instead of climbing the middle set of steps. As a side note, Sacre Couer is the highest point in the city. Your calves start to burn well before you reach the top. There's a cable car you can ride in but it costs money and we are cheap, so we walk it.

I found the scarf that I wanted and after waiting in line for what seemed like an eternity, it was officially mine. I looked for David, we had to pass by the spot where all the artists hang out to get to the shops, but he wasn't there. Secretly I was hoping I would run into him again, but I really did want the scarf. It wasn't just an excuse, I promise.

We decided to stop at a sandwich shop and get some food to take back and eat on steps of the Sacre Couer. We bought a fried ham and cheese sandwich to share, and two orders of fritz (fries), plus a water and Coke light for Michelle. On our way back to the steps who should we see but David and his artist friend. He kissed me hello, on the cheek, and whispered bonjour in my ear. He looked so nice. He was wearing nice jeans with a blue button down shirt, a white tee-shirt underneath and a black leather jacket on top. He had a pair of cute blue European style tennis shoes on like the one's Michelle and I have been drooling over.

I offered him some fries but he wouldn't take them. He said they were tourist food.

He asked me why I didn't call him last night and go out with him. I told him I thought I might run into him again, and I wanted to get to know him better before I went off alone with him. He joked with his friend about how I thought he was a serial killer.

His face lights up when he laughs. He has the best eyes, they crinkle when he smiles.

He pulled a Chicago bears hat from his back pocket and put it on. The way he said Chicago was so cute...she-cog-oooh.

He asked me how long I was staying and I told him until Sunday. He asked me what I was doing later and I told him I was going to spend time with Michelle but that I would be here until Sunday. I gave him the business card from our hotel and wrote my name on the back so that he could contact me. We'll see what happens.

Michelle and I decided we better go eat our food before it got cold. As I turned to leave David said Au Revoir Mon Cheri and I said good bye.

Michelle and I sat on the steps in the front of Sacre Couer and ate our cold fritz and sandwich, enjoying the lovely view of Paris with the other tourists. We walked back to the hotel when we were done talking about guys, relationships, and love along the way. She misses Chris a lot.

I'm so glad I decided to come on this trip. With the way everything fell into place and the wonderful time I'm having, I feel like it's fate that I'm here.

Raindrops and Irises

Today, we left the hotel bound for Giverny, Monet's home and garden. Here he painted many of his infamous paintings including the water lily panels. The young ones (trippers under the age of 25) are having a harder time making the bus in the mornings. I, of course, had no problem since I took it easy last night after climbing the Sacre Coer steps (some 240 one way) twice! My legs felt like old jelly by the time I made it up the final time! I took a shower and then watched Star Wars, the first one, in French.

We got to see the Arc de Triumph as we left the city - the traffic is way too scary to try and get closer for a picture so Julie and I are not attempting it. It started raining on the way there and continued for the duration of the trip about an hour. Julie remembered her umbrella. And, by the way, mom, I've used by umbrella at least 3 times now so thanks for getting it for me!

Giverny made my entire trip worthwhile. Seeing it in person was totally awesome! The colors, textures, and flowers - it was so much more than I ever imagined. I took 5 rolls of film -- just in the garden. Julie and I never made it in the house. Irises were the most dominant flower in yellow, white, black (deeep purple), peonies were just starting to bloom and there were several varieties of climbing roses that were blooming too - some in my favorite pale yellow color. It stopped raining as we entered the gardens so the flowers all had water droplets on them to add to the beauty.

The water lilies were not blooming yet; I think they bloom in July. We entered the gardens about 10 a.m. which left room for us to move around and get the shots we wanted. By 10:30 you could barely move since the crowds were so bad.

Crowds: I cannot believe the amount of people in Paris and at Giverny. It is a sea of humanity, everywhere you look. Yet, after 7:30 at night, everything quiets down and you can enjoy walking around.

Tomorrow, Julie and I are breaking free (gasp!) of the group and going out on our own. If we can conquer the metro, we can do anything. Our agenda for tomorrow is:
Eiffel tower (Julie will take 1,000 pictures, all of them great), Notre Dame,
French knitting store, and Star Wars, the Sith movie.

Now, here's some highlights of Europe that we might have missed mentioning:

Dogs don't necessarily have leashes as their owners cruise the city streets! I've seen several dogs just trotting along behind their loved ones, right at their heels, oblivious to the traffic, noise, garbage, and throng of people.

Bathrooms - sometimes they are unisex with the urinal in plain view.

When you order coffee, it is extremely strong and you have to add lots of sugar. And, yes, I haven't always been sucessful in finding diet coke so now I drink coffee!

McDonalds sells very strong coffee, in tiny, tiny cups - like solo cups, for one Euro. Terry encouraged Julie and I to try it. You absolutely have to add 2 packages of sugar to it.

Instead of having a handle for flushing on the toilet, there is a button to flush it located on the wall above the toilet, or right on the top of the tank. And, the women's stalls, all have a very secure door with a lock, rather like a very small closet once you're inside. And, they're called WCs (water closets!)

Julie's going to make me climb those terrible steps again, so this is it for tonight's entry.

We have 4 days left and yes, I am terribly homesick! mc

Catching up with Monet and Van Gogh

Sacre Couer (from my cellphone)

I went back up to Sacre Couer last night with the group to listen to the music but apparently they weren't holding mass until 10:30. Most of the group wanted to go to dinner back by the hotel. Michelle left to go with them and I stayed up at Montmartre with Lee, Joanne, Larry and Nancy. We had chocolatyest chocolate crepes ever at a tiny cafe in the shopping district. They were very good.

I ran into one of the artists we met earlier in the day, we exchanged greetings. David wasn't there. C est la vie.

It took me quite a while to fall asleep with lingering thoughts of a lovely first day.

We took a bus to Giverney this morning. For those of you who don't know, Giverney, Monet's gardens, were the inspiration for several of his works.

The Paris country side along the way to the gardens is filled with green fields and farms with tiny houses and farm animals sprinkled throughout. This is the first time we've seen people driving larger cars, they still seem to prefer the itty bitty cars though. It was 14 degrees C (We all still have no clue how to translate C back to F), and it rained a bit in the morning. Michelle was worried that it might make for bad pictures, but actually they turned out great. Water droplets on all the petals made the flowers look lovely. Seeing the lily pads and bridge was great.

We had a four course meal at Le Havre for lunch. It started with salad (one lettuce leaf, corn, tomato, beets, boiled egg, all in separate piles), followed by chicken and rice, then Brie with bread and finished off with an apple tart. I've never eaten so well in all my life as I have on this trip. Wait till you see the pictures. A lot of care goes into presentation, even at the cheap cafes. The don't call it the art of eating for nothing.

We stopped off in Auver sur Oise, the town of Van Gogh's final resting place. We saw the church from one of his paintings and visited his grave. The houses there all had the cute painted shutters with flower boxes on the windowsills. I took a ton of pictures. I'll post them up as soon as I can.

I'm dragging Michelle back up to the steps of Sacre Couer so that we can go to Montmartre and I can buy the scarf that I wanted to buy yesterday but didn't. I'll have to bribe her forgiveness with a yummy chocolate crepe.

Au Revoir!

From Brussels to Paris in 1-Hour!

Today, we took the high-speed train from Brussels to Paris. It took about an hour. I couldn't watch the scenery too much since it sped by so quickly it made me feel train sick.

The funniest part of this mornings travel was seeing 34 people following Bob (tour leader) through the Paris train station, across an insanely busy French street, into our hotel pulling their suitcases along with various other assorted luggage. I wish I had time to take a picture.

We visited a cathedral today, but Julie will be posting our adventure there - or rather, hers!

Our hotel attendant directed us to an Internet cafe 2 blocks on the right, from the hotel. Julie and I set out, and... couldn't find it. We didn't want to go too far out of the way, so we decided to ask someone. However, people are rushing around like mad since its rush hour. Lucky for us, right there on the corner, is a water main break. Since I know that "all" water/sewer guys are wonderful , we asked them where the Internet cafe was. Unfortunately, they only spoke French but understood when we said Internet cafe (they call it cyber cafe). One of them took us, personally, across the street and right to the storefront. We thanked him profusely! Now you know that sewer guys are special everywhere and the French aren't so bad after all!

Tomorrow, Giverny!

J'aime Paris

We took the high-speed train from Brussels to Paris this morning - backwards. It was hot and crowded and trying to get all of the groups' luggage aboard was quite an accomplishment. Luckily no one ended up wearing a 70lb suitcase for a hat.

The sky was beautiful, full of fluffy white clouds and as blue as blue can be.

I had butterflies again. Possibly in anticipation of the train ride, or maybe for Paris.

My first view of the Eiffel tower in Paris was on a postcard in the hotel lobby. I think somehow I had expected to see it there towering over me as I stepped out of the train station doors music swelling in the background.

We walked a short distance across the street to the most beautiful hotel of our entire trip. The room was simply lovely with its blue flowered wall paper, white cotton sheets and chair by the window. Perfect.

We spent the afternoon at MontMartre, which was different than I pictured it. It had several shops and a center section where artists painted and drew portraits of tourists. We stopped at the Sacre Coeur, possibly the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on. There is a glass dome in the center of the ceiling flanked by stone angels. Amazingly detailed. It took my breath away. We saw the top of the Eiffel Tower peaking through the trees from the steps of the Sacre Coeur.



I can't believe I'm finally in Paris.

We had lunch in a cafe where the coke cost 6 euro per glass, the wine only 3.50. Guess which I chose. The ham and cheese crepes were much better than our omelets in Brussels.

Michelle and I split off from the group to do a little shopping. We ended up at the meeting spot a little early and started chatting with a couple of the portrait artists that hover in the streets. They were very friendly and gave up trying to get us to buy a portrait after a few minutes. One of them, a very attractive man with a lovely French accent, preyed on me for a little while, kissing my hand and flirting up a storm. He said something to Michelle about what beautiful children we would have because I'm so fair while he is so tan. Both of them had other jobs but come down to Montmartre to practice their skills and make some extra cash. When it started to rain the cute one invited me to sit with him in his rather nice car. I declined, choosing to stay with Michelle and the other artist. After the clouds dispersed he came back over and sat down almost on top of me then moved to sit in front of me putting his arms across my legs. He smelled very nice, he was oh so dreamy. We continued talking for a bit. Michelle asked them why we look like tourists, to which they couldn't reply in English but carried on a short conversation in French (I'm pretty sure it's the shoes).

They both got up when our tour group started to gather. When we were ready to leave I looked back and waved at the cute one who was standing across the road by that time. He called me over and when I got near him he grabbed my hand and kissed it again. He asked me if I would be back in the area later so that we could go off together alone. He said that he'd like to take me dancing, that he would be my tour guide in France and I could be his if he was ever in Chicago. He asked me for my number and when I said no he offered me his. I had him write it on a bag I got from a shop, he signed it "David". He asked me if I would call and I said I would try. As I turned he leaned in and gave me several soft kisses on my neck that made my knees go weak.


(David is on the left)

I have no plans of calling him, but we are planning on going back to Montmartre to listen to the music at Sacre Coeur later tonight. If I run into him there I'll chalk it up to fate and see where the night leads, if not, I've already had the best day ever.

One day in Paris and I'm already in love.

Beautiful Brugge

We took a bus into Brugge today. It is a cute little town on a canal. The trees, cobble stone paths and canal give it quite a romantic feeling. We took a walking tour which began at the Lake of Love, so named because couples like to meet there for a quiet getaway.

We visited a church in town that is said to have a napkin that contains the blood and sweat of Christ. It was very quiet inside and the statuary within gave it an ominous tone. It felt a little creepy and was my least favorite of the churches we have seem so far.

We took a canal cruise shortly after our walking tour. Our captain was quite a character. He had a heavy accent and loved to roll his 'r's'. He took every chance to use words containing them.

One of the banks of the canal was the home to the most swans I've ever seen in one place. It was an amazing sight. There were also several mother ducks and ducklings scattered throughout grassy areas of the town.

We had lunch at a Brewery called Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan, with Bob, Nick, Lee, Joanne and Evelyn. Everyone seemed to like their meals. I had penne pasta with the most flavorful sundried tomatoes I've ever tasted, and pesto. It was great.

I also had a great ice cream cone on our walk back to the main square. It was tiramisu...yum!

It rained on our bus ride back to Brussels. Everything was so green.

On a side note, I finished my book, Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn. It's a fantasy set in Japan following the story of a young man who is the only survivor after his village is destroyed and a girl who is held hostage by a warlord. It's part one in a trilogy, I can't wait to read book two. Definitely a page turner. Highly recommended.

I also finally got some pictures uploaded and linked to the blog. So revisit some of the previous entries to take a look.

Tomorrow we're off to Paris!!!!!

Chocolate, chocolate everywhere!

We spent the day shopping in the Grand market in the center of town where we bought a ton of chocolate. We watched a man make the most gorgeous raspberry and white chocolate candies at the Godiva shop. Of course we had to stop in and sample a few pieces. We also stopped in at a wonderful scarf shop as well.

Part of the shopping area resembles a flea market, where various locals sell their wares, most of which look remarkably like the same as items available in on the streets of Amsterdam and Luxembourg. There is also a main street called the Rue nouve or new street which is a pedestrian walkway filled with shops and street vendors. It had much of the same feel as Amsterdam only it was louder and there were more tourists.

We only got a little lost trying to find our way back to the hotel but managed to find our way with a little help. One of the Americans who guided us was with a group who were surprised when we spoke English clearly. I suppose it is a rarity around here as most of the people you run into who can speak English do so with a heavy accent.

Laundry was quite challenging, but we managed to get it done. We also got to see an obscured view of a Turkish wedding celebration as we were guided outside as everyone in the area spilled out into the alley to watch. It was very loud. We managed to end up with clean clothes and a fun memory by the end of it all.

We ate at a little cafe near our favorite internet cafe. I had a ham and cheese omelet which wasn't the best I've ever had, but it made me feel a little more at home.

We went back to the hotel for a nightcap after dinner and had the worst time trying to order desert and coffee. The bar didn't want to serve us and the restaurant didn't want to waste a table on us if we weren't ordering a full meal. We finally managed to get a couple cups of coffee but never got around to being able to order desert.

As a side note, we are really not fond of this hotel. From the mildew in the bathroom to the poor service it is our least favorite on the trip so far. Michelle and I would both recommend against staying at the Mercurie Royal Crown if you are ever wandering through Brussels.

Laundry

Today we had a bus tour of the city of Brussels population 1 million!

We visited the Grand Place or Grote Markt; it is definitely one of the top 5 places of this trip. Absolutely beautiful! Of course, on the way back we had a little difficulty trying to locate our way back to the hotel.

First, I asked a woman first, she was American; then I asked a man with a baby, success! At the next intersection, street signs really are difficult to figure out, I asked a store clerk; she was able to confirm the name of the street but couldn't speak enough English to tell us which way to go. Success: I found an American exchange student; total time to walk back to the hotel: 1 hour Time spent trying to find out which way to go: priceless

Julie and I did some laundry today. What an experience. First, we had to get tokens for the washer. Luckily, an African gentleman was able to help with that since he spoke English. Once past that obstacle, a very kind Brussels woman tried to tell me that the washing machine I was trying to use didn't work. However, I didn't get it until I tried to put my detergent in. What a hoot! Then, another woman wanted us to watch a wedding down the street - she had to pantomine a ring slipping over her finger before I got it. While I didn't necessarily come off as having the most intelligence at least I wasn't an Ugly American!

Can you tell that we finally found English keyboards? Its so much easier to type!

Tomorrow we're off to Brugge. It's one of Nick Scheverra's favorite spots.

Beaufort Castle

the group at beaufort castle

Beaufort Castle, now mostly in ruins, was built in the middle ages. Archaeologists believe it was initially founded as the castle for a family of Luxemburg vassals in the twelfth century as a protective fortification in an attempt to separate the lands of the Echternach monastery.

What remains of the castle really is beautiful. I loved all the moss and flowers growing out of the walls and the play of light on the stone. The Forrest was filled with tall dense trees that block out the sky when you stand beneath them.

Were still here.......

We havent written much - Internet access has been too expensive - 5 euros for 10 minutes!

Were in an Internet cafe with French keyboards so be nice about typos....... Cost: 1.50 euros for an hour

Weve seen so much in the past few days----

Amsterdam continued - Keukenhof gardens - what a delight! The flowers were a huge blast of color; everything arranged like an ikea catalog. it was also freezing - 50F!!

Rembrandts home - i like his paintings and etchings so much better in person; seeing the movie Girl with a pearl earring and being in Rembrandts house helped the history come alive

Julie and I and Maria went to see Kingdom of Heaven ) art nouveau theater - the movie was okay but the theatre was the main attraction

Luxembourg - Luxembourg is the banking center of the European union - very expensive stores - Evelyn really liked the Cartier store and the antiques looked the items from museums! We also visited a winery that was good and dinner was excellent - pork, quiche, salad, mousse - chocolate - and wine. Finally, the weather is getting warmer.... about 60F

Bastogne historical museum - WWII is very much alive in Europe; it still enters conversations and I think people are still very aware of it. In speaking with others, we think its due to being occupied. It could be because we also went to the Anne Frank house. At Bastogne; 100,000 Germans were killed and 80,000 Anericans died or were wounded. Now that Ive been here i want to watch band of brothers again since Easy Company was there too. When you leave the highway to enter the grounds, you pass a war memorial that is as large as many of the memorials in Washington. it was serene. I got brochures for Dad and Uncle Don.

Beaufort Castle - a ruin that you could climb around in and explor, i took quite a bit of pictures here - the light and shapes were so interesting -

Town - didnt get the name - visited the Cathedral of our Lady - so beautiful inside, quiet and contemplative

Brussels - a very large town, seems more industrial; tomorrow we have a city tour and then shopping for chocolate!!

Weve made it to the half way mark - Sunday we go to Brugge and then monday to paris!

Au Revoir - michelle

Maastricht, Bastonge, and Luxembourg

We stopped in Maastricht, the oldest town in the Netherlands, for lunch. I had an tomato, mozzarella and pesto sandwich, which is quickly becoming my new favorite food.

The town was very quaint. It looked a lot like the pedestrian streets in Amsterdam, lots of little shops and packed with people.

There was a fair traveling through town. It was quite a sight to see a ferris wheel in front of an ancient gothic style church.



We stopped off in Bastonge on the way to Luxembourg and visited a WWII museum and memorial monument. The museum was filled with various items the soldiers carried from weapons to matches and contained several mannequins dressed in all the uniforms of the war.

The land is beautiful, filled with patches of trees which open to huge meadows. Our tour guide said that Hitler chose to attack Luxembourg because he didn't think the Americans could fight is such a wooded area.

The monument is a huge stone structure that has a breathtaking view of the town from the top. It was very peaceful.

After the museum we drove to the Luxembourg American cemetery. It is a 50 acre plot of land surrounded by a Forrest, quite a breathtaking sight. It was liberated by the U.S. 5th Armored Division on September 10th, 1944. It contains 5,076 graves of American soldiers, including one military nurse, who lost their lives in the war. There are 101 headstones that mark the graves of unknown soldiers. General Patton, who wanted to remain with his men, is burred here as well.

On the ground near patting grave there is an inscription that reads:
"All who shall hereafter live in freedom will be here reminded that to these men and their comrades we owe a debt to be paid with grateful remembrance of their sacrifice and with the high resolve that the cause for which they died shall live eternally. Dwight D. Eisenhower"

I didn't think I was going to find it very interesting, seeing as I have done my best to remain oblivious to war, this one in particular. There is no escaping it here, you can feel it everywhere. It looms over everything. I find it all overwhelming but at the same time I am longing to learn more.

Amsterdam is boats bikes and bier

I loved Amsterdam. The town is so people friendly, there were bike paths and pedristrian streets everywhere. The people had a really cool fashion sense, very hip grunge as one woman on the trip described it. Michelle and I loved the way they tie their scarves.

The history of Amsterdam is filled with amazing tales of facinating people who have left an impression on my soul. It is just the first stop on what I hope will be an amazing adventure.


The canal

Keukenhof Picture

Picture of Tulips at the Keukenhof Gardens.

Rembrandts house

we visited the Rembrandt house this afternoon. I didnt think it would be much fun, but i really enjoyed it a lot. The house was filled with several pieces of furniture, paintings and other artifacts he colleted during his life. I found the beds particularly interesting. They were very small and located inside of cabinets. Aparantly they slept sitting up because they were afraid if they layed down to sleep the blood would rush to their heads killing them in the night. It seems funny now, but I suppose its no worse than some of the superstitions we hold on to today.

we saw a demonstration of the etching process he used, it was very complicated. The etchings themselves were amazing. Many of them were no larger than a playing card and most were no larger than an 8x10 print. The level of detail was incredible.

A few of us went to the red light district after returning to the hotel. It was still very light outside so we didn not get the full effect of seeing the streets bathed in a seductive red glow. It was quite disappointing actually. I only saw one woman. She was sitting in a window dressed in red lingere. She was quite old and fairly fat. Not exactly what I had invisioned.

As for the rest of the tale, what happens in Amsterdam...

Flower Market

There is a flower market in Amsterdam on a pedestrian street along the canal. It was a treat for the eyes. Michelle was quite excited about the bulbs.


The sign that indicates the start of the flower market


My favorite stall


Very Pottery Barn


No, we didn't smuggle any home

Butterflies

The flight was really a lot easier than I could have hoped for. I slept through most of it.


The plane had video screens on the back of each seat. You could choose from several stations to watch, one of which featured a map of the route that indicated where the plane was located, distance to the destination, air speed, and altitude. It was quite fascinating to watch.

I also watched bits and pieces of The Life Aquatic, Pirates of the Caribbean, and House of Flying Daggers.

I don't think it sunk in that I was going on this trip until I stepped through the doors of the airport onto the streets of Amsterdam where I proceeded to giggle and jump for joy.

I'm having a wonderful time, although I'm fairly exhausted. It feels like we've been here for a week already.

Seeing Anne Frank's hiding place today was depressing and enlightening at the same time. I got goosebumps when I walked through the door behind the bookcase which leads to the apartment where they stayed. It was rooms were all very small, even with the furniture removed (especially the room where Anne stayed). The stairs were so steep that I banged my knees and shins several times. I tried not to cry but couldn't help it, it was all very overwhelming.


Statue in front of the Anne Frank House


The Rijks museum was lovely. There was a man outside dressed as a silver angel who blew bubbles at people entering through the gates. I took his picture and he asked me to say 'thank you'. When I did, he said 'how did I know you were American'.


The Silver Angel Guy


Michelle and Julie in front of the Rijks Museum


A Delft Violin - Faience, 1705-1710
This earthenware ornament is unusual not only for its shape, but also for the distribution of the design over the surface and the virtuoso execution. The subject is appropriate: on the front a dance hall and on the back a violinist in front of an inn, together with a merry group of dancers. (From the museum description card)



I've started a photo-documentation on the tiny toilets.

I can't upload my pictures from this cafe. Hopefully I'll find one along the way that will work out. Otherwise it will have to wait until we return to the states.

Vaarwel!

First Report - Amsterdam

Julie and I have made it safe and sound to Amsterdam. The flight was fine but VERY long - it went on and on. Julie, of course, world traveller that she is, fell asleep right away; I flicked the channels (like my husband) between a Bill Murrary movie and National Treasure and didn't fall asleep until much later.

Heathrow and the Amsterdam airport are so much better than O'hare. The shopping in them is unbelievable - mini malls! The Escada purses were quite beautiful to look at although I didn't buy one - lol. The toilets in the bathroom are very small, circular, and cute. A sign states "please use only 1 paper towel."

The tour bus picked us up at the airport, brought us to town. It's true; there are bicycles everywhere and not many cars. We walked around with Bob and Nick and checked out the buildings and people. Beware - trams and bikes! People drive their bikes here like people drive their cars on Grand Avenue! I used 2 rolls of film on the walk alone; Julie is our photo goddess - she's really getting some wonderful pictures.

I stopped some teenage girls to take their picture for Ary; however, they didn't understand what I wanted and said no.

Fashion highlights: lots of cowboy boots and knee-high boots; many women are wearing cotton scarves wrapped different ways around their neck; Maria, on our trip calls it "hip grunge."

Today we went to the Rajks........ museum and saw Vermeer and many Rembrandts along with many other artists. The paintings are so beautiful! In many of them, you can scarcely see any brushstrokes.

The food is also incredibly good, even on the plane. At one stage of our trip, we had chicken sandwiches with slices of cucumber - very good. Breakfast was also good this morning - granola, yogurt, fruit, cheese, ham, eggs (I think they were powdered but Julie said no), sausage (I didn't eat any of that i.e. Ireland), and chocolate sprinkles to put on your toast (I didn't do that.) The very best part was that it was free!

I couldn't locate diet coke last night so I had to make due with a cafe latte and add sugar. It was surprisingly good and I was too tired to get a caffeine high. I did find diet coke this afternoon and some chocolate but it wasn't bitter enough. Will wait for Belgium to search for chocolate again.

The weather was wonderful yesterday probably 71 or 72F; today, however, it is cold! About 55F.

We took a canal boat ride today for an hour; Amazing to watch the canal driver do a U-turn in the small space allotted; he only scraped the side of the canal once.

The buildings are beautiful, many gables, painted doors. Many of them are leaning but are supported by the neighboring buildings.

The city isn't as clean as I thought it would be; the people seem somewhat indifferent to our existence unless they're a shopkeeper.

By the way, this Internet Cafe doesn't allow Julie to download so we'll have to try again to send pictures from another place.

We love and miss you all! Julie and Michelle

Tidbits

It is almost the evening prior to departure. Julie and I are totally excited, giddy, and a little nervous. Did we manage to pack everything we will really need? Who knows! I’m sure we’ll remember what we forgot on the way to the airport. We’ve got passports and good traveling shoes so that should count for something.

As part of our class, Julie and I have to give short oral presentations on something of interest. Julie will be doing a history of the Eiffel Tower. Did you know that the company that installed the current lighting system holds copyright on nighttime pictures of the Tower? I’ll be sharing information on Tulipmania. I’m sure you won’t want to read my entire presentation; here’s a short background - http://www.florissa.ca/wcms/index.php?id=7,30,0,0,1,0.


Also, if you’re interested in the food of France, try “Chocolate and Zucchini” a food blog set up by a Parisian. Clothilde is the author of the blog and has recently been published in a recent issue of “Budget Travel.” After reading her site, I guarantee you’ll either want to be cooking or eating or both! http://chocolateandzucchini.com

Au Revoir ~

The Land is Flat

Can you tell that Julie and I are fascinated by Paris? Well, it’s time to devote some discussions to the beginning of our trip….. the Netherlands.

Things-to-do Amsterdam
http://www.thingstodo-amsterdam.com/
Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands.
This site is a wealth of information including history, museums, people, and neighborhoods. I’m looking forward to a canal cruise, sipping coffee, drinking beer, visiting the flower market, people watching… ooh to be there now.

Amsterdam is one of the flattest areas on the planet according to this website making it ideal for bicycle riding. How intrigueing. With a population of 750,000, estimates number the amount of bicycles owned from 400,000 to 800,000!



Van Gogh Museum
http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/bisrd/top-1-1.html
I am familiar with Van Gogh from art history courses taken early in my college career. However, I was never to drawn to his paintings – the movement especially in his popular items along with the colors were always a “little off” to me, disturbing in some cases.

After reading “Lust for Life,” the evolution of Van Gogh’s style in particular how the Impressionists influenced his work fascinated me. I also saw a quilt interpretation of “Starry Night” (1889) this past fall which drew my interest as well.

One of the strengths of this website
(Don’t forget to click on the English translation, upper right portion of the screen.)

Paris Blogging et vous

While researching information on Paris, I stumbled upon a number of highly informative and charming blogs done by a number of uniquely talented people.
Why am I enjoying these blog visits? On one hand, I'm getting quite a list of places to visit during our trip. For another, I'm enjoying each person's daily interactions with the culture and peoples of France. Plus, the photography isn't bad either!







Here are a few of my favorites:

A Day in Paris
http://parisdaily.hi-fipop.com/

Dispatches from France
http://dispatchesfromfrance.blogspot.com/

The Mustard Zone
http://mustardzone.com/blog/index.php

Meanwhile Here in France
http://meanwhilehereinfrance.blogspot.com

au revoir, Michelle

Parlez-vous français ?

No, not even close...

The day after I signed up for the trip I decided to learn as much French as possible before I arrived. With only three weeks left, that turns out to be not so much.

I borrowed the "French in Action" series on DVD from the library. I was only able to get through 5 or 6 of the 52 lessons before they were due back. After I returned them I found that there is a website located at http://www.learner.org/resources/series83.html# which contains all of the "French in Action" videos online. They are made available to the public for free.

It's a pretty decent program. With the exception of the introductory film, they don't speak a word of English through the entire program. You learn by immersion as you follow the story of a young French woman's interactions with her family and friends. It would probably be great if I had more time to devote to it. I'm on the 10th video now, and I have a feeling I'll be clinging to my French/English dictionary the whole time I'm away.

Love,
Julie

Reflections on Travel Literature

To prepare for our trip to Europe, Bob Lossman and Nick Schevera, trip coordinators and instructors at the College of Lake County, gave us a reading list. I thought I’d share the ones I’ve read so far.



The Leaky Iron Boat by Hart Massey
In retirement, Massey and his wife succumb to the allure of traveling by barge from the Netherlands to southern France. While I enjoyed the information regarding barge and canal travel, I found that I wanted more. More what? I think less information regarding the technical difficulties in maneuvering through a canal and more information regarding local flavor.



Daily Life in Holland in the Year 1566 by Rien Poortvliet
While I didn’t read every word in this book, it has a strong historical context. The text is readable and the illustrations appear to be highly authentic. Out of all the information presented, the section on how “witches” were labeled was appalling and terrifying. I had just read Vreeland’s book, and this work made it clear how easily one could be labeled a “witch.” While I didn’t condone the mother’s decision in Vreeland’s book, I empathized a little more.



Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland
I enjoyed Vreeland’s book quite a bit. I also watched Hallmark’s Hall of Fame “Brush with Fate” after I finished. I thought the chapter focusing on the farmer’s wife was quite beautiful in book form. The chapter on the “witch” and her young lover was stronger to me in the movie form.

It’s interesting how the painting reaches out to the female characters' perception of beauty and on technical execution and sensual attraction felt by the male characters.



Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
To see a Vermeer in person will certainly be more entrancing now that I’ve read Vreeland and Chevalier's books. I enjoyed the historical context and the maid’s perspective. How easy it was for the aristocracy to ruin a person’s life. It is also fascinating to me that so little is known about Vermeer.



Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
This is a recommended title, related to the two above, focusing on the story of two adolescents who are bent on solving the theft of a Vermeer painting and a centuries old riddle. The book is set in Hyde Park,Chicago.



The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
It was somewhat difficult to find a copy of this title but I managed and immediately bought a copy for our library.

Corrie Ten Boom shares her experiences in Holland from the early 1900s to the late 1940s. She shares personal reflections focusing on daily life, Nazi occupation, and the horrors found in a concentration camp. However, for me, the real beauty of her story shared her journey of spirituality and faith.



Lust for Life by Irving Stone
While critics of Stone appear to be many, his ability to bring history to life is enjoyable. The historical detail and accuracy in the description of the daily life and work of miners, weavers, and farmers was eye-opening.

I realize that Stone gathered much of his information through interviews and researching Vincent’s and Theo’s letters to one another. Vincent’s continued failures in employment, romance, and painting caused me grief while reading; one can only imagine how it effected Vincent Van Gogh at the time.



The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

I must be the last person on earth who hasn’t read this book! I just started it last night and am enjoying it. I can barely wait to see the parquet floor in the Grand Gallery of the Louvre that the author describes in the first few chapters.

That's it for now. Au Revoir

Are we there yet?

By this time next month Michelle and I will be sipping our fancy French coffee on the doorstep of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. The facade depicts the story of the Last Judgment and the lives of Mary and her mother. It took architects and sculptors almost two centuries to complete the construction. Just thinking about that takes my breath away. I can't wait to capture it on film (or cf card in my case).

I'm obsessing over shoes for the trip. Michelle has the same disease. Someone should stage an intervention, and soon (but not before I find the perfect pair of black oxfords).

My Head is Spinning..

Just about a month left 'till Michelle and I leave for our trip and my head is spinning. It all happened so fast that it still feels very dream-like. The past month has been a whirlwind of planning, reading, and shopping.

I finally settled on a daypack, the Blunderbus from Crumpler. It should arrive soon. I just hope it will be big enough to fit all my stuff. I got it from a great site called eBags.com. I ordered a suitcase from them too. Michelle got her JanSport bag there as well.

My Archos Gmini400 arrived last week. I'm in love! It has a built in compact flash card reader so I can transfer photos to it without having to drag my laptop along. It also plays mp3s and videos. It's my new favorite thing.

I don't think it has quite sunk in yet that I'm actually going. I still need a decent pair of shoes, an umbrella, and my passport.

Love, Julie

Our Trip Itinerary

Retrace the Northern Renaissance - Holland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Paris

May 14 - 30, 2005

Earn up to six credits while visiting the land of Rembrandt and Van Gogh. Join Bob Lossmann and Nick Schevera on a two-week journey through the Netherlands, including, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Brussels, Brugge, and on to an extended stay in Paris, the city of lights. See major works by artists throughout the golden age of Renaissance and Baroque periods in world-class museums as well as works from the contemporary era.

~ Amsterdam ~

Day 1
Trip to the Benelux countries begins with a transatlantic flight from Chicago O’Hare to Amsterdam.

Day 2
Land in Amsterdam. Proceed to our hotel. Afternoon orientation walk around downtown with Bob and Nick Amsterdam. Enjoy an included dinner with the rest of your group this evening.

Day 3
Morning tour of Amsterdam. Discover the city’s intricate canal network as you travel along the waterways in a glass-topped boat, passing traditional houseboats and 18th-century homes. Then, visit the Anne Frank House, where the young writer hid with her family during the Nazi occupation of Holland. The tour finishes with a visit to a working Dutch diamond cutting factory. A visit to the art museum, the Riksmuseum to see some of the Dutch masters including Rembrandt’s Nightwatch.

Day 4
Take a morning visit to the Keukenhof flower gardens. Time in the afternoon to visit the Van Gogh Museum or the Modern Art Museum. Take a walk to visit the recreated Rembrandt house and Museum.


~ Luxembourg ~

Day 5
Drive to the province of Limburg, located on the Netherlands’ southern border, enjoys a rich history and a hilly landscape unique to the area. On the way to Luxembourg, stop in the Limburger capital of Maastricht for a walking tour of this superb city. Then cross into the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, as the country is officially titled. This tiny principality is smaller than the smallest state in the U.S.! Check into tour hotel, the Grand Hotel Mercure Alfa.

Day 6
On this morning’s guided tour of the capital, Luxembourg City, you’ll travel through the Old Town—recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. View the World War II Monument of National Unity, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the 17th-century Citadel of the Holy Spirit, and the elegant Grand Ducal Palace, now the setting for formal state functions. This afternoon, enjoy free time in Luxembourg City; stroll the city’s numerous gardens and scenic lookouts.

~ Brussels ~

Day 7
See the beautiful rolling countryside of the Low Countries as you travel on to Brussels. Pass through the Ardennes, site of the historic Battle of the Bulge and home of exiled French author Victor Hugo. Continuing through Belgium, stop in Bastogne for a visit to the Bastogne Historical Center. Check in to our hotel, the Mercure Royal Crown.

Day 8
Become acquainted with Brussels on this morning’s guided sightseeing tour. See the Manneken Pis statue (the popular symbol of Brussels) and the elegant Baroque houses that line the Grand Place, as well as the famous Town Hall, a Gothic masterpiece. You’ll also pass by the European Union buildings, the Royal Palace and the Palais de Justice. In the afternoon, we will browse the galleries of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, featuring work by Rubens, Monet and Gauguin. Or, for a true taste of Brussels, stroll down rue des Bouchers (Butchers’ Street), a narrow alley full of seafood eateries competing for attention.

Day 9
Day train trip to visit the quaint town of Brugge and the Groeninge Art Museum. Bob and Nick will guide a Local city tour. Lunch at a local restaurant. Time for a local boat cruise or visit the St. John’s Hospital, Hans Memling Museum.


~ Paris ~

Day 10
Board the high-speed Thalys train and journey to Paris. Check into our hotel, the Libetel du Nord. Begin your stay with a walk to th eartist area of Montmartre and Sacre Couer. See the City of Light with an "Evening in Paris," featuring dinner followed by a Seine riverboat cruise.

Day 11
This morning, Join Bob Lossmann and Nick Schevera for a sightseeing tour of Paris. See the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and all the other landmarks for which the city is known. In the afternoon, we can take an optional excursion to Versailles.

Day 12
Enjoy another full day in Paris at the Louvre Art Museum. This vast collection is worth an extended visit. After lunch, take a short walk to see St. Chapelle and the Cathedral of Notre Dame.

Day 13
Depending on interest, take an excursion outside Paris to Claude Monet’s house and Garden at Giverny. We will arrive back in Paris in time to take in one of the music venues at the Opera House.

Day 14
A day to take in the wonderful Gare D’Orsay Museum, explore the left bank and visit the modern museum, the Pompidou Center.

Day 15
A chance to visit some of the smaller museums of Paris including the Picasso Museum, Chateau Malmaison, and/or the Rodin Museum. Get together for a final evening meal together in Paris.

Day 15
Board your flight from Paris to Chicago.

We're going to Paris!!!!

Michelle and I thought it would be fun to create a blog to share our adventures in Europe with family and friends. We plan on stopping off at several internet cafes along the way to post our thoughts and pictures of the places we visit.

We hope you enjoy it.




Eiffel Tower Sketch
Chad Barrett