Well, fellow readers, we made it safely back to the USA five days ago, which was two days ahead of our luggage. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, you need better coordination in the luggage transfer department. If truth be told, however, it was nice not to think about doing all that laundry as soon as we walked in the door!
We're slowly emerging from jet lag, though we still yearn for naps at 4 pm (and sometimes give in to those yearnings).
We've had time to reflect on our Big Adventure, and managed to write down some thoughts to share with our readers. Please note that our observations are just that, not a judgement of the places we visited, or people we met (except smokers--shame on you!).
-There are 500,000 dogs in Paris, more than the number of children.
-We saw several dog breeds we don't recollect ever seeing in the U.S.
-Why are so many toilets in France's public places missing toilet seats?
-In England, it seems that when walking on the sidewalk, people walk on the left (like cars), but when on escalators or moving sidewalks, little signs say, "keep right." Which is it?
-Brits are so polite in their requests and demands, as in, "mind the gap" when exiting a train.
-What is the purpose if the thick metal blinds that get raised and lowered over Paris apartment windows? Are they expecting a tropical storm or imminent civil disturbance?
-Why do we keep saying "Bon revoir!" When we leave somewhere? Guess we don't know whether we're coming or going.
-If all Parisians leave Paris in August, why can't we find anyone who speaks English?
-Are the little pond boats in Les Jardins du Luxembourg really powered by the NSA?
-Never (or hardly ever) pronounce the "s" at the end of French words.
-We love the pianos in train stations and other public places that have signs on them inviting anyone to sit down and play a tune.
-We love the fact that due to open apartment windows, we can hear people practicing musical instruments or singing opera, or little tidbits of conversation. All in French!
-The. Best. Bread. (Paris)
-The. Best. Pastries. (Paris)
-The. Best. Croissants. (Paris)
-The. Best. Pubs. (London)
-The sometimes almost unbearable crowds on the Metro and Tube. Do we LOOK like sardines?
-Museum gift shops are wonderful.
-In London, Prèt à Manger and EAT restaurants are lifesavers when you're hungry and in a hurry.
-Did we mention Parisian bread?
-Gail would walk five miles for an Amorino gelato cone, beautifully scooped to look like a rose.
-What is it with the French and cigarettes (especially teens)? Did France not get the memo that smoking is bad for one's health? Yuck!
-Why is Coke always served with lemon slices? And why does a bottle of Coke cost the same as a Stella Artois at a cafe?
- Kudos to Paris drivers, bikers, motorcyclists, skaters and pedestrians for managing to share the roads and sidewalks so well. Never saw a fender-bender or close call in 4 weeks of walking around and riding the buses. Lots of sirens though. Perhaps that was transit of smokers to the hospitals.
- Big applause for mass transit in both Paris and London. Buses, metro and trains were reliable and on time, SF could take a lesson.
-Amazing chocolate, and chocolate éclairs.
-If all the Parisians are on vacation in August, who are the people driving the buses, minding the stores, and baking bread? Are they from the suburbs?
-Why don't straws in cafés have wrappers on them? Why are eggs not refrigerated? Don't get me (Gail) started on food handling practices, or lack thereof! Or flies.
-Why do I (John) feel comfortable carrying a purse-like man bag in Europe? Gail made me do it to discourage pickpockets.
-I (John) love how all the cafés and bistros have seats outside all facing the street. Are they watching traffic and hoping for an accident?
-Regarding the outward-facing seating, it's really cool and I (John) love it in Paris. Not so much in Palo Alto or Menlo Park.
-People sitting in those outward facing seats look so cool and hip. How come I (John) don't feel that way when I sit there? Should I turn my seat around? Would I feel cooler if I were smoking?
-It's very humane to let checkout clerks sit down while working (Paris).
-Why did I (John) feel the need to grow facial hair in Paris?
-A night cruise on the Seine IS all it's hyped up to be.
-We will never understand the fickleness of Parisian weather, but who cares? The clouds are simply amazing against a blue, blue sky.
Paris and London, you've captured our hearts. It's been a wonderful month-long adventure! Au revoir! Or is that bon revoir?
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Winding Down
Hard to believe it's been four weeks already since we arrived. Though we are anxious to get home, we're a bit melancholy about leaving. It has been a fun, enriching and challenging experience. It is the longest either of us has been "away from home" since going to college. We have been very fortunate to have had this opportunity thanks to the serendipitous connection with Sherry and Marc Gabay. It' been a great match of personalities and we have developed a great relationship that made all this work successfully.
So now we head back to California. We head out early in the morning Paris time and should be home early evening CA time.
Thanks to all our family and friends and our mystery readers in Poland for following our adventure on our blog. It's been fun sharing stories and pictures and reading your emails and comments.
See you soon in California.
John & Gail
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So now we head back to California. We head out early in the morning Paris time and should be home early evening CA time.
Thanks to all our family and friends and our mystery readers in Poland for following our adventure on our blog. It's been fun sharing stories and pictures and reading your emails and comments.
See you soon in California.
John & Gail
Monday, August 25, 2014
Day ??? Monday, August 25, 2014
We've messed up on counting our days somewhere but are too lazy to figure it all out! Today dawned cloudy with predicted rain. I must say, the weather gods have been wonderful to us. It's mostly been in the low 70s with just enough rain to look good to us Californians. I wish I had brought rain boots, then I could walk in the rain longer. I actually bought a pair of opaque black tights to wear to keep warm when wearing a dress and bought a down vest at Uniqlo in London to keep warm. Can't complain about the heat or the cold. It's just right for me. Of course, as soon as we stepped out the door this morning, it started to rain.
We walked over to a wonderful little Italian restaurant (Cailloux) in the charming Butte aux Cailles area. We had the prix fixe menu that included entree, plat, and wine for John and plat, dessert, and wine for me (which I shared with John). Very good Italian lunch.
Upon leaving the restaurant an hour and a half later (short lunch by Parisian standards), we decided to just walk around aimlessly. That wasn't as fun as we thought it would be due to the rain, so we boarded the Metro and headed toward Montparnasse to see if we could find a cinema. Luck was with us as we soggily landed in a theater to see New York Melody in English (v.o.--version originale). It was subtitled in French. Great movie and fun way to spend a rainy afternoon.
Back to the apartment by 6:30. Time to start thinking about packing for our return trip. Our shuttle arrives here between 6:20 and 6:40 a.m. Thursday morning.
No photos today as it's too hard to take a photo and hold an umbrella at the same time! --Gail
We walked over to a wonderful little Italian restaurant (Cailloux) in the charming Butte aux Cailles area. We had the prix fixe menu that included entree, plat, and wine for John and plat, dessert, and wine for me (which I shared with John). Very good Italian lunch.
Upon leaving the restaurant an hour and a half later (short lunch by Parisian standards), we decided to just walk around aimlessly. That wasn't as fun as we thought it would be due to the rain, so we boarded the Metro and headed toward Montparnasse to see if we could find a cinema. Luck was with us as we soggily landed in a theater to see New York Melody in English (v.o.--version originale). It was subtitled in French. Great movie and fun way to spend a rainy afternoon.
Back to the apartment by 6:30. Time to start thinking about packing for our return trip. Our shuttle arrives here between 6:20 and 6:40 a.m. Thursday morning.
No photos today as it's too hard to take a photo and hold an umbrella at the same time! --Gail
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Day 26 - Guys' Day Out
Flat Stanley* and I headed out on our own today. First stop on our adventure was the Pantheon, an ancient landmark in Paris commemorating the lives of famous Frenchmen. The building is undergoing a multi-year renovation to correct structural problems that come with age. One interesting attraction is the Foucault pendulum, just like the one at the SF Academy of Science Museum. Of course the one in Paris is the real deal while others are replicas of Foucault's model.
From the Pantheon we headed back toward Luxembourg Gardens but veered off on some side streets hoping to find our way to St Sulpice church. Along the way we had a pain du chocolat as our second breakfast. Stanley has such a sweet tooth. He keeps eating like this and he won't be flat much longer.
The small streets in Paris are so interesting and picturesque. We followed one that looked enticing and were fascinated by the colorful and imposing doorways. We wanted to knock on the doors to see who lived there but decided against it since Stanley can be very shy.
At the end of the street, we discovered a large, old building with a door that was open. Since Stanley is braver than I, he went first and suddenly we were inside a magnificent church. We had discovered St Sulpice. The church was quiet and there were other people visiting there also. Some were praying; others were looking at the stained glass windows and statues. We saw the pipes of the great organ. Would have been fun to hear some music but we were too late today. We walked through the church and out the front door into the bright sunshine. There was a beautiful fountain in the plaza in front of the church where we sat and enjoyed the sunshine.
After resting for a bit, we decided to go back to Luxembourg Garden. There are pretty flowers and statues and even a playground. Stanley insisted on spending lots of time at the playground. Then he wanted to ride the ponies. He sure has lots of energy. After the ponies, we had PB&J for lunch while we watched the toy sailboats on the pond. Stanley was curious about the boats. He thought they were run by remote control. But the truth is that they are simply wind-driven. We will need to report this to Monsieur Gabay who was certain they were operated by the NSA.
It was time to catch the bus to go to Jardin du Plantes. This garden is a free botanical garden where all the plants have name tags. There were all kinds of flowers and plants many of which are also found in California. Near the garden was the paleontology museum. We didn't go in, but we saw a big stegosaurus outside. Stanley also had a close call with a large animal that looked like an elephant. I think it was a mastadon. After that, we skedaddled out of that place and jumped on a bus to escape.
Next thing we knew, we were standing outside Notre Dame cathedral in a long line of people. We followed the line and soon we were inside the magnificent church looking at the stained glass and statues and candles. It is a very majestic place.
Stanley is a great travel companion but he was getting a bit grumpy so we beat it for the 21 bus to take us home. It had been a full day. Besides, I needed a beer. --John
*For more info on Flat Stanley, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Stanley Our granddaughter; Sammi, sent Flat Stanley to Auntie Kat, then we got him. Uncle Jay gets him next.
From the Pantheon we headed back toward Luxembourg Gardens but veered off on some side streets hoping to find our way to St Sulpice church. Along the way we had a pain du chocolat as our second breakfast. Stanley has such a sweet tooth. He keeps eating like this and he won't be flat much longer.
The small streets in Paris are so interesting and picturesque. We followed one that looked enticing and were fascinated by the colorful and imposing doorways. We wanted to knock on the doors to see who lived there but decided against it since Stanley can be very shy.
At the end of the street, we discovered a large, old building with a door that was open. Since Stanley is braver than I, he went first and suddenly we were inside a magnificent church. We had discovered St Sulpice. The church was quiet and there were other people visiting there also. Some were praying; others were looking at the stained glass windows and statues. We saw the pipes of the great organ. Would have been fun to hear some music but we were too late today. We walked through the church and out the front door into the bright sunshine. There was a beautiful fountain in the plaza in front of the church where we sat and enjoyed the sunshine.
After resting for a bit, we decided to go back to Luxembourg Garden. There are pretty flowers and statues and even a playground. Stanley insisted on spending lots of time at the playground. Then he wanted to ride the ponies. He sure has lots of energy. After the ponies, we had PB&J for lunch while we watched the toy sailboats on the pond. Stanley was curious about the boats. He thought they were run by remote control. But the truth is that they are simply wind-driven. We will need to report this to Monsieur Gabay who was certain they were operated by the NSA.
It was time to catch the bus to go to Jardin du Plantes. This garden is a free botanical garden where all the plants have name tags. There were all kinds of flowers and plants many of which are also found in California. Near the garden was the paleontology museum. We didn't go in, but we saw a big stegosaurus outside. Stanley also had a close call with a large animal that looked like an elephant. I think it was a mastadon. After that, we skedaddled out of that place and jumped on a bus to escape.
Next thing we knew, we were standing outside Notre Dame cathedral in a long line of people. We followed the line and soon we were inside the magnificent church looking at the stained glass and statues and candles. It is a very majestic place.
Stanley is a great travel companion but he was getting a bit grumpy so we beat it for the 21 bus to take us home. It had been a full day. Besides, I needed a beer. --John
*For more info on Flat Stanley, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Stanley Our granddaughter; Sammi, sent Flat Stanley to Auntie Kat, then we got him. Uncle Jay gets him next.
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| The Pantheon |
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| Beautiful French Flags |
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| Mystery Street |
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| Doorway |
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| Wonder who lives here. |
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| Secret entrance to St Sulpice |
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| Inside St Sulpice |
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| Organ Pipes in St Sulpice |
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| Fountain in front of St Sulpice |
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| Luxembourg playground |
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| Let's play! |
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| Cool zip line |
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| Who wants to ride a pony? |
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| Stegosaurus in the ferns |
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| HELP! |
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| On the Seine |
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| At Notre Dame |
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| Oh my. Someone has lost his head. |
Day 24 - Just Another Saturday in Paris
We're becoming so blasé about Paris...NOT! Today was a picture perfect day in Paris. Spectacular in all ways. The temperature was upper 60's and the sky was full of white, puffy clouds which seem to be de rigueur for this area. The sky was azure blue. The day was a perfect canvas for any aspiring impressionist painters or photographers.
We headed out mid-morning to La Cafèothèque to replenish the coffee supply which I have been enjoying the last three weeks. The coffee roasting shop was near Notre Dame and had great ambiance. I enjoyed the café du jour and Gail had a thé noir before heading out to BHV, the "quaint little general store" that occupies seven floors. It's not Harrods but it has everything a respectable Parisian could ever want or need from hardware (floor -1) to linens & appliances & clothing & you name it. We enjoyed looking (Je regarde, merci.)
After BHV, we grabbed some lunch in the Latin Quarter. I had a nice omelette and Gail had an oh-la-la. We also stopped by Shakespeare & Company bookstore, a place we're fond of because of its history as a haven for ex-pat writers that were supported by Sylvia Beach, an American woman who was editor, publisher, and friend of many great 20th century writers including Hemmingway, Joyce, and Fitzgerald. (Side note: We stayed in the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Cannon Beach, Oregon, last year. This delightful hotel features rooms decorated in the style of famous writers. More info at www.sylviabeachhotel.com)
Later we revisited Luxembourg Gardens (could never tire of that place) before heading to the discount stores on Rue d'Alesia (why am I writing about shopping again?).
Went back home for a short rest and a quick dinner before heading out to a show entitled "How to Become a Parisian in One Hour." It was a one-man show done mostly in English by a talented stand up French comedian. He was hilarious and even the Parisians in the audience were laughing. Great end to a great day.
We headed out mid-morning to La Cafèothèque to replenish the coffee supply which I have been enjoying the last three weeks. The coffee roasting shop was near Notre Dame and had great ambiance. I enjoyed the café du jour and Gail had a thé noir before heading out to BHV, the "quaint little general store" that occupies seven floors. It's not Harrods but it has everything a respectable Parisian could ever want or need from hardware (floor -1) to linens & appliances & clothing & you name it. We enjoyed looking (Je regarde, merci.)
After BHV, we grabbed some lunch in the Latin Quarter. I had a nice omelette and Gail had an oh-la-la. We also stopped by Shakespeare & Company bookstore, a place we're fond of because of its history as a haven for ex-pat writers that were supported by Sylvia Beach, an American woman who was editor, publisher, and friend of many great 20th century writers including Hemmingway, Joyce, and Fitzgerald. (Side note: We stayed in the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Cannon Beach, Oregon, last year. This delightful hotel features rooms decorated in the style of famous writers. More info at www.sylviabeachhotel.com)
Later we revisited Luxembourg Gardens (could never tire of that place) before heading to the discount stores on Rue d'Alesia (why am I writing about shopping again?).
Went back home for a short rest and a quick dinner before heading out to a show entitled "How to Become a Parisian in One Hour." It was a one-man show done mostly in English by a talented stand up French comedian. He was hilarious and even the Parisians in the audience were laughing. Great end to a great day.
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| Morning caffeine |
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| BHV Marais |
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| Cannot help taking pictures of Notre Dame |
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| Shakespeare & Co |
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| Latin Quarter |
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| Reminiscent of Fisherman's Wharf |
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| Gail's "lunch" |
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| Mmmmmm. "I'll have what she's having." |
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| Jardins du Luxembourg |
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| Statue accupuncture or pigeon prevention? | Look closely. |
Day 25: Catch-up photos from the past few days--Gail's pics
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| I Left My Shoes In Paris, France |
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| Scene of the Crime |
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| Let's go right to the chocolate. This and all of the following chocolate is for all my friends at Laurel School |
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| Beautifully designed chocolate truffles |
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| Yummmm. SLABS of chocolate |
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| For Patrice, who first introduced us to this chocolate one glorious Christmas years ago |
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| This reminded me of my dad. He loved gooseberries. |
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| That cake in the back corner is for my sister-in-law, Vicki |
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| ...and this would be for Jay, reminiscent of his younger years |
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| For Sammi--real cuttlefish! (Not to worry, sweet grandaughter...we have something real for you, too.) |
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| This photo keeps popping up and won't let me delete it! An omen perhaps? |
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| For my garden-loving sister, Judy |
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| Oysters for brother-in-law David |
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HUGE crab legs for daughters Kat and Amy
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