After all of that travelling, laughing, eating etc it was lovely to arrive back in New Zealand.
Next year I'm planning a tour to Pennsylvania!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Still Saturday, still Paris
After lunch several of us went on a tour out to Giverney, to Monet's garden. It was drizzling a little as we drove for about 1 1/2 hours north. It was well worth it, but by the following weekend the flowers would have been finished.
There was that darned tower again on our way home. What else could Sue & I do but go up to the second level. You must know that this is terribly brave of me - I have a very silly, but significant - fear of heights. But hey, after 20 mins waiting time up we went. It was nowhere near as scary as I had thought it would be. Yes, in the photo I still look petrified, but I did it!
There was that darned tower again on our way home. What else could Sue & I do but go up to the second level. You must know that this is terribly brave of me - I have a very silly, but significant - fear of heights. But hey, after 20 mins waiting time up we went. It was nowhere near as scary as I had thought it would be. Yes, in the photo I still look petrified, but I did it!
Saturday in Paris
Saturday morning I was up and ready early. Dianne, Sue & I took a cab over to Montmartre to soak in the artists markets etc.
Here was just another one of those OMG moments. I really hadn't though much about where we were going, other than the artist area and when we pulled up there was the Sacre Coeur to the right and a panoramic view of Paris to the left.
We walked up the steps and into the cathedral and were greeted by a Mass. The singing was beautiful and, of course, the atmosphere electric. This is a very simple building, compared to many that we have seen, but it 'felt' really good.
We hung around the area for about an hour - coffee, croissant - then we took the petite train down the hill, passed Moulin Rouge, to the Metro.
Here was just another one of those OMG moments. I really hadn't though much about where we were going, other than the artist area and when we pulled up there was the Sacre Coeur to the right and a panoramic view of Paris to the left.
We walked up the steps and into the cathedral and were greeted by a Mass. The singing was beautiful and, of course, the atmosphere electric. This is a very simple building, compared to many that we have seen, but it 'felt' really good.
We hung around the area for about an hour - coffee, croissant - then we took the petite train down the hill, passed Moulin Rouge, to the Metro.
Friday in Paris
Saturday saw us have a reasonably early start, as we were collected by our guide for the day, Catherine. What a delighful lady and what knowledge she has of her beloved Paris.
First we took a drive around the city highlights, with a stop for pics of the Eiffel Tower.
Then it was on around the city to see the highlights. The traffic island at the Arc du Triomphe is enormous. It has at least 5 lanes, but the drivers are crazy. There were masses of riot police gearing up for a protest rally.
We stopped near the Champs Elysee for lunch before heading out to the Palace of Versailles. Wow! What an ornate place. My friend Sue (used to live in Thorndon, Wellington) caught up with us there too. Sue & Warwick live nearby.
The opulence is incredible. All that for one family.
These photos are in the Hall of Mirrors.
We were back at the hotel around 6.30pm. The weather was a bit damp, but Paula & Robyn & I decided to head to the Louvre. Well, I only went because it was there and after 6pm it's only 6 euro entry fee. Friday the galleries are open until 10pm. This was another of those OMG moments. I had never expected to be wow-ed by the Louvre. but I was.
To stand 3 metres from the Mona Lisa, or right beside the Venus de Milo, is just incredible, as is the size of the place. We got lost several times.
No photos until I can figure how to get them from my mobile to my laptop.
First we took a drive around the city highlights, with a stop for pics of the Eiffel Tower.
Then it was on around the city to see the highlights. The traffic island at the Arc du Triomphe is enormous. It has at least 5 lanes, but the drivers are crazy. There were masses of riot police gearing up for a protest rally.
We stopped near the Champs Elysee for lunch before heading out to the Palace of Versailles. Wow! What an ornate place. My friend Sue (used to live in Thorndon, Wellington) caught up with us there too. Sue & Warwick live nearby.
The opulence is incredible. All that for one family.
We were back at the hotel around 6.30pm. The weather was a bit damp, but Paula & Robyn & I decided to head to the Louvre. Well, I only went because it was there and after 6pm it's only 6 euro entry fee. Friday the galleries are open until 10pm. This was another of those OMG moments. I had never expected to be wow-ed by the Louvre. but I was.
To stand 3 metres from the Mona Lisa, or right beside the Venus de Milo, is just incredible, as is the size of the place. We got lost several times.
No photos until I can figure how to get them from my mobile to my laptop.
Paris, France, not Paris, Texas!
It now seems a long time ago that we arrived in Paris - on Thursday September 31st. We got caught in the most awful traffic jams and our intrepid driver, Luc, tried several different roads. In the time that we travelled less than 4km my Barney (back home in Hamilton) had completed his shower & breakfast and dressed for work.
We didn't mind the traffic too much, as there were lots of exciting and new things for us to look at. Just before 8pm we turned onto a bridge over the Seine and there was the Eiffel Tower - sparkling! Yes, sparkling! From 8pm until 1am on the hour, there are white sparkling lights for just 10 mins. Luc tried to tell us it was just for us. Yeah right!
The Novotel Tour Eiffel is enormous and very smart.
We didn't mind the traffic too much, as there were lots of exciting and new things for us to look at. Just before 8pm we turned onto a bridge over the Seine and there was the Eiffel Tower - sparkling! Yes, sparkling! From 8pm until 1am on the hour, there are white sparkling lights for just 10 mins. Luc tried to tell us it was just for us. Yeah right!
The Novotel Tour Eiffel is enormous and very smart.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch
Forgive for the delay in adding to the Blog. I have had some urgent family events to deal with.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Last tango in Paris
There are five of us waiting in the foyer for the shuttle to the airport. Two heading to Britain & the other home. I will try to update this at the airport - there's lots to tell about out time in Paris.
Amien & the Somme
Our stay in Amien was too brief. Just a brief look at the cathedral was a one hour job. A very cute area and lots of photo opportunities.
We departed from there at 10.30am, so a really late start for us. Our first stop was Becourt British Cemetery to pay our respects to Elaine's Uncle. She had created a lovely wreath of poppies and leaves to present to him. We all found the experience very moving. Thank you Elaine for sharing that very special moment with us.
As we drove from there I read the transcripts of postcards from my Great Uncle Ted (Timothy Edward) Lane to his beloved Hilda back in Timaru. His fear was that he would not return to see his 'dear little boy' and Hilda. Sadly only a few days before he was killed in the Battle of Baupame he wrote his last postcard to Hilda asking her to be brave if he "stayed behind in France like Humphrey" (his brother was killed in the Battle of the Somme). Late in the day we visited his grave in Favreuil.
Close to lunchtime we stopped in Albert and visited the Somme Museum. It is in the cellars under the town and was used as a bomb shelter in WWII. A very well presented museum, though quite humble. The final part of the museum is 'in the trenches' with bombs sounding, light flashing and very moving.
From there we journeyed to Poziers for Janet to visit the memory of her Great Uncle. Although Irish he fought for the British and paid the ultimate price. A very large cemetery.
Our next stop was the New Zealand Memorial at Longvail. We gathered around the Memorial and I read the Soldiers Ode. This was not an easy exercise as I found it very emotional - I think we all did.
The quality of these memorials is magnificent. We (New Zealand) may have paid with lives, but the Commonwealth Graves Commission and the French do a magnificent job of maintaining them.
Lest we forget.
(Photos will have to wait.)
We departed from there at 10.30am, so a really late start for us. Our first stop was Becourt British Cemetery to pay our respects to Elaine's Uncle. She had created a lovely wreath of poppies and leaves to present to him. We all found the experience very moving. Thank you Elaine for sharing that very special moment with us.
As we drove from there I read the transcripts of postcards from my Great Uncle Ted (Timothy Edward) Lane to his beloved Hilda back in Timaru. His fear was that he would not return to see his 'dear little boy' and Hilda. Sadly only a few days before he was killed in the Battle of Baupame he wrote his last postcard to Hilda asking her to be brave if he "stayed behind in France like Humphrey" (his brother was killed in the Battle of the Somme). Late in the day we visited his grave in Favreuil.
Close to lunchtime we stopped in Albert and visited the Somme Museum. It is in the cellars under the town and was used as a bomb shelter in WWII. A very well presented museum, though quite humble. The final part of the museum is 'in the trenches' with bombs sounding, light flashing and very moving.
From there we journeyed to Poziers for Janet to visit the memory of her Great Uncle. Although Irish he fought for the British and paid the ultimate price. A very large cemetery.
Our next stop was the New Zealand Memorial at Longvail. We gathered around the Memorial and I read the Soldiers Ode. This was not an easy exercise as I found it very emotional - I think we all did.
The quality of these memorials is magnificent. We (New Zealand) may have paid with lives, but the Commonwealth Graves Commission and the French do a magnificent job of maintaining them.
Lest we forget.
(Photos will have to wait.)
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