Thursday, 29 September 2011
Wednesday - Pain au Chocolat vs Macaroon
Off to Le Louvre, in the beautiful Paris morning, walking along the Seine and into the courtyard, the sun glistening on the pyramid and already the queue was enormous. However as it turned out it was quite 'fast moving' and before we knew it we were making our way through the vast corridors sporting treasures unimaginable, both in their beauty and in their age. Under the beauty category, I must stress we were particularly impressed with the marble statues.
Lunch in a cafe in St Germaine serenaded by a piano accordion made it all seem so picture book perfect, together with the bag of macaroons I was clinging tightly to!
In the afternoon, a train expedition to meet Barbara (my friend from work), we three set off to immerse ourselves in the sculpture of Rodin at the Musee Rodin. We spent a lovely afternoon in the gardens, then walked back to St Germaine for a lovely dinner.
After depositing Barbara safely in a taxi, Maree and I visited, my much loved 'Amorino' for a last ice-cream, arguably one of the best!
Cheers, Michelle
Ps: Today Maree enjoyed her first ever pain au Chocolat (chocolate croissant) - oh la la
Lunch in a cafe in St Germaine serenaded by a piano accordion made it all seem so picture book perfect, together with the bag of macaroons I was clinging tightly to!
In the afternoon, a train expedition to meet Barbara (my friend from work), we three set off to immerse ourselves in the sculpture of Rodin at the Musee Rodin. We spent a lovely afternoon in the gardens, then walked back to St Germaine for a lovely dinner.
After depositing Barbara safely in a taxi, Maree and I visited, my much loved 'Amorino' for a last ice-cream, arguably one of the best!
Cheers, Michelle
Ps: Today Maree enjoyed her first ever pain au Chocolat (chocolate croissant) - oh la la
Tuesday: Paris Sunny 28 degrees
Another beautiful day and we're off to the iconic Eifel Tower. Even though I'd seen it a million times on TV or in films it had me gobsmacked at it's enormity. Many photo's later we went on to the Arc De Triomphe, the word's busiest roundabout. We girded our loins and paid 9euro to subject ourselves to the torture of 700 steps up a circular stairwell to the top. Picture to follow! Oh what a sight to behold when we wheezed to the edge. Beautiful tree lined streets leading off like the spokes of a wheel, amazing. Going down was much easier, merci.
You see, we've taken to speaking French like the natives. we started to walk down the Champs Elysee, very stylish area, stopping for la petit lunch then on to Place de la Concorde, scene of a few beheadings, and the Tuillerie Jardins , finally ending up at the Louvre which was of course closed, because it was Tuesday,why else.
We walked on over Pont Neuf and decided to jump on a river cruise up the Seine. gave us a chance to rest our feet yet still be a tourist. Had Crepes for dinner,yum. Fell asleep before heads hit the pillow.
#Michelle says go down to the bottom of the page and press older posts so you don't miss anything. Au revoir, Maree
You see, we've taken to speaking French like the natives. we started to walk down the Champs Elysee, very stylish area, stopping for la petit lunch then on to Place de la Concorde, scene of a few beheadings, and the Tuillerie Jardins , finally ending up at the Louvre which was of course closed, because it was Tuesday,why else.
We walked on over Pont Neuf and decided to jump on a river cruise up the Seine. gave us a chance to rest our feet yet still be a tourist. Had Crepes for dinner,yum. Fell asleep before heads hit the pillow.
#Michelle says go down to the bottom of the page and press older posts so you don't miss anything. Au revoir, Maree
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
If it's Monday, it must be Paris
Onward to Paris. We took the Eurostar Train which was no hardship, V quick. Thank God I'm with Michelle because the station at Paris was unfathomable to me.Up the Rue Saint Michel to the quaint Hotel Eugenie. Our room is on the 2nd floor and we walked in and opened the French windows and you're 20 feet from the equally quaint house across the skinny road. if you hang out the balcony you see scooters, restaurants lots of Frenchmen talking and French women in high heels clicking along with their handbags in the crook of their arm, not over their shoulder.
We set out for Notre Dame, a fairly close walk across the river. It is enormous and with the most beautiful stained glass windows that my pictures cannot do justice. Michelle my tour guide, pointed out the giant buttresses that saved the Church from being totally destroyed when it was bombed in world war 2. You can see them from the outside in the garden.
Back to the hotel, changed shoes and then back on the train to arrive outside the Moulin Rouge for our walking tour of the Mount Matre district, 'the artist quarter'. We wove our way up the winding cobblestoned streets with stories from our guide of Van Gogh and Picasso and their various houses and meeting places. We saw the only remaining vineyard amongst all the houses. A Statue of Saint Denis holding his own head after he was beheaded! Finally we were rewarded with the most spectacular view of Paris including the sparkling lights on the Eifel Tower, and of course the Beautiful Sacre Coeur Church which Sits on the top of the hill. down the hill again the the artist market, very interesting place then to a little wine bar for a glass to end the tour at about 9pm.
We once again hobbled back to the train and on to Eugenie. The weather has been great. Bye for now.
We set out for Notre Dame, a fairly close walk across the river. It is enormous and with the most beautiful stained glass windows that my pictures cannot do justice. Michelle my tour guide, pointed out the giant buttresses that saved the Church from being totally destroyed when it was bombed in world war 2. You can see them from the outside in the garden.
Back to the hotel, changed shoes and then back on the train to arrive outside the Moulin Rouge for our walking tour of the Mount Matre district, 'the artist quarter'. We wove our way up the winding cobblestoned streets with stories from our guide of Van Gogh and Picasso and their various houses and meeting places. We saw the only remaining vineyard amongst all the houses. A Statue of Saint Denis holding his own head after he was beheaded! Finally we were rewarded with the most spectacular view of Paris including the sparkling lights on the Eifel Tower, and of course the Beautiful Sacre Coeur Church which Sits on the top of the hill. down the hill again the the artist market, very interesting place then to a little wine bar for a glass to end the tour at about 9pm.
We once again hobbled back to the train and on to Eugenie. The weather has been great. Bye for now.
Thames River Cruise,
Raven at the Tower of London
Monday, 26 September 2011
Sunday in London
An early start* (an important point) and off to the Tower of London, we enjoyed a marvelous and funny, historical journey back to the time of moats and traitors, and the odd guillotining ! We saw the crown jewels and the armory of the kings, and all of while somehow kept ahead of the enormous crowd that had formed behind us. *the advantage of the early start!
To rest our weary legs we took a cruise on the Thames to Greenwich, past the oldest pub in London "The Prospect of Whitby" circa 1500. The weather was glorious, Maree did manage (accidentally) a bit of sunburn, sitting on the top deck.
Suitably rested we went on to visit the recreation of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and again with the help of a witty guide were transported back through time.
With finished our day with dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe (London was the original), as this was Maree's first ever HRC experience we were treated to a chocolate fudge sundae and a tour of The Vault, which housed enough Beatles memorabilia to bring a smile to her lips!
A great day, and again fell wearily into bed, cheers Michelle
To rest our weary legs we took a cruise on the Thames to Greenwich, past the oldest pub in London "The Prospect of Whitby" circa 1500. The weather was glorious, Maree did manage (accidentally) a bit of sunburn, sitting on the top deck.
Suitably rested we went on to visit the recreation of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and again with the help of a witty guide were transported back through time.
With finished our day with dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe (London was the original), as this was Maree's first ever HRC experience we were treated to a chocolate fudge sundae and a tour of The Vault, which housed enough Beatles memorabilia to bring a smile to her lips!
A great day, and again fell wearily into bed, cheers Michelle
Saturday, 24 September 2011
London day 1
We woke at 5am, flying plays havoc with your body clock! Off to Buckingham Palace at 10am. It was unbelievable. No photographs allowed though so we'll just have to remember it. When we came out there were thousands of people around and the grenadier guards and their band were just marching down the street for no apparent reason. I do love a marching band.walked to Westminster Abbey now that was amazing. So old, so ornate,fascinating history. No photo's inside again but I managed a couple before I was found out and told off. By the way we saw Kate's wedding dress at the Palace, she has a waist as big as a six year old, tiny.Then we went to Churchill's secret war rooms. Fantastic.we walked down to Trafalgar square, which by the way is round. Then decided to drag ourselves out to Pimlico to the Tate gallery which houses more Turners and Constables than you can poke a stick at. Finally we jumped back on the tube,which puts our rail system to shame,and headed back to our little hotel near kings cross. Foot weary and tired in bed by 9pm what a day,I walked on Oliver Cromwell's grave for god's sake. I just can't believe I'm here. bye for now, Maree of M&M on tour.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
London, England
Maree has taken to long distance flying like 'a duck to water', she loves it "I can't believe I dont have to do anything but sit here and watch movies, bliss !" I'll be checking how she is feeling in about 14 hours!
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
All packed and ready (almost)
I have had an indulgent day: a lovely lunch with Mandy and Em, followed by an afternoon of buffing, polishing, waxing and dyeing, and finally cutting.
Maree has shopped, cleaned, washed, ironed and generally got herself packed, all with Phoebe following her around. It's amazing how the dogs always seem to know when we are on the move. I hope neither of them fret too much for the other!
It's hard to believe our trip has finally arrived, I have managed to complete the 'online check-in' with Singapore Airlines, I think successfully - although the proof will be in the boarding tomorrow! Our seats, 83d and 83g on the upper deck of the A380, way up the back, appear to have great ease of access to stretch our legs (and to get to the loo)!
Emily is taking us to the airport, and to take our photo when Maree finally gets to go through the 'International Departures' door, maybe for the first time but I'm sure not the last.
Our countdown almost gone: 17hours, 19minutes, 24seconds till departure !
Maree has shopped, cleaned, washed, ironed and generally got herself packed, all with Phoebe following her around. It's amazing how the dogs always seem to know when we are on the move. I hope neither of them fret too much for the other!
It's hard to believe our trip has finally arrived, I have managed to complete the 'online check-in' with Singapore Airlines, I think successfully - although the proof will be in the boarding tomorrow! Our seats, 83d and 83g on the upper deck of the A380, way up the back, appear to have great ease of access to stretch our legs (and to get to the loo)!
Emily is taking us to the airport, and to take our photo when Maree finally gets to go through the 'International Departures' door, maybe for the first time but I'm sure not the last.
Our countdown almost gone: 17hours, 19minutes, 24seconds till departure !
Saturday, 17 September 2011
Family Birthday Lunch
Great family lunch in 'the sticks' complete with a great poem from Janet! And congrats to Nick Premiers !!! 3 days 19 hours 38 minutes 55 seconds!!!
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Birthday Girl
Maree has made the big 50, Thai dinner with Wayne and I, and birthday cake complete with lemon icing from mama! 8 days 12 hours 38 minutes 53 seconds till departure
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Sunday, 4 September 2011
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