The Long Way Home From France

We left Nice, France on a Sept 24th, a beautiful sunny Tuesday morning, the palm trees swaying and the wind, the Mediterranean sea was just beautiful    We flagged a taxi and waved goodbye to our last day in France.   Our first leg of our flight was held in Nice for an extra hour or so while the fog lifted in London.  We finally boarded and then flew to Heathrow and circled for another 45 minutes.    When we finally made it on the ground, our connecting flight was leaving without us because Fred, I and about 700 (this is NOT exaggerated)  other people were trying to get through customs. 

 Since we missed our connection we had to go stand in line ( again with 700 people) and try to be rescheduled.   It was taking too long so they sent US/Canadian/Brits up to arrivals where there were more terminals to help us.   We had to go through English  Customs where they ask questions like " How long will you be enjoying your stay here"  ( I got a stamp at least) and then we were sent to stand in another line.

We were booked to a late afternoon flight to Vancouver BC and another connection to Seattle.  From here we had our first chance to go to the bathroom and head for a flight only 1 hour to takeoff.   We got to the gate and found about 60 of our new line friends waiting to be loaded with the regular passengers into a bus to drive to another terminal  where they loaded us all on the super 747 for BC. Everyone had to carry their carryon baggage up the outside stairs to the plane and find their seats... ( You are right, this took time and we left 20 minutes late)

11 Hours, 3 movies, 2 TV shows and a bad meal later we landed in Vancouver.   We then found that our bags were not sent to Seattle, but terminated in Canada with us and we had to wait for them with all the other passengers to get our bags and then check into the new airline.  We rushed and made it to that gate with 15 minutes to spare... BUT it  was closed.... homeland security requires that you be there 1 hour ahead of your flight. 

It is now 9:00 p.m. and Washington and my body is 9 hours ahead of that with no sleep.   British Airways did give us a nice hotel room located right in the airport.   We were given vouchers for dinner  (Thank heaven for it was $54.00 for a bowl of soup a salad and two drinks....)   At 10:30 we take a much needed shower and fall in bed for a 3:45 a.m. wake up call.

My body is thinking it is about noon, so I am up and at the gate by the required 4:00 a.m.  It takes 53 minutes to go through the Canadian Customs, " How long was your stay in Canada?".... over to US customs, recheck our bags, go through security and board a plane to Seattle.    

Twenty seven minutes later we arrive in Seattle, our bags are first off the belt and Fred Jr. is on the road and the trip is done..BUT... I-5 Traffic is backed up all the way to Tacoma and poor Fred looses 1.75 hours in getting to us.    Fred Sr. is chomping at the bit to get home and go to work.

We we did make it home safe and sound... we both went to work, and when I came home at 5:30 I find Fred sound asleep in bed for the night.    I hung in until 9pm in hopes of turning my inner clock to Washington time, but had to crash myself after that.

So the adventure ends for this trip.

On Our Last Leg

I can not believe that tomorrow we leave for our last stop on this wonderful French Trip.  The time has gone by so quickly, yet last week in Paris seems like a long time ago as we move forward each day with new adventures.

French food is served beautifully.  You will see that a little balsamic vinegar is served in the form of a treble clef.  Some food is great... some not my favorite.   I am surprised because American French Restaurants are so exceptional.   I think it is more cultural or French palate.

Yesterday we visited the 1st century called Carrcasonne.    They light the walls at night and it is like watching an old crusades  movie.  Be sure to click on the picture to see it more closely.  This is not a castle, but an entire city.    It has a castle and a cathedral inside as well as about 200 cottages.  It started in the first century and was added on to each century well through the 14th century.  In 1855 the city leaders had the forethought to save this for future generations.  It is now one of France's 38 world heritage sights.

This is the walled city of Avignon .  It was the Papel Capitol for over 100+ years.  I don't know how the Vatican let them do it, but they moved the whole thing here during the reign of 9 French Popes.

I guess it is no surprise that there has never been another French Pope since they finally got things back to Rome.  The buildings are very interesting, but stripped of everything you see in the Vatican in Rome.... not intention of going back.   They did find 10 vaults in the 1980's.   They do not tell you what they found, but they were in the floor of the treasury.   The City pays for the buildings... so I guess they get the treasure that was left there.. if there was any?   No one will tell.

They had such a wonderful spice market in Avignon.   You can't believe how wonderful it smells.

My feet are killing me, so we stopped for lunch .  Carol can walk the socks off me, and after walking on round stones for three days, it was time to SIT and enjoy the city.  A nice French wine with lunch is needed.

Annesey - Such a Pretty French City

Carol's friend Val, suggested this city, and I am so glad we made it here.  

It is close to Switzerland and the streets are next to small canals.  It has all the beauty of Lake Chelan, The mountains of the Grand Teitons and the canals of Venice.... 

Shops were everywhere and a huge farmers market 

This was only a one day stop, wish it was  longer. 

Paris Week So Far

The Internet isn't great so I can only send these when I have good connections.

 Notre Dame Cathedral. We are going here for church on Sunday.

San Chapelle - amazing windows

Lovers locks  on bridges. Jade told carol about it so she brought some to add.

We all love a little French Pastry in the morning.  They really are fabulous.

The city has over 60 museums.  We purchased a 4 day pass and can see as many as we could get to.

We can't come to France without an evening in Paris and the Eiffel tower

Yesterday was wonderful at the Louvre.  The French have so many artifacts.

Yes I did see the Mona Lisa ,  not close enough for a great picture, so I will share Egyptian artifacts 

Tonight the Moulin rouge.  Most of my pictures are on the big camera,  but the cell phone is easier for this sort of thing 

We are not very good at arms length pictures, but we are having a good time every day.  Greetings to all

First stop New York

So Fred and I are on our first on our leg of the trip.  I wish we could leave the airport to go see a show.  We hit some turbulence over the Chicago area,  Hoping for smooth skies over the Pacific.  

We are here safe and sound. 6am Tues morning,  I have only 10 min of free wifi so off this goes,  more later.

Tomorrow France

I am making a draft blog in preparation for our trip to France tomorrow .  In doing so I'll tell you about my trip with Lila yesterday .

I hope to add pictures and notes about our trip in  France.  If  I set this up before I go we should be able to make colorful notes and photos in the field with a "quick send" when we hit a hot spot.  I have already found that proofreading is incredibly hard on a cell phone. 

Yesterday I took Lila to lunch before our trip.  We did a little exploring. 

Here is a few pictures of our visit to the Turkish fabric store.  It was a little bit like finding a Tiny Casbah.