Join us on our year long adventure as we move from US to Reading, England for one year. With two kids and a dog, it's bound to be a fun adventure!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Allen's Review of Thursday in Paris
We had a great day today. We packed it in.
Ellen had a photography lesson and walking tour this morning. She said she had a great time and learned a few new tricks and I think enjoyed getting a break from us too. She's posted some new photos on the blog so check it out.
I had the kids this morning. We had breakfast here in the apartment and then walked (about 9 blocks) to Luxembourg Gardens (beautiful park and formal gardens west of here). I had to explain to the kids several times that the French don't walk on the grass and they thought that was stupid. Me too. Anyway, there was a great playground with about 300 kids all speaking different languages. I think I heard German, French, Italian, some African languages, Indian, etc.. and of course our kids were screaming English. Hope made friends with a little French girl named Julie and they played together nicely for a long time. Connor tagged along too. It was very cute and they gave high fives and hugged when it was time to go.
We had planed to walk to the Notre Dame and meet Ellen but the kids were so tired, we bailed out and called her to meet us half way. We walked to the apartment and bribed the kids to take naps so that we could stay up late tonight and see the Eiffel Tower at night. We all took long naps and had dinner in our little neighborhood (Place Monge). The kids ate bread (that's it really) and Ellen and I had a real meal. Hope and Connor briefly talked to two girls from Holland at the table next to ours.
After dinner we walked to the Metro and took the underground to the Eiffel Tower. I'll have to say, it was beautiful and striking in the night sky.
We had to stop our progress briefly to stand in line at a public toilet for little Miss Hope Holloway. Yes. I said public toilet. Imagine a phone booth on the side of the street. You push a button and the door opens to reveal a toilet .... that is not really a toilet. I mean its a little like an anatomical trough sort of with no seat and its really disgusting and I think I gagged a little while helping Hope. No paper. No soap. Nothing to flush. But, it was one step up from peeing in the street. I think.
By 10pm we did manage to catch the lift to the observation deck in the tower. The City was beautiful and its really evident how big Paris really is from that vantage point. The kids of course loved it, but our stay was short lived (it was windy and cool).
By 10:45 we were of course hunting another potty. And you know what? They close the public toilets at 10:30. We walked all around the Eiffel Tower neighborhood looking for a place to pee. I mean what is it with the French and their toilets? If there is one thing I have learned on this trip it is that the French are in desperate need of relief. If I were a plumber in this city, my family would starve to death. There has to be 400 - 500 people to one toilet in this City. You know where Hope and Connor peed? In the bushes beneath the Eiffel Tower. It was classic! And Ellen is a trooper. She just hoped the fence to the garden beneath the tower and took care of pee pee business. AND while Connor was peeing, the Eiffel Tower put on an amazing strobe light show. It was like magic.
OK, enough potty talk. After, the kids ate some cotton candy and we made our way pack to the Metro Station for a ride home.
It was a late night, but the kids had a blast and Ellen and I did too! It was a day to remember.
Tomorrow is a new day! We might take a river boat trip on the Seine. Probably another nap!
Ellen had a photography lesson and walking tour this morning. She said she had a great time and learned a few new tricks and I think enjoyed getting a break from us too. She's posted some new photos on the blog so check it out.
I had the kids this morning. We had breakfast here in the apartment and then walked (about 9 blocks) to Luxembourg Gardens (beautiful park and formal gardens west of here). I had to explain to the kids several times that the French don't walk on the grass and they thought that was stupid. Me too. Anyway, there was a great playground with about 300 kids all speaking different languages. I think I heard German, French, Italian, some African languages, Indian, etc.. and of course our kids were screaming English. Hope made friends with a little French girl named Julie and they played together nicely for a long time. Connor tagged along too. It was very cute and they gave high fives and hugged when it was time to go.
We had planed to walk to the Notre Dame and meet Ellen but the kids were so tired, we bailed out and called her to meet us half way. We walked to the apartment and bribed the kids to take naps so that we could stay up late tonight and see the Eiffel Tower at night. We all took long naps and had dinner in our little neighborhood (Place Monge). The kids ate bread (that's it really) and Ellen and I had a real meal. Hope and Connor briefly talked to two girls from Holland at the table next to ours.
After dinner we walked to the Metro and took the underground to the Eiffel Tower. I'll have to say, it was beautiful and striking in the night sky.
We had to stop our progress briefly to stand in line at a public toilet for little Miss Hope Holloway. Yes. I said public toilet. Imagine a phone booth on the side of the street. You push a button and the door opens to reveal a toilet .... that is not really a toilet. I mean its a little like an anatomical trough sort of with no seat and its really disgusting and I think I gagged a little while helping Hope. No paper. No soap. Nothing to flush. But, it was one step up from peeing in the street. I think.
By 10pm we did manage to catch the lift to the observation deck in the tower. The City was beautiful and its really evident how big Paris really is from that vantage point. The kids of course loved it, but our stay was short lived (it was windy and cool).
By 10:45 we were of course hunting another potty. And you know what? They close the public toilets at 10:30. We walked all around the Eiffel Tower neighborhood looking for a place to pee. I mean what is it with the French and their toilets? If there is one thing I have learned on this trip it is that the French are in desperate need of relief. If I were a plumber in this city, my family would starve to death. There has to be 400 - 500 people to one toilet in this City. You know where Hope and Connor peed? In the bushes beneath the Eiffel Tower. It was classic! And Ellen is a trooper. She just hoped the fence to the garden beneath the tower and took care of pee pee business. AND while Connor was peeing, the Eiffel Tower put on an amazing strobe light show. It was like magic.
OK, enough potty talk. After, the kids ate some cotton candy and we made our way pack to the Metro Station for a ride home.
It was a late night, but the kids had a blast and Ellen and I did too! It was a day to remember.
Tomorrow is a new day! We might take a river boat trip on the Seine. Probably another nap!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Day in Paris
Fun day in Paris, despite a few behavior issues. Hopefully it's just lingering jet lag and tomorrow will be better! Allen surprised me with a photography lesson tomorrow! Yea!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
We Made It!
After 24 hours of travel, we are finally in Paris! The kids only slept 4 hours last night, and Allen and I none. Paris looked interesting on our drive to our apartment, but we'll have to wait until tomorrow to explore. Despite the lack of sleep, the kids did great- especially Hope. That is until the last hour, when they just went bezerk. Now they are sleeping peacefully. Can't wait for a fun day tomorrow!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Picture & Video Link
Here is the link to our photo gallery. We will update throughout the trip when possible.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
We're going to Europe??!!!
We're so excited to be in the final few weeks before our long-awaited trip to Europe. Most think we are crazy for taking the kids with us. After tonight's tantrum I think we are crazy, too! Allen has been busy planning the details of the trip.... lodging, flights, etc. I've taken on the more serious task of tackling the behavior.... occupational therapy, sessions with the psychologist, drugs to help with sleep, behavior books. Does travel insurance cover children's behavior?????
The master plan-
1) Fly to London
2) Train to Paris (4 nights)
3) Fly to Barcelona (5 nights). Meet my parents there.
4) Fly to Florence, Italy (5 nights)
5) Train to Cinque Terre (3 nights). Leave parents.
6) Fly to Cambridge, UK. (2 nights)
7) London, England (1 night prior to flight home)
Visit often to see how it goes....
The master plan-
1) Fly to London
2) Train to Paris (4 nights)
3) Fly to Barcelona (5 nights). Meet my parents there.
4) Fly to Florence, Italy (5 nights)
5) Train to Cinque Terre (3 nights). Leave parents.
6) Fly to Cambridge, UK. (2 nights)
7) London, England (1 night prior to flight home)
Visit often to see how it goes....
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)