Colorado Here We Come!

It's summer so it's about time we took our annual Family Trip. (We kind of missed our excursion out of the heat last year due to our new addition, so we knew we had to do something this year!) We had a few ideas of where we might want to go, but finally decided it was time to visit Colorado again. Justin had not been there for a few years, and Lincoln had never been there! So we loaded up the car (yes we drove- even with the knowledge that gasoline was going to be a large part of our vacation budget) and headed out the day after Lincoln's Birthday.
Our first day was just driving and Lincoln did really good considering he is so little. My mom saved the day again by suggesting we borrow my sisters portable DVD player. And it came in really handy near the end of our first day! He really enjoyed watching his new sing-a-long video.
We meant to only drive to Grand Junction that first day. But little did we know that they were holding a huge "Country Jam" in town, which left no rooms for the LeFevre's! So after checking a few places without luck we jumped back on the freeway and tried to get as far away as possible! Lucky for us about an hour and a half up the road we found a room in Glenwood Springs.

Fun in the Sun- Lincoln is One!!

I can not believe that my little boy is one. It truly just seems like yesterday that he joined our little family. We could not have asked for a better little boy. He is amazing. He has the cutest little smiles, that just light up a room. And he does not care who he gives them to, he'll smile at anyone. I think it is his little spirits way of brightening someones day.

For his party we had some "Fun in the Sun"! His Aunt Rina (Lorina) made some very cute invitations inviting our friends and family to celebrate his 1st birthday. So we borrowed a huge water slide (Thanks Brandy!), purchased a few other water items like a pool and wiggle hose and hooked them all up. (I don't particularly want to see the water bill for June but it was well worth it- whatever it may be!) And although many of our friends were out of town (We missed you guys!) my nieces and nephews seemed to love it. And of course the Birthday boy loved the water too!





















What fun it was to have all the different Grandma's and Grandpa's, Aunts, and Cousins there to celebrate this special day with Lincoln. He got so many wonderful gifts. I think he will love everything. And I am excited to read his new books with him and try on his new outfits. His little bike is so cute- it's a little Tricycle. I bet he figures out how to ride that very soon.










Lincoln also got his first official taste of chocolate at his party. With the help of my Mom we made a cake in the shape of a sun. (I was having a couple issues with the rays of the sun-luckily my Mom was there to help solve the problem!) I think it turned out awesome! And from Lincoln's perspective he definitely seemed to like it. Almost more as a form of art than anything else- as he proceeded to paint (smear) his cake all over his seat and himself!



Overall, the party was great. I have tons of awesome pictures!! (Thanks Christina!) And even more wonderful memories. I bet Lincoln won't remember any of it, but at least we'll have pictures!

First Haircut

Lincoln got his first hair cut today! And he did great. He really wasn't too concerned about the whole thing. He didn't even cry! He was a little concerned that he could not get his arms out from under the smock, but once we pulled them out for him he was good. He just really wanted to see what she was doing, so there were a few times he moved at the inopportune time trying to see what was going on! Luckily, it didn't cause any haircut disasters!
While we were there we made the haircutting a family affair. Justin got his hair cleaned up and then decided it was time for me to take the plunge. He has been bugging me to cut my hair for ages now and finally got me right where he wanted me. So I did it, I cut my hair. It is still long enough to pull back- (that was a must) but it is just barely long enough to touch my shoulders. Now it might not be drastic to anyone else, but for me it is a big change. She also did some fancy cutting on the edges to make them more "wispy" and "free". Basically, the hair is just not straight across-it is semi=layered.
I also have an appointment set for a early July for my first play with color. Justin is tired of looking at my "white" grandma hair. And since he is the one who looks at it the most, it looks like I am going to test out the land of color. I guess we will see how it goes!

Summer in Vegas

Well, it's started to feel a lot like summer here! When temperatures round out near 110 degrees, you tend to think its summer! Thankfully we have a fun way of cooling off--SWIMMING! And Lincoln really does not seem to mind the pool, so we have spent quite a bit of time there since my return.
I am attending a Water Aerobics class with my sister and our friend Lisa. So far it has been really nice. The class is being held at Sis. Reynolds house and they offer free babysitting during the class. (Which is very nice for the moms!) Then after our hour of heart pumping activities they open it up for the families. So we get to bring the kids into the pool and swim for another hour.
We also took all the kids down to Nana's house on Wednesday afternoon. Nana and Papa always keep their pool so nice, it's just waiting for someone to use it. So we took advantage of their hospitality and spent the afternoon there. I think we were there for almost 4 hours. Let's just say that by the end of the day I could tell I had been out in the sun for a little longer than I should have been. Luckily, I knew that Lincoln was better off. The new suit I got him came with a shirt, so it protects him better than sunscreen ever could.
But by the end of that day the kids were all exhausted. We lost of the little kids by the time we left Nana's street I think!

Home Again

I am so glad to be home!! Don't get me wrong, I loved the trip. It was a truly amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity. I say things that I might never see in person again. But no matter the awe I felt on my trip it does not compare to the awe I feel when I hold my little boy in my arms or watch him toddle away and then turn and give me that silly little grin that he has.

Day 10: Amsterdam

Day 10: Amsterdam

What I Learned Today:

1. There’s a pleasantly disturbed “crazy” farmer living in Holland.

2. They still make wooden shoes.

3. Don't walk in the bike lane.

4. Sitting on metal poles that move is not a very good idea.

5. Souvenirs weigh a lot.

6. Some people are just annoying.

7. Anne Frank died a month before her camp was liberated.

8. Some words in Dutch are very similar to ours while others are completely off the beaten track.

9. Holland and the Netherlands are one and the same.

More Words:

noorde = north
sleutelkluis = keys
kopie = copy
centrum = center

It’s the last official day of our tour. We will still be with the group tomorrow, but its just a travel day so I don’t feel like it is truly a part of the tour itself. It is a definite part of the experience but nothing compared to our active days.
Our day started out with a bus tour of the city of Amsterdam. It is always pleasant to have a tour that is not comprised of us walking form site to site. For one you ge tot see a lot more and your feet don’t get near as tired. And on Day 10 that is a big plus! An extra bonus was that it was raining, so we were staying dry! If it had been a walking tour it would not have been much fun!!
The tour was good as usual. You always find out some cool information about the city you are in from the guides. Like today I learned that Amsterdam’s nickname was at one time the City of Diamonds. And that that nickname was given because of the Jewish population that moved in and created a business guild of their own because they were barred from joining the others. They also have an area of town that is the “ticks with Bricks” district because the architects/designers of those homes used bricks in many different unique ways. Making them stick out in strange ways, creating patterns, etc.
I talked about the bikes yesterday and found out today one of the reasons they are so popular. You can park your bike anywhere in Amsterdam for free. But if you want to park a car it costs 5 Euros an hour!! They also have a Royal Palace in Amsterdam, but none of the royal family have ever lived there. We also learned that a read background with three black X’s is the symbol of amsterdam that goes back centuries. (It has nothing to do with the current use of three X’s!)
As part of the tour we also got to visit a farm. Which is a little strange, but it was so cool. the tour guide described the farmer that lives and operates the farm as pleasantly disturbed or “crazy”. But it was fun the kids (and adults) got to learn about how they make the cheese (and taste it) as well as watch the farmer make wooden shoes. That’s right, They still have wooden shoes! The farmer says there comfy, but he I’m not sure if they can compete with Crocs or not! He does not carve them by hand although he does know how, but they are so expensive to do that way that he does not even pursue that area of his expertise. Instead he has machinery that does the job in no time. he was pretty cool to see. But he says it is a dying art. There used to be hundreds of people who made the shoes, know he says there are probably 4-5.
After the farm, we went back into town and were basically set loose in the streets. We were given a meeting point and a time, other than that we could do as we wish. The family of four went off to see some museums, but the rest of us pretty much stayed together. I mentioned I wanted to go the Hard Rock Cafe, and the kids decided they wanted to eat there. So we had a nice leisurely lunch at the Hard Rock, although we started to wish it wasn’t so leisurely. (The service was very slow!) But it was nice to sit for awhile, especially because the rain started again while we were inside and we were all very happy that we were not out walking around in it. After lunch we headed back out to the streets. And we spent the next three hours roaming in and out of the shops on our way back to our meeting spot. It was nice because there was no rush.
Our last item of business in Amsterdam was to visit the house were Anne Frank and 7 others hid during WWII before being taken by the Nazi’s to the Concentration Camps. Most of us had read the book at some point in our lives so we had some background on it. I really enjoyed it. It was simple but to the point. It basically pulled excerpts out of the book and set them to the background of what was going on in her World. I think it is once again something everyone could benefit from.
We are now back at the hotel and preparing for our return trip home. Which means it’s time to try and rearrange everything back into the luggage and make sure everything fits. I think it was a very good thing that I packed a second bag inside my suitcase. It is definitely going to come in handy.
I cannot believe the trip is almost over but at the same time I am so ready to come home to my boys. Love you! See you soon-

Day 9: Transfer to Amsterdam

What I learned Today:

1. Don’t sit upon the steps.

2. You can not drink out of a soda bottle with the lid still on.

3. There really are red lights in the red light district!

4. Many street signs seem to be universal.

5. Perhaps the word psychopaths is derived form the Amsterdam Cycle Paths.

6. Two extremes can exist in one place at the same time

7. Some ships aren’t meant to sail.
8. They love their vowels in the Netherlands.

More Words:

wachtwoord = password
gebruikersnaam = username



It was an early departure this morning. I am still amazed how much earlier you have to start things in order to get some place on time when you have 50+ people and all their stuff to worry about. We did get a double decker bus today for our trip across Paris to the train station, so they kids enjoyed that. It was comical to try and get all the bags on the bus,not just because there wasn’t a lot of space but because the bags had to be lifted up into a window to get them loaded into the correct spot. Luckily we had a few boys who could handle the bags and hoist them up for the driver. But I felt bad for everyone included in this ordeal because some of those bags (mine included) are very heavy! Getting the bags on the trains was another feat, but they finally just had us place our luggage in the back of coach 18 where no one was sitting.
It took about four hours to travel from Paris to Amsterdam. There were a few stops along the way including one in Belgium. So I guess I can say I have been there too now. Although I did not actually get off the train, I did take in some of the landscape there! The time went surprisingly fast. I was somewhat dreading the trip, thinking it was going to be similar to the plane over-Tiny chairs and tons of people! But it really was quite nice. The seats were comfortable and there were only two people per side-so there was no middle person. You could get up and walk around and they had a small cafe of sorts you could purchase food at if you wanted. I really was amazed at how quickly the time went by, it sped by so quickly in fact that I did not have time to sleep. I guess I was too into my book!!
Out of all the cities we have been in thus far on our trip, I must say that this city is the most unique. The first thing that caught our eye upon leaving the train station, was the massive amounts of bicycles. And I know what you are thinking that massive is a large number. And then you probably picture a huddle of bicycles on a bike rack and think you have got this “massive” amount under control. But when I saw massive I mean probably hundreds if not a thousand plus bicycles taking up almost every inch of space you can see. And when you think that has got to be it you look up and their is a triple decker parking lot completely full of bicycles. They seemed to be piled one right on top of the other, where ever a mere glimpse of a pole or fence might be seen for them to lock it up to. It was not what I had ever expected to see. And these are not “nice” bikes like what you picture a bike to be. They all look old fashioned, with large seats and baskets. They almost smell old to me. But the bus driver we had that transported us to the hotel kind of gave us a glimpse into the bike world of Amsterdam. He basically said that everyone has at least two bikes, but only for a minute! I guess the theft rate on bicycles, especially nice ones is through the roof. But he also said it was no worry because you could go down to the open market and buy it back tomorrow. :) Our biggest question was how anyone ever found there bike again. And when they did how they got it out!
I have seem some interesting set ups for bikes too. There was one that had a bassinet type basket in the front and a infant seat on the back. Then there was one that had a dual infant seat arrangement on the back. We have seen some that fold up to almost nothing, and others that are just a very strange set up that make them half the length of a regular bicycle but with all the parts. It was very strange indeed! They even have traffic lights for the bikes!!
I learned some things about Amsterdam that I probably should have known already but didn’t. It is the most liberal city in all of Europe, or so they say. And from what I have seen thus far I believe that. They really like their gardens but most everyone tends to specialize in the weeds! Which is not illegal. They also have a very large and active working “red light” district. Which also is not illegal. So lets just say I am starting to feel very glad that I do not live here! Amsterdam is also very much like venice in a way as it was Marsh land and the ground is very wet. So they houses are built with wooden or concrete piles underneath to support them. The majority of the city is also located below sea level- there is a line on a pillar in the hotel lobby depicting the sea level compared to where we are standing.
Our first activity upon arriving in Amsterdam was to check into the hotel, which was once a College dorm. And without even knowing that I probably could have figured it out. The only difference between this room and my college dorm is that there are no Pseudo closet space. So I am not sure how they actually kept clothes in here, but other than that it fits the model of a dorm room perfectly!
Once we had the rooms situated, we headed out for a walking tour of Amsterdam. The two schools broke into two groups because trying to do a walking tour with over 50 people is very hard. You can not hear the guide and you block the entire sidewalk! So instead we went as two separate groups. And our guide talked us into doing a canal tour instead. Basically, you take a canal boat around the city and they point out the interesting things along the canals. So you get to see everything and you don’t have to walk! Our guide really did not have to talk very long before almost everyone was on board for the activity. Only Ms. cain was not too keen on the idea because she does not like boats, well the movement of the boats anyway. She has a tendency to get seasick! But she is a team player and went along anyway!
It was a nice tour, very leisurely. The architecture is very different here than the other two countries we have been to on this trip. The houses are quite skinny and I guess the stairs are too. So when a family has to move they can not get their stuff down the stairs. Instead they have to use the furniture hook that is jutting out from the roof of each home to move their items out the windows instead. It’s like in that commercial for the garbage bags where they are trying to get the Grand Piano in to the house by using the pulley system. These are set up just like that! I wonder how many times the end result is the same! (For those that are not familiar with the commercial the piano drops and they use the garbage sacks to stuff the pieces into for the delivery.) I just wonder how many times something gets broken! I do know that on average 1 car a week is driven into a canal here. Depending on who you ask there are 88 - 100 different canals in Amsterdam and none of them are barricaded very easily. The city did install “walls” on each of the canals, but as you can see these “walls” are not very efficient at keeping anything out of the canals! We also found out that there are over 1,000 bridges in Amsterdam. So if we thought there were a lot in Paris, there are hundreds more than that here!
After the Canal tour we had a brisk walk through the “red light” district which was standing between us and the old marketplace of Amsterdam. Lucky for us it was still fairly early, so the working class were not out in full swing. Although many of the red lights were illuminated! What was bad is we had mad it almost the entire way through the area before we realized that we had somehow managed to lose one of our adults. The grandfather of one of our students was no longer in the pack! we have no idea how we lost him or where he went, and some of us would rather not know. But with a little luck and some backtracking by the other gentlemen in our group we did find him and we were able to get back on our way again! All I know is it must be a scary place in the middle of the night!
We finally made it back to the Hotel where we had dinner and then were able to enjoy a quiet night here at the hotel! it was very relaxing to have the evening to unwind. We should have a pretty full day tomorrow as we try and make the most of our last official day on our tour.

Day 8: Versailles and Paris

What I learned today:

1. Street vendors don’t take no for an answer.

2. I still hate bees! Especially big black furry ones!

3. Police sirens sound different here.

4. Sometimes it’s best to not look up and just take things a step at a time.

5. The metro smells.

6. There are lines for everything!

7. Naps are good!!

More Words:

Pont = Point
Musee = Museum
nord = north
est = east
eau = water

Today was our last official day in France. Tomorrow we will be transferring to the Netherlands via a High Speed train. As such the first order of business this morning was to travel to Versailles and see the Palace there. We were supposed to have one double decker bus to house both schools. Instead, only one regular coach showed up. So that was a nice cozy fit! But we managed and we got there in one piece.
The only problem is that the workers that man the interior of the Palace happened to go on strike this morning. This is strange to us as Americans, because although we do have strikes we don’t usually have them on a whim. I guess there really was no warning that the workers would decide they did not want to work this morning, so there was no way for us to be notified ahead of time that it wa snot available for tours.
From what our tour guide said, I guess the French strike alot. I am not sure if I have mentioned this before so please forgive me if I have. But in France, the people and the unions have the power. they can literally bring paris to a stand still if they want to by having the Public transportation guys go on strike. That would be the metro workers, the bus drivers, the taxis, etc. They are so well organized that they can on a whim shut it all down, and everyone stops. Rumors have it that the french are hard workers but they hardly work. A coworker who just returned from a year of teaching in France only worked a total of 28 hours a week. Not because she wanted to but because that was all the teachers worked, you could not work more. It seems very strange to me, but it works here and they get what they want. Sometimes I wish the teachers in Clark COunty had that type of power. Maybe it would force the tax payers and governing body to realize that they just can not keep treating us like lower class citizens. But that is a discussion for another day, lets get back to Versailles!
Since we were already at the palace and unable to go inside our tour guides decided to take us around the grounds of the Castle. The grounds around the Palace are actually bigger than the city of Paris, at least the portion that is truly the city of Paris. (Kind of like how the city of Vegas is actually just a small part of the entire valley.) the grounds consist of 18,000 acres of land, the majority of which is landscaped. In the gardens there are 1200 fountains (but they are only turned on twice a day on the weekends during the summer months) and 18 rooms. These rooms were basically enclosed areas that were created with large shrubs as the walls but no roof. Louis the first liked to hold parties and banquets out under the stars. There are a ton of sculptures, including the famous Neptune fountain with his Trident.
the grounds were just magnificent and our guide was well versed in its history. What was kind of fun was that it was the same guide that we had yesterday on our bus tour. His name is Emmanuel, and he really does know quite a bit about the history of Paris. He apologized after the tour because he had kind of done the tour off the top of his head, he was not prepared to do a tour through the gardens, he had been prepared for a tour of the inside of the Palace. We did not notice any problems with what he did.
There are some really cool landscaped areas and some very intricate topiaries. The gardeners were out working in one of the areas we walked to trimming the trees into the different designs. It was pretty cool to see who they pruned the bushes to fit the mold.
Even though we did not get to go inside the palace of Versailles we did learn a little bit about it. The Royal family moved to Versailles from the Louvre Palace in Paris. So it is not shocking that they tried not to downsize their living quarters! Versailles has 2,000 rooms of varying sizes. There were over 15,000 people living in Versailles. So it was basically a small city of its own. The King had two stables that housed thousands of horses in each one, while the queen had her own stable and horses. It took 50 years to complete the Palace of Versailles.
Although we did not get to go inside I bet it is awesome. Just from the outside you can tell it must be grand inside!
After our tour of the Gardens of Versailles we headed back into Paris to the Arc de Triomphe. The EF guides decided that since we could not go into Versailles, we would go to the top of the Arch. Which sounded grand, other than the fact that there was no way up except by foot. And although the sound of a 50 Meter climb with roughly 284 steps sounded daunting, I was determined that I would get to the top and see that 360 degree view of Paris! So I did. I wound my way up that never ending spiral staircase, through a hallway and up 4 more flights of stairs to reach the top. And I must say the view was well worth the trip. You could see for miles and it was fun to try and point out the major land forms you were seeing in the distance. Our entire group except for 3 people went all the way up the Arch. The two other chaperones and one student, did not feel up to the challenge so they stayed behind. I wish they had had a chance to experience it, but I know I couldn’t have carried them on my back so they would have had to do it themselves!
After the small jaunt up the arch it was time for lunch. So our guides dropped us off at popular eating are with the locals. It was full of cafes and there was quite a bit of shopping around. The problem was it was not the “tourist” type of shopping everyone was looking for. We can shop at the gap at home, we wanted to have those familiar tourist shops that all carry the same types of items that depict the location you are from. So we had quite a bit of free time, but had a hard time using it. We did walk around for about an hour and a half or so looking for the “tourist” shop with no luck. Finally deciding it was not going to happen and heading back to the meeting location to relax for awhile. Thankfully it was a park type area so there were ample amounts of space for anyone who wanted to sit on the wall in the sun or lounge in the grassy areas. I chose to listen to my iPod and take in the view of the back of my eyelids! It was very nice.
As this was our last night in Paris we had one more thing to experience. The view from the Eiffel Tower! Guess how many steps it took us to get to the top of that!!! (Not many as we took the elevators up!) There are two elevators you have to take to get to the top of the tower. The first one is a two story incline elevator like the ones inside the Luxor back in Vegas. And if you are claustrophobic, this would not be the ride for you. They pack you in like sardines on the way up. This first elevator stops at the first and 2nd platforms on the tower. But if you want to go all the way to the top, you have to take another elevator from the 2nd floor to the top. There are lines for both, but the line for the smaller elevator that goes form the 2nd to the top floor is quite long. We had about two hours to experience the Eiffel tower and I would say at least 2/3rds of that time was spent in line waiting for something.
But once again the views from the top were magnificent. You can see for miles. And now that we have a pretty good idea of most of the bigger hot spots of Paris it is fun to pick them out of the landscape. I was somewhat afraid that once you got to the top it would be wall to wall people, but it was nice. (Unlike the Washington Monument that once you get up it’s all you can do to move around in the crowd.) You could move around and stop to look out over the landscape whenever you wanted to. Getting down wasn’t as bad, but you still had to wait in line, but the line did move faster so that was good.
We also got to see the “blinkaling” lights again. This was the term our tour guide Emmanuel used when describing the twinkling lights that were added to the Eiffel Tower for the millennium celebrations. Another thing I am not sure I have mentioned is that the Eiffel Tower gets a new paint job every 6 or 7 years. But it is not painted the same color, they actually change the color. This is done on purpose so that they can make sure they recover every part of the tower. Painting it helps protect it from the weather, as it is entirely made of steel, which is not the best thing to have open to the elements. I guess it has been everything from red to green and many color sin between. (They are not bright colors as they tend to lean towards the darker side of the color spectrum with the browns.) But I guess somewhere on the tower is a place where you can see patches of all the different colors they have used.
I also had a fun time running around with one of our students on here quest to find a sweatshirt from Paris. She collects sweatshirts from the different places she goes- similar to how I try to get patches. So I could feel her pain when we were on our last night in Paris and she still did not have a sweatshirt. After a few strikeouts and some last minute hustle we did manage to find one. I have had some luck on my quest for patches, but there are not near enough places that have them as a standard item for people to buy, which I feel is a crime! But maybe someday I will find a place where I can make my own without having to shell out a ton of money for them!
Tomorrow we leave France and head for the Netherlands! So I really need to repack everything and try to get it all back in the suitcase- wish me luck!

Day 7: Paris

Things I Learned Today:

1. Brown shoes do not go with Black Pin-Striped suits.

2. There are over 10 miles of exhibition halls in the Louvre.

3. I would never want to drive in Paris.

4. I know what a sardine feels like.

5. Walking is good for the soul.

6. Some things just need to be seen in person.

7. The oldest bridge in Paris is over 400 years old.

More Words:

Poulet = chicken
dame = lady
champagne = mushroom
appel = call


As one student put it today was “Art Day” in Paris. We spent the whole day admiring the different pieces of art throughout the city. From the architecture of the buildings to the paintings and sculptures of the masters and the wannabe’s.
The day started off with a guided bus tour of the city. And although it was very nice to be able to see all the famous landmarks, it was also hard because sometimes it was a very quick drive by without a really good opportunity to take the piece in. From the bus we got our first glimpse of the Arc de Triomphe, Concorde plaza and the Egyptian obelisk there, the Opera House, and the Hotel de Invalides. We also got a closer look at the Louvre, another pass at the Eiffel Tower, and many more points of interest in Paris. We saw the famous statue of the thinker, but mostly the backside of him! You could catch a side profile if you w ere quick enough. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the different parts of the city and the history behind them. And our bus driver made it through the maze of central Paris without a scratch. (At times it almost feels like there are no laws to govern how the cars move, especially when it comes to the traffic circles. It’s a complete free for all. People leave the circle from the inner most lane and just figure others will stop. Although there are no lanes marked, cars just seem to go where ever they please. All i know is ai wouldn’t want to do it. Especially not in a bus!
The last stop on our tour was the Notre Dame Cathedral! I know this is just one of many different cathedrals we have seen on this trip. But this one is just as worth it as the others. I even learned a few new things about them. The Gargoyles that jut off the tops of the Gothic style cathedrals are not just for looks, they are equivalent to our modern day rain gutters. It takes the water runoff and pulls it away from the building. Also the cathedrals are all in the shape of a cross, with the top of the cross pointing to the east. Plus at Notre Dame they have the biggest stained glass rose windows anywhere. We also found out that Notre Dame means “our lady” or “our mother”. So there are many churches and cathedrals with the name Notre Dame in France. They are usually just followed by the location or patron saint of the area. Anothe interesting fact is that the squar ein front of Naotre Dame is one of the most pickpocketed areas in all of Paris. I guess with everyone looking up to take in the grandeur before them, they forget to keep an eye out for predators like these. To help ourselves in such areas we wear our backpacks on the front. It’s not the most comfortable arrangement, but at least you know where your stuff is!
When you walk in to the cathedral to the middle section you realize just how massive it is. The roof is way up there! I can not remember the exact height, but it is something like 33 meters. And for the time it was constructed, it must of just seemed larger than life. Inside there are sculptures and more stained glass windows as well as paintings. One mural that really struck me was a carving. It basically represented the life of Christ as it walked you through everything form his birth to his death. It was quite detailed as it depicted important parts of his life. One portion that really spoke to me was the representation of the Kings decree to kill all the male babies in Jerusalem. Perhaps it is because I am now a mother of my own, or perhaps it was because of the anguish the artist portray din the mothers eyes as well as in Mary’s eyes as she looked back towards the city as her new family made it safely away. Either way it spoke to my heart like that part of the story never has before. I can not imagine the heartache of those mothers whose children were killed by such a selfish leader.
After spending time in the cathedral, we had a little while to look around in the surrounding shops and have lunch. We once again had bread at our meal as the majority of us purchased Panini’s from one of the store front vendors. They were really good, but I have finally decided that bread is not necessary at every meal!
After lunch we made our way to the Louvre. And if you missed it there are over 10 miles of exhibition halls in the Louvre as well over 30,000 pieces of artwork. Not counting the ones not on display. So I knew we would not be able ot do everything, but had to see as much as possible as this might be a once in a lifetime chance. We thankfully had a little longer than we have had at most other museums. But this museum is three times as large or more then the others so that was a good thing.
As there was no way to see everything we basically went to the most popular masterpieces. Some of the major pieces we saw were the “Psyche and Cupid”, The “Winged Victory of Samothrace”, “Aphrodite”, “Seated Statue of Ramses II”, the “Code of Hammurabi”, “The Wedding Feast at Cana”, and the “Raft of the Medusa”. Now we also saw many other pieces of artwork in between those main ones, but there was not much more time allotted than a brief glance as you walked by on your quest to find the next “big” thing. I actually started to feel bad for the pieces of art that were not a part of the “sign” group. (Only a few pieces of art had directional arrows guiding visitors to their locations.) But the highlight of the experience at the Louvre was probably seeing the Mona Lisa in person. I know we have all seen it on TV and in Movies. But actually standing in front of it and viewing it with my own eyes is probably something I will not forget. The painting is small compared to many others in the room where it is housed but it definitely draws the biggest crowds. I am not an art expert, but there is something about that painting that makes it special, and its not just because of its worth. I think its the eyes. They draw you in and make you wonder what this person was like. Who was she? What did he see in her that made him want to paint her? I don’t know any of those answers but I do know that it was just awesome to see. I also found out something unique about the Mona Lisa I had not known before. It has been stolen from the Louvre by a Guard who had “fallen in Love” with her. He slipped it out of the Museum and kept it rolled up under his bed. Lucky for the world after 3 years it was recovered and returned to its rightful place among the masterpieces of old.
The time in the Louvre flew by as we moved through the different corridors. By the time it was nearing time to go Jen was starting to dread the unknown around the next corner. You never knew when a set of stairs would arrive to take you down just to take you up again after one room! Plus it was so hot, that it really was terribly uncomfortable. There were nly short repreives from the heat when you coudl ifnd a floor vent that was blowing cool air. Although many of them were not blowing! And this may seem strange for those that know me and my sense of direction- but I am the map reader when we are inside museums and such. As hard as this is to believe I am really good at orientating myself to a map. I might not know which direction I am going but I do know where I am on the map and that’s what counts! And I am proud to say I moved my group through the maze that is called the Louvre without any problems. Unlike many of the other groups we never did get lost! Which was a good thing because I think if you got lost in there you might never get out. After the Louvre it was time for a Metro ride and dinner. Dinner was all right. We finally got some veggies in the form of potatoes. I think we all would have loved to have more of those, but there were not seconds so we savored what we had.
What’s crazy is our day still wa snot over. From dinner we took the metro to the “Artist District”. It is the area of Paris where you can find the people who will draw you for a price as well as others who are selling other types of paintings that have made. There was also a church atop a hill top with a great view of Paris. The hike up a hundred plus stairs was not much fun, but the view was spectacular. It was worth the climb!
In this area there were also a ton of shops that cater to tourists, so we spent some time wandering through them looking for the better deal. We also had to make sure and watch out for some shady individuals that try to tie you up, literally. Basically they stand around with what appears to be the beginning of a friendship bracelet, and as you pass by they attempt to lasso you around the finger. Then they start to build this bracelet for you to buy. It is quite annoying. They did not succeed in getting any of us, but we saw plenty of folks who got caught unaware. Our guides gave us the heads up first, so we could be ready for them.
By the time we were done with that it was time to call it a night. So we took the metro back to the hotel, spent a little time playing games and eating pizza (the dinners tend not to be entirely filling), and then getting ready for bed. Which I now am. So since my eyes are beginning to droop I better wrap up by telling everyone how much I miss them and the day to day grind. Although I truly think I am going to need a vacation from my vacation by the time I get home!

Day 6: Transfer to Paris

Just a quick note before I begin my breakdown of what’s going on in my life here in Europe, I just wanted to wish my husband and my dad a happy Fathers Day. Sorry I’m not there to celebrate with you!

Things I learned today:

1. There are a lot of bridges across the Seine River.

2. Sometimes you have to go forward to go backward.

3. People can not walk through poles.

4. It’s always a good idea to keep looking for a better deal, especially from street vendors!

5. Europeans really like their Hazelnuts.

6. Books can teach you something if you let them.

7. Some people really annoy me.

8. Be careful when you ask someone for a favor, it might cause you pain.

9. I really miss not being home to celebrate Justin's first Fathers Day

More Words:

Sortie = Exit
Poussez = Push
Fraises = Strawberries


We awoke to a dreary gray morning with a smattering of light rain and more on the horizon. I do love the feel of these types of days, they just seem to bring me complete peace. These are the types of days I wish we had more of in Vegas so I could cozy up on the couch with a warm blanket and a good book as I just watch the weather unfold outside. But no matter how much I would have liked to do that I had to be content with cramped quarters on a moving bus! And although we are getting somewhat tired of the bus transfers they have all been worth it, and today might have been the best outcome yet. Today we arrived in Paris!
On our way to Paris we stopped in Chartres, a town along the way. I think every town in France must have a Cathedral in it! And although they are quite amazing, the kids are not too keen on seeing them over and over again, In their minds eye they are all the same thing! But that did not stop us from taking a moment to enjoy the Cathedral before picking up some lunch. The Cathedral had some amazing stained glass windows. They are amazing by today's standards so if you think back to how long ago they were painstakingly created, its is even more awe inspiring.
For lunch most of us grabbed a baguette sandwich form a corner store, but a few of our students decided they needed McDonalds so they made the trek to the nearest McDonalds and picked up a Big Mac. It was so funny we had to take a picture. It was almost like they had been deprived for months instead of days! All I know is I am really wanting a meal that doesn’t begin and end with bread. I used to think I was a bread lover, and I am. But there comes a time when you just need some protein and some veggies!
We still had about an hour left on the bus after lunch, but we kept it interesting by playing a little bit of trivia on the bus. Adults vs. Kids (they chose teams so the outcome is truly there fault!) Our tour director would shout out countries from all over the world and we would have to name the Capital of it. I am afraid to say the students really did not know much during this game. Especially when it came to the less popular countries like Romania. (Although I myself could not remember the Capital of this one! I was really wishing that Cristi Larson was around as I figured she would have the answer to that one!) Anyway, the adults did end up winning so we thought that was grand!
We entered Paris by traveling up and over a hill, so basically the first view we had of Paris was a panoramic view of the city with the Eiffel Tower standing tall and proud! I can not believe that I have actually seen the Eiffel Tower with my own two eyes and stood just feet from its base! It’s amazing. Truly a beauty to behold! But I am getting ahead of myself.
We arrived at our hotel, which is not too bad. But I haven’t slept in the beds yet, so we will see! We did have a minor hiccup with the first room that Amy (my roommate) and I were assigned to. When we arrived we realized that there was only one bed. Now don’t get me wrong we like each other, but that was getting a little too close for comfort. Lucky for us, it was a quick fix and we are now situated in a room that has a double bed, a twin bed, and a pull down bed. (There is actually a small bed bolted to the wall that you can fold out for children to sleep on!) Amy kindly gave me the use of the larger bed, as I had a little trouble with the last twin I had to sleep on. :)
We had our first adventure on the Metro today. The Metro is Paris’s version of the subway. And it basically runs the same as all the other mass public transportation systems I have used. You have a ticket, you run it through the reader, and you make your way into the landing. The difference here is that the ticket is smaller- which I just feel makes it much easier to lose. But at the same time they probably don’t worry about that because they are only good for one journey. Every time you go through the turnstile you have to have a new ticket. Now I am not sure how much a ticket costs, but no matter how long your journey is, it is all the same price. So if you travel two stops it is the same price as traveling across the entire city, no matter how many internal changes you make from one route to the next.
We traveled on the Metro to the center of Paris, as we were going to be eating there. But we had some time to kill before our reservation time so we stopped off at the “Jardin Du Luxembourg” or Luxembourg Gardens. It is basically a big park, but with a major difference form our city parks. As the majority of grassy areas are not to be walked on! I am not sure why exactly, but they are off limits. So we kept to the paths and made our way around the park. There where a lot of art sculptures around as well as a ton of people. It was very interesting to see how the park was used.
We also saw a very interesting ritual on our way to the gardens. I guess every Sunday is Free Skate day. Basically, a large group of Roller Bladders and Skaters gather on one of the main roads and then get a police escort as they skate a predetermined route through the city. It’s not a race, it is just an activity they do every Sunday. And there were a ton of people participating in it.
We ate Dinner at Flam’s. I am not sure what their specialty is but we had something I would describe as a wanna be pizza. Basically it was a very thin piece of dough with cheese and toppings. They had ham and onion and ham, onion, and mushrooms. As I am not the worlds biggest eater of onions, the fact that both varieties came with onions was disheartening. But I am very good at picking things off, so that is exactly what I did. It was interesting to say the least. The cheese must have been some type of gouda or something similar, as it was a bit stronger than we are used to. It was edible, and would have been even better if we had any say in what went on top!
Our last activity of the day was a boat ride on the Seine. The boat itself left from the docks right across from the Eiffel Tower, so we got some really fun shots of the tower itself. And it is very big. I knew it was, but in person it is almost bigger than I imagined. How I wish everyone I care about was here with me to see it!
The tour down the river was nice, they pointed out some of the more prominent features of the city including the Louvre and Notre Dame. The Louvre is huge. I know it is one of the worlds largest museums, (So tomorrows trip there should be interesting! Hopefully they will give us more than 30 minutes there!) but just the amount of realty space we saw from the river is impressive. I am not sure how many miles of hallway there are in there, but I bet it is quite a bit. What’s nice is that we got a kind of preview for our activities tomorrow as we are having a guided tour through the city and going to the Louvre. I am sure I will learn tons more I can share with you.

Day 5: St. Malo

What I learned today:

1. U.S. Appliances and European voltage do not play nice together.

2. Croissants and corn flakes are not a very appealing breakfast

3. Sea Pools with man-made stairs are truly manmade!

4. French banks don’t have to change your money if they don’t have to and most don’t.

5. French public toilets are holes in the ground that are intended for you to squat over. (There is no toilet paper either.)

6. Some castles are built to watch the people not protect them.

7. Europeans do not believe in providing washcloths to hotel guests.

More Words

rue = road
sa = that
vache = cow
magazine = grocery store/shop

We had a pretty late start today which was nice. We got to sleep in past 6 am. Which might have been my first time since school got out that I was really able to do that. (If there was a day I didn’t have to work, usually Lincoln made sure I was up anyway sometime before then!) Breakfast was once again nothing much to talk about, but I guess we should not complain to loudly as we do get a pretty good rate overall for the trip so I guess we can not expect too much! A little more would be nice though.
I did not describe the hotel yesterday that we are staying at here in St.Malo. It is actually a converted abbey. WHich makes it very unique. It is a very strange layout and all the rooms are very different. We have one set of 4 girls in a two story room while others are tucked away on top of a spiral staircase with a portrait window and a very large bathroom. While we (my roommate Amy and I) are stuck on the first floor in close quarters- well not close compared to the last place, but close enough and a tiny little bathroom. The bathroom wouldn’t be so bad, but you can not sit down on the toilet without hitting your knees on the glass window swinging shower door. That’s right, we have two side walls made of glass that attempt to enclose the shower. But they don’t actually meet in the middle so the water tends to get pretty much everywhere. It’s not quite as bad as the last shower stall that had a curtain that didn’t actually fit the stall and a head that tended to point straight at the back of the shower and onto the floor-my roommate described it as a second flood. So I took extra caution in that one and did not have as much trouble as she did. But here there really aren’t a lot of options. So the water gets everywhere and you pray you don’t slip later. Anyway, all the rooms are very strangely setup and at times quite hard to find. Not just from their locations but from the numbering system. We are number 90 with 91 and 92 up the hall, but across the hall you will find 76 and then 94. The other 70’s are two turns away from where that room landed. Some of the doors you have to walk through are only about 4 feet tall if that, and the ceilings in some areas are so low I really don’t think Justin could possibly get around without crawling around. Which might be a funny sight, but not something he would particularly enjoy!
The day started off a little frustratingly. Many of us have been waiting to exchange our cash for Euros, but they has never been an opportunity since arriving in France. there have been ATM’s you can pull money out of, but nowhere to exchange the US currency we have for European currency. So this morning we drove to a small town just west of the hotel we are staying in to do just that. The problem turned out to be that it was Saturday and a small town in a more rural part of France and the banks don’t have to take your money. So we started out at the first bank and got turned away but were directed to a bank that does exchange. So we made our way to the second location but they happen to be closed on Saturday. So for then next 15 -20 minutes we followed our guide up the main street of this small village stopping at every bank along the way and getting turned away at each one until we finally ended up back at the first original bank. So we did get to see quite a bit of the town at high speed but we still did not get to exchange any cash. I was so tired of it and in need of Euros, that I finally just decided to pull money out of the bank. I figured I would just put the cash back in when I got home as trying to change it was a big hassle. They say Paris will be easier- but not on Sunday as banks are not open!
After that lovely tour of the city we pilled back on the bus and drove to Mont Saint Michel or Saint Michael Mountain. The pronounce Michael more like Michelle though and drop their T’s, so it doesn’t sound anything like how it is spelled. It is a mountain fortification a mile out to see that has been used for many different things throughout its history. It has been a Monastery, a Prison, and a Fortress. And I must say it was pretty amazing. This giant castle in the sky- or at least that is what it looked like from a distance. What is so unique is that the entire thing was surrounded by water at high tide and quicksand at low tide, making it impenetrable for hundreds of years. No one every took the Mount. They now have a road that leads out to the fortification, so they water and sand are not a problem. But you still have to walk up to the top. Once again it amazes me to see history come alive! To be in an actual castle of sorts and to see its different means of protecting itself. From the numerous walls, to the steep, steep roads, It was just like what all the textbooks say it would be like to give the defenders the advantage over those trying to invade.
There were tons of stairs that had to be conquered to make it up to the top which is still a working abbey. But we made it up and with time to spare- so i decided to go back down and peruse some of the shops I had seen. Which meant that I then had to climb back up the stairs. So I definitely got my work out in today. They actually hold tours in the abbey itself so we got to do that. Most of us also opted to get the headsets you used to listen to information about the abbey as you walked around. it was quite interesting to hear about the different types of architecture and uses for the building. There is even a replica of an elevator system they would use to raise items up and down within the abbey itself. It looked a lot like a giant human mouse wheel. Individuals would walk around in side which caused ropes to raise or lower depending on which way they walked.
After the tour we had to make our way down the stairs and steep path and back to the bus as it was ready to whisk us off to our next destination for the day- the beach! On our way we stopped off at the local supermarket and grabbed some picnic lunch type items to enjoy as we spent some time relaxing and hanging out before our tour of St. Malo. One of the chaperones even bought a sheet to use for sitting purposes on the beach. (Too bad her son left it on the bus and she never actually got to use it, but it as a good idea nonetheless!)
We sat around at the beach and had lunch. The kids played and the adults chatted. But no one dared used the public restrooms that were available. As they were nothing like what we are accustomed to. There were no toilet seats. Just a round hole of sorts that you were to squat in and do your business. There was also no toilet paper to use when you were finished, so I am not sure how you were supposed to clean up afterwards. The thing did flush, But it was not like the duvet system where it would clean you too. All in all, it was just a little too strange. We all decided to hold it until arriving at St. Malo! :)
St. Malo is a small town surrounded by walls on all sides. With a castle and fortifications all around. The only problem was the castle was actually built there to keep an eye on the people not an eye out for any invaders. I guess throughout history the people of St. Malo had been a much more rowdy and rambunctious group. Believing themselves to be better at knowing what was good for them as a people. So they had a tendency to not listen to the higher-ups like the Dukes and the Kings. The people actually declared their own republic that they ran for 4 years after sneaking into the castle and killing all inside.
What I also found quite intriguing was that the people of Saint Malo somehow turned pirating into a legal endeavor. Basically there stand was if you made it to St. malo with your goods and were willing to give 1/3 of it to the people then the rest was yours to keep no questions asked. One such gentleman took control of a British vessel carrying nearly 6 million in gold. He made it into town, paid the fee and then never worked again. What is even more interesting is that they have a statue of him up with a finger pointed towards Britain, know if that is just not rubbing it in their face I do not know what is!
We spent a little more time hanging out in St. Malo after our tour, getting awesome ice cream, and enjoying the sights. After which we came back to our hotel, had dinner, and are preparing yet again to move on to a new location. Tomorrow morning bright and early we are heading out to Paris. I know there will be a lot in store for us there, I can not wait to tell you all about it. But I better get some rest or I won’t be able to enjoy it.

Day 4: Normandy Beaches

What I learned today:

1. Sidewalks and parking lots tend to be the same thing in France.

2. The French had a tendency of beheading their royalty.

3. You can’t see everything in a museum in 30 minutes.

4. Some movies are just nap inducers.

5. I really can not understand the French language, even though my last name is French.

6. There might be such thing as a waterlope.

7. Wars leave behind scars that never heal.

More Words

Fromage = cheese
boule = scoop
jambon = ham
fritas - french fries

Today was a pretty lazy day. In retrospect we did do quite a bit, but there was down time in between. In London we did a lot and had to move ourselves around to do it. Here, we would stop look around and then be back on the bus to be driven to the next stop. I must admit it was nice. I am not nearly as tired as I have been the past few days. Although I don’t think my body has yet adjusted to the different time zone. As it is already past 11:00 at night- a time that I would normally be dozing off in the chair at home- and I am sitting here wondering why I am not tired. I am not sure if it is just the difference in my physically surroundings- like the sun doesn’t seem to ever go down or if I truly have not gotten used to the difference over here.
It rained a little bit today while we were at the cemetery. Luckily we had not taken our backpacks with us, so it was a little easier to keep everything dry. Plus, it was more a constant drizzle than a downpour so you were able to deal with it without looking like a soaked rat at the end!
We started out in Rouen with an early departure to the Normandy region. We drove for about an hour and a half before reaching our first stop. A WWII museum dedicated to preserving the history of the war. But I felt like we did not have nearly enough time to really take it in. There was only about a half hour to tour the exhibit which encompassed the entire bottom floor. Which might be long enough for some people, but as a History major it was not nearly long enough. I definitely did not have enough time to read everything and barely enough time to look at most of it. I missed entire sections because we were supposed to meet back upstairs for the short movies they show. I think I would have rather stayed in the exhibit! I am not saying they were bad, but I think there was no need to do both of them in a row. The first one was basically video clips and photos from the Normandy D-Day preparations and invasion in split screen. One side depicting the Allies and one side depicting the Axis. When the two collided it moved it into one screen. The whole thing was set to music and I felt it was quite good. (Bear in mind, I also stayed awake for the whole thing!) The second one began where the 1st one ended and was about the continuation of the war in France. I think it went battle by battle through the entire fight for France’s liberation. Needless to say, I felt a little underwhelmed and couldn’t fight off my need for a little shut eye, so I did not catch the middle of the film. I think I still got the gist of it! :)
After the museum we made our way to Arromanches, the beach where the British soldiers landed on D-Day. We had a lunch of sweet and savory crepes in the small town next to the beach. I can’t say that I am a big fan of the savory crepes, those are ones with ham, cheese or both or other similar items on them. I tried a ham and cheese crepe and only ate about half of it. The sweet crepes had anything from jelly to nutella inside. I am not a big fan of Nutella, but most people enjoyed theirs. They did not have any with strawberries and cream like what I make at home, so I was a little disappointed about that. I guess it’s good that I can make them myself!
Out in the harbor there are still remains of a man made harbor that the British created by anchoring large concrete pieces to the bottom of the ocean floor. I guess the waters were to choppy to allow for safe transport of their items onto the beach. So they created their own personal harbor which allowed for a much safer transport between the large boats to the small ones that could make it safely to shore.
After lunch we headed back to the bus and it took us to see some German Bunkers that are still intact along the hill tops surrounding the shore. From there we made our way to the American Cemetery. It reminded me a lot of Arlington National Cemetery as it is set up in a very similar way. A sea of white crosses in fields of green. In theory we were back in the United States while we were at the cemetery as it is considered US soil. I don’t think you could commit a crime there and not face French laws, but I guess I really don’t know that for sure. And I don’t think I want to test the theory! There are over 9,000 headstones in the cemetery commemorating those American soldiers who died for freedom on the European front. So it truly was a sight to see. (But to tell the truth we had an hour here and did not need that long!)
Once we were done at the Cemetery we got back on our bus and it took us up the road to Omaha Beach. This is one of the two main beaches were our soldiers landed, it is also where we had many men die before even reaching the beach and hundreds more die or get wounded on the beach itself. And after seeing it with my own eyes, I can truly see why there was such a great loss at this beach. There is no where to hide. You are open tot eh elements out there- which is normal for most beaches. The problem here was not only were they open but the German soldiers had a distinct advantage in their positions that towered over the beach. (And I have to say sorry honey because I just couldn’t help myself form collecting sand from this beach.)
From the beach we had one final stop in the Normandy area- Pointe du Hoc. This is the area in which our army rangers landed and then made their way to the top of the cliff via ropes and rope ladders. They literally climbed their way to the top to face the Germans. And the cliff is not small! What was also amazing to me here was the remains of the battles you can still see. It’s not just the remains of the bunkers that are still visible. There are tons of craters everywhere. A result of the bombs that were shot at the german forces atop the embankment. It’s like what I picture the surface of the moon to be like if you attempted to walk on it. they are all grown over now with bushes and grass, but they are still a very defined part of the landscape.
The kids had a good time in this area, as they were pretty much allowed to run free. They even had a good time “playing dead” in one of the craters. Which probably wasn’t very PC (politically correct) but oh well. Not much can be done now!
That ended our trip through the different aspects of Normandy and the role it played in WWII and D-Day especially. I must say I have a much deeper appreciation for what happened there now that I have first hand experience with it. I am almost regretting not being a History teacher any longer where I could actually put this new knowledge and experience to use. Almost....!
After a 3 hour bus ride we landed here in St.Malo at a converted Abbey that now serves as a Hotel. The rooms are bigger than last night. But where we were complaining about not having an air conditioner last night we are now wishing we had a heater. As it is a tad chilly! Hopefully the blankets will keep us warm.
I hope I am not leaving anything out and I hope I am not boring everyone to death. But even if I am I think it will be a rich blessing for me to have this written down when I get home, because I am pretty sure all the details would be lost in a jumble of all the experiences I have had and am destined to have on this trip.

Day 3: Canterbury and Rouen

Things I learned today:

1. The English monarchy spoke french for hundreds of years

2. The White Cliffs of Dover are truly white

3. You can only wear a backpack for so many days before it starts to chaff your underarms

4. I’m not that light on my feet.

5. Umbrellas really aren’t that proficient at keeping the rain off anything

6. Pink toilet paper really isn’t that attractive in the bathroom

7. Sometimes you just can’t hold your breath through a tunnel

8. There’s graffiti everywhere!

9. The French Countryside is beautiful.

10. Only the English drive on the right side of the road.


More Words

Carriage Way = Road
dosh = bill
motoring = driving
stone = unit of weight

What a day. It’s amazing how much can be accomplished in one day! And today was a pretty relaxed day as far as EF tours go. We started off the day in England with our fantastic breakfast that I have previously described! (Yuck!!) The day was pretty overcast and it looked like it had drizzled over night, but there was no rain falling at that time. We boarded our coaches and drove to Canterbury. I would say it was about an hour and a half drive to get there all of which was pretty nondescript. The kids played cards in the back and the adults were up front taking in the sights.
When we arrived in Canterbury the coaches dropped us off and we walked into town. (This will be important as the story progresses) They dropped us up near the top of canterbury as if they drive into town the walk from the actual Coach parking is actually further then where we were let out.
The Cathedral there is amazing! It’s humongous and extremely ornate. Stain class windows all around and detail work in stone that truly makes you marvel. There is a lot of history behind the Cathedral (of course) but what I found extremely interesting was the extreme measures they went to during WWII to make sure it was not destroyed.
I guess they assigned people every night to the top of the Cathedral to protect it from any fires that might break out due to the German bombing raids. Who knew the biggest threat to a stone structure would be fire! I thought it would be more a direct hit from an actual bomb itself.
We had about 40 minutes or so to roam around the structure and take in what it had to offer before we had to meet outside for the trek back to the coaches. As we were congregating outside the gates England decided to show us its wetter side. Basically, the heavens opened and poured out its blessings! At first it wasn’t too bad, we all rushed to get our wind breakers/raincoats on and our umbrellas out if we had them with us. (I did and was very grateful for it!) But then we had to keep standing around waiting for everyone to join us for our return walk. And the rain just kept getting harder. People with just the wind breakers did not have a hood so they were getting quite wet and the rest of us were just trying to keep the rain off as best we could.
We finally left and started walking back- even though we were still missing one chaperone form the other school. I guess she had gone off to a T-Mobile shop to try and figure out why her phone was not working. Let’s just say that by the time we actually arrived at the coaches, we all looked like drowned rats. Even those with Umbrellas! As they really don’t help much in keeping rain off anything but your head. Which I must say that I was grateful not to have a head full of drenched hair. It was bad enough to have the entire bottom half of your pants wet as well as your backpack you are carrying and parts of your middle where the rain falls off the umbrella and onto you!
Once we got back to the coaches we still had to wait for almost 15-20 minutes before they found the missing chaperone and hauled her back up to the bus. (Although maybe her disappearing act was done on purpose on her part as by the time she made the trek the rain had stopped!) Needless ot say this event put us behind schedule and the guides were very afraid that we would not make our afternoon ferry out of Dover. Especially because once we actually arrived at the docks we still had to make our way through customs.
That was an experience. We all had to exit our coach with our passports and go into a customs check. While we were in the building, a drug dog was taken onto the bus to find whatever drugs we might be trying to smuggle in! Lucky, for us nothing was found! :) And luck continued to be with us and we made our ferry-mostly because it was late arriving!
The ferry across the English Channel was quite large. Much larger then the ferries across the Chesapeake Bay for example! It almost looked and felt like a small cruise ship. It took about an hour and a half to get across the Channel which is about 14 miles wide. So we weren’t moving at a very quick pace! But it was quite choppy out on the water so it was a very rocky ride. I was very glad that none of the cruises I have been on were even close to that rocky!
Upon arriving in France we once again boarded a coach and started driving to our final destination which was to be the city of Rouen. The drive was mostly through what I would call the countryside of France. It was absolutely beautiful, Rolling hills, green trees, fields, and pastures with different types of livestock. Many parts of the drive reminded me of the road to my brothers house in Oregon where you are just surrounded on both sides by trees. All in all the drive to Rouen took a few hours so it let everyone attempt to rest. A hard feat because the chairs must have been fashioned for the french. The chairs just seemed to hit in all the wrong places! It was almost as bad as the plane! Okay, not quite but close! (What's bad is I think this is our coach for the remainder of our time in France-which is not a happy thought!)
When we finally arrived in Rouen it was 8:30 at night. But it seemed more like 5:00, as it was still quite bright outside. (After traveling over the channel we are now 9 hours ahead of Vegas). We stopped at the hotel prior to dinner, and it was an event. Our entire group was given rooms on the 5th floor. So we made our way up to the 5th floor via the tiny elevators (that should have clued us in to what lay in store but it didn’t) and down the hall that indicated the direction our rooms were located. We were assigned room 531. The problem was the hall ended at room 527. There was no 531 to be found. We also had other folks with rooms in the 30’s that were not on the floor either, so we knew they had to be somewhere. Finally I left my stuff and tried the stairwell at the end of the hall. And wouldn’t you know it- Rooms 528 - 535 were up a level. which you would assume was the 6th floor, but this little alcove of rooms couldn't be accessed from the 6th floor. The only way to reach them was to take the stairs. So we got the opportunity to carry our belongings up two flights of stairs.
I am not sure how to explain the rooms without sounding like I am exaggerating the dimensions, but here it goes anyway. The room had two twin size beds (if they were that large) that were about 1 1/2 feet away from each other. The one closest to the door was right up against the wall the other was about 4 feet from the far wall. There was a small counter on the other side of the 2nd bed you could use with the mirror on the wall. The bathroom was on the right side as you passed the 2nd bed. It might have been 5 feet by 3 feet. There was a small shower on the right with a sink right next door and then the toilet. The shower did not even have it’s own faucet. You used the faucet on the sink to control the water flow in the shower! Once we added our suitcases to the room, there was hardly any room left to maneuver. There is also no air conditioning, so I hope its cool enough outside to keep us cool in here with the window open. Oh well, its only for one night. I am sure we will survive!
We had dinner at a little restaurant that claimed to be Chilean food, but they served us pasta so that was interesting, Everyone also found the dessert amusing as it was basically fruit cocktail from a can with bananas and some whipped cream. Perhaps it wasn’t from a can but it sure did taste like it was!
After dinner we spent about an hour touring the city of Rouen by foot. They have an amazing Cathedral there too. It was a very Gothic style of architecture compared to the Canterbury Cathedral we toured this morning. It was at this Cathedral that Joan of Arc was tried and sentenced to death at. We also went to the site of the old market where she was burned at the stake. There is now a church built near the spot and a rose garden where the cross would have been. We also saw the Seine river-which wasn’t as big as I thought it would be. They also pronounce it different than i thought, it is just the “sin” river. (According to our guides the french add a lot of vowels to their words that they actually don’t use! ) The rest of the architecture was not what I expected, it looked a lot more like somethign from greenland or the netherlands-it seemed very cottage like. Which I did not picture as a part of France.
So as you can see we really didn’t do all that much today, but it still ends up being a very long day. It is almost 1 am and we have to up in time for breakfast at 7:30 so I better get some rest. Our guides so it is going to be a late night tomorrow. I can’t imagine how late it will be as it felt like a late night this evening to me! :)
Oh, and I bought something that my Mom and sister are going to be very jealous over! But there was only one left and I don’ t think I would have been able to transport 3 of them home anyway without leaving all my clothes behind and just using my suitcase for transport purposes!