I have spent the last few hours re-reading every single post and comment on our blog of our wonderful trip. I am so grateful to Trudy having done such a wonderful job with this as it is such a fantastic interactive record of our trip.
I am so glad you have all felt that you have been with us throughout our adventures and thank you all so much for taking the time to not only read it but also post your very welcome comments and also for the text messages sent.
It was a very special holiday to be able to go with Trudy and the fun times together will always be treasured. So many highlights but the day spent at Monet's Garden on my birthday was really up there, as was Venice, the Cinque Terre, the day at Zermat and the Matterhorn WOW! Lauterbrunnen - what a stunning special place and the Schilthorn on Mother's Day, Colmar the beautiful rest stop, Paris and the Theatre in London, the list could go on and on. This trip has been a wonderful experience shared with an equally wonderful daughter. Thank you so much sweetie. Look forward to the next one.
Mum (Christine!)
Friday, June 18, 2010
Last day - and reflections!!
Forgot to mention in yesterday's post - we went to a BRILLIANT restaurant before seeing the Lion King called Pierre Victoire in Soho. It was around when I lived there before - and it was exactly the same as we remembered! Fantastic bread and reasonably priced French food that was absolutely delicious. I make special mention of this because not only was the food fantastic - the manager knew that we needed to get to the theatre and made sure that our food came out quickly. Then as we were leaving - I went out to get a cab while Mum paid, and all of a sudden a waitress was running after me saying that the manager was trying to arrange something for us.... the manager then ran out and said that we might find it really hard to get a cab due to roadworks around the restaurant - I could see one coming - and as soon as he spotted it, he TOOK OFF running to grab it for us!!! We couldn't believe it! So THANK YOU to the manager and staff from Pierre Victoire - it made our last night in London even more special.
Now for our last day! It started off with repacking our cases!! Not a quick process! :-) We then had one last lunch at Micky's Fish & Chips - actually not quite as good as the day before (I don't think Micky cooked them for us this time :-)) but still yummy anyway.
Then we went our separate ways for the day. Mum caught a bus from Paddington to Trafalgar Square and then had a walk around in the beautiful St James' Park.
I caught a bus to Monument station (the Tube wasn't running on some of the lines due to maintenance as it was a Saturday). I walked to Minster Court (the group of buildings) in Mincing Lane :-) and took photos of Moody's Investors Service - the place that I worked in London - and LOVED. Actually the building was use as Cruella DeVille's 'house' in 101 Dalmations!! I walked around to where my office window was - where I looked out one day and saw that it was snowing! The first time I'd ever seen snow! Danielle and I rang each other at exactly the same time, and so got each other's voice mails - and left messages for each other to say it was snowing!!! Nice memories!
Then I got on the tube at Monument station and caught the District Line - I automatically turned the right way down the stairs and around the corner to the platform - amazing how it was so familiar. Got off at Westminster and changed to the Jubliee line to go to Kilburn to see the last place I lived in London! Westminster Jublilee line platform had completely changed though so no familiarity there! It is now like some of the Paris metro platforms that I saw - all glassed in - I guess so no-one can jump on to the tracks. Got off at Kilburn station and walked to where I thought we lived - and I have to admit, I couldn't remember EXACTLY what door was ours. So Danielle and Kerry - you might have to help me with that!!! Anyway - was a blast walking up and down Kilburn High Road again - noticing how many cafes were now there - right opposite our building. Good coffee too - I know because I stopped for one :-).
Caught bus back up Kilburn High Road to Edgware Road and walked back through Paddington to get to the hotel. What a day full of memories. Brilliant!
It was a really warm day for London - 27 degrees! Beautiful and sunny. The day before, when it was 24 degrees, we heard a warning when we were waiting for the tube - to make sure 'to carry water with you on this hot day ' and to watch out for passengers that might be in distress because of the heat' :-). Cute!
We met back at the hotel, had a brilliant steak dinner at Aberden Steakhouse (the 'best steak in London' according to their window advertising! And you know what, it probably was!).
We then walked across the road to Paddington Station to catch the very quick Heathrow Express. After checking in we had a look at dut free then made the long walk to the gate to catch our plane - the A380 (the new huge double decker plane) to Singapore.
No impending volcanic ash to delay our departure unfortunately!!!!
Enjoyed being on the A380 and realised it was roomier than usual when we got onto the next plane in Singapore!
So that's it! Now we are home in Adelaide - although our hearts are currently still in Europe!!! We both had an amazing time - and it was really enriched by the comments everyone left in this blog. We really appreciated it and loved sharing the trip with everyone! What a journey - didn't start well - but it ended up being a 'trip of a lifetime' with Mum. Thanks Mum - it was such a priviledge to be able to spend that much time with you in so many amazing places. Can't wait until the next one :-).
Ciao, aufwiedersehen, au revoir and goodbye!!
xxx
Friday, May 28, 2010
London days 2 and 3
20th May
Caught tube to Knightsbridge and visited Harrods :-). Then had egg and cress sandwich from Pret a Manger - its what I always used buy 12 years ago -and it tastes just the same!
Got back on the open top bus and saw some more sights - past Charring Cross Rd, Russell Square through to the London Eye. As we had tickets for this we got off and joined the flexi- pass queue. Took quite a lot of time even though we already had tickets . Finally we were on - you have to hop on while the big glass 'pods' move slowly past you - although it doesn't feel like it's moving slowly when you are about to step on it! With a group of us - about 20 or so - being encouraged by the attendants to 'go go go go go GO GO GO' - we entered the large glass pod. It was quite hot as the sun had finally come out. What a brilliant view of London!! So great to see it from the 'air'! The trip was advertised as 35 mins long but was more like 20 mins.
We then hopped into a cab to head to the theatre (I LOVE the London cabs - mostly friendly cabbies, clean, and so big - feels like a limo!).
Can't believe I went to a West End show tonight!!!!!! The buzz! The orchestra warming up. The historic theatres - there's probably not many West End theatres that I (together with Danielle!!) haven't been to. I'd previously seen Starlight Express in the theatre we were now sitting in (Apollo - near Victoria Station). We were here this time to see Wicked - the story of how the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz became the wicked witch. What brilliant performances - wow - what an amazing show!!!
21st May
Today Mum and I headed to High Barnet which is the very end of the Northern Line. An ancestor of ours, Edward Webb, had painted the main street including the church and pub, in 1879. Mum had a print of the painting so we wanted to see if we could find where it had been painted, and whether anymore family history leads would present themselves!
We did find what we thought was the general area in the painting but the church looked quite different so we figured that Edward had used creative license to change it! After a conversation with a local in one of the pubs in the painting we learnt there was a history museum down the road that probably has a book about the area that Mum could buy. Well the museum was closed but upon walking back through the church grounds we saw a sign stating that the church had been added on to about 10 years after Edward painted his painting - which explained why it looked so different! We went in to the church and chatted to various people - and shown the original entrance prior to the added on areas. It's just amazing how old these buildings are! 3rd century!!
Off we then went - back to London. Mum went to hotel and I went off to reminise and take photos of the first place I lived at in London - just off of Edgware Road in Marylebone! It hasn't changed a whole lot apart from the addition of a big Sainsburys on Edgware Rd (which is sure nicer than the pokey old Tesco that is still there in Church St). There are also a lot of coffee shops around - including Starbucks - and I'm pretty sure there weren't ANY when we were living there as the cafe / coffee culture was just starting to take hold in London - and Danielle and I really missed that in the early days!! Oh Danielle - the rehearsal room at the back of the piano shop is still there!!! I took a photo :-).
That night we went to another show -this time 'The Lion King' !! Wowwwwwww. What a spectacle! We were in the 3rd row which was absolutely brilliant!
London is so full of life!!! People everywhere at all hours!!
Next - our last day!!!! :-(
Caught tube to Knightsbridge and visited Harrods :-). Then had egg and cress sandwich from Pret a Manger - its what I always used buy 12 years ago -and it tastes just the same!
Got back on the open top bus and saw some more sights - past Charring Cross Rd, Russell Square through to the London Eye. As we had tickets for this we got off and joined the flexi- pass queue. Took quite a lot of time even though we already had tickets . Finally we were on - you have to hop on while the big glass 'pods' move slowly past you - although it doesn't feel like it's moving slowly when you are about to step on it! With a group of us - about 20 or so - being encouraged by the attendants to 'go go go go go GO GO GO' - we entered the large glass pod. It was quite hot as the sun had finally come out. What a brilliant view of London!! So great to see it from the 'air'! The trip was advertised as 35 mins long but was more like 20 mins.
We then hopped into a cab to head to the theatre (I LOVE the London cabs - mostly friendly cabbies, clean, and so big - feels like a limo!).
Can't believe I went to a West End show tonight!!!!!! The buzz! The orchestra warming up. The historic theatres - there's probably not many West End theatres that I (together with Danielle!!) haven't been to. I'd previously seen Starlight Express in the theatre we were now sitting in (Apollo - near Victoria Station). We were here this time to see Wicked - the story of how the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz became the wicked witch. What brilliant performances - wow - what an amazing show!!!
21st May
Today Mum and I headed to High Barnet which is the very end of the Northern Line. An ancestor of ours, Edward Webb, had painted the main street including the church and pub, in 1879. Mum had a print of the painting so we wanted to see if we could find where it had been painted, and whether anymore family history leads would present themselves!
We did find what we thought was the general area in the painting but the church looked quite different so we figured that Edward had used creative license to change it! After a conversation with a local in one of the pubs in the painting we learnt there was a history museum down the road that probably has a book about the area that Mum could buy. Well the museum was closed but upon walking back through the church grounds we saw a sign stating that the church had been added on to about 10 years after Edward painted his painting - which explained why it looked so different! We went in to the church and chatted to various people - and shown the original entrance prior to the added on areas. It's just amazing how old these buildings are! 3rd century!!
Off we then went - back to London. Mum went to hotel and I went off to reminise and take photos of the first place I lived at in London - just off of Edgware Road in Marylebone! It hasn't changed a whole lot apart from the addition of a big Sainsburys on Edgware Rd (which is sure nicer than the pokey old Tesco that is still there in Church St). There are also a lot of coffee shops around - including Starbucks - and I'm pretty sure there weren't ANY when we were living there as the cafe / coffee culture was just starting to take hold in London - and Danielle and I really missed that in the early days!! Oh Danielle - the rehearsal room at the back of the piano shop is still there!!! I took a photo :-).
That night we went to another show -this time 'The Lion King' !! Wowwwwwww. What a spectacle! We were in the 3rd row which was absolutely brilliant!
London is so full of life!!! People everywhere at all hours!!
Next - our last day!!!! :-(
Friday, May 21, 2010
London
Wow. I'm back in London! I wondered how I'd feel coming back (for those that don't know, I lived here for two years from 1996 to 1998.) Would everything have changed so much that it would all feel new again? Would I feel uncertain about how to figure out the Tube - tickets, routes etc.
I keep having to remind myself that it's LONDON and it's only for a few days - because it feels so 'normal' to be here! I'm amazed - it truly feels like a second home, and I really didn't think it would! I love this city. I could happily stay here much longer - could happily live here again in fact. If only I could transport everyone I know, as well as my job here! :-)
Mums enjoying being back too - it's such a familiar place to her also!
Things I noticed -
there are a few new buildings and loads of work going on - probably some cleaning up before the Olympics I guess!
London smells exactly the same !!
The Tube - the rush of air that cones before the train arrives, looking around at everyone and their 'Tube face' and knowing that if I wasn't so deliriously happy about being back, that I'd have my serious yet blank look happening too :-) - and when I blew my nose that night - black soot :-).
Yep none of the major things have changed!!
We arrived at St Pancras Station from Paris at about 12.45pm and caught Tube straight to our B&B in Kew Gardens (Richmond). What a lovely B&B it turned out to be! It looked nice on the website but was so much nicer in real life! And only 40 pounds a night each!
After settling in we then took the Tube into London - I was unbelievably excited! We got off at Westminster so the first proper glimpse of London was Big Ben :-). We hopped on the open top bus tour and enjoyed the London sights for the next few hours! I was absolutely loving every second! It seemed everything I looked at brought back a memory - of a person, an experience, a job etc. Brilliant and actually almost overwhelming!
We got off the bus at Piccadilly Circus and melded in with the crowd. Got a sandwich from Boots as we hadn't had lunch and it was about 4.30pm!
Wandered around, loving it and feeling like I'd never left! Hoping that volcano will close Heathrow for at least a week!! That would be fair wouldn't it?!? :-)
Had Cod and chips for dinner at a cute pub - as we promised Craig we would - happy birthday Craig!!!
Glad to see Pret a Manger (brilliant sandwich place) are not only still around but seem to be on every street corner!!
Lovely to hear all the different English accents again.
Loving this!
Danielle and Kerry - you guys are really here with me at the moment!!! There were so many amazing times we had here together. Thanks for the memories as it's brilliant reliving them!!
Mum and I finished the first night in London by walking around Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square - then catching the Tube home. Brilliant day!!
Cheers!!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I keep having to remind myself that it's LONDON and it's only for a few days - because it feels so 'normal' to be here! I'm amazed - it truly feels like a second home, and I really didn't think it would! I love this city. I could happily stay here much longer - could happily live here again in fact. If only I could transport everyone I know, as well as my job here! :-)
Mums enjoying being back too - it's such a familiar place to her also!
Things I noticed -
there are a few new buildings and loads of work going on - probably some cleaning up before the Olympics I guess!
London smells exactly the same !!
The Tube - the rush of air that cones before the train arrives, looking around at everyone and their 'Tube face' and knowing that if I wasn't so deliriously happy about being back, that I'd have my serious yet blank look happening too :-) - and when I blew my nose that night - black soot :-).
Yep none of the major things have changed!!
We arrived at St Pancras Station from Paris at about 12.45pm and caught Tube straight to our B&B in Kew Gardens (Richmond). What a lovely B&B it turned out to be! It looked nice on the website but was so much nicer in real life! And only 40 pounds a night each!
After settling in we then took the Tube into London - I was unbelievably excited! We got off at Westminster so the first proper glimpse of London was Big Ben :-). We hopped on the open top bus tour and enjoyed the London sights for the next few hours! I was absolutely loving every second! It seemed everything I looked at brought back a memory - of a person, an experience, a job etc. Brilliant and actually almost overwhelming!
We got off the bus at Piccadilly Circus and melded in with the crowd. Got a sandwich from Boots as we hadn't had lunch and it was about 4.30pm!
Wandered around, loving it and feeling like I'd never left! Hoping that volcano will close Heathrow for at least a week!! That would be fair wouldn't it?!? :-)
Had Cod and chips for dinner at a cute pub - as we promised Craig we would - happy birthday Craig!!!
Glad to see Pret a Manger (brilliant sandwich place) are not only still around but seem to be on every street corner!!
Lovely to hear all the different English accents again.
Loving this!
Danielle and Kerry - you guys are really here with me at the moment!!! There were so many amazing times we had here together. Thanks for the memories as it's brilliant reliving them!!
Mum and I finished the first night in London by walking around Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square - then catching the Tube home. Brilliant day!!
Cheers!!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, May 20, 2010
More Paris!
17th
Mum popped down to the boulangerie again to buy our croissants for breakfast and a baguette to share for lunch. Now we really felt like locals :-).
Walked to the Louvre and spent a few hours wandering through the French and Italian paintings. Mixed feelings about the ones we saw!! Some utterly outstounding and beautiful work, next to gruesome work (you know, the usual man slaying an animal, battle scenes, heads on platters!). Discovered an artist called Pannini - I seemed to love most of his work on display. The Louvre allows you to take photos so here is one of the paintings that I LOVED!!
We will see the impressionists (ie Monet) tomorrow as all in Musee D'Orsey.
Oh - also saw this funny little painting! :-)
After the Louvre we had our picnic lunch (including thermos of coffee!!) in Tuilerres gardens, right next to the Louvre. Had great view of the Loucre in front, and Eiffel Tower behind us - it's not every day you get to sit and eat Camembert with views like that!! And we really appreciated that!!
Then we hopped up onto the top deck of the open top bus tour - and had a ball being driven around for next couple of hours. Got off at Eiffel Tower and went up for sunset! Got to see Paris in afternoon sun, sunset and then stayed for night lights. We were standing outside on the deck when they turned the sparkly flashing lights on - brilliant!!!
18th - Today we went our separate ways for the morning (after again, having local croissants for brekky - and the girl recognizing Mum and saying bonjour - croissants and baguette?? :-) ).
I took the Metro to Le Grand Arche - its in a newer area of Paris and about 20 mins Metro ride. Loved it - was just as big and impressive as i thought it would be!
Mum went to Saint Chapelle church which unfortunately was closed - but still got to visit the flower markets near there.
We then met up at musee D'orsey and saw paintings by Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh etc. Fun!! We also had lunch at the beautiful restaurant / tea rooms. The musuem used to be a railway station and although we weren't allowed to take photos in the musuem we could in the restaurant.
Then we hopped back on the open top bus to try to get to the Paris Opera House (where Phantom of the Opera was set :-)) but unfortunately got there too late. I've actually seen it before - (with Danielle!) so I knew how beautiful it was - so I felt disappointed for Mum that we'd missed out - but I guess it leaves something to do on another visit :-) lol.
We had last dinner in Paris at a cute 19th century restaurant opposite Gare du Nord (the Eurostar station), had a look around the station then headed home to pack for London !!!!!
Paris is beautiful - elegant, sophisticated, full of history, life, and a feast for the scenses. We had a brilliant tine and are sad to say aurevoir. Although I'm VERY excited knowing that I'll actually be IN London tomorrow!!!
Au revoir!!!
Xxxx
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Mum popped down to the boulangerie again to buy our croissants for breakfast and a baguette to share for lunch. Now we really felt like locals :-).
Walked to the Louvre and spent a few hours wandering through the French and Italian paintings. Mixed feelings about the ones we saw!! Some utterly outstounding and beautiful work, next to gruesome work (you know, the usual man slaying an animal, battle scenes, heads on platters!). Discovered an artist called Pannini - I seemed to love most of his work on display. The Louvre allows you to take photos so here is one of the paintings that I LOVED!!
We will see the impressionists (ie Monet) tomorrow as all in Musee D'Orsey.
Oh - also saw this funny little painting! :-)
After the Louvre we had our picnic lunch (including thermos of coffee!!) in Tuilerres gardens, right next to the Louvre. Had great view of the Loucre in front, and Eiffel Tower behind us - it's not every day you get to sit and eat Camembert with views like that!! And we really appreciated that!!
Then we hopped up onto the top deck of the open top bus tour - and had a ball being driven around for next couple of hours. Got off at Eiffel Tower and went up for sunset! Got to see Paris in afternoon sun, sunset and then stayed for night lights. We were standing outside on the deck when they turned the sparkly flashing lights on - brilliant!!!
18th - Today we went our separate ways for the morning (after again, having local croissants for brekky - and the girl recognizing Mum and saying bonjour - croissants and baguette?? :-) ).
I took the Metro to Le Grand Arche - its in a newer area of Paris and about 20 mins Metro ride. Loved it - was just as big and impressive as i thought it would be!
Mum went to Saint Chapelle church which unfortunately was closed - but still got to visit the flower markets near there.
We then met up at musee D'orsey and saw paintings by Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh etc. Fun!! We also had lunch at the beautiful restaurant / tea rooms. The musuem used to be a railway station and although we weren't allowed to take photos in the musuem we could in the restaurant.
Then we hopped back on the open top bus to try to get to the Paris Opera House (where Phantom of the Opera was set :-)) but unfortunately got there too late. I've actually seen it before - (with Danielle!) so I knew how beautiful it was - so I felt disappointed for Mum that we'd missed out - but I guess it leaves something to do on another visit :-) lol.
We had last dinner in Paris at a cute 19th century restaurant opposite Gare du Nord (the Eurostar station), had a look around the station then headed home to pack for London !!!!!
Paris is beautiful - elegant, sophisticated, full of history, life, and a feast for the scenses. We had a brilliant tine and are sad to say aurevoir. Although I'm VERY excited knowing that I'll actually be IN London tomorrow!!!
Au revoir!!!
Xxxx
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Paris!
15th May
Caught TGV to Paris and arrived at Gare d'Est (station). Called apartment manager to finalise pickup of keys to our apartment and then caught cab to our apartment on Rue Montmarte (opposite end of town to the Montmarte area though - actually only 10 mins walk from the Louvre! )
Our apartment was cosy and felt authentically Parisian!
We settled in then explored the area. We were located by a well known 'foodie' street called Rue Monterguiel. It was wonderful. We shopped from individual stores for supplies - coffee for plunger (Illy!), milk, Camembert, ham, tomatoes, apples, bananas, orangina, tagliatelle pasta, creme brûlée :-). We then went back to the apartment and cooked dinner - the tagliatelle pasta with the totally delicious jar of pesto I had bought in the Cinque Terre and some cherry tomatoes that had looked so perfect in the shop that we wondered if they were real! I'm hoping I can get that pesto sauce in Adelaide at maybe a continental store somewhere! Or the market! I had bought in the Cinque Terre.
After dinner we walked down to the Louvre for our first glimpse of the amazing buildings and gardens of Paris. Yes we've both been here before, but, wow. How breathtaking is the Louvre building!!! I had actually forgotten just how beautiful and intricate it is. The pyramid is great too but the building is just amazing!
16th May - Mum's birthday!
We (Mum!) went downstairs to our local boulangerie (bakery) and bought some croissants for breakfast, then we hopped on to the metro and headed to Gare Saint Lazare station to go to Giverny - the village where Monet's garden and house is located. Spent a few hours getting there as it took four trains and a bus! Wandered around for hours really enjoying the weather and the beauty of the gardens. Was absolutely brilliant to see, and walk on, the bridge Monet so famously painted - and everywhere you looked there seemed to be a scene from a Monet painting!
Had lunch at about 3.30 at Hotel Baudy - where Monet and his artist friends would gather to chat, drink, eat, and sell paintings! Was fun knowing we had sat right where Monet would have (near the fireplace) - and was a brilliant lunch - and had beautiful gardens out the back. Was a perfect day for Mums birthday!
Caught TGV to Paris and arrived at Gare d'Est (station). Called apartment manager to finalise pickup of keys to our apartment and then caught cab to our apartment on Rue Montmarte (opposite end of town to the Montmarte area though - actually only 10 mins walk from the Louvre! )
Our apartment was cosy and felt authentically Parisian!
We settled in then explored the area. We were located by a well known 'foodie' street called Rue Monterguiel. It was wonderful. We shopped from individual stores for supplies - coffee for plunger (Illy!), milk, Camembert, ham, tomatoes, apples, bananas, orangina, tagliatelle pasta, creme brûlée :-). We then went back to the apartment and cooked dinner - the tagliatelle pasta with the totally delicious jar of pesto I had bought in the Cinque Terre and some cherry tomatoes that had looked so perfect in the shop that we wondered if they were real! I'm hoping I can get that pesto sauce in Adelaide at maybe a continental store somewhere! Or the market! I had bought in the Cinque Terre.
After dinner we walked down to the Louvre for our first glimpse of the amazing buildings and gardens of Paris. Yes we've both been here before, but, wow. How breathtaking is the Louvre building!!! I had actually forgotten just how beautiful and intricate it is. The pyramid is great too but the building is just amazing!
16th May - Mum's birthday!
We (Mum!) went downstairs to our local boulangerie (bakery) and bought some croissants for breakfast, then we hopped on to the metro and headed to Gare Saint Lazare station to go to Giverny - the village where Monet's garden and house is located. Spent a few hours getting there as it took four trains and a bus! Wandered around for hours really enjoying the weather and the beauty of the gardens. Was absolutely brilliant to see, and walk on, the bridge Monet so famously painted - and everywhere you looked there seemed to be a scene from a Monet painting!
Had lunch at about 3.30 at Hotel Baudy - where Monet and his artist friends would gather to chat, drink, eat, and sell paintings! Was fun knowing we had sat right where Monet would have (near the fireplace) - and was a brilliant lunch - and had beautiful gardens out the back. Was a perfect day for Mums birthday!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Lucerne to Colmar in France on the TGV!
Wed 12th May
Travelled to Colmar on the beatifully comfortable and extremely fast TGV train (which was on it's way to Paris and the same train we'll be continuing to Paris with in 3 days time!)
Colmar was beautifully sunny when we arrived so we went to work taking photos straight away! Noticed a cute little green tourist train so jumped aboard and got a 45 minute tour of Colmar for 6 euro!
What a gorgeous place this is!!! Lovely to be in France again - I've only really ever been to Paris and places like Versailles and Eurodisney so was wonderful to finally be in a French village! Having said that, Colmar isn't a small place but it's certainly not a city.
We wandered around, really enjoying the atmosphere and stumbled across an open air farmers market. We looked up the words for 100 and gram (cent gramme!!) and bought some Camembert cheese, a baguette to share and some apples. Mum also bought some terrine -and the whole lot came to about 6.5 euros. Feeling like locals :-) and very pleased with our purchases we found a seat near a fountain to eat our lunch. How perfect!! I went into nearby shop to get some water and found that they had Orangina!!!! Yum!!! More perfect than previous perfect!! :-)
Spent rest of day wandering around and enjoying the sunshine. Had dinner (some Swiss cup a soup! and a baguette) on a rooftop terrace that Mum shared with another room - although we didn't see anyone else on it so it felt like ours!
Thu 13th May
Next day we had a really slow start - and as it was raining outside, and a public holiday, there wasn't much else to do but have coffee, lunch, another coffee etc! I think we were actually both relieved it was raining as we had pretty much seen the sights the day before so it really gave us license to relax! Colmar always ws going to be our 'rest stop' anyway. Occaisionally the sun came out for a few moments and so we'd head around to the Petite Venice (Little Venice) section to take more photos - then head back to our favourite coffee shop to wait out the rain.
Coffee - we haven't had many good ones since leaving Italy!!! We found two coffee shops in Colmar that actually had proper coffee machines (and not the 'press a button and hot milk and coffee will come out' automatic ones - they are all over Switzerland - we only saw a real coffee machine once! Same seemed to apply in Colmar!
Tonight at about 10.30pm there was a bit of a ruckus in the room next to mine. Mum was in a room on the next level down and the noise was so loud she thought it was next to her! It was a couple screaming at each other and throwing things and it sounded like she was being hit by what I could understand - I was sitting in my room, light off, suitcase against the door, trying to figure out what to do. I was too scared to go down to reception as the arguement was spilling into the corridor and there were only 3 rooms and the lift in our wing so I didn't want to get caught getting in the lift. My phone wouldn't work - so I was really relieved to hear the police arrive! It went on and on for at least another half hour. Sobbing in the hallway, lots of men yelling. I don't know if it was better or worse not being able to understand what they were saying. They could have been arguing about the fact that he ate her dessert while she wasn't looking! I don't think so though! I asked about it the next night and the night manager assured me in faultering english that everyone was ok and 'she' was 'normal' again! Okkkkkk.
Friday 14th May
Left to get our freshly baked croissant for breakfast - and walked to find a take away coffee place (a rarity!) we'd seen the day before - they sold proper coffee machines and equipment so we figured they'd make decent coffee. Alas!!!! Oh well - we sat near a park wit fountain and ate our yummy croissant and drank our coffee, despite the taste :-).
Spent the whole day wandering and loving being in France - and with no particular pressure to see sights etc - just enjoy the village atmosphere. We felt like locals when we were recognized and warmly welcomed in our favourite cafe (with fantastic coffee!).
Had yummy vegetable soup at a local brasserie - abd got to say 'tre bon' (very good) :-).
At some point in the day we had a nutella crepe - yummmmmmmmmm
We had dinner (packet soup, Camembert and baguette!) on Mums terrace / balcony again, waiting until dark to go see the lights of Colmar - we're glad we did as it looked beautiful at night! We LOVED being in Colmar!!!
Ha just remembered - in Europe you don't usually have a kettle / tea, coffee in your room. We had a water boiler element thingy that we brought with us - but we'd thought we'd ask fir a kettle to boil water for our soup as it's much quicker. You would thing it would be easy trying to ask for a kettle without knowing the French word for it - we made kettle sounds, pretended to pour water, drink coffee etetc. What we got was two teapots on a tray with hot water in them. This would have been fine had we been ready fir our soup but it was only about 4.30 :-). We had both brought a small thermous with us from home so it all worked out in the end - I really enjoy the challenge of communication - when it's a lighthearted moment of course. Our local boulangerie in Colmar always practises her English 'good byyyuh' with a smile. We really have found that when they see you are making an effort they are very friendly and even help you with pronounciation if you ask for it - and we like it just as much when they shyly try out their English with us!
Saturday 15th May
We were catching a 10.45am train to Paris this morning and went for one last walk around Colmar in the morning. We could see a cute little girl standing near the road (this road was a semi pedestrian mall). As we got closer she stepped in front of us and said something about her Mama. She didn't know where she was!!!! We had about an hour and a half before our train and now a little well dressed girl we had immediately become responsible for!!! She was about 4 years old I think. Anyway - as much as she was cute, I couldn't help the alarm bells ringing - especially when she pointed down a little alleyway as if to say cone with me, I think my mama might be down here! When we started walking with her to begin with I caught a little smirk on her face and thought that she didn't really seem tooooo distressed. Anyway - we were right outside a great coffee place (the only other one we had found!) that we had been to the day before - and explained that we weren't sure what the little girl was saying but tgat she seemed to have lost her mother. Utter relief - they knew her!!!! So took her down the alleyway she was trying to lead us down. We think that she had probably snuck out but couldn't get back in as you had to be buzzed in. Hence the smirk - probably a 'i know I'm naughty but I'm probably ok now' look.
Anywayyyyy - had another great coffee and croissant at that cafe, then caught our train to Paris!!!
Next - Paris and our apartment!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Travelled to Colmar on the beatifully comfortable and extremely fast TGV train (which was on it's way to Paris and the same train we'll be continuing to Paris with in 3 days time!)
Colmar was beautifully sunny when we arrived so we went to work taking photos straight away! Noticed a cute little green tourist train so jumped aboard and got a 45 minute tour of Colmar for 6 euro!
What a gorgeous place this is!!! Lovely to be in France again - I've only really ever been to Paris and places like Versailles and Eurodisney so was wonderful to finally be in a French village! Having said that, Colmar isn't a small place but it's certainly not a city.
We wandered around, really enjoying the atmosphere and stumbled across an open air farmers market. We looked up the words for 100 and gram (cent gramme!!) and bought some Camembert cheese, a baguette to share and some apples. Mum also bought some terrine -and the whole lot came to about 6.5 euros. Feeling like locals :-) and very pleased with our purchases we found a seat near a fountain to eat our lunch. How perfect!! I went into nearby shop to get some water and found that they had Orangina!!!! Yum!!! More perfect than previous perfect!! :-)
Spent rest of day wandering around and enjoying the sunshine. Had dinner (some Swiss cup a soup! and a baguette) on a rooftop terrace that Mum shared with another room - although we didn't see anyone else on it so it felt like ours!
Thu 13th May
Next day we had a really slow start - and as it was raining outside, and a public holiday, there wasn't much else to do but have coffee, lunch, another coffee etc! I think we were actually both relieved it was raining as we had pretty much seen the sights the day before so it really gave us license to relax! Colmar always ws going to be our 'rest stop' anyway. Occaisionally the sun came out for a few moments and so we'd head around to the Petite Venice (Little Venice) section to take more photos - then head back to our favourite coffee shop to wait out the rain.
Coffee - we haven't had many good ones since leaving Italy!!! We found two coffee shops in Colmar that actually had proper coffee machines (and not the 'press a button and hot milk and coffee will come out' automatic ones - they are all over Switzerland - we only saw a real coffee machine once! Same seemed to apply in Colmar!
Tonight at about 10.30pm there was a bit of a ruckus in the room next to mine. Mum was in a room on the next level down and the noise was so loud she thought it was next to her! It was a couple screaming at each other and throwing things and it sounded like she was being hit by what I could understand - I was sitting in my room, light off, suitcase against the door, trying to figure out what to do. I was too scared to go down to reception as the arguement was spilling into the corridor and there were only 3 rooms and the lift in our wing so I didn't want to get caught getting in the lift. My phone wouldn't work - so I was really relieved to hear the police arrive! It went on and on for at least another half hour. Sobbing in the hallway, lots of men yelling. I don't know if it was better or worse not being able to understand what they were saying. They could have been arguing about the fact that he ate her dessert while she wasn't looking! I don't think so though! I asked about it the next night and the night manager assured me in faultering english that everyone was ok and 'she' was 'normal' again! Okkkkkk.
Friday 14th May
Left to get our freshly baked croissant for breakfast - and walked to find a take away coffee place (a rarity!) we'd seen the day before - they sold proper coffee machines and equipment so we figured they'd make decent coffee. Alas!!!! Oh well - we sat near a park wit fountain and ate our yummy croissant and drank our coffee, despite the taste :-).
Spent the whole day wandering and loving being in France - and with no particular pressure to see sights etc - just enjoy the village atmosphere. We felt like locals when we were recognized and warmly welcomed in our favourite cafe (with fantastic coffee!).
Had yummy vegetable soup at a local brasserie - abd got to say 'tre bon' (very good) :-).
At some point in the day we had a nutella crepe - yummmmmmmmmm
We had dinner (packet soup, Camembert and baguette!) on Mums terrace / balcony again, waiting until dark to go see the lights of Colmar - we're glad we did as it looked beautiful at night! We LOVED being in Colmar!!!
Ha just remembered - in Europe you don't usually have a kettle / tea, coffee in your room. We had a water boiler element thingy that we brought with us - but we'd thought we'd ask fir a kettle to boil water for our soup as it's much quicker. You would thing it would be easy trying to ask for a kettle without knowing the French word for it - we made kettle sounds, pretended to pour water, drink coffee etetc. What we got was two teapots on a tray with hot water in them. This would have been fine had we been ready fir our soup but it was only about 4.30 :-). We had both brought a small thermous with us from home so it all worked out in the end - I really enjoy the challenge of communication - when it's a lighthearted moment of course. Our local boulangerie in Colmar always practises her English 'good byyyuh' with a smile. We really have found that when they see you are making an effort they are very friendly and even help you with pronounciation if you ask for it - and we like it just as much when they shyly try out their English with us!
Saturday 15th May
We were catching a 10.45am train to Paris this morning and went for one last walk around Colmar in the morning. We could see a cute little girl standing near the road (this road was a semi pedestrian mall). As we got closer she stepped in front of us and said something about her Mama. She didn't know where she was!!!! We had about an hour and a half before our train and now a little well dressed girl we had immediately become responsible for!!! She was about 4 years old I think. Anyway - as much as she was cute, I couldn't help the alarm bells ringing - especially when she pointed down a little alleyway as if to say cone with me, I think my mama might be down here! When we started walking with her to begin with I caught a little smirk on her face and thought that she didn't really seem tooooo distressed. Anyway - we were right outside a great coffee place (the only other one we had found!) that we had been to the day before - and explained that we weren't sure what the little girl was saying but tgat she seemed to have lost her mother. Utter relief - they knew her!!!! So took her down the alleyway she was trying to lead us down. We think that she had probably snuck out but couldn't get back in as you had to be buzzed in. Hence the smirk - probably a 'i know I'm naughty but I'm probably ok now' look.
Anywayyyyy - had another great coffee and croissant at that cafe, then caught our train to Paris!!!
Next - Paris and our apartment!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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