tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84389657469913861692024-02-06T22:19:52.371-08:00From P-town to ParisNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-4487278408335906532010-06-10T12:32:00.000-07:002010-08-11T16:46:10.385-07:00Only in Paris<span style="color:#990000;">Thursday June 10, 2010 - Only in Paris<br /><br />Well thanks to a suggestion from my clever blog-minded father, over the past few months I have written down specific experiences limited to the "only happen in Paris category". The following is what popped into my mind, the good and the bad and the ugly; it's all here from my year abroad. Enjoy!<br /><br /><br />Only in Paris...<br /><br />1. Do I eat a whole box of ice cream bars in half an hour flat.<br />2. Do I get a chance to go on a pilgrimage to Chartres.<br />3. Does carrying an awkward heavy box I received in the mail on the Metro make me smile.<br />4. Am I not surprised when I see the Eiffel Tower any more.<br />5. Do I look for lost tourists to give them the right directions.<br />6. Do I see French people give tourists wrong directions.<br />7. Do I pray that an old person or pregnant lady won't get on the Metro when I'm exhausted and have a seat...And then when one does enter, I gladly give them my seat with a smile because it's the right thing to do and <em>that</em> always feels better than sitting.<br />8. Do I get an elbow in the ribs for walking on the "wrong side" of a Metro tunnel.<br />9. Does cigarette smoke not faze me any more.<br />10. Does seeing a kid who looks 12 smoking not faze me any more.<br />11. Do I get the immense pleasure of seeing my French students progress over the course of the year.<br />12. Do I get to prove stereotypes wrong.<br />13. Do I get to walk to church along the Seine.<br />14. Do I carry my pepper spray in my hand in my pocket while walking alone at night.<br />15. Am I used to the <em>scent</em> of the Metro. Eww.<br />16. Do I not buy paper towels, soda, juice, salt, gum, or nail polish because I can live without them.<br />17. Do I buy Nutella, ice cream, pastries, chocolate, cookie dough, and wrinkle cream because I cannot live without them.<br />18. Do I get to go to the airport to pick up my loved ones!<br />19. Do I have to go to the airport to say good bye to my loved ones.<br />20. Do I get to have picnics on the Champ de Mars with my friends to eat French bread, wine, and cheese whenever I want.<br />21. Do I realize how lucky I am to have Christian friends and family.<br />22. Do I appreciate real deodorant.<br />23. Have I been too painfully cold to leave my apartment.<br />24. Have I ever gotten attacked by bed bugs. Eww.<br />25. Am I constantly trying to tell time in another time zone.<br />26. Do I skip bronzer in January because it's not even worth it.<br />27. Does one of my friends get their phone or wallet stolen every weekend.<br />28. Do I see the buffest moms on the planet carrying strollers full of children up and down Metro stairs.<br />29. Do I have a chance to miss hugs.<br />30. Do I know exactly where to find the best </span><a href="http://www.parisenvies.com/lieux/lieu/chao-ba-cafe"><span style="color:#990000;">cheeseburgers</span></a><span style="color:#990000;">, </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cupcakes-Berko/50337319293"><span style="color:#990000;">cupcakes,</span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> </span><a href="http://www.o-chateau.com/stuff-parisians-like/berthillon.html"><span style="color:#990000;">ice cream</span></a><span style="color:#990000;">, and </span><a href="http://breakfast-in-america.com/main/"><span style="color:#990000;">pancakes.</span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br />31. Do I think of opening my own frozen yogurt shop.<br />32. Do babies speak French.<br />33. Do dogs remain perfectly behaved without a leash.<br />34. Must I choose between washing my hair or shaving my legs before the hot water runs out.<br />35. Does the key to my apartment look like a key to a castle.<br />36. Am I not in a car for months at a time.<br />37. Am I absolutely exhausted just from grocery shopping.<br />38. Does a real dinner last for hours.<br />39. Do I think in blog-form.<br />40. Does my form of transportation go on strike.<br />41. Does my roommate's French boyfriend use my toothbrush.<br />42. Is wine cheaper than a bottle of water at a restaurant.<br />43. Have I made amazing friends from all over the world.<br />44. Do I see men and women of all ages run across enormous intersections in their business clothes to catch the bus. Hilarious.<br />45. Do I give myself high cholesterol. True and not hilarious.<br />46. Do cashiers ask you if you have exact change and scowl if you don't. Sorry, that's, like, kinda your job.<br />47. Do I get to walk 3 minutes to a gorgeous park to read in the sunshine.<br />48. Is it normal to see 200 roller bladers take over the streets.<br />49. Do I see so many women with the body I had at age 11.<br />50. Do I get to take an art history course that meets at a different museum each week.<br />51. Do I write this blog instead of studying for my art history final.<br />52. Do I walk, um, everywhere.<br />53. Do I have to call my friends/family from home twice if they missed my first call less they become an emotional wreck.<br />54. Can I sleep till 2pm. Easily.<br />55. Do I never smile at strangers.<br />56. Does skipping doing my hair in the morning just means I look more French that day.<br />57. Is it okay to have hairy arms.<br />58. Are my bank, my grocery stores, my laundry mat, my boulangerie, and my favorite cafes all within walking distance from my apartment.<br />59. Are rules not <em>rules</em> and customer service not <em>customer service</em>.<br /><br />60. Only in Paris, do I sit here the night before flying home for good and strangely feel like I'm about to be released from prison.<br /><br /><br /><br />Bonsoir Paris...Good morning L.A.!<br /></span><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-90203835535934623982010-05-28T09:21:00.000-07:002013-01-23T20:04:07.186-08:00Irwins in France<span style="color: #990000;">April 24-May 2, 2010 - My parents' visit!</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Hmmm, this is <em>slightly</em> overwhelming to try to summarize...</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Well due to the <a href="http://ptowntoparis.blogspot.com/2010/04/beautiful-springvolcanos.html">volcano</a>, my parents' arrival was delayed a week, so we simply did the trip in the reverse order: one week in the "country" and one week in the "city". (though we <em>did</em> squeeze in one day in Paris at the very beginning!) See, I told you this was overwhelming!</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Because I like my guests to suffer, I make them take the Metro with all of their luggage. No, not really, it's just a lot cheaper. </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Here are my parents, Faith and Scot, in front of the Opera Garnier where the Roissybus (airport bus) dropped us off. You'll notice they have a few bags. I asked them to bring an extra suitcase or two for me to send my winter clothes home with them.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Instead, they brought 4 <em>full</em> suitcases and 2 <em>full</em> carry-ons. But, boy, was I happy to see them anyways!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jvjsTqowA24tdaaAKAd5zIsOxpPuQZW8384IEGNwBa3bd8SRSQom8RjGa5-Qv8Fv56wcasFmap9fo5rTWote_3MSAT0KV_RlQMm-97M9bynWvfLJQt34zmdByfJr5g-XDqxfueVaHhc/s1600/DSC01370.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jvjsTqowA24tdaaAKAd5zIsOxpPuQZW8384IEGNwBa3bd8SRSQom8RjGa5-Qv8Fv56wcasFmap9fo5rTWote_3MSAT0KV_RlQMm-97M9bynWvfLJQt34zmdByfJr5g-XDqxfueVaHhc/s320/DSC01370.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476382851935217074" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />For their first day in Paris, we walked the Champs de Mars and went to the Eiffel </span><span style="color: #990000;">Tower.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PMQes-tlwdU9mnyJpSGeCFKbgoGc-MIegH99Y6biOkorRU7TElB_72DN3Fy7AyauCOugvFoBf_PxrLogo8_-z2ASMI9qnhUJXmpJoMJr9RmmNLmkpFJbSKhzcbgszc2QJNP0eXnLFCE/s1600/DSC01372.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PMQes-tlwdU9mnyJpSGeCFKbgoGc-MIegH99Y6biOkorRU7TElB_72DN3Fy7AyauCOugvFoBf_PxrLogo8_-z2ASMI9qnhUJXmpJoMJr9RmmNLmkpFJbSKhzcbgszc2QJNP0eXnLFCE/s320/DSC01372.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476382848317415986" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Then, a river boat cruise on the Seine.<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNwwr8Ym8lQ9PcRrYY8yG6eSQQPrCS1W-6XHSyMMQSrAy-yP-ZYmQCJRRKYIeP8IyARdXWOvJYTpGdSYuFq44BfWoN6yKgk9SxrvzwD5pwZ_n_st4xrQhmo6jmZFxkaNeHufW5v270LE/s1600/DSC01374.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNwwr8Ym8lQ9PcRrYY8yG6eSQQPrCS1W-6XHSyMMQSrAy-yP-ZYmQCJRRKYIeP8IyARdXWOvJYTpGdSYuFq44BfWoN6yKgk9SxrvzwD5pwZ_n_st4xrQhmo6jmZFxkaNeHufW5v270LE/s320/DSC01374.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476382840175801106" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Notre Dame. Fact: Sunny Paris is so much prettier than gray Paris.<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltLFOnIoETmsOoyB-Vjsl-d_Bpfv0viMmbCp2-mPhOBfGzJXR9ongEuZc4xUBzIz3N3fx9NTYowXT4SE4r221oBKgLiJpzVQZSHx_D0IwxfbUlHGoVPEkB67gxuwAolYRnqidDl-aG5o/s1600/DSC01375.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltLFOnIoETmsOoyB-Vjsl-d_Bpfv0viMmbCp2-mPhOBfGzJXR9ongEuZc4xUBzIz3N3fx9NTYowXT4SE4r221oBKgLiJpzVQZSHx_D0IwxfbUlHGoVPEkB67gxuwAolYRnqidDl-aG5o/s320/DSC01375.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476382827203423202" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFOPSZM0rQAtHXyQYvGAeQmcFJizvYszWSz8KB_xSayx6ymeC65pu6pcNE-eqYoxPXDpJq0vkJpp3TXeLrOClQtAFXw5mbBcPFQq9aFMhyphenhyphenG5rPSGwha0e9XY4r8_mMVE6KUIoMgLZRig/s1600/DSC01376.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFOPSZM0rQAtHXyQYvGAeQmcFJizvYszWSz8KB_xSayx6ymeC65pu6pcNE-eqYoxPXDpJq0vkJpp3TXeLrOClQtAFXw5mbBcPFQq9aFMhyphenhyphenG5rPSGwha0e9XY4r8_mMVE6KUIoMgLZRig/s320/DSC01376.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476381810799181970" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGh0TR370Euwh5CVSj2xoUyvrEjYpGvLjzKK2Cna1jDfQqabKrTMVLFJefmHzuEHE0wxoa8cX2LrtqitNESs-oOzCVAdZYQcxFLHhHmAwLm-vghFYWJ8BeqX1vyGp_2bstfC0zGegBhqc/s1600/DSC01378.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGh0TR370Euwh5CVSj2xoUyvrEjYpGvLjzKK2Cna1jDfQqabKrTMVLFJefmHzuEHE0wxoa8cX2LrtqitNESs-oOzCVAdZYQcxFLHhHmAwLm-vghFYWJ8BeqX1vyGp_2bstfC0zGegBhqc/s320/DSC01378.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476381803928997874" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Day 2: We went back to CDG airport to pick up the rental car and start our journey to Normandy where we stayed in this beautiful chateau recommended to me by one of my co-workers at the french high school I worked at.<br /><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2rj7DIe-5DIvS0_UTY0Pmdak7n_ZiGRsEoJ3l4askw4Llw4LLaA8xMBc_TakFwSk1Tk_bQZDLlH01LgqRc-GpQhHaaRrLfa70pJOs9BNzFcZvJ2Ytv01no9ctLdj9G4UqzTxUikbf4g/s1600/DSC01389.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2rj7DIe-5DIvS0_UTY0Pmdak7n_ZiGRsEoJ3l4askw4Llw4LLaA8xMBc_TakFwSk1Tk_bQZDLlH01LgqRc-GpQhHaaRrLfa70pJOs9BNzFcZvJ2Ytv01no9ctLdj9G4UqzTxUikbf4g/s320/DSC01389.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476381791017214434" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIbwojvH84pbc3y6mr1a0mbSUgtwZqBq8hFEys6p_OikxoWMj-2Ne3nmeycyIJ0Q3dJLAXURA4aEDoVStoU93wS7SSjY-yh9ULQcbt7byeuO6uq4j9CBLDPaaikblO635BRuC1uZ7gFE/s1600/DSC01388.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIbwojvH84pbc3y6mr1a0mbSUgtwZqBq8hFEys6p_OikxoWMj-2Ne3nmeycyIJ0Q3dJLAXURA4aEDoVStoU93wS7SSjY-yh9ULQcbt7byeuO6uq4j9CBLDPaaikblO635BRuC1uZ7gFE/s320/DSC01388.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476381784763118530" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />It had bunnies. My mom was happy. Smitten, even. Look at those baby bunny toes!! Okay, okay I was smitten too.</span><span style="color: #990000;"><br /><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNjeZqE0wTnXKP6IFFToHFPAuXPTmgs4C45Lljk_srzBAe9Zh5EyIrbzL5Tf7lD0JqkSMBTxDO73PMej2hbdI1fBBGCsHE_OBGO_wxpxJZB4dWBBZcE4rmDGLW-bLtC3qCnSwYb5-lxM/s1600/DSC01387.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNjeZqE0wTnXKP6IFFToHFPAuXPTmgs4C45Lljk_srzBAe9Zh5EyIrbzL5Tf7lD0JqkSMBTxDO73PMej2hbdI1fBBGCsHE_OBGO_wxpxJZB4dWBBZcE4rmDGLW-bLtC3qCnSwYb5-lxM/s320/DSC01387.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476380780778330834" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Upon arrival, we drove into the<em> small</em> town nearest our chateau and there was a bike race going on...this is for you Doug:<br /><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZMLKcgdy0dL0_uxqCZRNgrGP8uh4qf51ax0U5Vne9DC-ZlO1igR99y8RYMKWSTmakNA8R9asK4jAuhjBaTVCGSuyoPd_SGb0XWtsQyfpyxOhvs-VdU_m8Jg8L82hyphenhyphenQvP_V9p0ZXFxjI/s1600/DSC01384.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZMLKcgdy0dL0_uxqCZRNgrGP8uh4qf51ax0U5Vne9DC-ZlO1igR99y8RYMKWSTmakNA8R9asK4jAuhjBaTVCGSuyoPd_SGb0XWtsQyfpyxOhvs-VdU_m8Jg8L82hyphenhyphenQvP_V9p0ZXFxjI/s320/DSC01384.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476380779411646770" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /><br />Dinner in Bayeux: The, eh hem, French meal schedule (and schedule in general for that matter) took some getting used to...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">No, Dad, we can't eat it's only 5 o'clock.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">No, Dad, we can't eat it's only 11am.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">No, Dad, we can't eat it's 3pm.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Dad, we better hurry and eat because "France" closes in an hour.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">No, Dad, it's closed. It's Sunday.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">No, Dad, it's closed. It's Monday...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Or: It should be open, but it says 'closed'...No, I don't know why. It just says 'closed'...No, it doesn't make any sense...I'm not hungry anymore.<br /><span style="color: #ffcc99;">.<br />.<br />.</span><br />Where was I? Oh yes, dinner in Bayeux. We had yummy pesto pasta with salmon! Man, was it nice to eat real food again!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">This is the view from an old German fort right in the middle of the town. The whole town was destroyed during the war and was then rebuilt.<br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6q5EFy10873UNvHIZVI8uoddntN93Zp5mmLiTPX-ZZSLnBPLl8iyJWM2UIKSDZ-DxI_ogicAD1DFhe_j2h4HuNUNqNtIHBNmfgOI6yRkuYFwWPOHrYsgs8OR-4XlSXK7b_6Cs1Wcr7U/s1600/DSC01391.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6q5EFy10873UNvHIZVI8uoddntN93Zp5mmLiTPX-ZZSLnBPLl8iyJWM2UIKSDZ-DxI_ogicAD1DFhe_j2h4HuNUNqNtIHBNmfgOI6yRkuYFwWPOHrYsgs8OR-4XlSXK7b_6Cs1Wcr7U/s320/DSC01391.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476380769803904994" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiAHjTzTRq8x-kVhgwbgmaUCLguDTETQup5lzdBYfjrKLam4a2rtgvdtUzcIm4ZJNey5GUiyjZrlAjHKEyYrkYI_ruI5uG_Gvl_Hcb1daTxTi9Z7xX8Dvz2MvGbUXsR79zyYMMjZbxF8/s1600/DSC01392.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiAHjTzTRq8x-kVhgwbgmaUCLguDTETQup5lzdBYfjrKLam4a2rtgvdtUzcIm4ZJNey5GUiyjZrlAjHKEyYrkYI_ruI5uG_Gvl_Hcb1daTxTi9Z7xX8Dvz2MvGbUXsR79zyYMMjZbxF8/s320/DSC01392.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476380760095244034" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjR0Sw4Ui3rmSkHeuaQPv2yDKGb47BqzFz1EtLHbkv_uGufRWO-GF_m3J9DhwKyhja_YYWRQRF7ZVelCn8lCauqikm2TTCI2hv6MPRw23e40JeZcfbrZozXpGeJnh-2ayVYKqpkRpURE/s1600/DSC01393.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjR0Sw4Ui3rmSkHeuaQPv2yDKGb47BqzFz1EtLHbkv_uGufRWO-GF_m3J9DhwKyhja_YYWRQRF7ZVelCn8lCauqikm2TTCI2hv6MPRw23e40JeZcfbrZozXpGeJnh-2ayVYKqpkRpURE/s320/DSC01393.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476379873565587794" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-SZX7W5hT82qU5hiJoJ1vNV2fepxO1dW1M1kEeC4qbhb39poI459nrtJ5GcLQ3-va2DDQHRlDOrNDi8vP4JFphKyX_Hq7LcxBLt_K8xPukvrRIOcaPkA2UZu3VvLep9Pdlj3B-ZpHps/s1600/DSC01395.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-SZX7W5hT82qU5hiJoJ1vNV2fepxO1dW1M1kEeC4qbhb39poI459nrtJ5GcLQ3-va2DDQHRlDOrNDi8vP4JFphKyX_Hq7LcxBLt_K8xPukvrRIOcaPkA2UZu3VvLep9Pdlj3B-ZpHps/s320/DSC01395.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476379863321219218" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /><br />The next day, we headed to the Normandy D-Day beaches. We were lucky enough to be walking up towards Point du Hoc just when a sort of ceremony beginning. It turned out it was a group of U.S. veterans from Texas who were travelling throughout France in honor of Victory in Europe (V-E) day. They invited us to sit and attend the ceremony; how fortunate we are to have had such brave men fighting for us!<br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMP3p60WZwoGYI0fmcx4LiJwXDWQ45VMZGPzQ10Z5SUzXwrTbsGBW9qFS1xjCvSMgC_wpc2kAqzZzIPjU29ReWMOvc7GJWzYzYR3zCPAQ8AIlfDAy4y5hqDnJch4fQkENuwVun9xhmtI/s1600/DSC01407.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMP3p60WZwoGYI0fmcx4LiJwXDWQ45VMZGPzQ10Z5SUzXwrTbsGBW9qFS1xjCvSMgC_wpc2kAqzZzIPjU29ReWMOvc7GJWzYzYR3zCPAQ8AIlfDAy4y5hqDnJch4fQkENuwVun9xhmtI/s320/DSC01407.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476379858057717794" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzrV-g8b2kxTxd-YC_tyCnAFI2ir12qCE9bvw9h8kBLP1mlOoq3ZNelxOjm8QCxz9eeZ5k-FjHmVXC_z07ONtknwqo_ItVnQgsTfq6OtUI2d2pglfRJmwrlRj0AaPU5j72l9nrd8Dna0/s1600/DSC01403.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzrV-g8b2kxTxd-YC_tyCnAFI2ir12qCE9bvw9h8kBLP1mlOoq3ZNelxOjm8QCxz9eeZ5k-FjHmVXC_z07ONtknwqo_ItVnQgsTfq6OtUI2d2pglfRJmwrlRj0AaPU5j72l9nrd8Dna0/s320/DSC01403.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476379850132505938" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydW6DIb0EhPEQZOYZmHXltgjRMvH2ncTC-yd896EAC2wDjRk2l_opP47LPP_jQElDHEhiy0bNsISDDJsvKdX-psibAffp8o_fRPhoIPiI7WA8jeBV4wGh4RiBksWst-oLBFzP6FXiYps/s1600/DSC01404.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydW6DIb0EhPEQZOYZmHXltgjRMvH2ncTC-yd896EAC2wDjRk2l_opP47LPP_jQElDHEhiy0bNsISDDJsvKdX-psibAffp8o_fRPhoIPiI7WA8jeBV4wGh4RiBksWst-oLBFzP6FXiYps/s320/DSC01404.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476376938762141378" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Next, we drove to Omaha Beach where we found lots of seashells! And, we were SO lucky to have blue skies in Normandy...that rarely happens!<br /><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vGRDVxw14mrEFhI0yIVeJoi7BHxnTdMd-m-ET1pKni08gDjHux6ffn_85M0AI3HNNBPJ1Jk7Af58pEin7kWKOrd6G1xrkMJZM-gcyhS6fZvEEiH0LmPFhJx5vopK__L0cVkRq7ZT1C4/s1600/DSC01415.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vGRDVxw14mrEFhI0yIVeJoi7BHxnTdMd-m-ET1pKni08gDjHux6ffn_85M0AI3HNNBPJ1Jk7Af58pEin7kWKOrd6G1xrkMJZM-gcyhS6fZvEEiH0LmPFhJx5vopK__L0cVkRq7ZT1C4/s320/DSC01415.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476376931108709522" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXkHYGSuqAEh3DYIUX3OKnw7fYGlLAA9_vTlWCcSGWE86CBWsWx40IPZ2xgNJLXECO59eXMPykMbURqDmFkCVfgnyZVUvQHyhlKqL6u6wskBACIV81gdwHb0D3hzqcggt1K0oa1LNOs4/s1600/DSC01417.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXkHYGSuqAEh3DYIUX3OKnw7fYGlLAA9_vTlWCcSGWE86CBWsWx40IPZ2xgNJLXECO59eXMPykMbURqDmFkCVfgnyZVUvQHyhlKqL6u6wskBACIV81gdwHb0D3hzqcggt1K0oa1LNOs4/s320/DSC01417.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476376924997835794" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />On to the American Ceremtery and Museum: This is a fantastic WWII museum; very well done and educational. I really enjoyed getting to <a href="http://ptowntoparis.blogspot.com/2010/03/normandy-d-day-beaches.html">go again </a>with my parents.<br /><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nljeMr4rIYk9vzdCPBSiq-p0MdLrdjR1-iUXcBzJSw0jmV02UpgxrNASed_TCmu1lwJgZeWWBVdx75EZWDUqwJBTRFgtPQkMXeIj_7yJS0Go3F0YAFhYhsoNjaVvkzHnTlyYuDnwZ7g/s1600/DSC01418.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nljeMr4rIYk9vzdCPBSiq-p0MdLrdjR1-iUXcBzJSw0jmV02UpgxrNASed_TCmu1lwJgZeWWBVdx75EZWDUqwJBTRFgtPQkMXeIj_7yJS0Go3F0YAFhYhsoNjaVvkzHnTlyYuDnwZ7g/s320/DSC01418.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476376916723460850" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxRpf4TCXjLi5LbLcTvYDoaRQfqAbU6M-TFwMGpJvQYMPBEMhdtMuvPHiimqTo2Lf7z2QTbwuOQVR6ynLziUFX-xNSLZVWD9k-G7ivCchIqjgi2vDaL26YVV3vVbEWnZpcdtQgAjSCyk/s1600/DSC01419.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxRpf4TCXjLi5LbLcTvYDoaRQfqAbU6M-TFwMGpJvQYMPBEMhdtMuvPHiimqTo2Lf7z2QTbwuOQVR6ynLziUFX-xNSLZVWD9k-G7ivCchIqjgi2vDaL26YVV3vVbEWnZpcdtQgAjSCyk/s320/DSC01419.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476376097752442946" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOunN8obqdue5vFkDGwndckfB8dOzaY-xOL38dVAOlaMo6ChHzsopYr3_ShsCisw2-d43S0vPutrx3Gw80w5AuHyNYS2lHV9uAC2vvDLZrF4u0HbepVM2jcSD5GO7kkFcm1vHsip2YU0E/s1600/DSC01421.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOunN8obqdue5vFkDGwndckfB8dOzaY-xOL38dVAOlaMo6ChHzsopYr3_ShsCisw2-d43S0vPutrx3Gw80w5AuHyNYS2lHV9uAC2vvDLZrF4u0HbepVM2jcSD5GO7kkFcm1vHsip2YU0E/s320/DSC01421.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476376090328769394" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXayJgfzmKGSecuPCb0uHmAfzg3VSx14m7dSXqr7LUWg6AFdPEvbJK3_mrTruf36MAs6VHfrv2oivFJPSSlqcRErIy4xYavcSeG1XSm2qut8RsgRIDdiAtzP8HynvXQLZaqxl2RGae9hs/s1600/DSC01422.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXayJgfzmKGSecuPCb0uHmAfzg3VSx14m7dSXqr7LUWg6AFdPEvbJK3_mrTruf36MAs6VHfrv2oivFJPSSlqcRErIy4xYavcSeG1XSm2qut8RsgRIDdiAtzP8HynvXQLZaqxl2RGae9hs/s320/DSC01422.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476376082352410610" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />The following day, we headed to Mont St Michel, the famous monastery built in the 8th century, that was once only accessible if you raced the tides that rise and fall 50ft!<br /><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWnL8un7S5N6mMSSkkT457bGrCujKc1Gzb6Sm9OcxueNP8JXSdja_qwALDHSHgRrKZ_yfg13wPuxhBjWna7CYBEIDXTknCt4_OGRYUcfexSpTGDJHmri-cX-UpsneA-PADrHOuCR-rKI/s1600/DSC01426.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWnL8un7S5N6mMSSkkT457bGrCujKc1Gzb6Sm9OcxueNP8JXSdja_qwALDHSHgRrKZ_yfg13wPuxhBjWna7CYBEIDXTknCt4_OGRYUcfexSpTGDJHmri-cX-UpsneA-PADrHOuCR-rKI/s320/DSC01426.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476376077268621410" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />The happy little tourist family!<br /><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IiE6e__Qu68Z6AVnvvN-eyD3skNOkrteptlVf9dUAAfw7_1H6zr7I_80jRvSJ3b_vUFCuySDBBukop74yFXX9c2aA-xaQz7vFm4HFob7ij2HIdmmGjHir2EJMMotCHQrxtm0SNAJsHw/s1600/DSC01428.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IiE6e__Qu68Z6AVnvvN-eyD3skNOkrteptlVf9dUAAfw7_1H6zr7I_80jRvSJ3b_vUFCuySDBBukop74yFXX9c2aA-xaQz7vFm4HFob7ij2HIdmmGjHir2EJMMotCHQrxtm0SNAJsHw/s320/DSC01428.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476375319909516962" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />This sign is warning us to move our car before 6:30pm because the tide will raise (rise?) and cover the parking lot!<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP21MOBWfhhJ4T8nPin5HFfCyeByTOw2AZLn6GQLrRzRjyB01v3RBfd71hrf83n57h87wyskBmkq3UqUivfwVbI6wgo-VYm-qmFj9MUlECWq69FBUwXHbQBMdC1OjctKzGrx55KA_JCAc/s1600/DSC01427.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP21MOBWfhhJ4T8nPin5HFfCyeByTOw2AZLn6GQLrRzRjyB01v3RBfd71hrf83n57h87wyskBmkq3UqUivfwVbI6wgo-VYm-qmFj9MUlECWq69FBUwXHbQBMdC1OjctKzGrx55KA_JCAc/s320/DSC01427.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476375309275243858" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />This place was so fascinating! Not quite the quiet escape that the monks were searching for any more... it is very full of tourists, but with </span><a href="http://www.ricksteves.com/home.htm"><span style="color: #663366;">Rick Steves' </span></a><span style="color: #990000;">help, we found the least touristy route to the top.<br /><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImdmEN9Z-u9MJGn-raNVtr_msZIPklAfY4upqf75OZEhjGCkmRs6iuy-6MHfrg5Y-3-fhaZ65vcs5MwYDx99f-2_9RTiSV0s1V1HmSMe87FChFy154dJJz_OU12hUppSZgxibj-4XfjY/s1600/DSC01429.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImdmEN9Z-u9MJGn-raNVtr_msZIPklAfY4upqf75OZEhjGCkmRs6iuy-6MHfrg5Y-3-fhaZ65vcs5MwYDx99f-2_9RTiSV0s1V1HmSMe87FChFy154dJJz_OU12hUppSZgxibj-4XfjY/s320/DSC01429.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476375300760704466" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwf3lff1D-b6mQuMuKdvW3yw4LOFcnXIz8H4UFsfDz1qbDOt7mLR7DedYC5d8TMROuO0BRalMTZ1WlU8bz_j5J62CdvM_8EL1z6_arfc79xFzKqSA4cRjAxBjVQjwAGj94utbWLdWq0I/s1600/DSC01431.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwf3lff1D-b6mQuMuKdvW3yw4LOFcnXIz8H4UFsfDz1qbDOt7mLR7DedYC5d8TMROuO0BRalMTZ1WlU8bz_j5J62CdvM_8EL1z6_arfc79xFzKqSA4cRjAxBjVQjwAGj94utbWLdWq0I/s320/DSC01431.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476375299261591634" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSxRNmDJGFxw-JHJEPepiCa11x7dWv2aARTICFZmPE7bjRPM2w-gm6KaRdhpQXyasRQo9kIVv5LSLLNbi5Rx9T99_sThZ3kQ0FaLQDC5_HOiS6V0JH1OUn3qB04hZDM1UpnPKmMX4NC0/s1600/DSC01432.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSxRNmDJGFxw-JHJEPepiCa11x7dWv2aARTICFZmPE7bjRPM2w-gm6KaRdhpQXyasRQo9kIVv5LSLLNbi5Rx9T99_sThZ3kQ0FaLQDC5_HOiS6V0JH1OUn3qB04hZDM1UpnPKmMX4NC0/s320/DSC01432.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476374375514345458" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCTFE_8gTmAAzZ9oXgTdHa4XZnf6vEHIZkt7felRaH73HG2_E6DdqJWnRCbRE3Tm3XXeB5ZLLJqF_QilmRp8VsIlKkptPRTTXPKMcsjszElYIBShxh-HdisszTFteTyW4yxtc9j3jK4E/s1600/DSC01434.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCTFE_8gTmAAzZ9oXgTdHa4XZnf6vEHIZkt7felRaH73HG2_E6DdqJWnRCbRE3Tm3XXeB5ZLLJqF_QilmRp8VsIlKkptPRTTXPKMcsjszElYIBShxh-HdisszTFteTyW4yxtc9j3jK4E/s320/DSC01434.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476374366389153874" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzvJqQtH__-EeBiMXe4OHl6Jd2NkU1w62rpuf5jOwR9pL1BntnJfLKj4y9X2Jh_Fkp5H5Gk8fw2NOTnm1ddKmz7mpqvxZSNkovKZAVzgn7lDtoocXi2XYC0gYYZ4Xw_MalO87-8nRYpU/s1600/DSC01436.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzvJqQtH__-EeBiMXe4OHl6Jd2NkU1w62rpuf5jOwR9pL1BntnJfLKj4y9X2Jh_Fkp5H5Gk8fw2NOTnm1ddKmz7mpqvxZSNkovKZAVzgn7lDtoocXi2XYC0gYYZ4Xw_MalO87-8nRYpU/s320/DSC01436.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476374363708035570" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Driving along the country roads (in a Ford!!).<br /><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8-s1hxmwdsjke4tqPBArgCGLFgMneyTcw8ILmVNCG8ZBwaz5nGLBIHR66KYxZggXrQsrAMPqHHJWn9z-tEi0Y7wnEBv85Bf5aPltDcMz5j-iXQJKYAvLBuRq-T9EryMm4m_kMXwxl5U/s1600/DSC01439.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8-s1hxmwdsjke4tqPBArgCGLFgMneyTcw8ILmVNCG8ZBwaz5nGLBIHR66KYxZggXrQsrAMPqHHJWn9z-tEi0Y7wnEBv85Bf5aPltDcMz5j-iXQJKYAvLBuRq-T9EryMm4m_kMXwxl5U/s320/DSC01439.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476374351029709202" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrK5rwgx09mTRSMlvB3CqoivAq4VvK9rub4Nd2nhKn50BOdxvyN-EQrscOrxpJADSSA_EGKh3n5VImqiUHOmRaWObC1AVFbXy_pxVA3T0vdfSbUxdZhZ_0zJdNKx0TNBFVlJXhUAzVfM/s1600/DSC01441.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrK5rwgx09mTRSMlvB3CqoivAq4VvK9rub4Nd2nhKn50BOdxvyN-EQrscOrxpJADSSA_EGKh3n5VImqiUHOmRaWObC1AVFbXy_pxVA3T0vdfSbUxdZhZ_0zJdNKx0TNBFVlJXhUAzVfM/s320/DSC01441.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476373424648721138" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Mom in the safety of the back seat (no atlases, GPS, directions, iPods, or French road signs to read). She looks relieved to me...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIO8GBCLNIDPNaQgpDEyVA3BSxf-hcvJSiYU5jxWUQMG702CeQ7DbcZKAA4qBTiuX7mr8rjn8Gm5Aa5NiQb9Q_OXlS-nxe9Fmw7ggVhPCwb9I2Hw19wT1HxRl7e2k4VAxKSt9tsgH3gis/s1600/DSC01440.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIO8GBCLNIDPNaQgpDEyVA3BSxf-hcvJSiYU5jxWUQMG702CeQ7DbcZKAA4qBTiuX7mr8rjn8Gm5Aa5NiQb9Q_OXlS-nxe9Fmw7ggVhPCwb9I2Hw19wT1HxRl7e2k4VAxKSt9tsgH3gis/s320/DSC01440.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476373422092393010" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Chateau du Balleroy, now owned by the Forbes' family:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Beautiful grounds, ugly hot air balloon paintings, and incredible molding. I love molding. NOT to be confused with moldy cheese. <em>That</em> I do not like.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">The chateau was built as a kind of illusion; it appears a lot larger from the road, but it is actually only one room deep!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUvwOig4kSnDcfmDAhGkQxTfuOr-4WvqNqoyRSzU1LOzQUpYUse5FDxL3pspUIoSOyOH-fTSiddcGNKj9kpNd_k7ogT-2oOM0d6v9hfa3Cds5Nu0FjA30X21rnoGSgqnzjijgjwbQFjY/s1600/DSC01444.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUvwOig4kSnDcfmDAhGkQxTfuOr-4WvqNqoyRSzU1LOzQUpYUse5FDxL3pspUIoSOyOH-fTSiddcGNKj9kpNd_k7ogT-2oOM0d6v9hfa3Cds5Nu0FjA30X21rnoGSgqnzjijgjwbQFjY/s320/DSC01444.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476373412231501410" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPfJXZuGr144ZJLIKq0GN8QUm09rL18zGm_kSON0ejkU5L5TdE5K3CwBtBUjZPyQO664shlVC8t2jJq4AExIhgeV8SniE2jvkUgrGkO7smfzrJRTsrIbX96HYdEVAnZFNBBHfkw5au0s/s1600/DSC01443.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPfJXZuGr144ZJLIKq0GN8QUm09rL18zGm_kSON0ejkU5L5TdE5K3CwBtBUjZPyQO664shlVC8t2jJq4AExIhgeV8SniE2jvkUgrGkO7smfzrJRTsrIbX96HYdEVAnZFNBBHfkw5au0s/s320/DSC01443.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476373402582774882" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br />Um, where was this??? St. Malo I think! It was a very fun little town, an old fortified city, that you can now walk on top of the walls that surround the small coastal village. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Wait <em>is</em> this St. Malo? Now, I'm all confused, but the point is we are on a boat that we never got to ride on due to the very efficient French work ethic and customer service and yes, I am aiming for all the French stereotypes right now because I was exhausted and they were making my job as tour guide much more difficult than necessary! So there.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Notice my "you have <em>got</em> to be kidding me" head tilt?<br /><span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span><br />I feel much better about this.<br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXu2vdK13139uX5Ev8uqGQhtsXhxZLweIDL44gqDspxb_9liuQKSZAos_H-UQVB46OygP4RqmmvZbdPsSr5wqELrVUAdDneCAIqUu7cbkp8ou-H39WuhjoyiL5VWd2e_PkRhGCx5ElTI/s1600/DSC01446.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXu2vdK13139uX5Ev8uqGQhtsXhxZLweIDL44gqDspxb_9liuQKSZAos_H-UQVB46OygP4RqmmvZbdPsSr5wqELrVUAdDneCAIqUu7cbkp8ou-H39WuhjoyiL5VWd2e_PkRhGCx5ElTI/s320/DSC01446.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476372596425962050" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Moving along...*Sighhh* Flowers!!!</span><span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">On our way back to Paris, we went to Monet's Garden in Giverny. We got there early to beat the crowds and wandered through the gardens and the lily ponds. The flowers were in full bloom; I don't think there is a better time to visit!<br /><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZ64dHGaPlK9Ueei_e3PJ6Cj8ke67iR50v6AnFaBnGNBIQmpj_8io8Ksh6ofv78xtmSDKcepvJIq7s2o1G9Bjd91ES3FKfkVF2DmtxYAO7j6pVt072wqKe6lQyvTL_ERNSPGZJezBMvo/s1600/DSC01449.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZ64dHGaPlK9Ueei_e3PJ6Cj8ke67iR50v6AnFaBnGNBIQmpj_8io8Ksh6ofv78xtmSDKcepvJIq7s2o1G9Bjd91ES3FKfkVF2DmtxYAO7j6pVt072wqKe6lQyvTL_ERNSPGZJezBMvo/s320/DSC01449.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476372593427695058" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdiIQRulZ12HJlqBVr3HAMmpHzZu-rZNFJxTOHtAFiiCeBZbfBf4p_Z5ffzu2yCmWntyMMikwWAdr6VeLlGUk4ZhJHR4yQF4c2PpjfkxcHrhU2fXg4lG3jn3PlMXVak42VBZrMqvjeaU/s1600/DSC01452.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdiIQRulZ12HJlqBVr3HAMmpHzZu-rZNFJxTOHtAFiiCeBZbfBf4p_Z5ffzu2yCmWntyMMikwWAdr6VeLlGUk4ZhJHR4yQF4c2PpjfkxcHrhU2fXg4lG3jn3PlMXVak42VBZrMqvjeaU/s320/DSC01452.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476372585512864850" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> Dogwood flowers for Grandma D:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLIz0yCmsHwPp7mLyZgh515CoeWPdBzSmRog1BxJiXUgz2VVoDYCLkj6PALckr-BTy0g5he1ej4-fbfNWcOFzsUinxjb6THYjVgZUqp4TrTUYWIXdXkr0a8Bvc2x2CgF-xmFygZNXago/s1600/DSC01455.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLIz0yCmsHwPp7mLyZgh515CoeWPdBzSmRog1BxJiXUgz2VVoDYCLkj6PALckr-BTy0g5he1ej4-fbfNWcOFzsUinxjb6THYjVgZUqp4TrTUYWIXdXkr0a8Bvc2x2CgF-xmFygZNXago/s320/DSC01455.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476372580871824050" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6DONzpGM11GiJwHprTJOb0my-v8wjCxmdinC-TfOWwusaxKun8NZj023PH-ucMup0avo3qMIpZC29zM1oD2xBmCf3Hgp8AGUG6xVK0H_wyj6gUQnUzm4uSdkpXum4oG-6mwrTGdMe-Y/s1600/DSC01456.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6DONzpGM11GiJwHprTJOb0my-v8wjCxmdinC-TfOWwusaxKun8NZj023PH-ucMup0avo3qMIpZC29zM1oD2xBmCf3Hgp8AGUG6xVK0H_wyj6gUQnUzm4uSdkpXum4oG-6mwrTGdMe-Y/s320/DSC01456.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476371720927085042" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BJ-Ma8-1biZkVUbxp3eeAgpC5tnXjfAY3nLKuuaDpngMird3KnhepyAKW6HCKf1mL14ik0Q5wblMlae_iFhIi3EZw-In9Nw96H78LtZ3ppdGSulESTVwL2m5FSrGT_vvEH3Jtf_3aiU/s1600/DSC01457.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BJ-Ma8-1biZkVUbxp3eeAgpC5tnXjfAY3nLKuuaDpngMird3KnhepyAKW6HCKf1mL14ik0Q5wblMlae_iFhIi3EZw-In9Nw96H78LtZ3ppdGSulESTVwL2m5FSrGT_vvEH3Jtf_3aiU/s320/DSC01457.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476371710884355490" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />There were so many HUGE tulips!!<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLojW28-7Ax-_HiMG7n8fsWUoJ0Jy9VJxneJ2Ou4EsJjVWkT9CpPWMwIfmr7l5lvGfrBFSFn-yGCkWJUvpHLBWnWr0sSbQ41JZUUUWrSu4qTqoXccbZnT8WQQkVrZXujbReHx-W4X6GbA/s1600/DSC01460.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLojW28-7Ax-_HiMG7n8fsWUoJ0Jy9VJxneJ2Ou4EsJjVWkT9CpPWMwIfmr7l5lvGfrBFSFn-yGCkWJUvpHLBWnWr0sSbQ41JZUUUWrSu4qTqoXccbZnT8WQQkVrZXujbReHx-W4X6GbA/s320/DSC01460.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476371704298240306" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />On Claude Monet's front porch. How cool is that?!<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-h8h6a9U8qi-NvQiRGtN7YauN5QsxwgR2R7vERFSDFYh0auqimhZmGVJUDk82_oqhegJdt8Ktc5Z1hFsRZrr1xQNC90VsOajBUJDvnzEOzp1V5sv7aBGFtU2kE-lQ8C5AGp0VwleKF8/s1600/DSC01465.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-h8h6a9U8qi-NvQiRGtN7YauN5QsxwgR2R7vERFSDFYh0auqimhZmGVJUDk82_oqhegJdt8Ktc5Z1hFsRZrr1xQNC90VsOajBUJDvnzEOzp1V5sv7aBGFtU2kE-lQ8C5AGp0VwleKF8/s320/DSC01465.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476371693160849234" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg77gM2azl7v42r9BUNIxf-cq2aOWMvYK0rTJTx9ubsPDXEnxeFieCiURsJXFbeKyrQd56L3Mq2YVoEEbt7YfMek0WFzrJJboBBR6FVOxAkTwBhhLzi6k9ZcksnDxAdl27mNioYxAKHMg/s1600/DSC01473.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg77gM2azl7v42r9BUNIxf-cq2aOWMvYK0rTJTx9ubsPDXEnxeFieCiURsJXFbeKyrQd56L3Mq2YVoEEbt7YfMek0WFzrJJboBBR6FVOxAkTwBhhLzi6k9ZcksnDxAdl27mNioYxAKHMg/s320/DSC01473.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476370894226386226" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NKAorWPPXMCaDa0GYWuE1piMxy2yf_8HMmxgiBquhDy632o97V3MuYgHsU1lqFIcRZKMeZzIXBZXiPqYnQXftrs8B9nRrKvcFR_jWD6CQVGjvqkaVlAUWZkEOJ7ddg2wM6n8uUlzMgE/s1600/DSC01476.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NKAorWPPXMCaDa0GYWuE1piMxy2yf_8HMmxgiBquhDy632o97V3MuYgHsU1lqFIcRZKMeZzIXBZXiPqYnQXftrs8B9nRrKvcFR_jWD6CQVGjvqkaVlAUWZkEOJ7ddg2wM6n8uUlzMgE/s320/DSC01476.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476370893010738258" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Their ice cream cones matched their shirts! Too cute!<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWisUH7rSh5yiZT4DMHcxHzOuP-RxjKT98KHFelad8x4shmCQAJ6u9sfNItryt74vk17NNYwIrfaTfpgcobC23ZdQk0c5LCCjs3uCgJTyreUVoLJra1JXbs27wh9t7oOn9VfjfSmrwREk/s1600/DSC01467.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWisUH7rSh5yiZT4DMHcxHzOuP-RxjKT98KHFelad8x4shmCQAJ6u9sfNItryt74vk17NNYwIrfaTfpgcobC23ZdQk0c5LCCjs3uCgJTyreUVoLJra1JXbs27wh9t7oOn9VfjfSmrwREk/s320/DSC01467.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476370883836710082" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Traffic in Paris.<br /><span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span><br />This is why my wise father decided to rent the car at the airport <em>ouside</em> of the city. Good idea, Dad!<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVIRJvnUSDmtsK8LkKAg1Wv5j4uj4ZOwR4kyiVIM6dbCuxoekmGk9oFXxUc2hnlXiNB-c70m2o3CPVRkLzdyMAWQ1P3JDQdjAxOl7rD-lzQvZbr5Mb_pDobPUmBn90Do7ZYPhofXlAiA/s1600/DSC01479.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVIRJvnUSDmtsK8LkKAg1Wv5j4uj4ZOwR4kyiVIM6dbCuxoekmGk9oFXxUc2hnlXiNB-c70m2o3CPVRkLzdyMAWQ1P3JDQdjAxOl7rD-lzQvZbr5Mb_pDobPUmBn90Do7ZYPhofXlAiA/s320/DSC01479.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476370880372376850" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Back in Paris...the oldest tree:<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpOFbwI2N9QQtg_zzLDw6xTKdOssSivUTZiETiKcZC_YtCyGyDdHWhM14BctexG269eBrQDPsOCwsB5NzN27dTbJsgccnhdlRzGw9-3xAkYK_GoeocLkx46YWZoc_q1qkGfEfk0DDrSs/s1600/DSC01481.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpOFbwI2N9QQtg_zzLDw6xTKdOssSivUTZiETiKcZC_YtCyGyDdHWhM14BctexG269eBrQDPsOCwsB5NzN27dTbJsgccnhdlRzGw9-3xAkYK_GoeocLkx46YWZoc_q1qkGfEfk0DDrSs/s320/DSC01481.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476369858099676146" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 180px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1cNEk3HHjrdA-yxvknQyksOfLREqERiqcNPL9v44X4XdtqdKZhVjpvsl_7i6KDlTEXKKpMungBvID2kMdjQttkYqttJeouEUcw3wQERvoHzwxqss7bJJphIMMT-Pn0-QjIsKIOqgAho/s1600/DSC01480.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1cNEk3HHjrdA-yxvknQyksOfLREqERiqcNPL9v44X4XdtqdKZhVjpvsl_7i6KDlTEXKKpMungBvID2kMdjQttkYqttJeouEUcw3wQERvoHzwxqss7bJJphIMMT-Pn0-QjIsKIOqgAho/s320/DSC01480.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476369848997324018" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 180px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Shakespeare and Co.<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekVcpNx-T7BFaukAsEzXnb8AWKm7AlulZ5_lfozTbyhknHl4SlRnNpt5TPE9lr1veCUqWcVMXTACumYUk-vB_3hiKi1rqY-0CMwMqO4ADgxR6hrhejyis3qTR8WqMOAmvlDk8zVHtGl8/s1600/DSC01483.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekVcpNx-T7BFaukAsEzXnb8AWKm7AlulZ5_lfozTbyhknHl4SlRnNpt5TPE9lr1veCUqWcVMXTACumYUk-vB_3hiKi1rqY-0CMwMqO4ADgxR6hrhejyis3qTR8WqMOAmvlDk8zVHtGl8/s320/DSC01483.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476369836933956978" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 180px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaJ_3zKnE6uH6dq9wXuWygyL5Lh-L_3y4icdhsZ2ejjHUtlqPEyBtVymm2ZDLnaKTcuAH79AlNl96hNy2iunZ-k9ypbyo2wykINHBjqeV-7PaB2C-CgCAu7o59Vfpc8eSmzyksB76Cyk/s1600/DSC01484.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaJ_3zKnE6uH6dq9wXuWygyL5Lh-L_3y4icdhsZ2ejjHUtlqPEyBtVymm2ZDLnaKTcuAH79AlNl96hNy2iunZ-k9ypbyo2wykINHBjqeV-7PaB2C-CgCAu7o59Vfpc8eSmzyksB76Cyk/s320/DSC01484.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476369834455825874" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 180px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACbigQ7FhSWCKU0GNvcVKIUjOeYlj4-cES8x7RCTnm66euwn-QRea6EqAJSm_H6v00x-07sjxiSfrWRCUuTozO0VOMTOejbnJ6MrwQHM5W2PskxdgAaanSsQAlz3LRYraPEJdLpaK3vM/s1600/DSC01486.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACbigQ7FhSWCKU0GNvcVKIUjOeYlj4-cES8x7RCTnm66euwn-QRea6EqAJSm_H6v00x-07sjxiSfrWRCUuTozO0VOMTOejbnJ6MrwQHM5W2PskxdgAaanSsQAlz3LRYraPEJdLpaK3vM/s320/DSC01486.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476368975287481362" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 180px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Hmm, he looks familiar...<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLwMTvF3PG4kYUaMnA0ydyuxralOhECBMmOD353kjalg3Fx8NAfwmFO91oKCE36mFTM9vZoDqNm2r9lTiqu7cRA4ncWKvSe4gTtXsVYVuvlXkFDf9u28Z6Fl3Vl1GcHK_fF3x6bzRaTc/s1600/DSC01485.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLwMTvF3PG4kYUaMnA0ydyuxralOhECBMmOD353kjalg3Fx8NAfwmFO91oKCE36mFTM9vZoDqNm2r9lTiqu7cRA4ncWKvSe4gTtXsVYVuvlXkFDf9u28Z6Fl3Vl1GcHK_fF3x6bzRaTc/s320/DSC01485.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476368971273431234" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 180px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />We climbed to the top of the Arc du Triomphe after lunch on the Champs Elysees.<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdMUyjWW89zhdKdGBcKJSx2YxxUsMPJre5hfUSCuZKWAesbv2V_5yJoiO9Qylsq1WcH6eYFji4Kzr9rNluNdsOMz4hwgCTspp9Ktdz5OcXoXi0HP608Zb8NIjWxzDdA9MaHprQsdusTQ/s1600/DSC01488.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdMUyjWW89zhdKdGBcKJSx2YxxUsMPJre5hfUSCuZKWAesbv2V_5yJoiO9Qylsq1WcH6eYFji4Kzr9rNluNdsOMz4hwgCTspp9Ktdz5OcXoXi0HP608Zb8NIjWxzDdA9MaHprQsdusTQ/s320/DSC01488.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476368964920612690" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 180px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />The 284 step spiral staircase...this blurry photo is quite fitting! There were some really neat interactive museum displays inside the arc near the top.<br /><span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span><br />Did I just say 'neat'? Please, ignore that.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANoKHkPE0UpKSphY8XZFoPhYC59hji5R_n7ySZHhWOhejpPpLvFh5U-okoNf6djtE_AnSJJCqz1IFGEfkRnEWRi7Y0LhGFkwGhlQWO0vw9ap447hR-0o8wXplWnnXxiJqGKVlr1Qh5gY/s1600/DSC01489.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANoKHkPE0UpKSphY8XZFoPhYC59hji5R_n7ySZHhWOhejpPpLvFh5U-okoNf6djtE_AnSJJCqz1IFGEfkRnEWRi7Y0LhGFkwGhlQWO0vw9ap447hR-0o8wXplWnnXxiJqGKVlr1Qh5gY/s320/DSC01489.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476368957034306098" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 180px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />The view was AMAZING! It was rainy and cold while we were up there, but it was so worth it! I thought the view was better than the Eiffel Tower, plus less crowded and cheaper!<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdoy8C9YVNdn4X4V9xv60EwgIAattAYbFZgJ5ecy22rieyKsk6GAgjRZqn02MeWR1Gtv4S-BoxhDBA_Kp5awXSTN6ObAaTVXb-BfhCLlOjVr4fETrqrA-abKRoMqS8RkH5w-7yH8cQNU/s320/DSC01496.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476368366897054210" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 180px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />My mom and heights are not friends. It's about her only enemy. And even still, she is smiling.<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqe9aIQZbgBRVF8IuAyW08fB9HdLtByhnLY36MmrPVgBCXwawkVFdk89KqFSx0Ai2jbYTuyetxK-Ho_CLbwdPH-bRJNSHdL4x6T1U3Jczr9_XZ5gwHlGABbhqeAhCv8dul7FvDMG8niPc/s1600/DSC01495.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqe9aIQZbgBRVF8IuAyW08fB9HdLtByhnLY36MmrPVgBCXwawkVFdk89KqFSx0Ai2jbYTuyetxK-Ho_CLbwdPH-bRJNSHdL4x6T1U3Jczr9_XZ5gwHlGABbhqeAhCv8dul7FvDMG8niPc/s320/DSC01495.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476368371619959122" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 180px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-u-agNb4udN1AqtwBg1WzVCA_r3-yZ07uLusDQQBM7jr1vcYByLP8gWplCGxtBgfZER-sAKygO7xSrefmpvpOIHtvTMq24sfM7T1UIManJgsya306vPaTAXvZf1BMe3DbJT2fLuYocYM/s1600/DSC01498.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-u-agNb4udN1AqtwBg1WzVCA_r3-yZ07uLusDQQBM7jr1vcYByLP8gWplCGxtBgfZER-sAKygO7xSrefmpvpOIHtvTMq24sfM7T1UIManJgsya306vPaTAXvZf1BMe3DbJT2fLuYocYM/s320/DSC01498.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476368357171080626" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 180px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Thanks to my Dad for wearing shorts and being tough, we waited a few moments longer for the rain to lighten and we got to see this:<br /><span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span><br />Literally, 360* of double rainbow! It was incredible!<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbphpesTeAsWyU9DculJvJ9QV_k-Dmy7ATRKDo53KmAKTTHVos4oEEDjEdJK3EWckxgnItWuvNrngFOKR2xk8m3Z237JVizP03bMKFDIMDH3Nf4WNBr9jiNtuOy2cuPIt8opUoUFzrW7A/s1600/DSC01501.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbphpesTeAsWyU9DculJvJ9QV_k-Dmy7ATRKDo53KmAKTTHVos4oEEDjEdJK3EWckxgnItWuvNrngFOKR2xk8m3Z237JVizP03bMKFDIMDH3Nf4WNBr9jiNtuOy2cuPIt8opUoUFzrW7A/s320/DSC01501.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476368347899954098" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 180px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Later, we did the Louvre. "Did the Louvre". It makes it sound so easy! I showed them many of the pieces I studied in my art history class and rattled off all the knowledge I had gained. :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Though my Mom is the art teacher, my Dad is the perfectionist. Therefore, no room was passed, no sculpture un-looked, and no painting un-translated. (All of the titles and descriptions are in French; therefore, it was my duty to translate. Thanks, France.)<br /><span style="color: #ffcc99;">.<br />.</span><br />This is one of my favorites, "Les Trois Graces" by Pradier:<br /><br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvT8QmjHDz_12Vr0jXKO4uOm_H_uUhbA41NGUULVLRQTv7aZaoIsoiIZMxp2xsMUNfyTE8X-qHYOyviYgEMt9qdWMndIhq2pX8K6LQ4zLCqaKPHEbWIFzk8XcC19SZ9TqEIngdpJcHYY/s320/DSC01504.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476367910655636530" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 180px;" /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpE59cpxSoxz655ar9qmOwhcWBu5wBlMUaY2MWYlFAEpdnqVMuhWSW1919R2dUs3iiShsIrN_0M6mF7yjyKtmFc5VBlRuRG9YhY_PmJd7NZrqwJkAtMM2fUBet7G3r-zPdcUYnyfQzaPs/s320/DSC01505.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476367917013064594" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 180px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">All week, I was trying to either talk my parents out of going to Versailles, or at least, going without me. It's not that Versailles isn't amazing, it's just that I found it to be completely over-run with tourists to the point where you don't even know you were in the Hall of Mirrors until you are exiting...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">So, Thursday night as we were deciding what to do the following day, my Dad said how about Brussels? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">...Hopped on the internet, was utterly confused by the French website, parents went to bed, and woke up with tickets to Brussels! I am kind of wonderful.</span><span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">These <a href="http://ptowntoparis.blogspot.com/2010/03/chocolate-oops-i-mean-brussels.html">pictures might look familiar</a>...<br /><span style="color: #ffcc99;">.<br />.</span><br />This is wrong, so wrong. Those of you who know or have at least met my father will agree that he is the <em>last</em> person to need a megaphone, let alone a humongous one.<br /><span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span>Which is exactly why we had to take a picture!<br /><span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span><br />And, he does look a bit too comfortable up there...<br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmttsj_vj5SC1Sh86g1rcRxnbXQoIpPDAuh1VQKbRjf8zBlfeTgFcEpLDyk_QXfQKRlXqg-hDScqxldWTkgBmJmDQqX3q2nhyCo22-Ef19YCHoUtf9wXw31xxTujVFxyea62HlzKyMmaI/s1600/DSC01518.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmttsj_vj5SC1Sh86g1rcRxnbXQoIpPDAuh1VQKbRjf8zBlfeTgFcEpLDyk_QXfQKRlXqg-hDScqxldWTkgBmJmDQqX3q2nhyCo22-Ef19YCHoUtf9wXw31xxTujVFxyea62HlzKyMmaI/s320/DSC01518.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476367904588774834" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Luckily, the peeing boy had the decency to get dressed for my parents' visit. They decided he looks more like a gardener holding a hose. Mmhmm.<br /><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4iyCyyXtF-LvcfgCIRvpq-Pp-quu7-h-EM4qCTz52VohmoMq5HWjOyYFJJrgZ59XMUJcReF3fpZd_5B_tGtNC3EC6V3SZJ69d7XjUxhSwu7LWWLTipEmq_EyCu2wDpEX6OCigMASWZw/s1600/DSC01519.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4iyCyyXtF-LvcfgCIRvpq-Pp-quu7-h-EM4qCTz52VohmoMq5HWjOyYFJJrgZ59XMUJcReF3fpZd_5B_tGtNC3EC6V3SZJ69d7XjUxhSwu7LWWLTipEmq_EyCu2wDpEX6OCigMASWZw/s320/DSC01519.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476367902601007442" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />He's famous! Check out this advertisement in the train station:<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHf2am_eK4BJo5dxwn9rN_cIAPtoLHn0YRYBqq6JYKZhe12GiPOE2sPsM2GKWVv7yB9ln_OG8nkuYenyGxJWEH2gClhqCXhYZoHCeX4kTgZzoCJ0-0myJZcEgSBQtMPOmNzgvt0QlHzZg/s1600/DSC01525.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHf2am_eK4BJo5dxwn9rN_cIAPtoLHn0YRYBqq6JYKZhe12GiPOE2sPsM2GKWVv7yB9ln_OG8nkuYenyGxJWEH2gClhqCXhYZoHCeX4kTgZzoCJ0-0myJZcEgSBQtMPOmNzgvt0QlHzZg/s320/DSC01525.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476366693536410930" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Somehow I managed not to get any pictures of waffles or chocolate on this trip! (Maybe I was busy stuffing my face).<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJpzWp8LxRp7cBJrZS0Cv19kGgNqOOqupynUawyDwAPkL-ykZ4UZ2ihkEvUtXiLGli0uaYReNJdlnenfrtwVEBuiEk2BxOiMWbR530CSw6AuCTb6uQJgmY6guqE-HZsMfhpi-ub2JqOo/s1600/DSC01520.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJpzWp8LxRp7cBJrZS0Cv19kGgNqOOqupynUawyDwAPkL-ykZ4UZ2ihkEvUtXiLGli0uaYReNJdlnenfrtwVEBuiEk2BxOiMWbR530CSw6AuCTb6uQJgmY6guqE-HZsMfhpi-ub2JqOo/s320/DSC01520.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476366685375019698" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Yoy9gTFd53aYk974RiiAyFlHtenwPLMSNYioF9hUhOML5pSnFzc4X_j8OeLsPBKiWnGfUYUyox4eLbOC_ZBpI_6wXo2_nrznc2WOeeQUKa9InHERAvL-dgCzBmwcp4yjj8jPhLx7uIY/s1600/DSC01521.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Yoy9gTFd53aYk974RiiAyFlHtenwPLMSNYioF9hUhOML5pSnFzc4X_j8OeLsPBKiWnGfUYUyox4eLbOC_ZBpI_6wXo2_nrznc2WOeeQUKa9InHERAvL-dgCzBmwcp4yjj8jPhLx7uIY/s320/DSC01521.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476366677152909298" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />My Mom and I were in love with this group! We gave them money. And, then bought their CD.<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZZ8R2kT9FyBED_Gjb0cqB0BfgisKktggP_z0d6R1ZH-29xhkwhRoVZfxaNQwgxa1iDP-oRunDbTs_umb8v7x0efTGKwHQVCvqWqQ7h_Cg4vO2LLbhpMb5fvhSEqNRgjYF5u_YkrbmPI/s1600/DSC01522.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZZ8R2kT9FyBED_Gjb0cqB0BfgisKktggP_z0d6R1ZH-29xhkwhRoVZfxaNQwgxa1iDP-oRunDbTs_umb8v7x0efTGKwHQVCvqWqQ7h_Cg4vO2LLbhpMb5fvhSEqNRgjYF5u_YkrbmPI/s320/DSC01522.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476366668476177154" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Back in Paris on Saturday morning, we went to La Duree to have a high-class tea time for Mother's Day. It was delicious! I highly recommend la religieuse a la rose. Thanks for spoiling us Dad! :)<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmWZuPANqd301FSTDKjQyVKz6Z4BuLthp2Z-q9D_dsQVfGqMBTCrADe9WjB8u6et6Gq9xbviyGix0fa_Xxf-VP3GOb1KhgT0okekMbCpXSKBnCpGxB2KDuMsA333S3m1pmdFuGmQWhFY/s1600/DSC01527.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmWZuPANqd301FSTDKjQyVKz6Z4BuLthp2Z-q9D_dsQVfGqMBTCrADe9WjB8u6et6Gq9xbviyGix0fa_Xxf-VP3GOb1KhgT0okekMbCpXSKBnCpGxB2KDuMsA333S3m1pmdFuGmQWhFY/s320/DSC01527.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476365477713324914" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />The Arc du Triomphe with the French flag on V-E Day:<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7PMMyzsetgx79D81rs6QIfqSlpw7BfPPL-B3U1KBpYbHgfN_mw_03KzvCE7ZC0EDRaXS68-FUCDAf0tGyrZKBDpHMICumNswderURhV2qD2rlxTNeOAClxvVK9tfcLPFhp8GUvqhdLs/s1600/DSC01528.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7PMMyzsetgx79D81rs6QIfqSlpw7BfPPL-B3U1KBpYbHgfN_mw_03KzvCE7ZC0EDRaXS68-FUCDAf0tGyrZKBDpHMICumNswderURhV2qD2rlxTNeOAClxvVK9tfcLPFhp8GUvqhdLs/s320/DSC01528.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476365472095232866" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />One of the last stops was the Opera Garnier. It was so luxurious and beautiful! Marble and gold e-v-e-r-ywhere!<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTpFauG2uZ6BPlQMSUryjH5tpV2uZqZKmxDko_4xAuMb-0NswA9uSlBxq2AFrayGo1B_Og43R-3T4bHUZ51xC-K-J6kEb1xaB22jwYVTjTKdYS-mAVH6aMWt1Yq2oC_p1fDM49H5X5U0/s1600/DSC01533.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTpFauG2uZ6BPlQMSUryjH5tpV2uZqZKmxDko_4xAuMb-0NswA9uSlBxq2AFrayGo1B_Og43R-3T4bHUZ51xC-K-J6kEb1xaB22jwYVTjTKdYS-mAVH6aMWt1Yq2oC_p1fDM49H5X5U0/s320/DSC01533.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476365466156472306" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDBVzUIwOS3Gtcg_UtsofOY0dQBcaSe_KvLMtFJSDLuVeokDC7k64vxHspeZ16wfJL776pO0SzuMe_ouW8mjAeNvKm0Q_tfwMczhy_SicWlF7Q4H4DQMQUwVs01hf6FXAPOc1mabBNZk/s1600/DSC01534.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDBVzUIwOS3Gtcg_UtsofOY0dQBcaSe_KvLMtFJSDLuVeokDC7k64vxHspeZ16wfJL776pO0SzuMe_ouW8mjAeNvKm0Q_tfwMczhy_SicWlF7Q4H4DQMQUwVs01hf6FXAPOc1mabBNZk/s320/DSC01534.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476365442593984322" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyStYB5btmr1ymVeCLcAKEbJUR5lNS2mrdbbvorVXryjvEFhEYlab3La3F4IIc1sSrYEHOr4JJOtEljcL-0lVV9vsxGfdvIdlEnj28w_gxjyTsDnuVMKJmR8cXMiUL3MIJc9F8_hFG78I/s1600/DSC01536.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyStYB5btmr1ymVeCLcAKEbJUR5lNS2mrdbbvorVXryjvEFhEYlab3La3F4IIc1sSrYEHOr4JJOtEljcL-0lVV9vsxGfdvIdlEnj28w_gxjyTsDnuVMKJmR8cXMiUL3MIJc9F8_hFG78I/s320/DSC01536.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476361508916285170" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxaXO8pQYoOge-l2LGS29CdAtsmOLssmOrgvlnkmqX8FX5fdeWeVHLtStJmfJTkaU6WHUETYxxV1OOCTtWnV3RjiXzVNfDSoFymsoCAFS9kgR-n9DGbdgKb6uYz4zC-0I3Nr7I81iqms/s1600/DSC01537.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxaXO8pQYoOge-l2LGS29CdAtsmOLssmOrgvlnkmqX8FX5fdeWeVHLtStJmfJTkaU6WHUETYxxV1OOCTtWnV3RjiXzVNfDSoFymsoCAFS9kgR-n9DGbdgKb6uYz4zC-0I3Nr7I81iqms/s320/DSC01537.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476361507879013778" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Last dinner together on Rue Cler:<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zBhvEGuupErbV7jYT50NA5iX5fcybunyfmeYxny81JlHsdN4o5wTVICH-h9fJMm_C4ap2kWpMlJXQuvze3GVoJzA28vFSp1xzMoH9p8_G2LiHyvP0hKG31nfaaLgs7BHxee-mhR7_Lo/s1600/DSC01542.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zBhvEGuupErbV7jYT50NA5iX5fcybunyfmeYxny81JlHsdN4o5wTVICH-h9fJMm_C4ap2kWpMlJXQuvze3GVoJzA28vFSp1xzMoH9p8_G2LiHyvP0hKG31nfaaLgs7BHxee-mhR7_Lo/s320/DSC01542.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476361501889196482" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />My Dad wore pants!!!!<br /><br />They do zip off at the knees, but let's give'm a little credit.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQME4GE-Tn5r-3456ahKtsYlMrUrXedawqUFPl953aIEGg9wClKl34K1OZG5Lj7ejVZHyKKi9_gppAxWHUYEXQR17OdZ8AkWhGI3zYNq2PN6nlwB8owkxbRHZGokkHn9kQVZdPbs6sds/s1600/DSC01540.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQME4GE-Tn5r-3456ahKtsYlMrUrXedawqUFPl953aIEGg9wClKl34K1OZG5Lj7ejVZHyKKi9_gppAxWHUYEXQR17OdZ8AkWhGI3zYNq2PN6nlwB8owkxbRHZGokkHn9kQVZdPbs6sds/s320/DSC01540.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476361489086075314" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />This is only a quick overview of some things we did! I know my parents took over 800 pictures...so if you are interested in the long version, contact my parents to set up a viewing. My blog/I can't handle that amount of data.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I am the luckiest girl in the world. Completely convinced. I am so thrilled that my parents came; I still can barely believe it! We had an amazing time and I am so thankful for them and their visit.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">One more thing: my Dad was in France. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">AKA where all the French people live. Ha.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Miracles do exist.</span><br />
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-87091131257180409312010-05-25T05:00:00.000-07:002013-01-23T20:01:57.191-08:00Blood, Sweat, and Prayers<span style="color: #990000;">Wednesday May 26, 2010 - Pilgrimage to Chartres</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Wow! I have been a busy, busy girl! I'm now halfway done with finals and only have 16 more days till I'm back in Los Angeles! As most of you already know, I was lucky enough to have my parents here to visit for a couple weeks about a month ago. I will write a post about that soon enough, but first I wanted to share my first pilgrimage experience with you!</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">I met a girl, Sandie, here in Paris through a mutual friend by chance one night awhile ago. She is an au pair here in Paris and is from Ottawa, Canada. She told me about this pilgrimage a couple months ago and I thought it sounded amazing...then last week I found out it was the following weekend and I jumped at the chance to participate.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">The path that we followed was first taken by pilgrims in the 1300's, however, for many years the pilgrimage did not exist at all until a group of about 10 people decided to restart the tradition 27 years ago. Now, more than 8,000 pilgrims from all over the world come to Paris for the journey.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbTYeXicWPPhV2xAy4_j3h8e8eBLbd5XsIVT-IT0Wg8AWBlxFDYK08MLiOEdz2zG3VlYerpmJlKN1I0-bdSGnVrAmAJkDOXFJmeVQ1DPPSrdupeOzxRzVWBV7aGHL2J01b_twlYcYfFU/s1600/DSC01563.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbTYeXicWPPhV2xAy4_j3h8e8eBLbd5XsIVT-IT0Wg8AWBlxFDYK08MLiOEdz2zG3VlYerpmJlKN1I0-bdSGnVrAmAJkDOXFJmeVQ1DPPSrdupeOzxRzVWBV7aGHL2J01b_twlYcYfFU/s320/DSC01563.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475518795168800882" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">We met at 5:15am to head to the Notre Dame here in Paris to check in and find the Irish chapter who we decided to walk with. This was Sandie's 8th pilgrimage! She has done 5 in Canada and this one twice before. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42yot6170pQm59475duGGWBt1z7Ys1RlCwfmXB4Xa-xdX2nc417JS0NWHY5fNyqSIZjn1FqQ7jlW_b3e9uA-FEdreTcE39CN8XDNMYYubL4K_AQYBDaw1Xvtkup-tIu4OE5SoRZbH5YQ/s1600/DSC01565.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42yot6170pQm59475duGGWBt1z7Ys1RlCwfmXB4Xa-xdX2nc417JS0NWHY5fNyqSIZjn1FqQ7jlW_b3e9uA-FEdreTcE39CN8XDNMYYubL4K_AQYBDaw1Xvtkup-tIu4OE5SoRZbH5YQ/s320/DSC01565.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475518502230825330" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsPyQ_BM_79tKvu3qMqAULMnSDJt4hyphenhyphenHOqX_EQRRuhhtCxY6DImeR-boQvav-FI0Z0H0RwH51310exVTQnLpkaqg9PkoYXrvQ-it_BpFo1SQV9Y1S8IxKMIQoT3qyN-idlJ1nkDzyxiQ/s1600/DSC01566.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsPyQ_BM_79tKvu3qMqAULMnSDJt4hyphenhyphenHOqX_EQRRuhhtCxY6DImeR-boQvav-FI0Z0H0RwH51310exVTQnLpkaqg9PkoYXrvQ-it_BpFo1SQV9Y1S8IxKMIQoT3qyN-idlJ1nkDzyxiQ/s320/DSC01566.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475518495706976306" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> There were tons of boy scouts and girl scouts every where! I have never seen so many pairs of short leather shorts!<br /><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDCzjrKkn4aseHhvtkf-SHJQ3XJDQIdwfojcvgJ76VFef9-TKl0MGutgy28b2F9pLuWeTR4MvRp84p3McSsLGtONw_U7kzEN0Vo5jpCcxlWZ1GrNqLxOJE5OFqLrF5oKonlK9d8kyxvE/s1600/DSC01567.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDCzjrKkn4aseHhvtkf-SHJQ3XJDQIdwfojcvgJ76VFef9-TKl0MGutgy28b2F9pLuWeTR4MvRp84p3McSsLGtONw_U7kzEN0Vo5jpCcxlWZ1GrNqLxOJE5OFqLrF5oKonlK9d8kyxvE/s320/DSC01567.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475518484573285090" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />On our way out of Paris: Crossing the Peripherique</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwucEykkidpNyPLjyEtJ6Dhr4ktTqoFAJxJ9zJ9K8SBJ4EvVe3PH-8ZrZp3ehz91Ma26MAwWLBkNjMzzsfCa_LN2FArAmuz-2sruW4noAHfiqlUkBu8kD896oMW7z48E5Wzusmf6NGzyU/s1600/DSC01568.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwucEykkidpNyPLjyEtJ6Dhr4ktTqoFAJxJ9zJ9K8SBJ4EvVe3PH-8ZrZp3ehz91Ma26MAwWLBkNjMzzsfCa_LN2FArAmuz-2sruW4noAHfiqlUkBu8kD896oMW7z48E5Wzusmf6NGzyU/s320/DSC01568.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475518475974608754" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">The walk started on the city streets of Paris, continued into nice suburbs, and then into the countryside.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QqAoje2AalzNSravrHiSnEKy4WnrEwvs5MIeyX-AKpXBCFU5KTTYL7xjVJbvYTOwfqBlUTzxhgtkosvr1NXC4nOzCgeMqLJzycdjon9QGtlngjjWOvXyusBl54y6YZEwpzGnojVQNSw/s1600/DSC01569.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QqAoje2AalzNSravrHiSnEKy4WnrEwvs5MIeyX-AKpXBCFU5KTTYL7xjVJbvYTOwfqBlUTzxhgtkosvr1NXC4nOzCgeMqLJzycdjon9QGtlngjjWOvXyusBl54y6YZEwpzGnojVQNSw/s320/DSC01569.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475189972696272578" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />The Swiss chapter was behind us in the long line. We would walk, and walk, and walk until a (seemingly) 30 second <em>pause.</em> I learned many of the traditional Catholic songs along the way, as well as, some entertaining Irish tunes!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNo5cuIIX-QZqJb7kOrOoxUl_QQ1wCjHp3mbSXo0zm8XSZzcHRayXxxNakAVE9ZQg1vzPZxZWoXVb3zwaw3bBfX-Qw3tXRDmzGIAwusyZ-xipfhPqZB_yKwweMa2hWeOqDBUxvWoI414U/s1600/DSC01571.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNo5cuIIX-QZqJb7kOrOoxUl_QQ1wCjHp3mbSXo0zm8XSZzcHRayXxxNakAVE9ZQg1vzPZxZWoXVb3zwaw3bBfX-Qw3tXRDmzGIAwusyZ-xipfhPqZB_yKwweMa2hWeOqDBUxvWoI414U/s320/DSC01571.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475189966480424482" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I ate bread off the ground, I peed in bushes, I washed myself in a trough along with 50 other girls, I sat in spiders, I never washed my hair, I never put on make-up, and I never saw a mirror. Pilgrimages are kind of intense!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgJt0UqKxDv7n73cg5Ogm2roRRzvLZjRzO8vTc_E2IElvNhmgX6NpJ-8By9QF7bSmUptZaO2ORN5B3YwuXpMzVSrL2WGVmffM1P53pTykdV8xsVXnl-yfVPTFNrjpq3DDl0Eex-2s5HE/s1600/DSC01574.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgJt0UqKxDv7n73cg5Ogm2roRRzvLZjRzO8vTc_E2IElvNhmgX6NpJ-8By9QF7bSmUptZaO2ORN5B3YwuXpMzVSrL2WGVmffM1P53pTykdV8xsVXnl-yfVPTFNrjpq3DDl0Eex-2s5HE/s320/DSC01574.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475189960953643106" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> Different members of our chapter would read meditations throughout the day to keep our thoughts focused and our spirits high.<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNO8x-rUU6A7Rh8zCZvBQwaajmfo79cmfIrQU8vDr395d_QYRIH4KvXJadGKV1cvzlVjYmyupI4mpy8eL1lU3BRRH2xd2muQpMstW2YznlCwBCRg357cSr7tgpLPRM_ZDCHuYostK68o/s1600/DSC01575.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNO8x-rUU6A7Rh8zCZvBQwaajmfo79cmfIrQU8vDr395d_QYRIH4KvXJadGKV1cvzlVjYmyupI4mpy8eL1lU3BRRH2xd2muQpMstW2YznlCwBCRg357cSr7tgpLPRM_ZDCHuYostK68o/s320/DSC01575.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475189953186892850" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;">Each night, we had to find our luggage that had been trucked to the camp and then find the Irish communal tent. After walking from 6am to 8pm, dinner and sleep have never sounded better!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">The camp sites were enormous and were in a random field somewhere. Here, you can, *cough, <em>see </em>Sandie sitting on the ground on one side of the tent with me on the other. Talk about roughing it... </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">One of my friends, Solange, was on the equipment team for the pilgrimage and so she worked to set up and tear down each of the campsites for us weary pilgrims.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QifG3eYo-S-cS3kTdG_hKAC3spcJbyaDrKkYTBjEpoJj8k_JA8NGXbLQ_rPm4xn0PwnPvKFAy8HcaDwntSnHZt-Qs250fZHT7A3mtcycLYY2lXXhYbkavQgwjljRWcGGv_FDqGbOIOs/s1600/DSC01576.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QifG3eYo-S-cS3kTdG_hKAC3spcJbyaDrKkYTBjEpoJj8k_JA8NGXbLQ_rPm4xn0PwnPvKFAy8HcaDwntSnHZt-Qs250fZHT7A3mtcycLYY2lXXhYbkavQgwjljRWcGGv_FDqGbOIOs/s320/DSC01576.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475189941609827666" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">So, my only sandals in Paris are these fancy flip flops...not completely appropriate for a pilgrimage, but my feet needed some air! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Take a look at my ankles...I could have used a real shower. Or three.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hRJwzbYA6q-mvHaZUW5R5ElPQcEaK_Th7bZpGV8VYtBMwWwhdXYqy3TugH8bqisroeDp-58KepqW5ujany1sYR2BSM0b7bWxGwARyS9BL0jwzwkmW_JrxpWb66U6Ydq4Tgfep7iU0Ik/s1600/DSC01577.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hRJwzbYA6q-mvHaZUW5R5ElPQcEaK_Th7bZpGV8VYtBMwWwhdXYqy3TugH8bqisroeDp-58KepqW5ujany1sYR2BSM0b7bWxGwARyS9BL0jwzwkmW_JrxpWb66U6Ydq4Tgfep7iU0Ik/s320/DSC01577.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475188830241785314" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Many of the pilgrims brought their own tents to use...8,000 people!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6W98ijvEoQi4ZYWUWftF0jCF_lF0Gmeg1lt0APNuLGqdesRIVSnGPP3AgUeE0IrrxqGsXMOa8hnr7epykaH_YOtnBrb3sqTfMAw4nJwQca2cY9jFpuEspbHKHtphQa6aJrcTJkD4Gks/s1600/DSC01578.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6W98ijvEoQi4ZYWUWftF0jCF_lF0Gmeg1lt0APNuLGqdesRIVSnGPP3AgUeE0IrrxqGsXMOa8hnr7epykaH_YOtnBrb3sqTfMAw4nJwQca2cY9jFpuEspbHKHtphQa6aJrcTJkD4Gks/s320/DSC01578.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475188822968193394" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;">Since this was my very first pilgrimage, I was very thankful to have Sandie as my guide! I was under the mistaken impression that they would feed us. And they did, but only bread, literally, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a bowl of soup. But, don't worry! I came fully stocked with trail mix, granola bars, apple sauce, crackers, and tuna. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">In the morning, it was dark, freezing and wet, everything was wet! However, we were woken up by the most beautiful classical music played on enormous speakers; that was heavenly! (until you stick your head out of the sleeping bag...)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">They served us hot coffee and hot chocolate in the morning in halves of milk cartons. Here I am, day two, frezzing my buns off, sitting on a pile of fire wood because the ground is wet, in my shorts, before the sun is even above the horizon!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXXSVf7fs18q5TtDWZu4QstkbUkxGBsP7uMR1_piclP-dzlQa1NzW93I8QFBzdRKmmQXWcBn6FZbcpSAIYn6ma6t7WzKhKW_RT4-UTLBt5shGq9djnzt5G_SjyM4xKM3wN0pxZ6HLCYQ/s1600/DSC01581.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXXSVf7fs18q5TtDWZu4QstkbUkxGBsP7uMR1_piclP-dzlQa1NzW93I8QFBzdRKmmQXWcBn6FZbcpSAIYn6ma6t7WzKhKW_RT4-UTLBt5shGq9djnzt5G_SjyM4xKM3wN0pxZ6HLCYQ/s320/DSC01581.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475188818453272242" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Awwwwwwww, the sun!!!! Here is our chapter with the Irish flag and Celtic cross.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7t8TzpaAkjjfXb5KkgMmlCsjHtZgW2YU3-2QigRBRjAvoM3bGYTRR4-UnuOjVS7yuJdXkeEEa21rRSm2bwxSh11GYengwUrn7jJRq3fQaioNqSorb-gxemnd60OzTVxkWeJQFLxZn5NY/s1600/DSC01583.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7t8TzpaAkjjfXb5KkgMmlCsjHtZgW2YU3-2QigRBRjAvoM3bGYTRR4-UnuOjVS7yuJdXkeEEa21rRSm2bwxSh11GYengwUrn7jJRq3fQaioNqSorb-gxemnd60OzTVxkWeJQFLxZn5NY/s320/DSC01583.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475188812224659378" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVXOUHmrWbX0NjS-z5FqHoV8XXjAUpdcImtBRnDrqUH1O9aWDX2Z6QT1uIXTKRR69HKh1Dys9FgrMYKG97P8NjEuBfBCcmQq1b4dODr3U-0StTjO4GCfvNcnledhiBRlDuzdnw4tsg2Y/s1600/DSC01584.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVXOUHmrWbX0NjS-z5FqHoV8XXjAUpdcImtBRnDrqUH1O9aWDX2Z6QT1uIXTKRR69HKh1Dys9FgrMYKG97P8NjEuBfBCcmQq1b4dODr3U-0StTjO4GCfvNcnledhiBRlDuzdnw4tsg2Y/s320/DSC01584.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475188805383479778" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> See how many pilgrims there were in front of us?! Incredible!<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XFdKc9Gb2ytaXCN4t_pcBarHHtMoWRrsUMzobbO7quwAjiAe-1Pg7gL6UCVqW4_czqlSSmgggFlPrILOUBkkuRd6MJiZtVzcDqEzOGr5CGm0TuPGs2uKzWSna5pB3EegJcFIZMfOhBM/s1600/DSC01585.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XFdKc9Gb2ytaXCN4t_pcBarHHtMoWRrsUMzobbO7quwAjiAe-1Pg7gL6UCVqW4_czqlSSmgggFlPrILOUBkkuRd6MJiZtVzcDqEzOGr5CGm0TuPGs2uKzWSna5pB3EegJcFIZMfOhBM/s320/DSC01585.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475187241767103026" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kDBVqwAaYLIb9wSbM14uC2HAoSd4VWRhWVTg2mtvA_82qeiLMVFYPlgeZOnD7ze6ZjCb9NWdSLS3oW9UHX4dOVE-LvwFio3h55ZVMNXpmbZS9FS1oCR8CMeq2bb0yG2a2v1CJq0Tnts/s1600/DSC01586.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kDBVqwAaYLIb9wSbM14uC2HAoSd4VWRhWVTg2mtvA_82qeiLMVFYPlgeZOnD7ze6ZjCb9NWdSLS3oW9UHX4dOVE-LvwFio3h55ZVMNXpmbZS9FS1oCR8CMeq2bb0yG2a2v1CJq0Tnts/s320/DSC01586.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475187234567622210" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Lunch time! Thank you Jesus! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Let's just say I have never seen so many spiders in my entire life and that a germaphobe would never survive a pilgrimage. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">This was the priest in our chapter. They had to walk the pilgrimage in all of their robes, and I was sweating buckets in my linen shorts and cotton t-shirt! Whew!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqI5p4StPPF5YIAV4HZzhN-i7LH5jtIdMy6js6dMezBm02sZeenQlX563pjOcXWf7mRCgdDP42wpSxRjWhJh6iWFI7xH9nGO_K_u4JjIYnBfEkSZsOLL7NmJWPVnmpoj6dvYD5JVhWB04/s1600/DSC01587.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqI5p4StPPF5YIAV4HZzhN-i7LH5jtIdMy6js6dMezBm02sZeenQlX563pjOcXWf7mRCgdDP42wpSxRjWhJh6iWFI7xH9nGO_K_u4JjIYnBfEkSZsOLL7NmJWPVnmpoj6dvYD5JVhWB04/s320/DSC01587.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475187224838676114" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />A red-headed 12 year old in our chapter...I think I would have cried if I was 12. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVF2MDmD8QGNwpPi3XyGQyt19jukb4b4ioGTZLoQ1Lcw_PJmRmYCuH5A_F-d9ThSow-iJ46kCy0z93POx4ktlyrqf3e9CmR9_tgzGR0Qha7NL6NfZPJ7pXuRRdnH6MCtztjmEMfQ-WOQ/s1600/DSC01589.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVF2MDmD8QGNwpPi3XyGQyt19jukb4b4ioGTZLoQ1Lcw_PJmRmYCuH5A_F-d9ThSow-iJ46kCy0z93POx4ktlyrqf3e9CmR9_tgzGR0Qha7NL6NfZPJ7pXuRRdnH6MCtztjmEMfQ-WOQ/s320/DSC01589.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475187210179808354" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">An old pic of me and Sandie back in 6th grade:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Just kidding, we only <em>look </em>12.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahvD43xkWPayX470YOILKWJufcYbzetTBmciRF9pcHqSUtOXwMcKqKTpLcarovgQwMEmveGgqM8K3bz_JPlceyZ1xxUlZtqoNWprmSzBojgcogn3rngLAYAXbYm6vKrfV2shBnoDYaf4/s1600/DSC01593.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahvD43xkWPayX470YOILKWJufcYbzetTBmciRF9pcHqSUtOXwMcKqKTpLcarovgQwMEmveGgqM8K3bz_JPlceyZ1xxUlZtqoNWprmSzBojgcogn3rngLAYAXbYm6vKrfV2shBnoDYaf4/s320/DSC01593.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475186015305567570" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Wispy green wheat fields:<br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDxPFA1wbM4ZvRrcrJxQJ9gV7QYYsG50GJZmJSyoLGak7-vsN9m-VWzM9tj9d27CSU4o3gOQEpsKpksffB6slADmZimwtTi8IPC5ihTDGRNcFJXiy0jUGxJd09GVtJvDOuFZa7EoV6gw/s1600/DSC01596.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDxPFA1wbM4ZvRrcrJxQJ9gV7QYYsG50GJZmJSyoLGak7-vsN9m-VWzM9tj9d27CSU4o3gOQEpsKpksffB6slADmZimwtTi8IPC5ihTDGRNcFJXiy0jUGxJd09GVtJvDOuFZa7EoV6gw/s320/DSC01596.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475186013565517266" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Poppies!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI28tX8_byVHPyk_pWpA8muBM_kUnonpA_B-rKU2Zq1mqY9ezN0zBQB-Y5HjuD1NWZEZJAxAKa4PkduW86RPVHfkhSSPXz9z_R24eTQ_KSUDm5i8w29tBm6ts70nvJtpurgbtQpRwPu4/s1600/DSC01598.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI28tX8_byVHPyk_pWpA8muBM_kUnonpA_B-rKU2Zq1mqY9ezN0zBQB-Y5HjuD1NWZEZJAxAKa4PkduW86RPVHfkhSSPXz9z_R24eTQ_KSUDm5i8w29tBm6ts70nvJtpurgbtQpRwPu4/s320/DSC01598.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475186005026419762" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bsAyNuwjjDdTZbJeJQGiJQzeWb9ZsEm5GfAa8zt-6OTeA9niJhEx0-H8v53FMeT2cQDCB-1tE2NGwC26xOXnSuhlr63RjoqyBokt0XU9d4_nZwqgOsmnWEmBzSVJKvnSmLbPUI0RdBE/s1600/DSC01601.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bsAyNuwjjDdTZbJeJQGiJQzeWb9ZsEm5GfAa8zt-6OTeA9niJhEx0-H8v53FMeT2cQDCB-1tE2NGwC26xOXnSuhlr63RjoqyBokt0XU9d4_nZwqgOsmnWEmBzSVJKvnSmLbPUI0RdBE/s320/DSC01601.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475186001493738034" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFywfrQQUW-ct5ieAJukkJP-1l2bfSrOKIhrW9N1HfEFuTsu_9k9DDwk6oq5gw79MtIm19YdDVwLC0LPMo9QwvV5S-T2CM_rfkASfcpDZIH2s-biYSL99keVMwgnp0LIbIgiilLBy4_uA/s1600/DSC01611.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFywfrQQUW-ct5ieAJukkJP-1l2bfSrOKIhrW9N1HfEFuTsu_9k9DDwk6oq5gw79MtIm19YdDVwLC0LPMo9QwvV5S-T2CM_rfkASfcpDZIH2s-biYSL99keVMwgnp0LIbIgiilLBy4_uA/s320/DSC01611.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475184607431457554" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">The daily essentials. Plus, three pairs of socks per day. I have never been so thankful for a fresh pair of socks! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSXURoql7GvnD7NIb4QlEGBvfT2QYA3sURlvoHLDS_YXEwjybI17LyWmaWrQ1htpViliuBdRXlrXq9a9fKqrQ2Cf0ot9NRl32YKLZFSqbErexzW8L9hyphenhyphen8zMWeuZ9UCE-OI74zm-3YF-Q/s1600/DSC01613.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSXURoql7GvnD7NIb4QlEGBvfT2QYA3sURlvoHLDS_YXEwjybI17LyWmaWrQ1htpViliuBdRXlrXq9a9fKqrQ2Cf0ot9NRl32YKLZFSqbErexzW8L9hyphenhyphen8zMWeuZ9UCE-OI74zm-3YF-Q/s320/DSC01613.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475184599812945570" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Lunch time on day 3. Even more spiders. Crawling all over. Everything.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oLLgmE6Y_cLXar8oNvAzCvEFrA3nDjIENvy4yHhRSAPHQtz0qoIXld0a6twZ8p-jv6wXHTvQVvjsJuKUcCMW1ZdKvnCTjNcNGuOoXztSd2EGM7FOnCGMEGeKnJJIeYV5KPtfNmRNHmo/s1600/DSC01617.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oLLgmE6Y_cLXar8oNvAzCvEFrA3nDjIENvy4yHhRSAPHQtz0qoIXld0a6twZ8p-jv6wXHTvQVvjsJuKUcCMW1ZdKvnCTjNcNGuOoXztSd2EGM7FOnCGMEGeKnJJIeYV5KPtfNmRNHmo/s320/DSC01617.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475184589133730162" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">The spires!!! We're almost there! This is approaching the city of Chartres:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxer1jxnquknj-k9KJ643HcquBydNuJj7L1c87v03b1DcTiiXLxsb29EDpYRreHfxDZidH4vvk9G-470S4xpzGuIsjU4SXkC__BjpBtgYJsw8TXdIPEjOFG2xQwu85hmSqmDptQidLzg/s1600/DSC01618.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxer1jxnquknj-k9KJ643HcquBydNuJj7L1c87v03b1DcTiiXLxsb29EDpYRreHfxDZidH4vvk9G-470S4xpzGuIsjU4SXkC__BjpBtgYJsw8TXdIPEjOFG2xQwu85hmSqmDptQidLzg/s320/DSC01618.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475184582257554258" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />The last uphill climb:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLCJKknxhyqIpiK9hedSQNcU1g_h3ki0Y9EJAKz2f8fIoeQRm0F3aDSJdh5fEWaeSbevouH4zpWZuL2T5W5SVlsaxgVQ-P79bF2_a4KwWAJL45hAnptGaayqyc4N4WIuj9Fm93WxEhHw/s1600/DSC01619.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLCJKknxhyqIpiK9hedSQNcU1g_h3ki0Y9EJAKz2f8fIoeQRm0F3aDSJdh5fEWaeSbevouH4zpWZuL2T5W5SVlsaxgVQ-P79bF2_a4KwWAJL45hAnptGaayqyc4N4WIuj9Fm93WxEhHw/s320/DSC01619.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475183204383583298" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />There she is in all her glory, mismatched spires and all!! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7IEFt0YG_KGwGGL5dsqrUFnpBEfd3K3xQ1h6CfkwnFrbk4NYQ_t5dalwnPNzH0fWE6NxO_Wx6HU3FIBUZIWnmWPg4n61xG8ENGfJKQkjosM8V_IpyruA_I3RQhXcMp-l1SwqUa2BHng/s1600/DSC01620.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7IEFt0YG_KGwGGL5dsqrUFnpBEfd3K3xQ1h6CfkwnFrbk4NYQ_t5dalwnPNzH0fWE6NxO_Wx6HU3FIBUZIWnmWPg4n61xG8ENGfJKQkjosM8V_IpyruA_I3RQhXcMp-l1SwqUa2BHng/s320/DSC01620.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475183194514149730" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eJgTpZgRYm79HP7B0vJTkuv9-7bVu0mwr7FD6iqUAwAEWwupXryNH6_s4s48yJFxQakeLSUYBT7hbhY7X-7VOKIEfijMdA4R5PSmd0pLjslYFZ2aoDeCtmbnL4RgTU2fcQ-_DnKu3X8/s1600/DSC01622.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eJgTpZgRYm79HP7B0vJTkuv9-7bVu0mwr7FD6iqUAwAEWwupXryNH6_s4s48yJFxQakeLSUYBT7hbhY7X-7VOKIEfijMdA4R5PSmd0pLjslYFZ2aoDeCtmbnL4RgTU2fcQ-_DnKu3X8/s320/DSC01622.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475183186005115442" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />We were very fortunate to get inside the cathedral for mass. There are so many people that most have to sit outside. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiju9J6bNGPEylBzttRq_HxSWp7HwlpcatPeoX7bb4n1BO9_oYx2SnBKFjQIOD5LaSut84KAkZCuhURy7w7DlA2F6pr0XD7zcRcepKrSx2lUpeBRDOYuFZ259GIYizpVt1zrVeMUoFNo4s/s1600/DSC01626.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiju9J6bNGPEylBzttRq_HxSWp7HwlpcatPeoX7bb4n1BO9_oYx2SnBKFjQIOD5LaSut84KAkZCuhURy7w7DlA2F6pr0XD7zcRcepKrSx2lUpeBRDOYuFZ259GIYizpVt1zrVeMUoFNo4s/s320/DSC01626.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475183177999801410" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Blessing of the sacraments:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdfqMEQlceP2X9SdtNZAgu8HvCuesDk4UXs1OQ4-ymzabwsOF5LDBAGGRdJyvxj6eHdLJZEadCyNeNDtZ9KxMN08_OpOleOKWqR9UZgKgt6bYhD1VaL6JFhBuZE1owyokfN1YcxrDC5c/s1600/DSC01639.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdfqMEQlceP2X9SdtNZAgu8HvCuesDk4UXs1OQ4-ymzabwsOF5LDBAGGRdJyvxj6eHdLJZEadCyNeNDtZ9KxMN08_OpOleOKWqR9UZgKgt6bYhD1VaL6JFhBuZE1owyokfN1YcxrDC5c/s320/DSC01639.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475180124785816434" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Last parade of the banners after mass: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeoFPlSwMabQaCvB5Fqq6m-ZpGO4huwHgCTU32vhgYjqFONEblds0JhFfkuzf1jItlx49Kt_G086dJk4tz6xKWRn4wc30zkhmFqy28eiMJvDv_ZYb6RQCnragbOkEfxJ9BUDDJW2Kxuc/s1600/DSC01640.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeoFPlSwMabQaCvB5Fqq6m-ZpGO4huwHgCTU32vhgYjqFONEblds0JhFfkuzf1jItlx49Kt_G086dJk4tz6xKWRn4wc30zkhmFqy28eiMJvDv_ZYb6RQCnragbOkEfxJ9BUDDJW2Kxuc/s320/DSC01640.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475180115053833202" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Our Irish friend Peter. He is a 6'6'' rugby player and is wearing a shirt that says "Gentle Giant Moving Co." on it where he used to work. No joke! Sandie is only 5ft.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssbRGHuwH8js8xMPwsY5ZQXXWY3NAoqCyyEqCu8YZ9RB74ICG3ltJNxeboxOzaIXKZfhwvE0zny61sLGkPHIdNh8sdx8pwJM6_mOUgCLxVtRyq-WXVaxf6sERVSablYraXTkQPmbc0a8/s1600/DSC01641.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssbRGHuwH8js8xMPwsY5ZQXXWY3NAoqCyyEqCu8YZ9RB74ICG3ltJNxeboxOzaIXKZfhwvE0zny61sLGkPHIdNh8sdx8pwJM6_mOUgCLxVtRyq-WXVaxf6sERVSablYraXTkQPmbc0a8/s320/DSC01641.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475180108552302722" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />I'm a little over 5'9 and I still can't see over his shoulders!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xj04-h5kd985i4iIcommqOW3TfSNLYgh0jBbgLN3hRMCFYEeiHyulnrDrKJxOBld8ZhbVm8ca5Vaht9I3ex8HuXSqF9YkIJQCM0EMBcdkmqkqDtWfmh16ykc7bMbeIehtQjcL-qBuyU/s1600/DSC01642.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xj04-h5kd985i4iIcommqOW3TfSNLYgh0jBbgLN3hRMCFYEeiHyulnrDrKJxOBld8ZhbVm8ca5Vaht9I3ex8HuXSqF9YkIJQCM0EMBcdkmqkqDtWfmh16ykc7bMbeIehtQjcL-qBuyU/s320/DSC01642.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475180098618392370" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I did it. 75 miles in 2.5 days. I learned so much about traditional Catholicism and feel so blessed to have had this opportunity! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffcc99;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I was hot, sweaty, sore, and tired, but it was SO worth it and I would do it again in a minute. Never have I experienced the extreme rejuvenation of sleep so acutely. I would hobble into my tent, awkwardly/painfully cram into my sleeping bag so stiff and exhausted and then wake up put on my shoes and do it again. Our bodies are amazing. Our GOD is amazing!</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">:)</span></div>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-73513576525607055322010-04-17T12:10:00.000-07:002010-04-22T13:41:29.777-07:00A Volcano. Seriously?<span style="color:#990000;">Saturday April 17, 2010 - A volcano. Seriously?</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">So, I should be getting ready to pick my parents up from the airport tomorrow, but due to the volcano in Iceland of all things their flight has been (hopefully) only delayed. Then, I will be able to welcome them to Paris in the Spring!! </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">"When spring came, even false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest" </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">-Ernest Hemingway in <em>A Moveable Feast</em> </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">I highly recommend this book to anyone who is planning a trip to Paris or has been before. It is about Hemingway and his first wife during their time in Paris when his career was just starting out; makes falling in love with Paris easy! ...Well, in spring at least! But, I mean come on, this is pretty hard <em>not</em> to love:</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461193374852430002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnF7W9Apv5X_7S3irGSy84yDAUSVdW5LZdgXxaPKRoDMercnmqsXys21NOcJxwJ8GH_BkrBVMO59GB7ln2VdyCPMWG9QKh0kF1VI1cMmVnV5hRz9AeO_wf4EQ_7_z-749T1mMCY6BBsic/s320/DSC01363.JPG" /></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461193381197646050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYaZAqr9T39TyqWvknDfUTb9GpRI4-JJRRsb07Tz4nwONmAw95YoauIrlIQNKKPeYpHLPAl_u7aJ5znAxysS-wD5R6cyifQyErWAUdKth6FYoGSheiI8k6LhtYmrmVPj6BKWm2Ka1IZQ/s320/DSC01362.JPG" /></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Friday was my last day teaching at the french high school. Some of my classes were on a field trip to London for the week (so jealous!), so I only have a picture with one class. Since it was the day before vacation, I think there were about 9 absences. (Not like they can actually go anywhere with this darn volcano..........)</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461193368023983250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2qg1ZYATJ7_UN7yTOR075WmsltZFzSpzCZtZiYzsAyUZGpT8e0C2enu3p7VN_7KLgwcyvz4c8O_9dRsjRvBMqd-0Xfw-1BCBc6qyProyyZBcx3DfWfbMeH9q8NIRnx4ce3EXI7KxQ_s/s320/DSC01364.JPG" /></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Leaving was bittersweet! It was definitely a challenge, but I loved every second in the classroom! I'll miss my little french high schoolers...</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461193358799149090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaoBIXbgXqUQv5y1oypm7gWyIGDnaxn6DOLEm3cxitbBAwB18vo0z_JFAJaZuCfcmUGuRaTqsFOEhDnjXKajavYZ5cSvoVmc8DwshO40HdEjQCX_stimYaJRlXcEIvfyYFqrmqQZaVtc/s320/DSC01249.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#990000;">Now fingers crossed, here's to getting to pick my parents up on Monday afternoon when the French airports are scheduled to re-open! I'll keep you posted :)</span></p><p><span style="color:#990000;">UPDATE: So finally, my parents trip *should* be April 23- May 9. Let's hope this volcano's neighbor doesn't decide to wake up.</span></p>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-62955741800208475472010-03-24T05:17:00.000-07:002010-03-28T16:03:10.865-07:00CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oops, I mean Brussels.<span style="color:#990000;">Sunday March 21, 2010 - Brussels, Belgium</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">My friends and I have had this day trip planned for a couple months now. Oddly enough, the train ride is faster to another country than it was to Normandy; only a little over an hour! We left Paris early in the morning and had a full 12 hours in Brussels. When we were planning what to see and the "must-dos" all we could come up with was: chocolate, waffles, fries, chocolate, fries, waffles, chocolate on waffles, and beer. I guess someone felt guilty enough (not me, obviously) to google Brussels to find out what else there is to do there. I still don't see where that was leading...more than chocolate? Than waffles? Than fries?!?!? </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Case in point. The most famous thing in Brussels (well 5th to all the edible claims to fame) is a statue of a boy peeing into a fountain.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><em>A boy peeing into a fountain.</em></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Luckily, we did that first and got it over with! I stood and politely watched as other tourists took their pictures smiling broadly, so proud to be standing near <em>a boy peeing into a fountain. </em>I wasn't even going to take a picture, but decided in the end that I guess I should, for your sake.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dF60ZoNWS7VDiuvT6eoF9ucsOdS4ik6pMIHaUBqcNT4zbeljYxE_tqqheGMw-HaLMiayP-lkLH8reEDo4kgdessYj9NrAfnBJeX_hMgQrg-QqODFOqU1884uuoYwHNlKAhMBobFvoF8/s1600/DSC01279.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452180777829619682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dF60ZoNWS7VDiuvT6eoF9ucsOdS4ik6pMIHaUBqcNT4zbeljYxE_tqqheGMw-HaLMiayP-lkLH8reEDo4kgdessYj9NrAfnBJeX_hMgQrg-QqODFOqU1884uuoYwHNlKAhMBobFvoF8/s320/DSC01279.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">You're welcome.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Other interesting sites in Brussels, on the way to waffles:</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">A giant horn used to call town meetings?</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00q1zcWAs5eKFYIRPsSSDB2_2GmiOa1FGGQxoVT9Asns0Hqwet6mjfiCrz1l245TOdfciIHOWOuw3ttuCK1JhALcYS3ba4lj9F2xcc8gQKVJD_CohiI9I2I-e-UEcFaCz-AK3l_fwv6k/s1600/DSC01270.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452180772069041586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00q1zcWAs5eKFYIRPsSSDB2_2GmiOa1FGGQxoVT9Asns0Hqwet6mjfiCrz1l245TOdfciIHOWOuw3ttuCK1JhALcYS3ba4lj9F2xcc8gQKVJD_CohiI9I2I-e-UEcFaCz-AK3l_fwv6k/s320/DSC01270.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Dresscode and life lessons: "Life is full of important choices."</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTB7t_iZE9segTXsAJuMwZcEb1Rwf7AhcEef3TWVCGL4KQw50ZvQcxI_OA5PrbmJzzB8rq4OTE8i-G8pJQ43xBGjpiiNH6HZ_5R9iipKDSduY30PacyQTfrgnlrlAMi0DQtVQ1o5X7oU/s1600/DSC01273.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452180308632320642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTB7t_iZE9segTXsAJuMwZcEb1Rwf7AhcEef3TWVCGL4KQw50ZvQcxI_OA5PrbmJzzB8rq4OTE8i-G8pJQ43xBGjpiiNH6HZ_5R9iipKDSduY30PacyQTfrgnlrlAMi0DQtVQ1o5X7oU/s320/DSC01273.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Architecture:</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCM97WjcmSv1HLgXbDhq4qX5gmKYruxXy4luey1RxueZCXEjr0BCzcDa1NRVgE2m8SujMxrKIegc7LDVmRhrjK6S3R1DUK9UI4NS3UBLPiWsj-AaaWVWNeqhSOCwTl0UIwnTP4gRmS45A/s1600/DSC01271.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452180300919251458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCM97WjcmSv1HLgXbDhq4qX5gmKYruxXy4luey1RxueZCXEjr0BCzcDa1NRVgE2m8SujMxrKIegc7LDVmRhrjK6S3R1DUK9UI4NS3UBLPiWsj-AaaWVWNeqhSOCwTl0UIwnTP4gRmS45A/s320/DSC01271.JPG" /></a><span style="color:#990000;"> This street was where the waffles were so I especially liked it!</span><br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScNqkq_KM1eA60DlFelpMNclgfnJ2m8uZrPrnzYdizAzG7ykZ-byfGI-cSGOAIQsKPTVtAijpWGPAcKMMKHws5tZ4BDk0q34xYRBpQz-iH4f3Y5vvCPON0sYA1vb1q-I1M2B4cRApIQ4/s1600/DSC01274.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452180295442101858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScNqkq_KM1eA60DlFelpMNclgfnJ2m8uZrPrnzYdizAzG7ykZ-byfGI-cSGOAIQsKPTVtAijpWGPAcKMMKHws5tZ4BDk0q34xYRBpQz-iH4f3Y5vvCPON0sYA1vb1q-I1M2B4cRApIQ4/s320/DSC01274.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#990000;">Here we go...<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYphSsXxWoesJy1uNKSa8mrNFTQj_42q2njxd7tTRkk5JMnls5Cg61I7G2BIej6DwQ7c_b3Ds1olV1JoEOW2D3JhFJpXlH3J76tiu1scfS9owq-NrzSOKaF7NB5_xQ8F24kqG9josvvUA/s1600/DSC01277.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452180282566848226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYphSsXxWoesJy1uNKSa8mrNFTQj_42q2njxd7tTRkk5JMnls5Cg61I7G2BIej6DwQ7c_b3Ds1olV1JoEOW2D3JhFJpXlH3J76tiu1scfS9owq-NrzSOKaF7NB5_xQ8F24kqG9josvvUA/s320/DSC01277.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#990000;">Oh ya! Trevor and I, happy as can be, holding our fully loaded warm off the iron Belgian Waffles! Have I looked this happy since leaving LA? Ever?<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcneS1QXcS9p80O9TZn3kC7OlBUsJwUPs7UlJIpQOxsWSG2yKNmw7ETBO3flYOaFGm1UwRV-Q9-qG37oKDdtTjJL9rMDFPRII27Os5OhTtYkcBOEFxwqtHXgNTiHplfRa3LNlpQznHeTs/s1600/me+and+trev+bruss.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452179373109968514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcneS1QXcS9p80O9TZn3kC7OlBUsJwUPs7UlJIpQOxsWSG2yKNmw7ETBO3flYOaFGm1UwRV-Q9-qG37oKDdtTjJL9rMDFPRII27Os5OhTtYkcBOEFxwqtHXgNTiHplfRa3LNlpQznHeTs/s320/me+and+trev+bruss.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Me and the girls, Emily and Ari.</span> </div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t4xDqDUQKDumyIQIKZw8DcXC9v3Fu4b8zMOPj2fow8y-Qq0Iv-T_cTKP5j3rnqKYKG0cw930PpxwkkeY7Ar7-7Tw3aAZcR4i3MB5qwlZ60Vt5aQxEy_u9_AkujpUSBB4etqHyyJOihg/s1600/girls+waffles.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452179368420377026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t4xDqDUQKDumyIQIKZw8DcXC9v3Fu4b8zMOPj2fow8y-Qq0Iv-T_cTKP5j3rnqKYKG0cw930PpxwkkeY7Ar7-7Tw3aAZcR4i3MB5qwlZ60Vt5aQxEy_u9_AkujpUSBB4etqHyyJOihg/s320/girls+waffles.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;">Omg. At the stand, I was so excited that I forgot how to speak French. I could only point to the waffle with strawberries, whipped cream, and chocolate and spit out a "th-th-th-that one". So much for fighting the ugly American stereotype... Oh shooot! And the fat stereotype too. Man...</span><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxUaxA7dSPe14tAPuB0c1QhyCrkviTHt3dB7eClr5PlS80w1MXfgMIW7lsLYxrUAMTkrQ-RAAi3sLJO-YPPEUHyI_W3dFcbUworinv-LfGoN09Am02huZ72ZGHGqnlAq1R09dPjmUagc/s1600/DSC01280.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452179362017892578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxUaxA7dSPe14tAPuB0c1QhyCrkviTHt3dB7eClr5PlS80w1MXfgMIW7lsLYxrUAMTkrQ-RAAi3sLJO-YPPEUHyI_W3dFcbUworinv-LfGoN09Am02huZ72ZGHGqnlAq1R09dPjmUagc/s320/DSC01280.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;">There's a happy girl!<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oDVQ0wEbECrNimdSsoeM3EMEXMoiz6mcyZWGXt8ZMXpcTA5EWj4c99wYIevniBLh6ow1eLL_sVSPkleZ6WlYNJ7onn2LJgqVtDik29K-ZH4hEAPz0rE1ujHavZPOTZJwd07Pe8l0O-Y/s1600/DSC01281.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452179357330582578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oDVQ0wEbECrNimdSsoeM3EMEXMoiz6mcyZWGXt8ZMXpcTA5EWj4c99wYIevniBLh6ow1eLL_sVSPkleZ6WlYNJ7onn2LJgqVtDik29K-ZH4hEAPz0rE1ujHavZPOTZJwd07Pe8l0O-Y/s320/DSC01281.JPG" /></a></div><div><span style="color:#990000;">Most of the group, here, in front of what I think was a palace of some sort (oops). We went to the museum inside while our stomachs made room for frie</span><span style="color:#990000;">s. In the museum, there were costumes, dozens and dozens of costumes for, you guessed, the little boy peeing into the fountain. Apparently, they dress him/it up throughout the year. Oh for heaven's sake! *rolls eyes*</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbaUTbNej2pKixqNl3xdjnDaWHqIZE8NApFd9VUypjMeEbSqtXy3q_cm1e-RlDbEdDXKO28ruu6Cvx88LE24o6kFkmOlsbRlLEeGsndZs_XR1w1INng-j8sv7v91rNaRi8qCeZbgtYsw/s1600/group+bruss.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452178559755249330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbaUTbNej2pKixqNl3xdjnDaWHqIZE8NApFd9VUypjMeEbSqtXy3q_cm1e-RlDbEdDXKO28ruu6Cvx88LE24o6kFkmOlsbRlLEeGsndZs_XR1w1INng-j8sv7v91rNaRi8qCeZbgtYsw/s320/group+bruss.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">The Grand Place, <em>loved </em>the architecture!</span></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_g1-4ydgT-ybmx1yQD3DHjgQoT-ZRc2qd42znZRzQ2Df1DyCL9kpnzLD2gEV42ftoFYvoGRv-3sHrYhsIhyphenhyphenVsZlwRHRkhTIwzAqFtaheptHRPHX2Hqc_U71hNY88wNlA3M0FxEuL0_Q/s1600/DSC01284.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452178548242921570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_g1-4ydgT-ybmx1yQD3DHjgQoT-ZRc2qd42znZRzQ2Df1DyCL9kpnzLD2gEV42ftoFYvoGRv-3sHrYhsIhyphenhyphenVsZlwRHRkhTIwzAqFtaheptHRPHX2Hqc_U71hNY88wNlA3M0FxEuL0_Q/s320/DSC01284.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma1sjFILrDUHgbZvNhFPWiDf-zy9FQ3YgHUgYpz7tWX96VN38W0VHSXSV3W_SvwnswkJ6f7iGlKf2E3k9uFVLeMuzZ7fc9zp7V6VwvPBup9GpaFAd9UOTtJNdCdWgHxmHMCdiaaxx1IA/s1600/DSC01286.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452178533534127250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma1sjFILrDUHgbZvNhFPWiDf-zy9FQ3YgHUgYpz7tWX96VN38W0VHSXSV3W_SvwnswkJ6f7iGlKf2E3k9uFVLeMuzZ7fc9zp7V6VwvPBup9GpaFAd9UOTtJNdCdWgHxmHMCdiaaxx1IA/s320/DSC01286.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">In the summer time, this whole square is <em>filled</em> with flowers! I thought of my Mom :)<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehHJTzoE7nkrpgdRBP8FmKvWvGzY-ogTvwHAYbC0574Rk7gWagMq1CaDX34nnD6Arat3Ife1wJSxbH9eY1KQxWEs4nFNP9xLi2YwAqyC61KLsx5C5pkNmOe67yA3OKGQK22MtAIu5duc/s1600/DSC01289.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452178531258396242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehHJTzoE7nkrpgdRBP8FmKvWvGzY-ogTvwHAYbC0574Rk7gWagMq1CaDX34nnD6Arat3Ife1wJSxbH9eY1KQxWEs4nFNP9xLi2YwAqyC61KLsx5C5pkNmOe67yA3OKGQK22MtAIu5duc/s320/DSC01289.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqhyAc7XxWJ_ej1PaeqIIHAtjT_OtYcwX8VDoLhHrvBb54-8WleUUleOKwjLDgITeLTrion5eJHBA1oqavwin5jtiVd1zWj0ri8DffXos0lHK8RuD-0KsSm1VFaiZpLmlCQMHbQVeBpI/s1600/DSC01292.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452177698034259186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqhyAc7XxWJ_ej1PaeqIIHAtjT_OtYcwX8VDoLhHrvBb54-8WleUUleOKwjLDgITeLTrion5eJHBA1oqavwin5jtiVd1zWj0ri8DffXos0lHK8RuD-0KsSm1VFaiZpLmlCQMHbQVeBpI/s320/DSC01292.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;">Fiiiiiinally! We each bought our own custom box of chocolates! The best I've ever had. And, that's saying a lot considering how many chocolates I've eaten.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1ptSMU2xJ51veYG0WTu68B1iG5dbbG-pwaEVu1J-ek5L6OLDTApr8pQZqyVW11A6jjaVC-ET7iKSQDQv-V_fYpSuauOXXyBJBuCcoVNksXHnghEclpLe4IFOzt6gQNx1IPpVBwbcXis/s1600/DSC01293.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452177693009633490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1ptSMU2xJ51veYG0WTu68B1iG5dbbG-pwaEVu1J-ek5L6OLDTApr8pQZqyVW11A6jjaVC-ET7iKSQDQv-V_fYpSuauOXXyBJBuCcoVNksXHnghEclpLe4IFOzt6gQNx1IPpVBwbcXis/s320/DSC01293.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOd01EvhRyU8QGcNbdHLbe27lm4obs1QDiGlBM12UqAhBpOjRWRK1k30340T2dPmdXEwoS9vRxiUcljbLclOsxPrKK_i1geY7v_NSmOfVT1fH7InST1urwyzeZRVz59QUTrFp7QR5jAXo/s1600/DSC01305.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452177684872946434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOd01EvhRyU8QGcNbdHLbe27lm4obs1QDiGlBM12UqAhBpOjRWRK1k30340T2dPmdXEwoS9vRxiUcljbLclOsxPrKK_i1geY7v_NSmOfVT1fH7InST1urwyzeZRVz59QUTrFp7QR5jAXo/s320/DSC01305.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;">Sorry, France. Your cathedrals are beginning to blend together. Please see <a href="http://ptowntoparis.blogspot.com/2010/01/christmas-2009.html">Notre Dame of Paris </a>and <a href="http://ptowntoparis.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-bout-lil-bubbly.html">Notre Dame of Reims</a>. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWbiLqIYpBOqABqxoVaeOf8M78u_M98sPMo1OLM0bf9bCXgT2U4EjhDajYFYdeWk8kFrzIqwY1Yll9iLkOQ50b5fE3eeOCMH_R8Xl4nK6nGu-pC84SNqmJDek-oujmsYiUQQLdlBwyiE/s1600/DSC01294.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452177677402476274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWbiLqIYpBOqABqxoVaeOf8M78u_M98sPMo1OLM0bf9bCXgT2U4EjhDajYFYdeWk8kFrzIqwY1Yll9iLkOQ50b5fE3eeOCMH_R8Xl4nK6nGu-pC84SNqmJDek-oujmsYiUQQLdlBwyiE/s320/DSC01294.JPG" /></a></div><div><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#990000;">So as we sat in a pretty park, indulging in our fresh chocolates, all of a sudden we heard sirens; a ton of loud sirens, more sirens that I've ever heard before! Now as human creatures of "fight or flight", I definitely lean heavily towards <em>flight</em> at all costs. So, 'Hmm, I wonder what all those sirens are for; let's go and find out' doesn't exactly run through my mind....I found myself, thanks to <em>mes amis</em> and much against my better judgement<em>,</em> in the middle of a BLARING fire fighter manifestation (completely non-violent of course). The fire fighters themselves were taking pictures and videos etc. That was fun. Not.</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCi6tYxsqmwO_FUFhl1gfmuZWkQvQ338UuTNZYy5MYxvpD2w_anIMgETOdYK_Y9zOIOr7V6_CVWEJnfTBXv7ZVKKqhi6-MKuKPfHW_dCMtpc05F3AHc_yjquWBJdIUxZxS2HWvEaZnro/s1600/DSC01306.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452176560914842754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCi6tYxsqmwO_FUFhl1gfmuZWkQvQ338UuTNZYy5MYxvpD2w_anIMgETOdYK_Y9zOIOr7V6_CVWEJnfTBXv7ZVKKqhi6-MKuKPfHW_dCMtpc05F3AHc_yjquWBJdIUxZxS2HWvEaZnro/s320/DSC01306.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8_V89YoI7pqPtd2LGNAymgNCcRlF8lhadaKjx95CuXy6JczpMJNWvc3YAowd712jLcA8n1q0AwSQtK-PB6Cj4RPwswTnEaEKjIPiNTtk0PipsSg1HKiouTVr9YYluFFLqgr50lOHUHY/s1600/DSC01308.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452176551208658482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8_V89YoI7pqPtd2LGNAymgNCcRlF8lhadaKjx95CuXy6JczpMJNWvc3YAowd712jLcA8n1q0AwSQtK-PB6Cj4RPwswTnEaEKjIPiNTtk0PipsSg1HKiouTVr9YYluFFLqgr50lOHUHY/s320/DSC01308.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_dV4BL1CIEW_E88HF1NGNJci5DoFUUSU38RGQywtxQ3lWh3IIyM3QhnZhzeQq0qLjiqhqcThnyAnJu0o2oGSiE9emUllAB1F9SexaJ4ms_UjRHexqWto_V3Hfeb0MhbZTczVkyu1mJI/s1600/DSC01309.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452176539764014482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_dV4BL1CIEW_E88HF1NGNJci5DoFUUSU38RGQywtxQ3lWh3IIyM3QhnZhzeQq0qLjiqhqcThnyAnJu0o2oGSiE9emUllAB1F9SexaJ4ms_UjRHexqWto_V3Hfeb0MhbZTczVkyu1mJI/s320/DSC01309.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">This sign reads "Bois reserve aux jeux d'enfants" which means this park is reserved for child play. What?! In Paris, it's "Pelouse interdit" or no touching the lawn!</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ucPxom-s3tjyN4Mqhx-h4_XHSTJ7KQIs37uc0mvBNskAI13IK-peJzrelEhfC_PqttGwM8Xrsps9EoyeRUVAPBSsr0jqUPk15xooyHdQL_kiii8hyOqAtpy_MI_kuc6prkiWsOMyhGo/s1600/DSC01310.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452176534940353026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ucPxom-s3tjyN4Mqhx-h4_XHSTJ7KQIs37uc0mvBNskAI13IK-peJzrelEhfC_PqttGwM8Xrsps9EoyeRUVAPBSsr0jqUPk15xooyHdQL_kiii8hyOqAtpy_MI_kuc6prkiWsOMyhGo/s320/DSC01310.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">The Atomium, built for a world fair, with a fresh warm waffle truck nearby to finish off the afternoon! Yes, we did have another waffle.</span><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMhsfX2nY19vYr_QcMZ246a4gYJMm7G6aSCNt6AqFWKoCFGNbUWXTfpE2F6X23B7FKrLhjI92pE4rcFYbxUwawTKpyXnnT3xVNgUo_-gbXy0C07T-LOlxx-zfM8lFZQY8FXcKdRnvBvM/s1600/DSC01312.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452175716700667842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMhsfX2nY19vYr_QcMZ246a4gYJMm7G6aSCNt6AqFWKoCFGNbUWXTfpE2F6X23B7FKrLhjI92pE4rcFYbxUwawTKpyXnnT3xVNgUo_-gbXy0C07T-LOlxx-zfM8lFZQY8FXcKdRnvBvM/s320/DSC01312.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirU8LHMiYdRCpdQFoP9h5MErx7VpYnetZ8cVdZQu_S59e9Xp5OA1cZlG001d2H-HkcwZorO_zL9KkykoTLCxv4wlqdtm-BKLy0p-k0tvFW5JLme6go-LzMw_dOMq_P2TTvsGU1j3s3Cw4/s1600/DSC01313.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452175706709458754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirU8LHMiYdRCpdQFoP9h5MErx7VpYnetZ8cVdZQu_S59e9Xp5OA1cZlG001d2H-HkcwZorO_zL9KkykoTLCxv4wlqdtm-BKLy0p-k0tvFW5JLme6go-LzMw_dOMq_P2TTvsGU1j3s3Cw4/s320/DSC01313.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05hOrpAzEIm9IzPiQmMXJfQho1qRtf-tZSvGO1z2IbePb8COCF5O0jB0Z3qJLYBOFd7u7jjgOenPeW0OidI33GL_PKceX5kgAXdoxrusNAgJJWP_WcLuZ1MmsQou2Ttg0-Dkq0bo90UY/s1600/DSC01314.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452175703048993298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05hOrpAzEIm9IzPiQmMXJfQho1qRtf-tZSvGO1z2IbePb8COCF5O0jB0Z3qJLYBOFd7u7jjgOenPeW0OidI33GL_PKceX5kgAXdoxrusNAgJJWP_WcLuZ1MmsQou2Ttg0-Dkq0bo90UY/s320/DSC01314.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWHQ2YDV3M5IBqxR3g7swJayd5KRLEulGCdCSJvXI3wV7KCc2e2UGP9KNatmBPxcTWBUF0Eh364Hi-DtuQuqn4rOEjNsYWcB1XdgepsAuVrm8T-IwmgvdWpeWIW8oAFXScALU1tlkTyg/s1600/DSC01317.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452175695960944626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWHQ2YDV3M5IBqxR3g7swJayd5KRLEulGCdCSJvXI3wV7KCc2e2UGP9KNatmBPxcTWBUF0Eh364Hi-DtuQuqn4rOEjNsYWcB1XdgepsAuVrm8T-IwmgvdWpeWIW8oAFXScALU1tlkTyg/s320/DSC01317.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">The suburbs reminded us of San Francisco:</span><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwvCOh5zrwH-Nyp9r4qz0tg-oMfjYNiF-B2wCKaM8kntUuPELk48jezHh3svN8eUeeiBMd5qAUUXSYqJbth-FLPBIbsLm1c5Zswgf7FOKvrXiw4t-UomUqKMWiNW90I47tDAIaPPiMMc/s1600/DSC01319.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452174474072279410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwvCOh5zrwH-Nyp9r4qz0tg-oMfjYNiF-B2wCKaM8kntUuPELk48jezHh3svN8eUeeiBMd5qAUUXSYqJbth-FLPBIbsLm1c5Zswgf7FOKvrXiw4t-UomUqKMWiNW90I47tDAIaPPiMMc/s320/DSC01319.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Predictable but a must:</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvU3nm7g82DK_vkQQ6KiP9YsSyu7fAo_1Q-anfAS24tWd8N2EA-HZD_Pt1IPD7piy6RSUG-zse6sacJb1VZnsZQfpOqD5ITQuOb0hGPS6F3frQpB3Ua-WntmKxVQ3kWJbXexRTueSPo0/s1600/DSC01321.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452174472242257234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvU3nm7g82DK_vkQQ6KiP9YsSyu7fAo_1Q-anfAS24tWd8N2EA-HZD_Pt1IPD7piy6RSUG-zse6sacJb1VZnsZQfpOqD5ITQuOb0hGPS6F3frQpB3Ua-WntmKxVQ3kWJbXexRTueSPo0/s320/DSC01321.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqdVlqLBGljlbOFgZjLje_LJp1JpBdX9p5ePrhfMsOIYgJJwJvdYRCzGEY8wtDdUulsBMp-al-P2nWocnI4R9EX5ahJxmFbeOp5MUjmAXZI7L6IBS05d9j9AsZbFxWzKRpCUN7vwl-W0/s1600/DSC01324.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452174461030018514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqdVlqLBGljlbOFgZjLje_LJp1JpBdX9p5ePrhfMsOIYgJJwJvdYRCzGEY8wtDdUulsBMp-al-P2nWocnI4R9EX5ahJxmFbeOp5MUjmAXZI7L6IBS05d9j9AsZbFxWzKRpCUN7vwl-W0/s320/DSC01324.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">I saved this one for last hoping one of my enlightened readers could explain it to me:</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;">Ya, you bet it's a speciality.</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fW5I7RMEd1VLz5hpXU5dRyXn67pTsBrs-MamHuORAl_YArCxLiVpAlenhHTld9C1lXHOrfZTBHEfeV-v93ZrJ_adC1I7P775usHI3eIirI2Uw4lUfLvJ5NHfDpKQO6Wa3yr04vHXKRs/s1600/DSC01326.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452174452795393506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fW5I7RMEd1VLz5hpXU5dRyXn67pTsBrs-MamHuORAl_YArCxLiVpAlenhHTld9C1lXHOrfZTBHEfeV-v93ZrJ_adC1I7P775usHI3eIirI2Uw4lUfLvJ5NHfDpKQO6Wa3yr04vHXKRs/s320/DSC01326.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;">We had so much fun; returned to Paris late that night with full tummies, empty chocolate boxes, and happy memories to carry through another week of work and school in a slightly sunnier location. :)</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-64602587309036798092010-03-24T04:25:00.000-07:002010-03-24T05:56:22.333-07:00Normandy, D-Day Beaches<span style="color:#990000;">Saturday March 13, 2010 - Normandy</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Nothing like a little procrastination to post a new blog! A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the D-Day beaches in Normandy with my group. It's about a 4 hour drive from Paris, and we were lucky to have some sunshine...<em>much</em> better conditions than experienced by those who arrived and fought for their lives and the lives of others on June 6, 1944.</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">First stop: Pointe du Hoc</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Here, was a point in the cliffs where there are remnants of German construction before the attack and huge ditches and craters where the landscape was scarred by the battle.</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452163901400242866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGepANrNsuthm-luI8KMQWHjrtis9qBevYSSLK8pmEkiQRCHJ7tTA_7GVlCY72vHQLUi-p5AQjnS2AbqzwZdyvnQrEX8SsM1gPnLa0GoG7vd0-28oluzE6XemSke3ExLfnTqilwmzLVg/s320/DSC01224.JPG" /><span style="color:#990000;"> </span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">The Cliffs <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452163896392246178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7_B7C5VlsVk_MI6d0xDhdGcs4EEMbkepVhQlBwQmcENZlOCFqhN80oOzrMcjgxnd9KRLE8eL3JZhJguL24dKHZw77Vc7p7htevgDh82wJObdWTtG9jO7jvjDoQigghS1srbibLVg39o/s320/DSC01230.JPG" /></span></p><p><span style="color:#990000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452163883484887730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsLkTXArRM9QMAEePKETw5PnxVTF4H1oFApKDN_IGW1hks8oxRXMdY1amogDlmS8F0KF9CQS3cwSBx0xzfIs83iPHHAVRfPk3I3sfs2l0ZE3WD4S7OdcSER5xaODf9wf6A6fbO-kFX8c/s320/DSC01231.JPG" /></span></p><p><span style="color:#990000;"></span> </p><p><span style="color:#990000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452163873815217570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckCLh1xsXb4h-Xl83XYKlwSQQ1rTy3sbOmdqYOI61ayeS7kCp5ap2JqTZeCNLtiN5HeuY9BUvQZFIF1FGv5vJJMaNcT8nsS-RTw2IxiVHTT5BpEnhlHo648gT27sw6MVzmrEMUqm1_1U/s320/DSC01232.JPG" /></span></p><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452162569679220146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHjENTxiqG7j-hsovGyEV_f9g8iVtyXY6duNUhHVxesz4kNgs43M-2wAKrKBGk4yC1gq_HS106CRbberEmQR-pdCJhZS2lzmd3XVzkVmBZnpjAn1XERytxVeHhBRcsyTxg0Z3zX6yo-g/s320/DSC01234.JPG" /></span><span style="color:#990000;"><br />Next Stop: Omaha and Utah Beach</span> <div><div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color:#990000;">This memorial was built right on the sand. You can see in this photo how far the low tide is from the cliffs. It illustrates just how far the Allies had to fight to finally find cover in the grass and hills.<br /><br /></div></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452162564157467266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1g7fVhtCfg79Hkz5B48PdJ1_TQ769hVqUOScoRx_cyewBg0EMKixw6h5v3KVZ3JO6802YuP-z_jz1H5oI5iofsK3MUaY953IpzePJBUdVpZQM2IVN9gXYm5VVEN-BvptC02zLI72FaA/s320/DSC01236.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452162555241894706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhip7Ru4o2xmw1Xleo6T9TK_sWC8Z-w-BCgytCZoqNvk23iGpx3TEQchthxEdjJmB61FkCrRH9i3Myi7xJIb1bvkbnPZGBWxe4upQReQ9uXMgR3reRtL1r_PTVMjRE1LOSwqqjfdIdoGKU/s320/DSC01238.JPG" /> <div><span style="color:#990000;">I love Trevor and Sarah!</span></div><div><span style="color:#990000;"></span> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452182701192821186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZj07zoU2rlXKVjAGq2CmElXo94mqbIKZTRMqjPw7Qe2lTbH5xH7akgJmP_pwRaXlFMXCWra1D6CirzKLQdYLEYxHa7y9Mvi-T4zLzyfM44b2V9ZIuFPRYHH2e0Mex376vkTPCn8-tyL4/s320/sar,+trv,+normand.jpg" /><br /><div><div><span style="color:#990000;">The American Cemetery and Museum are right above the ocean coast. It is beautiful and sobering all at once. There are thousands of soldiers buried there from the battle on the coast of Normandy and other places in Europe during that time. There are sets of brothers buried next to one another and one pair of a father and his son. We saw many French families visiting as well as French school field trips. Our guide said that they have an average of two groups of visitors each day that have direct relatives buried there.<br /></span><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6MmRH4SBMSGZ6fdj5C7Q6V9UVq3nxHwWEF_ffboNnN-5HoQ7aIo3p8LOfhCWG5urMAWey1U5DgDQhJUIGQIa7By49gEyTEcfCS5G3iuhzTeUAQrqSRmQd9OwiwZ3GdneLFmZRGv3ZPQ/s1600/DSC01241.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452162549058500050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6MmRH4SBMSGZ6fdj5C7Q6V9UVq3nxHwWEF_ffboNnN-5HoQ7aIo3p8LOfhCWG5urMAWey1U5DgDQhJUIGQIa7By49gEyTEcfCS5G3iuhzTeUAQrqSRmQd9OwiwZ3GdneLFmZRGv3ZPQ/s320/DSC01241.JPG" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;">The view from the cemetery grounds:</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1icMlO2yFxEJbQzohhhRZoNyJTGRe0FitXksnmF2hkAcGKeSYbHRMWdkCO7nsWKmJTG6uw8_u8ooNJ1N-7EYNnLEwq4bR52uvTrL7JveTGjbRwBdL06Qu4nyoMRgs1irPt-TRUAkhh8/s1600/DSC01242.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452161334991712914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1icMlO2yFxEJbQzohhhRZoNyJTGRe0FitXksnmF2hkAcGKeSYbHRMWdkCO7nsWKmJTG6uw8_u8ooNJ1N-7EYNnLEwq4bR52uvTrL7JveTGjbRwBdL06Qu4nyoMRgs1irPt-TRUAkhh8/s320/DSC01242.JPG" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452161321191275986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEico-P_eYPbxWNCFa4c_pBpCW3Z3wTzVdRuVM2ELYHcYYT45uldPEHzXjBVDppv8FoZVaIBjGnwrws0FBzfQw5KuO5XJw33_hg8VHNz-Dt6AukT67LdN225LKhRKdUiWK-tJSAlT5x_krI/s320/DSC01245.JPG" /></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;">Flags of the Allies</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2xP_jYAMikvWInn1z6K5hTYnCU0rzXQXzmY4Jkf9irle_k0yePo00OYne2y1itRP4_cQrj5jh6_LS0c199EISutG-DuXjyhjFoh8O5PvNkJoaqJJoZ8s_MpH_JBi04AaWVLD5YGz1LI/s1600/DSC01244.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452161329055141858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2xP_jYAMikvWInn1z6K5hTYnCU0rzXQXzmY4Jkf9irle_k0yePo00OYne2y1itRP4_cQrj5jh6_LS0c199EISutG-DuXjyhjFoh8O5PvNkJoaqJJoZ8s_MpH_JBi04AaWVLD5YGz1LI/s320/DSC01244.JPG" /></span></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0gv29dx_7uhZAjJx5Uz5JXvVmzfXg5NPIwRGWN1FUSWg_OJiFA97gNi47hYh2wI1ySZpshc1DI43cA-PQWmprBPH6VEFWyjC8tSjvDvvFX86DOaHdpAETmxAhRHU8xfsSgwWd88UFMc/s1600/DSC01246.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452161310498887218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0gv29dx_7uhZAjJx5Uz5JXvVmzfXg5NPIwRGWN1FUSWg_OJiFA97gNi47hYh2wI1ySZpshc1DI43cA-PQWmprBPH6VEFWyjC8tSjvDvvFX86DOaHdpAETmxAhRHU8xfsSgwWd88UFMc/s320/DSC01246.JPG" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;"><em>It was an amazing day.</em> I feel absolutely honored and thankful to have visited and very much look forward to sharing it with my parents in a few short weeks.</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-38096273245958092252010-02-17T04:45:00.000-08:002010-02-17T22:51:24.572-08:00Doo or Dew?<span style="color:#990000;">Wednesday February 17, 2010 - DoDo </span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><br />Well, I'm not sure what your family might call it, but in the Irwin household it was Dog Doo or perhaps Dog Dew(?). As I was thinking about this post, it occurred to me that it could as well be either! Doo, well because it is what dogs <em>do</em> or Dew, as a more lyrical term...something damp that appears each morning on the grass. Now that I am sure I have my Granny squirming in her seat... Anyways, as a child the typical infantile terms such as "potty" or "boo-boo" were not permitted (I feel slightly uncomfortable even typing them now). I was to use appropriate terminology such as "I need to use the bathroom" and "I got an ow-ie". Thus, why Dog Doo/Dew? I have no clue. We even had a designated "Dog Doo Shovel" that was placed in a specific spot in our backyard not to ever be confused with the gardening shovel, since well, we eat the fruits and vegetables from our garden...you can imagine the consequences. So whoever was on "pooper-scoop" duty knew exactly which shovel to use. <em>Ahh, the memories!</em><br /><br />Here I thought this organized thinking about such things was normal and rational, obligatory even.<br /><br />It is not the case in France.<br /><br />There is actually a very real Dog Doo problem. For some background information, I looked to my <em>Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong </em>book by Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow. In chapter 11, titled "Dogs, Towns, and Local Government", they say that there are 10 tons of Parisian Dog Doo <em>laisse sur terre </em>or left on the ground each year. It causes over 600 hospitalizations each year either by a slip or simply trying to remove it from one's shoes. Seems like a public hazard doesn't it? Well, according to the book and personal experience, it can be explained in this way: the French pay high taxes and expect the State to do its job...which it does (special street sweeping machines just for Dog Doo etc)...but the French "draw a limit on moralizing individual behavior". That is to say, no one judges them - for Dog Doo anyways... (Besides the rest of the world, of course).</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">In spite of the millions of Euros spent on the anti-poo campaign, street sweepers, and these charming signs that literally say "I like my neighborhood, I pick up", there remains lurking threats on every curb, every sidewalk and every square of manicured grass. </span><em><span style="color:#990000;">Tres chic!<br /></span></em><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439209752374054818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSyQrTpYuL7_jJzjh06FdoaNVJbXRTjS8SS54KOZ6zy2CLvCTAonrwxuU-Ix2QWS-9l-Dyx-xKahAMvrvnfaFTkLLYHRId_JKTmhZJWd2U4KdMWpyQlIyTzq7dvaskIi4mXNCy8IRxAQ/s320/je+ramasse.jpg" /><br />When recounting a certain funny story to my Dad about Henry's visit, he was absolutely shocked to hear about all the dog poop everywhere in Paris. <em>Duh! Isn't that common knowledge?! I mean, you can even tell if you're walking into a rough neighborhood simply based on the frequency of droppings! </em>I guess I have taken a dozen or so french classes, but still! ...Henry, as we were maneuvering the steep streets leading up to the Sacre Coeur, fell victim to the biggest tourist trap in Paris: Dog Doo. And, it almost caused a little lovers' quarrel, well, since he had already been here for two weeks when it happened and it just <em>happened</em> to be the, eh hem, <em>very first time </em>I exclaimed that I HAD to blog something about his trip... OOPS! Not my intention or thought of course, but bad timing nonetheless! Hahaha!<br /><br />My Dad, very rationally, stated that it could just be due to the mere difference of surface area. What? Oh right, true. Henry's feet are bigger than mine (thank God!) and I do tend to wear some sort of heel, thus limiting my chances of sole making contact with poo and, <em>malheureusement, </em>maximizing his.<br /><br />So next time you happen to be wandering the streets of the most beautiful city in the world, don't forget to watch your step. I am SO NOT on pooper scoop duty.</span>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-51241580468990086092010-02-10T09:18:00.000-08:002013-01-23T19:28:35.925-08:00New Year's<span style="color: #990000;">December 31-January 6, 2010 - New Year's etc...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Well, I think it's about time for an update! It's been a long dark winter and I'm <em>definitely</em> missing my California sunshine at this point... (and that is a <em>huge</em> understatement!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">On New Year's Eve (I know, I'm so behind), I started the night at the Hard Rock Cafe with friends. It was super fun and I chowed down on over-priced all-American nachos! It was delicious! And then to follow, popped some Champagne!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhybyGlsoXbNqi0LTgEXJdFvJmElyKEIj1nFTupZUHBRYhKXWecj-UZakN9M1DqOi-C6roYeaglpV9ivRqq3BCl61V0-jUipulQ_iSU2EMMEioHRgF-o-PKePxJwry6AG74Rxwq5sunA/s1600-h/DSC00931.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhybyGlsoXbNqi0LTgEXJdFvJmElyKEIj1nFTupZUHBRYhKXWecj-UZakN9M1DqOi-C6roYeaglpV9ivRqq3BCl61V0-jUipulQ_iSU2EMMEioHRgF-o-PKePxJwry6AG74Rxwq5sunA/s320/DSC00931.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436672385086877570" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />I headed over to the </span><a href="http://frogpubs.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">Frog XVI</span></a><span style="color: #990000;">, an English pub in the 16th <em>arrondissement</em>, near the Trocadero to get a view of the Eiffel Tower when midnight struck. The Metro and streets were PACKED! I have never been in a crowd that big in my life...it was definitely in-sane! At midnight, we could barely see the Tower behind a side of a building because the crowd was so big...a once in a lifetime!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I finally went up the Eiffel Tower! The top of the tower was closed due to construction but the second level is high enough! The view of Paris is amazing and it makes it easy to spot all of the main monuments. I had a really good time in spite of my somewhat blue-ish complexion...it was freezing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJD-jr4V9JyAUWE1fbgamrpinuiiS99cliRogbfYQnALhJx82rnEUWpMU8NEjCWdoM4L0sSLyeocvSW-1pTyuehfAj-5sDy0fzKdbKuErsEkJubV2VJbbS1J2fKlWLFA7loqihyphenhyphenQbl1qI/s1600-h/DSC01038.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJD-jr4V9JyAUWE1fbgamrpinuiiS99cliRogbfYQnALhJx82rnEUWpMU8NEjCWdoM4L0sSLyeocvSW-1pTyuehfAj-5sDy0fzKdbKuErsEkJubV2VJbbS1J2fKlWLFA7loqihyphenhyphenQbl1qI/s320/DSC01038.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436670542371242834" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAmHWeCM-1CBhw_CVfa5zoETAJEaKsvbKYE509dlyBOyomkM9PAbQwxzNgqj-yb8Eg0ifgXj7don0tgWSr9SfEAVomW1lHrl-6ChxOGoH4HouqVoggQgXmzHpPvqDq_HN3kFaJb_n-zA/s1600-h/DSC01037.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCK9jzuk-dXbPOZv9lXXr8M4Pu54hdPsqWkG8bG92iCz5ZDHYPh9cbINeZYmnXYXfetbYkf7F3VXbLzO-7pZedFSXqN6877F_NzskzABn424k3enj1Av0ObIhJx1Y4_N7dI5xXfAd2AU/s1600-h/DSC01036.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCK9jzuk-dXbPOZv9lXXr8M4Pu54hdPsqWkG8bG92iCz5ZDHYPh9cbINeZYmnXYXfetbYkf7F3VXbLzO-7pZedFSXqN6877F_NzskzABn424k3enj1Av0ObIhJx1Y4_N7dI5xXfAd2AU/s320/DSC01036.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436670525960096290" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> The view of Parc du Champs de Mars</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_0nDBZrgbcRkFuhX1i5WDcZyrydMW4C56kJUYWfaM6fAmgE_Zk0edwudYFGwwuXCMI2GMYKTQ9wKQZVBrZfRCdUBS8QH9E1CUSsI8d3Jq1a6BHnQ1ARufj4nOR_z9vJQbrsn-nzkoMM/s1600-h/DSC01045.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_0nDBZrgbcRkFuhX1i5WDcZyrydMW4C56kJUYWfaM6fAmgE_Zk0edwudYFGwwuXCMI2GMYKTQ9wKQZVBrZfRCdUBS8QH9E1CUSsI8d3Jq1a6BHnQ1ARufj4nOR_z9vJQbrsn-nzkoMM/s320/DSC01045.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436670516372353650" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">To warm up, I spent the afternoon at the Lourve. Every time I go to the Louvre, I get to see things that I haven't before. Since it is so massive, there are always new wings and different pieces to discover!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJIUVZYzopEllD46JsSFbkNz1j8UIL8-Xng832l8k8n_k6kYJoBhN5GCgySEgiQhSUFc8ZbOOOz5IknY9rDiSp_F_rpcxtamkWxxlU3tAevG8FdoF4CGaKo9IxdDvE2uGqiUOAWN9dLE/s1600-h/DSC01046.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdt9bW0HyJIR5BhsB0_96Ze3OyM4WMxumTPs7WOA3XOAH3CPouariC5fSWWVUpJqzB5xFlv9bM8lbCzlC-ciSVavUe6Wxlsb9LdcX6BQJylz6E8EfzUhJ9rD_EesS6AsESolAp4U9U0pg/s1600-h/DSC01048.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdt9bW0HyJIR5BhsB0_96Ze3OyM4WMxumTPs7WOA3XOAH3CPouariC5fSWWVUpJqzB5xFlv9bM8lbCzlC-ciSVavUe6Wxlsb9LdcX6BQJylz6E8EfzUhJ9rD_EesS6AsESolAp4U9U0pg/s320/DSC01048.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436669509064168098" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> Look Mom, real Egyptian Vases!! Just like your art lesson; you can see the real thing when you come and visit!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkaL6sqEZPoRBTQoci8gceUIk_5YmUwD16DTk9lNKe0pmZWVAGQlgOYg-LlCK-aokxnqF4AJw_TNCfxfb2RnTKGIeSt7GPwRzzBfNWxUgutOR79gjMnWyLNwU27j_aOmFPvYssxOYbQI/s1600-h/DSC01050.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkaL6sqEZPoRBTQoci8gceUIk_5YmUwD16DTk9lNKe0pmZWVAGQlgOYg-LlCK-aokxnqF4AJw_TNCfxfb2RnTKGIeSt7GPwRzzBfNWxUgutOR79gjMnWyLNwU27j_aOmFPvYssxOYbQI/s320/DSC01050.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436669508340595842" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> I LOVED this statue by Lorenzo Bartolini (1770) called "La Nymphe au Scorpion"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCht_4Ka8vCV_N4isPlS-ozrBMczg7dAEqPRyUgpzXOLmRtv0w8Cn3JGTeRAn_3mDPnaT4oeiU5niCsMXEcTE3mUDrTyMaTmD5KANfPwfOTvlGs8y_QY0gBJpEyZf1fRP1AUcQt8UhWE/s1600-h/DSC01052.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCht_4Ka8vCV_N4isPlS-ozrBMczg7dAEqPRyUgpzXOLmRtv0w8Cn3JGTeRAn_3mDPnaT4oeiU5niCsMXEcTE3mUDrTyMaTmD5KANfPwfOTvlGs8y_QY0gBJpEyZf1fRP1AUcQt8UhWE/s320/DSC01052.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436669498963500978" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><br />
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-23125972636546899942010-01-18T14:17:00.000-08:002013-01-23T19:22:53.700-08:00How 'Bout a Lil' Bubbly?<span style="color: #990000;">December 28, 2009 - Reims, Champagne<br /><br />A daytrip to Champagne...*sigh* I had visions of dirt roads, little dusty mom and pop cafes, and maybe a vineyard or two.<br />A daytrip to Champagne in the 21st Century... *shocked gasp* A modern city with Pizza Hut, Phone House, and definitely a freeway or two.<br /><br />Hmmm, okay so not exactly what I had envisioned; for whatever reason I apparently thought the TGV was not only my means of transportation but also some sort of time travel device. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMZEO4nusxA__zyyomChEtL87lhJK4SPs6FEVxW04SdXH4mPKHubVeV0gXQc4YilLURE0d-Bp44TnoDlSSrM9NcwoEGZL1vq_tvgyB6Z7UIX5cGuURd2F7D-WPcQSpcW0Z-5v5PLk0yw/s320/DSC00914.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428213469640621682" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />Once in the city, the sun had risen and I had eaten a nasty curry-flavored quiche (why curry?!) for breakfast, I went straight to the Notre Dame of Reims. It. was. HUGE. and old and beautiful, of course.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtXCYQAwoeR0zanoAbG6KgU-F1Oq1Om-YRUmhCiFCYpKAFpSYOWWD-sF0-wi7F6rO3yEwpnl_ecszkrrAH4pQEjU_M0DiGBXW8I66ihui4yz78ec9nz-7znzbeQ8Vy1U3DQkW5IhCZiw/s320/DSC00882.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428213463029471378" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Oyl8EWo5MELKVew8HCbJSyWb3X75T7180fWdyRm_Hh6uvlErLDtC5sqKdojzKn9qDhE01RHhuRVov0QOaiLu6gYITznHCpE7XtlOocpmB_xW1VNJVnCmadPBoYvSLP2gtGVXB5HOX80/s320/DSC00887.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428212406371184754" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZnA_azpSxHx5XzIKPEfhAR1cz5xZIejc60-mOA65EfeTysb4CB03NLPNV5mEZYio287l_E5-2lP6wtTBIyhTWT89prJreiFOPDAAcumHg0yikBXEHhovsO5QYxzAppsbAJB4aW_E41o/s320/DSC00888.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428212402654641106" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />Now, I was SO proud to have our entire day all researched and planned. I found activities, prices, hours, directions etc all before leaving Paris. I wrote all of this essential information on my handy yellow paper...that then proceeded to get destroyed by the rain-soaked umbrella in my purse. I failed to plan for that tiny detail.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqfSOZ0_GyjB2gb4Zl0AQK11YxQs9xZ-_TtVp5yMCBOfO1kISUrzoj3DfOPE2m7FSiW2GdkdpiuZjzPEae6uOh7eHYnJ7fi5uswvMIfYB8l9F-leP4YPmIvGFqZEq9xgJGfjY8SGafqg/s1600-h/DSC00893.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqfSOZ0_GyjB2gb4Zl0AQK11YxQs9xZ-_TtVp5yMCBOfO1kISUrzoj3DfOPE2m7FSiW2GdkdpiuZjzPEae6uOh7eHYnJ7fi5uswvMIfYB8l9F-leP4YPmIvGFqZEq9xgJGfjY8SGafqg/s320/DSC00893.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428214160964692146" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> Grrrrrrrreat.<br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDzTC6JJah-OK17riRfqRY8zlekBpw1W07frU-WcDJ1eE8VGUF_FKhwXqzWogZ2WzhJtuHVN2Lsu_ZC1Ef95ENMwZCTeSkN0rLu_k4Fyj56PyjSYv5t1FUz8ZP0coD1S30qy9875-HBI/s1600-h/DSC00894.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDzTC6JJah-OK17riRfqRY8zlekBpw1W07frU-WcDJ1eE8VGUF_FKhwXqzWogZ2WzhJtuHVN2Lsu_ZC1Ef95ENMwZCTeSkN0rLu_k4Fyj56PyjSYv5t1FUz8ZP0coD1S30qy9875-HBI/s320/DSC00894.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428214156244336066" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Anyways...a little street that looks old fashioned-enough to sort of meet my expectations!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigipk36sPGScWNCGlHdCtQuNKiwYNhDcPgUIJ8jVyvWNFebVx_eADoH77MYkyZsXvqQ8uMyyXx84uFMlkxkplCKdy3OkRlg9M8W8-dXnWTcDmS6i0k-EhINiWwVquZv5iL_8Nyd5Z6z-o/s1600-h/DSC00892.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigipk36sPGScWNCGlHdCtQuNKiwYNhDcPgUIJ8jVyvWNFebVx_eADoH77MYkyZsXvqQ8uMyyXx84uFMlkxkplCKdy3OkRlg9M8W8-dXnWTcDmS6i0k-EhINiWwVquZv5iL_8Nyd5Z6z-o/s320/DSC00892.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428212397195952258" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Did I go Champagne tasting? Well, of course! Twice! First, toured Charles de Cazanove, a more industrialized "cave" where the champagne is made in big metal vats.</span><span style="color: #990000;"> This tour was so great...got to taste 3 types of champagne by the glass.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Next, I headed to the uber-touristy caves of Pommery. This tour was much more glamorous (and expensive) and the caves were really beautiful, but I'm so glad I did both because I learned so much more at the first one! And, I only got one glass here!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWs7ziZXaZ2JxaY460TSHoW27kFvoQvY9Xa3-30pWVQ-3EDtPnErOx0EymW8VNR8zDgHnCeZwDfy6egEGFfi7Q0i8IHvUUALCs3Crs_IrWY3xwuxm1y01f3SbvvqWapwrAI9Bxk0RLBhU/s320/DSC00905.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428211390742896786" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Entrance to the caves and bottle racks...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctde7dgEotOeCgTjA21j_H0GZRC0-Z_mOlXfOH_2QH6t8bf8BA9W5sT7rK1eUiWp4WJk-xNK7Cdh24VpYCmFCULozzD0Xd7W94NNj4MRQ1qmMPEN0s__f66igCg4PmTJ0PnUOhhQgHhM/s320/DSC00906.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428211385062005170" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuTUrzivWFkM_x5xLfM3fbRk6evx8cVxTj2xs0tirrJaKugpkqC2S_yWu7hpRmDZBOnf54PYxH4IGnew4Bw3-ZioobL029BjPx8Y2goCeLXuRLGlZsFYbw6s2RLp1Jwn0toTtYfFHpJI/s1600-h/DSC00909.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuTUrzivWFkM_x5xLfM3fbRk6evx8cVxTj2xs0tirrJaKugpkqC2S_yWu7hpRmDZBOnf54PYxH4IGnew4Bw3-ZioobL029BjPx8Y2goCeLXuRLGlZsFYbw6s2RLp1Jwn0toTtYfFHpJI/s320/DSC00909.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428211377935711666" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> A massive French flag hanging in the cave...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzptpfnLvrvxvVBYv2ne6CUAgiG-uieGA1wm1YJSCKKfsz7G54tnQHew9QSC1t3j-NS65acSN21StVaMZd5J6QjbhXkjK5CSrfO91FnIOfNDCA__rn9t7ysGknfeTaqzJ-lmhHdDaXfI/s1600-h/DSC00910.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzptpfnLvrvxvVBYv2ne6CUAgiG-uieGA1wm1YJSCKKfsz7G54tnQHew9QSC1t3j-NS65acSN21StVaMZd5J6QjbhXkjK5CSrfO91FnIOfNDCA__rn9t7ysGknfeTaqzJ-lmhHdDaXfI/s320/DSC00910.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428210466038630290" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">After a dinner of a Kebab sandwich, I walked by this shop! Ganesha in France!! A little love for P-Town!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaqyCRgePG2364V3PH9uiIqmsP9jUtlnMx28UhQs8gLZorsv3z2ISCJxlQkHVPEZTtxMb_8XAfzSq6ITCUiwiPudL80SrxtsjbW9Xl1lJpCQpxbXewOAV-hwS_JD2Tt4MAaPxA9RvIfU/s320/DSC00900.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428210454297544514" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">The cathedral at night was even more impressive!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkuSkNsrVIu8cGtcN26STPtjsRQTfeRqKTTcQKJVh5o1ElfMBn33GTdq9MYYM77B00a_w5grVe1fnnWawaN1uM2OS6_0bJmljcRRuIgm_dIvU7G1u_dk3YW0FRmuUlyl2YfGctyDIY30/s320/DSC00898.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428210447135548498" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />So if you are ever in Paris, Reims is a great little day trip, and it's only about 45 minutes away by TGV (French High Speed Train). I had a great day exploring a new place that I knew anything about! And once you get over the fact that they drive cars and <em>not </em>horse and carriages (what was I thinking?!)...it can be quite charming!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"></span>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-79807159509437560842010-01-17T11:08:00.000-08:002013-01-23T19:19:20.442-08:00Christmas 2009<span style="color: #990000;">Christmas 2009 - December 23-25, 2009</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">On the 23th, I headed to Les Galleries Lafayette and Printemps to check out the Christmas decorations and last minute shopping rush! There were decorations <em>everywhere</em> as well as people... So fun!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMUry6vNBkf67VscH9HRO10IhDgej5wplf1VfxMxm6mVQVkHWgj2hOSf4e7BKwt11XT4YJUvt1GQY4NDBeuw0JK826014Hi6NSREZXYIJIxfLjZRn9nXYLTNHFoTQrdwyNd9LC2D9Elo/s1600-h/DSC00787.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMUry6vNBkf67VscH9HRO10IhDgej5wplf1VfxMxm6mVQVkHWgj2hOSf4e7BKwt11XT4YJUvt1GQY4NDBeuw0JK826014Hi6NSREZXYIJIxfLjZRn9nXYLTNHFoTQrdwyNd9LC2D9Elo/s320/DSC00787.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427792596296812146" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Dior, J'adore! I got myself some Dior J'adore perfume for Christmas...how spoiled am I for a Parisian Christmas!? It smells so yummy; I LOVE it!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGlKnZ-lNGUOzsXNMiMQnbHunnIBNf8NdszvgaKqs6ZiF_a1hyT2QM04KXSfkgAcu3VC32aUzJLCk0IGW-SyG6xIeKQETt94N_GmqCFr-GHOMT5bDjkhG3Kgg3ydep_ajSDgO4qDcL-s/s1600-h/DSC00788.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGlKnZ-lNGUOzsXNMiMQnbHunnIBNf8NdszvgaKqs6ZiF_a1hyT2QM04KXSfkgAcu3VC32aUzJLCk0IGW-SyG6xIeKQETt94N_GmqCFr-GHOMT5bDjkhG3Kgg3ydep_ajSDgO4qDcL-s/s320/DSC00788.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427792580674196498" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyNLSzOrpr6qWiq8QxGQcBOFUNZOtf2PD4Q44G55VL03QE-8F4jP-stFBwHb4sC-BiFGxsdwxARhWNYlo83-9MgYdsVY6iLsaf8qZSuF9TMkSpUmw-FwpZGystIMNCWXANvJ7q4A_U-8/s320/DSC00791.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427791792997530306" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Tea & macaroons: I wish I could have taken this whole table home with me!</span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgMteHmiwflTpn2GLlk5PXAuCaU0E8CQ_8H_Px71d6hyphenhypheny4d_muPfmNLPJwwGmD6il3aBn4cn6aOSVPN-Iglz8LoULFsDOH1sVBq1g7Q8z1Yt4jJNc8eIlXFFvZ7_JFgoojxtk3K62qnY/s320/DSC00795.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427791785549171746" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XGFhX5r16R3a5R7MflHS0IsNeyibsoCagYCwV3LMKEcpz5EOE9SBqGA2nEp0bsJeNQ8NnkGd4SNeGu1HVHnWFZyZLnJ9Onm1J8ZTDdzmBY7edUj8aPmEJ0glcv3SyJodVsxwCRdillU/s320/DSC00796.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427792578721603682" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxpvy3W8tgiAQ3hYt30-Z8j9MCrfJ6WSW7_7_qNe9hJbMvJ0fIAPwR9AdTgDfLC51gadZlc7sx2F_NV8ChkhuRj0SUztch_C31meBcawWhNRYq-9mFCesz8crd7qi7tChpwzFoKxjKr0/s1600-h/DSC00804.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxpvy3W8tgiAQ3hYt30-Z8j9MCrfJ6WSW7_7_qNe9hJbMvJ0fIAPwR9AdTgDfLC51gadZlc7sx2F_NV8ChkhuRj0SUztch_C31meBcawWhNRYq-9mFCesz8crd7qi7tChpwzFoKxjKr0/s320/DSC00804.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427791774204335458" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPjgZiNGWjz15Fy1oZ2C_t-GeL-baVxnW922FP96hBBZ1QUaGwuOD1URcDoqCg9LNX0nsE0p7z2PGprzkCaePGw_fMq2ld2GlGpgs9L_V1YPelHBZ3pi6waY44v2iqLpMAOdrqBwPwgc/s1600-h/DSC00807.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPjgZiNGWjz15Fy1oZ2C_t-GeL-baVxnW922FP96hBBZ1QUaGwuOD1URcDoqCg9LNX0nsE0p7z2PGprzkCaePGw_fMq2ld2GlGpgs9L_V1YPelHBZ3pi6waY44v2iqLpMAOdrqBwPwgc/s320/DSC00807.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427790677660526434" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> </div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">To take a break from all the craziness of the French Department stores, I visited Notre Dame for the first time in the evening Every year, there is a massive decorated Christmas tree in the plaza.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqgNqA_U9r6tj9A46VGGLAIi2sE9bUrKjYafPSL92qOzIV2IhQExc8U0n559k4DM2st2BaQ9sUIo3k052T7qqdnL5hq50TOt47R3R_Ctp1fJF2Tsjo3smz9n7DX4JCB9LBCLYqqT_-4M/s1600-h/DSC00808.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqgNqA_U9r6tj9A46VGGLAIi2sE9bUrKjYafPSL92qOzIV2IhQExc8U0n559k4DM2st2BaQ9sUIo3k052T7qqdnL5hq50TOt47R3R_Ctp1fJF2Tsjo3smz9n7DX4JCB9LBCLYqqT_-4M/s320/DSC00808.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427790671126897746" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Christmas Eve, I went to the special Christmas service at the American Church (though it was packed and I was stuck in the side wing) I got to sing carols in the beautifully decorated sanctuary.</span><br />
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-75094127944066709792010-01-10T12:07:00.000-08:002013-01-23T19:16:43.843-08:00The Happiest Place ...in France!<span style="color: #990000;">Tuesday December 22, 2009 - Disneyland Paris</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">I know it's not very French, but I was happy to indulge in some American-ness. EuroDisney is only about 40 minutes outside of central Paris by RER train. It was freeeeeeeezing the day that I went and in good ol' Californian style all of the lines were still outdoors. You would think they would change <em>some</em> things at least to make it weather appropriate... Anyways it looks almost just like Disneyland back home. So I loved it!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwVaX6G5KzRCpadrm7BqOin9V4tHTgys9YtzTB0DMfqOd9Wt4JQld-ukD_AUajdAtMHuD9meXruBrTCgVouRoHbt3-5ZTSL-oqYT1YtjiKpyHQAR1hNTa3uYYXor4LZtJgOBNmox3WGc/s1600-h/DSC00767.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwbudSOK-Obu3Z_vNJUt2EgZ1gEmfYHeqD0hFUQziJEL78MyQFz222ZCLbmc6-fxoc-7S6IrP6RGPMDvNQ7Z2nKKwc5tXoCUiKMmx1p-cVaECRkEij7CTj8fbYMvdXrtdOVzAd-xdO9w/s1600-h/DSC00768.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwbudSOK-Obu3Z_vNJUt2EgZ1gEmfYHeqD0hFUQziJEL78MyQFz222ZCLbmc6-fxoc-7S6IrP6RGPMDvNQ7Z2nKKwc5tXoCUiKMmx1p-cVaECRkEij7CTj8fbYMvdXrtdOVzAd-xdO9w/s320/DSC00768.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425213376136856642" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7CRtwzNBP9s44zLJv8VzpVcpNjNEYyMGibLoM74NFOokrPQQPK2WuDPV0pMvtEItopXiHVZnec6kiS9NEniXirxS44yqKTDkWwbODnMoivNjNmApAImCnPW1_Bc9SO5OjjG_tT0uZbM/s1600-h/DSC00770.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />More frozen ponds...but this one had the cutest little ducks walking on the ice. I stood and talked to them for at least 10 minutes...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTt-oTHdJo2eTJD3ANITR8n4qpxOqbywwoAtZnGCu49ya4u_6ADFx0qL2gh8GUzUenizIWI9ZeXoP7T6DJ07l1tUWVHukIybvHHzKcWO8Fg96Bf322s7BvRtwFe2nq-JQKh6bqEP3uISY/s1600-h/DSC00771.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTt-oTHdJo2eTJD3ANITR8n4qpxOqbywwoAtZnGCu49ya4u_6ADFx0qL2gh8GUzUenizIWI9ZeXoP7T6DJ07l1tUWVHukIybvHHzKcWO8Fg96Bf322s7BvRtwFe2nq-JQKh6bqEP3uISY/s320/DSC00771.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425212937264038914" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> I went to the Mickey and Minnie on Ice show in the afternoon. It was cute and cheesy and definitely for children apparently, but I loved it!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFFXR1WxkGJXj9CU0DV4JyMUfs6It_6gjB57IRooHpnLpD0apDdAzahPGlbPhW7JvoVkkPYwxjNeyVHlrZhBu5lRNWmAkZu3STfeI4x_Mtmg2JTbloHQHSWsCqTrwntpO4ulD6rtj_rw/s1600-h/DSC00775.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFFXR1WxkGJXj9CU0DV4JyMUfs6It_6gjB57IRooHpnLpD0apDdAzahPGlbPhW7JvoVkkPYwxjNeyVHlrZhBu5lRNWmAkZu3STfeI4x_Mtmg2JTbloHQHSWsCqTrwntpO4ulD6rtj_rw/s320/DSC00775.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425212933309489250" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> The rides were pretty much all the same and I never had to wait longer than 20 minutes at most. I went on Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain, the Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Indiana Jones (which was actually a roller coaster and NOT a bouncy jeep ride), Back to the Future, and It's a Small World.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z5dBL23vbrv24tVOTldjBTgVHPHoS1i0PS3UmmONNTZ7IO-_IDrRg3-dkg-5tWfeV7L75rip5xO0wat7wzDJWp6DuXyHOR0_02ekrGyc6CJVS2NvnRjhPFfScuFnEwon1Zrj5-Zm3GQ/s1600-h/DSC00774.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z5dBL23vbrv24tVOTldjBTgVHPHoS1i0PS3UmmONNTZ7IO-_IDrRg3-dkg-5tWfeV7L75rip5xO0wat7wzDJWp6DuXyHOR0_02ekrGyc6CJVS2NvnRjhPFfScuFnEwon1Zrj5-Zm3GQ/s320/DSC00774.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425212926440186626" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> I stayed all day till the Christmas Parade, but by then I was so cold and miserable I needed to go home; my toes were frozen!! While I was watching the parade, a French family near me was talking to me and saying how surprised they were to find an American at EuroDisney...well I can see why; ours' has sunshine! and ice cream! and heat! and SUNSHINE!</span><span style="color: #990000;"> <em>I guess I'm not in Anaheim any more.</em></span></div>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-12563549271043476532010-01-07T13:38:00.000-08:002013-01-23T19:13:42.835-08:00ssssssHIVER!<span style="color: #990000;">December 19-20, 2009 </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Only good thing about freezing winter Paris: the Christmas Market! On the Champs Elysees beginning at the Place de la Concorde there is a huge Christmas Market every year in Paris, as is the case elsewhere throughout the city, with <em>vin chaud</em> (warm, sweet wine), Nutella <em>beignets</em> (a warm melt-in-your mouth donut filled with Nutella) and <em>gauffres</em> (like a big warm waffle) to taste!</span><br />
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<em style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000;">L'Arc du Triomphe</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Visiting the Musee d'Orsay is one of my favorites...this was a building block up to the Louvre. A friend told me that if you were to look at each piece at the Louvre for 30 seconds you would be there for 3 months...ughhhhh</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">An evening in Bercy Village! I had never been here before but it is super cute and kind of off the beaten path. There are rows of cute shops and cafes. </span><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Bercy Village Park: just to illustrate how <em>cold</em> it was/is. I look freezing period, but I saw some kids playing on the ice in the <em>frozen </em>fountains. It was sss-s-s-s-so bbbb-b-b-beautiful. (that's my teeth chattering fyi)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wBlWE7K_ETRT0ywiFuRc1Ozv2h63W8whIxCQAN4kINtqzCti8GJarOkQzQlk-wRNZ3xN5aHddePtPwKx0dMUZ6pUmy9WFdt0d0Gz6L6p7WKwp10G2j8_uUEm9GsfWpBEtUpoub_nx78/s1600-h/DSC00758.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wBlWE7K_ETRT0ywiFuRc1Ozv2h63W8whIxCQAN4kINtqzCti8GJarOkQzQlk-wRNZ3xN5aHddePtPwKx0dMUZ6pUmy9WFdt0d0Gz6L6p7WKwp10G2j8_uUEm9GsfWpBEtUpoub_nx78/s320/DSC00758.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424117121285208178" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_K0EV03sfGnzfN_bFzgq4PBVdgRTahKknIFiB86aa2azGGXZpu89NxF24g3vc5ehL8mTwVUky0inxPSQ5QVK5-HRVLrtZ3664P_b4HIgfwotqNZQi75su2I4czX8hsfuRClXATTou-I/s1600-h/DSC00760.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_K0EV03sfGnzfN_bFzgq4PBVdgRTahKknIFiB86aa2azGGXZpu89NxF24g3vc5ehL8mTwVUky0inxPSQ5QVK5-HRVLrtZ3664P_b4HIgfwotqNZQi75su2I4czX8hsfuRClXATTou-I/s320/DSC00760.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424117117589470722" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> </div>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-43108938151855388402010-01-01T11:18:00.000-08:002013-01-23T19:10:40.568-08:00Fondue d'Hiver<span style="color: #990000;">Saturday December 19, 2009 - Winter in Paris</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Loving the Eiffel Tower and the Christmas Market at the Trocadero. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">At <em>le Refuge des Fondues</em>, a fantastic fondue restaurant in the 18th <em>arrondissement</em>. A tiny little hole in the wall place with writing all over the walls and the girls have to literally crawl over the tables to get to their seats on the other side; a party straight from Paris herself. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwg8-Gwo5z8TnBePECXguV_dunl69P2heYtwhJSE0Eqfne-Sii-KlKE9rzfHqrUH1yZb_KQXhqUa_F0JUJeFajYDqQIWCNz7M35dW8WOs88ktRAd7nWP4fgb-ZuT_bMTjpQc3PwDJ6mcc/s1600-h/DSC00705.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Le Refuge des Fondues is DELICIOUS!! Melted cheese, hot meat, unlimited bread and wine in glass baby bottles...what more could a girl ask for!?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBA9Uz0VEAMiB9hSQzbR-HeWawhwHYkM3k0SkLFJTmvpAwdkEXzzqxHwVe7oNiUHZ7xOlnkcwh0A58k7f1OGlq1TnSlVDwXUZ0ftdpHMq_QbYknjQ9Ch9MhDbtButgv8feLECpPq1uEGI/s320/DSC00717.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421859934201018642" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></div>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-20101404532481877312009-12-16T14:33:00.000-08:002013-07-07T15:09:16.828-07:00Je pense donc je suis en grève<span style="color: #990000;">Wednesday December 16, 2009 - <em>Je pense donc je suis en grève.</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">This quote is too-stereotypically plastered on a poster on one of my buildings at the university. It means, “I think, so I'm on strike”.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Well it was bound to happen sooner or later: the (in)famous French strike. Now, I been living in Paris for almost 5 months now (wow, btw) and until this point there have only been transportation strikes for other trains besides mine. (Other types of strikes naturally exist all the time such as the Post Office Strike or the Museum Strike and I heard the Eiffel Tower was on strike too awhile ago…no, really!)The RER A (one of the big trains that run through Paris and into the suburbs) has been on strike now for a little over a week or so and apparently I am losing my fresh-perspective for blog-worthy material. See, I just thought it was a pain, not news to anyone until I talked to my Dad on the phone…thus, per request, the French strike report!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">On a normal school day, I take my metro line to a bigger station to switch to the RER to get to class. This takes about 45 minutes <em>porte à porte</em> or door to door. My first commute during a strike: 2 ½ hours. I heard that 1 out of every 2 trains was running, so not a problem I just left early for my 1:00pm class. Well, when I arrived at the ghost town aka my RER station I became aware that 1 of 2 was running <em>during rush hour</em>. Oh. So, back to the metro I go to switch to a different metro that will take me as far west as possible and from there take a bus (you can start laughing at this point). When I finally get to that station, about an hour into my commute time, I find that there are exactly 22 buses, <em>twenty-two buses</em>, that depart from there. So, I stood there looking at this map that is INSANE, all the while freezing mind you, and finally walked away and asked someone in a uniform. So, I managed to wind my way around the massive station/underground city to find my bus; which I did! And then continued to stalk the other riders to see if any of them were headed to my destination…I found some! Aaaaaand followed them. Oooon the 10 minute walk from our stop to the university. Heeheehee… </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">And, PS there is a much simpler way to get to school that I now know so no worries about me walking in the dark to a random bus somewhere. But that reminds me, did you know it is dark in Paris? Like the sun comes up at 8:30am and sets at 5:00pm! That means almost all of my walks to and from the metro station to my apartment are in the dark; it gets confusing! Is it morning? Where am I going? Is it 3am? Did I set my alarm right? Am I going to work or school? What color are my pants? Wait, no that really happened…I didn’t know I was wearing gray pants instead of jeans until I got into the well-lit metro station. So much for be some glamorous Parisian; I guess the first step would be to turn on the light when picking out my clothing! Duh.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">I’m almost surprised that I don’t get lost or disoriented more often. Today, Rema and I went shopping in an RER station…that’s right an underground multi-level mall in the middle of <em>Les Halles</em>, a tangled meeting point for 3 RER trains and 5 metro lines. We managed to find our way in, buy Christmas dresses, and then find our way back out again…I feel sorry for tourists! </span>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-52309296827126950522009-12-13T04:16:00.000-08:002013-01-23T19:58:56.518-08:0012/12 = Mon Anniversaire!<span style="color: #990000;">Saturday December 12, 2009 - 12/12 = Mon Anniversaire!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">(So, I totally just started this blog in my head in French…so I’ll be sure to translate for my Anglophone followers!) Yesterday was my 21st birthday! Celebrated in a city where it doesn’t matter, but I managed to cause enough trouble! Lol, me? Trouble? …Well at midnight, my roommate forced a celebratory glass of wine at me and I opened a present from home! Then I slept in, did some homework (I know I stink at being a rebel), opened another present, went baaack to sleep, ate a <em>pain au chocolat</em> for breakfast, no wait, lunch, no actually dinner by American standards! And opened another present while waiting for my Californians to wake up! I loved talking to my parents and sister for awhile! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Let me please tell you, I can't even express how incredibly SPOILED and LOVED I feel!! A few days ago, I received a thick envelope from my parents in the mail <em>filled</em> with colorful cupcake cutouts with notes from everyone wishing me a happy birthday…pretty much all of France is convinced I have the greatest Mom in the world and they couldn’t be more right! THANK YOU!!!!! All of you, SO much! <em>Je suis vraiment touchée; </em>as the French would say, I am truly touched!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70GJnNzEqFKnjMR1dmsqcHhCE8D6pI3gwWyarPiV_ksJTjvlNmUHbsXzYdp-dkNKiKlfDPcNS_glih-6z2Ymd4-zNn23Ywj1TYPCFxAfCIl9oyXTAllAtTAuHYB7NceNZqT-b5r3qGXI/s1600-h/DSC00664.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70GJnNzEqFKnjMR1dmsqcHhCE8D6pI3gwWyarPiV_ksJTjvlNmUHbsXzYdp-dkNKiKlfDPcNS_glih-6z2Ymd4-zNn23Ywj1TYPCFxAfCIl9oyXTAllAtTAuHYB7NceNZqT-b5r3qGXI/s320/DSC00664.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414698461012522002" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">So last night, after putting on my new sweater dress and Juicy Couture earrings from my parents and applying my new </span><a href="http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/gp/product/B000FBNYSY?bcBrand=core"><span style="color: #330033;">Benefit Hoola </span></a><span style="color: #990000;">from my sister, I headed out with a few friends to <em>le Vrai Paris</em>, a chic and warm Parisian restaurant in Montmartre. After consulting with Alex (the one who brings the </span><a href="http://ptowntoparis.blogspot.com/2009/10/back-with-class.html"><span style="color: #330033;">stinky cheese </span></a><span style="color: #990000;">to my house) about the menu, I decided to order a Queue de Lotte; “it’s a fysh, verrry goood”… and some white wine of course! It was my 21st birthday after all! So this so-called <em>fysh</em>, was very good, but it was the consistency of crab or lobster and had a somewhat hard shell/exo-skeleton(?) Just for background information, the French love to know just how “fresh” their food is (ie going to a farm in person and picking out <em>a live animal</em> to eat for dinner the next day and enjoyment of watching the <em>whole process</em>) Whereas me, I typically don’t like food that still looks like the animal it was (ie a cheeseburger does not look like a cow versus I can’t eat shrimp well, because it still looks exactly like a shrimp…) Back to my dinner, while eating I kept wondering what this fish looked like! Unfortunately for you and me, I googled it…Just be thankful I chose the cartoon illustration to share. OMG.</span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77QfDRbEEwKPprKCnxzDgxHsgUuwIOffX9WBCm3V_cyDycg6BQnJlhGSq1KzI_2rcSWY0XTGG6_MNPEgGJqiorXlMAaZCJtA_Wl8pf372IWfd1JQquYi4FIPtgDFuhTZeiuebXn79hLQ/s320/lotte.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414699431073924162" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 200px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 161px;" /><span style="color: #990000;">My first California-legal glass of wine:</span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLpxc1nQua-5fUjRaRlaPo4xMQacvZy2Ks_ufYsXOb7142CywXy8UlpHADCms761hXbKqMXSMz0tAxFg_t7_Ki0x20ptX4K9YftoOU3JNxJwbuz95HxvE99VGlEg6lC-KYnELifZ5DHQ/s320/DSC00645.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414697359912566722" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">My lovely friend Joanne from England joined us for dinner and brought me the cutest cupcake! A REAL cupcake! It is from </span><a href="http://www.cupcakesberko.com/"><span style="color: #330033;">Berko</span></a><span style="color: #990000;">, a cupcake shop in the Marais. It had white cake and raspberry flavored hot pink frosting…I definitely have to take my </span><a href="http://tipsybaking.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #330033;">cupcake-baking sister </span></a><span style="color: #990000;">t</span><span style="color: #990000;">here when she visits!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEioakZto07m-sR5Lktp9fdji-KFHbiHV8f3JMDc77TPnNefgUpOEbpuzayDpgydMpgQlq8D4PGUR7j5jF_Y6_04Sei0AbkWUWS79tOOcgCFt3MyzDyrXS1nAWCyoSU3nmSHOefkqzv4/s1600-h/DSC00647.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEioakZto07m-sR5Lktp9fdji-KFHbiHV8f3JMDc77TPnNefgUpOEbpuzayDpgydMpgQlq8D4PGUR7j5jF_Y6_04Sei0AbkWUWS79tOOcgCFt3MyzDyrXS1nAWCyoSU3nmSHOefkqzv4/s320/DSC00647.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414698446367457234" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 256px;" /></a></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_6VLTxWIWCeyKCUSe-hZNZtJR5twbUcUhSn7s8-AazVtUtPM2w-IaVltytiUZ-tGi0ll6mwDcya3h2PRuLbFfrdYmaljDYy5_xTQsVLTN2yobGlm0HI7BHqlIL8W6lQWOp9o6XBGLV8/s320/DSC00652.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414697352668324930" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">After dinner, we decided to get another drink nearby. Rema and I both got fruity grapefruit cocktails that were super yummy…Now you are all witnesses, I have had exactly 2, t-w-o drinks so far, therefore I have no way of explaining my tumble down the Metro stairs a half an hour later; I blame my crazy-slippery ankle boots and overall clumsiness, but it is quite the coincidence... And yes, some may use an injury scale to determine just how “successful” a 21st birthday is; I however, do not use my number of bruises as bragging rights. Luckily for your enjoyment, my trusty roommate Rema had the camera ready to catch me in action. This is me rubbing <em>mes trois genoux</em> (my three knees: two normal knees, and the third swelling out of the side of my ankle). The best part: read the caption above my shoulders. It is a disclaimer. On an alcohol advertisement. It says <em>“l’abus d’alcool est dangereux”</em> which you guessed translates to “the abuse of alcohol is dangerous”. GREAT. TWOOOO drinks, really?! So as I limped home, in the dark, 28⁰, on my birthday, clinging to my bag and my cupcake, I couldn’t help but think, man, all I really wanted was a hot fudge sundae anyways… </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdODsTzptLHtspONQx9JocRa4s_cnWgz-uRUuGl9FmIw2f9XXBFz1-eP_gSF-4PqYNZkEpMphbxpiTec9_nxOPtuZaBerS3zwVvu-AOwPgqD8xkj6PpjrfRZX31HuDG8q7CwBYRPgEux0/s1600-h/DSC00655.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdODsTzptLHtspONQx9JocRa4s_cnWgz-uRUuGl9FmIw2f9XXBFz1-eP_gSF-4PqYNZkEpMphbxpiTec9_nxOPtuZaBerS3zwVvu-AOwPgqD8xkj6PpjrfRZX31HuDG8q7CwBYRPgEux0/s320/DSC00655.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414697348447361074" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Hahahahahahaha, oh man! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I think I'll go back to my standard cake and ice cream in the future; this whole 21st birthday experience is obviously not for me!</span></div>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-72043073039953713702009-11-26T12:10:00.000-08:002013-07-07T15:08:16.166-07:00Buns & Thighs: Happy Thanksgiving!<span style="color: #990000;">Thursday November 26, 2009 - Buns & Thighs: Happy Thanksgiving!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Hello everyone! As the number of days between now and Christmas decrease and the inches of my waist <em>increase</em>, I am becoming highly aware of the, eh hem, effects of my pasta-bread-cheese diet. (“Thanks France”) Therefore Wednesday November 18th marked day one of my 30 Day Challenge. Perfect timing; I can start the foundational training for my triathlon! I really want to do one this summer when I get back to the states!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">My plan: a) stretch and run 5 times a week, b) work out my arms, abs, and buns every day, and c) no pasta, bread, or cheese. Now, I KNOW that this last one sounds insane and ridiculous, but believe me, I have no problem avoiding those at all…it’s the <em>dessert</em> I can’t go a day without; it must have something to do with being an Irwin… Anyways, of course the wonderful mother that I have told me that I am perfectly fine the way I am and should only worry if I was going to ask her to mail me new pants! Well at this rate, I will need new pants by Christmas! Thus, the Challenge has begun! But, to be perfectly honest, I can’t complain…when I wake up early to run the only motivation I need is to remember WHERE I get to run! The little green patch right in front of the Eiffel Tower on this map is where I <em>get to</em> do my laps. Can’t complain, right? I get to run with a bunch of other Parisians who look oh-so-severe and intense and turbo and scary…today I just looked at the ground. Needless to say, it was my best run thus far! Ha!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUe0mxNIWgVKZmTBiHfJSH3N4nlsbbvIZAjvbEC52v5JRsofrSc5olqKqc9j-6B0PGY9XyNukMbaapBZpji6YD6jOv8YLccc5S5LOmrv3NEQlfOYguPuXbHCI4S6demEiGMaz-17VAfg/s1600/paris-map.jpg"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408510971400994114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUe0mxNIWgVKZmTBiHfJSH3N4nlsbbvIZAjvbEC52v5JRsofrSc5olqKqc9j-6B0PGY9XyNukMbaapBZpji6YD6jOv8YLccc5S5LOmrv3NEQlfOYguPuXbHCI4S6demEiGMaz-17VAfg/s320/paris-map.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 265px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rSsSTMzR2lfdBQNeJEVx9-pvZOwT0UZKmZunGEcQ-8zN4acOilNIBO-k8Ye3WmwsPAJTBZnijdxIFuF0R8_vzyk_GpPK9LFrO4ZV5J14nN6qyBDk5axDL67dE8g0MX61_GVnAXvKK2k/s1600/champs+de+mars.jpg"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408510968072561138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rSsSTMzR2lfdBQNeJEVx9-pvZOwT0UZKmZunGEcQ-8zN4acOilNIBO-k8Ye3WmwsPAJTBZnijdxIFuF0R8_vzyk_GpPK9LFrO4ZV5J14nN6qyBDk5axDL67dE8g0MX61_GVnAXvKK2k/s320/champs+de+mars.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 315px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> For my French Civilization class, we visited the Musée Carnavalet on Saturday. It displayed the History of Paris through paintings, cartoons, figures, and artifacts. It was really interesting and we actually wanted to see everything! Ironically, there was this one painting that caught my eye. It was of this red-faced jolly looking man leaning over a huge casserole dish with wine at one elbow and bread at the other. I joked, “Oh look! It’s me!” <em>Then</em>, I just happened to come across <a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/travel/22Grimod.html"><span style="color: #330033;">this article</span> </a>online from the New York Times mentioning this very painting! </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw30Wq-r_nc7lH6zbWFwakCd0mAOpe6TVanpznAJdCNjHBe8bt2P6Gc5vhLvIRS3Yzqsu2kWauMLBhw8itGAbiUwURaOtE8xHuO0xg_mH764WB87uY24Q9BOGS6W-RoPMrhjZvRT315hM/s1600/DSC00598.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408510770930190722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw30Wq-r_nc7lH6zbWFwakCd0mAOpe6TVanpznAJdCNjHBe8bt2P6Gc5vhLvIRS3Yzqsu2kWauMLBhw8itGAbiUwURaOtE8xHuO0xg_mH764WB87uY24Q9BOGS6W-RoPMrhjZvRT315hM/s320/DSC00598.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">I also took many other pictures of pieces that I really liked…I think I might take all of my visiting American tourists here for a visit!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOOCOjUw3p2QvR8pcp76LWmcxlJzkoRPrYVJ7UkKhHf9d9KNMBGIXchETXKGSLHqxXNzHsRX_oLepBMMjCkvRt2WYvJhAUf9a5c9TWaTzmZ-7ZMjsuI1nTsHOVYrChhCeD9xEvK_3710/s1600/DSC00596.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408510770872581730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOOCOjUw3p2QvR8pcp76LWmcxlJzkoRPrYVJ7UkKhHf9d9KNMBGIXchETXKGSLHqxXNzHsRX_oLepBMMjCkvRt2WYvJhAUf9a5c9TWaTzmZ-7ZMjsuI1nTsHOVYrChhCeD9xEvK_3710/s320/DSC00596.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br />This one reminds me of pictures of my glamorous Granny: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIWsbUVVF7LDp5Pvg3aRdNcLO_nmQGfmI4PDIJLMlJcWj7aa6PuPACrFx4StWDTr_l5-H289mHkLs_F8Yq5zBXITqAXCOT2Yino6h5nAdxtVe5V9b6ocWOsNSFcIMIr7sS8yYlcXbLds/s1600/DSC00592.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408510759923469762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIWsbUVVF7LDp5Pvg3aRdNcLO_nmQGfmI4PDIJLMlJcWj7aa6PuPACrFx4StWDTr_l5-H289mHkLs_F8Yq5zBXITqAXCOT2Yino6h5nAdxtVe5V9b6ocWOsNSFcIMIr7sS8yYlcXbLds/s320/DSC00592.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDhGNGQ3YzkReHw0CF5OcbNmN_wwvmkbaQqTFTxN2fhS_9dpLrK7ktxbJ8F7QWmPP1fg0q7OdhMFlgBpM8ml-M_YzyJn4KmZRpUAhN48oQALHrs2FNENwP2YYQd4gUvuVGHo_fCnQ1pw/s1600/DSC00586.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408510756164579650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDhGNGQ3YzkReHw0CF5OcbNmN_wwvmkbaQqTFTxN2fhS_9dpLrK7ktxbJ8F7QWmPP1fg0q7OdhMFlgBpM8ml-M_YzyJn4KmZRpUAhN48oQALHrs2FNENwP2YYQd4gUvuVGHo_fCnQ1pw/s320/DSC00586.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnciNCY9Kyf6udqfRHsB_RCuzKqmGukX91nfI9SMTPq2mksQdHapLjD_z8dthkgYu0WEynG69t0XUj0CLcFIDdRX4cvRyOLIPpD32dr6I2aCMCHySsLDAwOiWR-a0BkuswiVqgeTl-5w/s1600/DSC00577.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408509691226203026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnciNCY9Kyf6udqfRHsB_RCuzKqmGukX91nfI9SMTPq2mksQdHapLjD_z8dthkgYu0WEynG69t0XUj0CLcFIDdRX4cvRyOLIPpD32dr6I2aCMCHySsLDAwOiWR-a0BkuswiVqgeTl-5w/s320/DSC00577.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDds4RSkzFrfv__eHyWFNb9OZIvJZgvF6OnJ3JNSMBuVlyOQxVHYfGdSZHKxHPsSl40tYpuQktuUGEXtJgcaHoPdiPmGQrzSkI79WvqLQ01EalEq0mBv0APjPTDnJUL0gmcDF_Lq_A3s/s1600/DSC00575.JPG"><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408509688493107090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDds4RSkzFrfv__eHyWFNb9OZIvJZgvF6OnJ3JNSMBuVlyOQxVHYfGdSZHKxHPsSl40tYpuQktuUGEXtJgcaHoPdiPmGQrzSkI79WvqLQ01EalEq0mBv0APjPTDnJUL0gmcDF_Lq_A3s/s320/DSC00575.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrQypqKfocnAR7hyphenhyphenPbrO94xUKGQMLOBTnaAC08fZ69RxXifNS1Uw2KRFRjf_m5XPGwkKKWZ4JHU2F1EzP5WShTvxaHyOhcibcn9Ib_SVgL-LaoGnV4Zj-Ar9cGgmBz7VaW3fm7fbdTIs/s1600/DSC00573.JPG"></a><span style="color: #990000;">So as you fill your happy tummies today (since it <em>is</em> Thanksgiving) eat an extra serving of sweet potatoes for me and get ready for my Mid-Summer 2010 Thanksgiving Celebration; it is my favorite holiday and I have MANY things to be thankful for after all…each one of you included!</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: 85%;">Psaumes 139:1-18 (grâce à/thanks to Madame Driscoll)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: 85%;">Éternel! Tu me sondes et tu me connais, ²Tu sais quand je m’assieds et quand je me lève, tu pénètres de loin ma pensée; ³Tu sais quand je marche et quand je me couche, Et tu pénètres toutes mes voies. ⁴Car la parole n’est pas sur ma langue, que déjà, ô Éternel! Tu la connais entièrement. ⁵Tu m’entoures par derrière et par devant, et tu mets ta mains sur moi. ⁶Une science aussi merveilleuse est au-dessus de ma portée, Elle est trop élevée pour que je puisse la saisir. ⁷Où irais-je loin de ton esprit, et où fuirais-je loin de ta face ? ⁸Si je monte aux cieux, tu y es ; si je me couche au séjour des morts, t’y voilà. ⁹Si je prends les ailes de l’aurore, et que j’aille habiter a l’extrémité de la mer, ¹⁰là aussi ta main me conduira, et ta droite me saisira. ¹¹Si je dis: Au moins les ténèbres me couvriront, la nuit devient lumière autour de moi; ¹²même les ténèbres ne sont pas obscure pour toi, la nuit brille comme le jour, et les ténèbres comme la lumière. ¹³C’est toi qui as formé mes reins, qui m’as tissé dans le sein de ma mère. ¹⁴Je te loue de ce que je suis une créature si merveilleuse. Tes œuvres sont admirables, et mon âme le reconnait bien. ¹⁵Mon corps n’était point caché devant toi, lorsque j’ai été fait dans un lieu secret, tissé dans les profondeurs de la terre. ¹⁶Quand je n’étais qu’une masse informe, tes yeux me voyaient; et sur ton livre étaient tous inscrits les jours qui m’étaient destinés, avant qu’aucun d’eux existât. ¹⁷Que tes pensées, ô Dieu, me semblent impénétrables! Que le nombre en est grand! ¹⁸Si je les compte, elles sont plus nombreuses que les grains de sable. Je m’éveille, et je suis encore avec toi.</span></div>
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Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-86966107626912111772009-11-16T10:08:00.000-08:002009-11-17T02:09:41.529-08:00A Gray Day Full of Light<span style="color:#990000;">Sunday November 15, 2009 - Père Lachaise Cemetery - Notre Dame</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Quite the picturesque Sunday afternoon! Today the skies were gray, the air was crisp, the leaves were falling and my favorite exploring partners were ready for a new adventure, so we headed to the Père Lachaise Cemetery. There are many famous figures buried there including Georges Seurat, Gertrude Stein, Guillaume Apollinaire, Honoré de Balzac, Frédéric Chopin, Moliere, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, and of course Jim Morrison. The cemetery is massive and surprisingly beautiful, though you won’t find me there after dark…yikes!</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2trfTJQ_DDWSjoFDgT9OMu1MS7S1oXnxTaGeoDvzkoXEpCr_AUiYPZLnayKsdN7M7MBbTv_MoOmZftUIolfaGpXYLwg5kOqS1FrBCwA9qk_sAAB_n3WqAYy1QENXrvGg5pTWIzuvhSw/s1600/DSC00543.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404769373365275762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2trfTJQ_DDWSjoFDgT9OMu1MS7S1oXnxTaGeoDvzkoXEpCr_AUiYPZLnayKsdN7M7MBbTv_MoOmZftUIolfaGpXYLwg5kOqS1FrBCwA9qk_sAAB_n3WqAYy1QENXrvGg5pTWIzuvhSw/s320/DSC00543.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7kbQlzs5bnETc8JR3i1bNYKCxZ6E4PgM4-oSaA95TXbwZ5EqM67eBVPd9D8JvOEP4KIdnSVHG096u0jI-oWIgB_D-gGB9WhyphenhyphenIISHHMxBjQ-Tsx-2SswXzhKdhcSQWmRgq_2r60ZD5eI/s1600/DSC00548.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404769373146808050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7kbQlzs5bnETc8JR3i1bNYKCxZ6E4PgM4-oSaA95TXbwZ5EqM67eBVPd9D8JvOEP4KIdnSVHG096u0jI-oWIgB_D-gGB9WhyphenhyphenIISHHMxBjQ-Tsx-2SswXzhKdhcSQWmRgq_2r60ZD5eI/s320/DSC00548.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iCl6_RizL1KrYFvv-x7pnP6N7zcWcy2GPwSqeZ_syBfhdx8H6Jj-MBmYCyRBAY-_OGEX3DffzpcDTJyiynKl0r-jLtH6lM4rk6cK9lm4ctkgqA76pLH2TyIINstWIPmJ8CX76emJKe4/s1600/DSC00550.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404769363851004610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iCl6_RizL1KrYFvv-x7pnP6N7zcWcy2GPwSqeZ_syBfhdx8H6Jj-MBmYCyRBAY-_OGEX3DffzpcDTJyiynKl0r-jLtH6lM4rk6cK9lm4ctkgqA76pLH2TyIINstWIPmJ8CX76emJKe4/s320/DSC00550.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEWdIJQFerakhhqc9vsOEebHJqQd5zVIqFXtKtxJTWK0YgcfS48T2AkGZdw8PhdbtHd3CZfEjGfmgZgnROe00B_qCFcPBh9mPCNfPX95MobugE_TJGMNoNW_O1P4Nx9c7PyJ8XD2XI5c/s1600/DSC00554.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404768653404664674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEWdIJQFerakhhqc9vsOEebHJqQd5zVIqFXtKtxJTWK0YgcfS48T2AkGZdw8PhdbtHd3CZfEjGfmgZgnROe00B_qCFcPBh9mPCNfPX95MobugE_TJGMNoNW_O1P4Nx9c7PyJ8XD2XI5c/s320/DSC00554.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiN_5DBSDvHZ7VJa4km6_P2PnzuV0mf4RVIeKHdioc92Mp3qQcJsdJXne9X8e8jU_dqAscihY5ARTac_ri8zJp8SDSZaqSieXUFyQL9b1FEQvN-CEjX4hY1L_URCdX_9r3bXK3N2K6bsM/s1600/DSC00556.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404768648538415154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiN_5DBSDvHZ7VJa4km6_P2PnzuV0mf4RVIeKHdioc92Mp3qQcJsdJXne9X8e8jU_dqAscihY5ARTac_ri8zJp8SDSZaqSieXUFyQL9b1FEQvN-CEjX4hY1L_URCdX_9r3bXK3N2K6bsM/s320/DSC00556.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXD2gKvLiafJ7ZExrm9UGWGVpvGh2ilX1Lz1C-viR6PHkH-EEbkRx4pzgCYU2VHpxJF-JY_90-wt2yxrlAhGnXPsH9jJKfc8t9zDfh-iiMzCJAYu6EoxgSAdUs358SIEhVRIaHqwKg0o/s1600/DSC00561.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404768640557664162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXD2gKvLiafJ7ZExrm9UGWGVpvGh2ilX1Lz1C-viR6PHkH-EEbkRx4pzgCYU2VHpxJF-JY_90-wt2yxrlAhGnXPsH9jJKfc8t9zDfh-iiMzCJAYu6EoxgSAdUs358SIEhVRIaHqwKg0o/s320/DSC00561.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br />We then headed to a café outside Notre Dame for a warm bite to eat. Now, I realized that I had never actually <em>been inside</em> the Notre Dame Cathedral as sad as that is… I highly recommend visiting on a Sunday evening about 5pm. The mass service is just starting but they still allow tours in the outer foyers of the cathedral. We basically got to stroll through at dusk when the huge chandeliers are lit up and the choir is singing. It was so impressively picturesque and peaceful. Take a look:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH77USmwZFUdbLdpSlLHmKy9YLhQv2z5CDIl3sJH9t6nkzK0epjBX_5Ynlz5VQVShF01v1nNcHS5qDLRLLCpwZTVLDj3Gf__ZN9iy_QxskvASuWf2c6aXvHEn9H-aD0xG96qqxeA03LmY/s1600/DSC00562.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404768636057658674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH77USmwZFUdbLdpSlLHmKy9YLhQv2z5CDIl3sJH9t6nkzK0epjBX_5Ynlz5VQVShF01v1nNcHS5qDLRLLCpwZTVLDj3Gf__ZN9iy_QxskvASuWf2c6aXvHEn9H-aD0xG96qqxeA03LmY/s320/DSC00562.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6vtfv5mOcA7hluwvQ9M5SA9t6QwD4r0EdkhtTHFYpiAvDiRI7IqQfO6ehaY-0Jvn1dKkAgQxmwgYM3H-gOHqYG96HnB2SV9Dh9BN_WfVydoPzuBJ5M9w3yxCQ2vrLd8tR2aaw4TuFi0/s1600/DSC00563.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404767550679616834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6vtfv5mOcA7hluwvQ9M5SA9t6QwD4r0EdkhtTHFYpiAvDiRI7IqQfO6ehaY-0Jvn1dKkAgQxmwgYM3H-gOHqYG96HnB2SV9Dh9BN_WfVydoPzuBJ5M9w3yxCQ2vrLd8tR2aaw4TuFi0/s320/DSC00563.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> Look Mom, the famous rose windows!</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhts1J92rw1yrbGW-JF38bu_JyftbYiKM-lEHA85_y0tpHIB3r5hikCp7C0L6h2CMcgTS5j34wVhErPGijNloxXUcuk_8NNSZaqtQr6QgK0g55zMgLPcKHARVvCg2zXec3322RkYNX8QZ0/s1600/DSC00564.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404767547126219826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhts1J92rw1yrbGW-JF38bu_JyftbYiKM-lEHA85_y0tpHIB3r5hikCp7C0L6h2CMcgTS5j34wVhErPGijNloxXUcuk_8NNSZaqtQr6QgK0g55zMgLPcKHARVvCg2zXec3322RkYNX8QZ0/s320/DSC00564.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTDlZB1Nmq8uSzH69s-X5vYvZwkDjSfycjFNv3OHII2DDYNTBPdn2hSNb2FZ9y-GiPRT3YgT9YzZwwQSBbuqlSV69aaxEfVuu6RSgBKb2SPbpLh367q7zA-KCBntTDgnKBR9i5ppsX30/s1600/DSC00567.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404767539513654978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTDlZB1Nmq8uSzH69s-X5vYvZwkDjSfycjFNv3OHII2DDYNTBPdn2hSNb2FZ9y-GiPRT3YgT9YzZwwQSBbuqlSV69aaxEfVuu6RSgBKb2SPbpLh367q7zA-KCBntTDgnKBR9i5ppsX30/s320/DSC00567.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWq_JJiM_US-vPxNTXN7751MHB-qNru8kzWMVvsGw4mTccQJEqM6ihbFUZtpSCM_Rc48yXDNnGd79jlC0zD1Ko5yzTBalNwg8SWXcU0-nEpt46VC6y5AJp7WC9V3rxQYTeL644qOFH13E/s1600/DSC00568.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404767532599440754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWq_JJiM_US-vPxNTXN7751MHB-qNru8kzWMVvsGw4mTccQJEqM6ihbFUZtpSCM_Rc48yXDNnGd79jlC0zD1Ko5yzTBalNwg8SWXcU0-nEpt46VC6y5AJp7WC9V3rxQYTeL644qOFH13E/s320/DSC00568.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> Bonne soirée tout le monde!</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-71230053147539315082009-11-08T06:33:00.001-08:002009-12-13T05:13:36.928-08:00The American Church<span style="color:#990000;">Sunday November 8, 2009 - American Church in Paris: Feels Like Home</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">So enough about red meat, let’s talk food for the soul. As you know, I live in the 7th <em>Arrondissement</em> home to not only the Eiffel Tower and Parc du Champs de Mars but also the American Church in Paris. How “lucky” is that?! …Hmmm, I kind of think the Big Man Upstairs might have had something to do with it… The church is <em>beautiful</em>!! My whole Grace family would definitely appreciate it, and it is located on the Quai d’Orsay right on the Seine River. Location, location, location.</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401742151886770914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTQ88SukZcOt0QxH9eS_rwGJCRBYcnoS_TOg4cCcU9MsR1l_BeNdMJw9UA-Ow3gE0_HvoUdRgaYyiukTlPrgRjEDQ1xxu7QYKZfVuzdX8CAr7zZIB3wZfJz_1fO-xCQmjmHzPJrW4Ibs/s320/DSC00316.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XRYdKwnqaYux9sX81NSjvWDXiP3-SQc4W97DJfKbEpkckiYhI7HBcg_lLXHLzcWoif-Hp1vUQXo8HY0D_Ig_7HR-OvJcEDd5eyOhlGcAT4Qw55yOQDhIfxfCpJrztluGkRBBbZDfw1c/s1600-h/DSC00318.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401742161992386834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XRYdKwnqaYux9sX81NSjvWDXiP3-SQc4W97DJfKbEpkckiYhI7HBcg_lLXHLzcWoif-Hp1vUQXo8HY0D_Ig_7HR-OvJcEDd5eyOhlGcAT4Qw55yOQDhIfxfCpJrztluGkRBBbZDfw1c/s320/DSC00318.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><span style="color:#990000;">So I guess one might say that I should be going to a French church to fully immerse myself into the French language, but I can’t help it! It feels like home!! The first couple of weeks that I was here, I was in temporary housing (remember the hostel without internet and scummy bathrooms) and I didn’t get a chance to attend a church service during that time. When I moved into my apartment and realized how close I was to the American Church, I was thrilled. The funny part is, the first time I went I was actually freaked out that <em>all these people were smiling at me</em>. Oh wait, they’re Americans. Duh. But, I was surprised to see how quickly I adjusted to the French street culture of not smiling in public, ever. So of course being the old lady I am I adore the traditional service with the hymns backed up by a massive organ. There is a contemporary service on Sunday afternoons that I just tried today and loved it too! We sang all modern worship songs that I know all the words to. I don’t know; I think for me it’s something therapeutic to wake up on a Sunday morning and get ready for church. It reminds me of home and soothes my homesickness. It’s only a 15 minute walk, but I usually take my time to enjoy some solitude with my Father. </span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#990000;">You can see more about the church and some photos on their <a href="http://acparis.org/"><span style="color:#330033;">website.</span></a></span></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#990000;">And PS, these photos were taken back in September...and it hasn't been quite that sunny since!<br /></div></span>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-37577419689000839572009-11-06T10:19:00.000-08:002009-11-11T12:53:16.824-08:00La Rochelle<span style="color:#990000;">October 23-25, 2009 - La Rochelle Weekend<br /><br />Rema's aforementioned french boyfriend (the one who brings stinky cheese to my house) kindly invited us to go to his hometown for the weekend; the coastal town of la Rochelle. Ironically, in high school we had to do a french project on a french city and I was assigned to la Rochelle...who would've known that one day I would be freezing my buns off and soaking wet due to the simple fact the the ocean is literally "in the air" right on la Rochelle's very own beaches!</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401070064422913122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGYkwdzyWmkw3ukSMraPZr0i4Tl1hfHHEKNRzYW7frCU5wACuveQL8HNX1POzrl_058vTBLlyI4cILYbUlucK_CyYiiCWtSXcd501XLX9eU_sbi31fWsZ9bvlE8m_k6qm-n994Z94kE8/s320/DSC00394.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401070062148096178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioluGj534uLoo4PHzTGvO9Zco2PdhXioStYAHbruXS6JTIMplAepNUeBvEGSPTdCL3b1OBr6AvKZJbPpW_p46-9zE91envTr3glE2tqHme3DuUw0ibmOUE8oFwK13ke2lGZbMThQvn1ko/s320/DSC00395.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401070066962353282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKciNZ0wi4cq9kR4KCIeQ3hrHrAYoOf2MF99zl_HS4u0dIwwV2DmLFUZd_QVWRMly4msAGxpvcEMVPOLY8-wjYLJzSPecY3DVlGCZR92lZpsLeCZ2535DbINaOfnFYRJAQKaV0a08jH8/s320/DSC00389.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B2A6j1nx9FkwBwgPSuyFU0G8acIAL4ilz8a6yuzcXyOZGNzmh_r1CCuIM_XPmSbJcHFcGtK6oCtQMzi04EeVM2-ELLFgFIDE97rpqgeMsewQtVngpDYOp459FJwumLwOondEIBci6jM/s1600-h/DSC00386.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401070079309324434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B2A6j1nx9FkwBwgPSuyFU0G8acIAL4ilz8a6yuzcXyOZGNzmh_r1CCuIM_XPmSbJcHFcGtK6oCtQMzi04EeVM2-ELLFgFIDE97rpqgeMsewQtVngpDYOp459FJwumLwOondEIBci6jM/s320/DSC00386.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401058543973521186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrpI8yB3Vp-aF7nX06Nj8PS4ZSA28ldIG9CALvih68260vrHH4EPoeUdueizoz04wqhWlg_Q7C0fQM9qnXYXorSAF-YkRmW2Yc_9YOcyuB5cATFohj4G5eg6EhgrbiDML1aiuUwCFHf4/s320/DSC00387.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPn7GzK__JeBktYpiPc3JhOMlSoDZCwrGyYxziwCKfT_UGqYwsV8f3QnRUBi6aPQxrFelXEy6vUgkw7UWHL9Fh0yHmb3ZjAWwcNfUeH3Fwk5Wy5RSEYK5yEt2xPilIpHBRiEoy0GzAuc/s1600-h/DSC00396.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401069066027467234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPn7GzK__JeBktYpiPc3JhOMlSoDZCwrGyYxziwCKfT_UGqYwsV8f3QnRUBi6aPQxrFelXEy6vUgkw7UWHL9Fh0yHmb3ZjAWwcNfUeH3Fwk5Wy5RSEYK5yEt2xPilIpHBRiEoy0GzAuc/s320/DSC00396.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#990000;">There were TONS of seashells! I was going nuts.</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOvS6KRZlKoFLOMwwI_shNWDQNHlVk4NRT9AW8VQMeg7OGoDIo6uulmqDEicizQ_LzWPCcVMbDZBNcBcuEIQioYklZHZ8EpVfFAOsK74bsV63q8tuAmEGbfdUVVcZjJwJtVykEKTR1Y4/s1600-h/DSC00397.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401069064916316082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOvS6KRZlKoFLOMwwI_shNWDQNHlVk4NRT9AW8VQMeg7OGoDIo6uulmqDEicizQ_LzWPCcVMbDZBNcBcuEIQioYklZHZ8EpVfFAOsK74bsV63q8tuAmEGbfdUVVcZjJwJtVykEKTR1Y4/s320/DSC00397.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#990000;"> PS Rema is deathly allergic to shellfish. Therefore this photo: hardly funny...due to the fact that <em>I</em> would have to be the one to inject her emergency </span><span style="color:#990000;">EpiPen OMG...</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdRlyTzdiCIbXKxwoGvK5vP6VirgOxDnrM6d3r2XE6UiDeA1vJTb44Ku5WhfbW49W6Q15nGPpBraWprAQwkLWIVeyUcNHc9lD-ZdrSYX3vHFiO0G82Nr9N7ApQ8MJR8feXmnZW6btwKU/s1600-h/DSC00399.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401069058956977090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdRlyTzdiCIbXKxwoGvK5vP6VirgOxDnrM6d3r2XE6UiDeA1vJTb44Ku5WhfbW49W6Q15nGPpBraWprAQwkLWIVeyUcNHc9lD-ZdrSYX3vHFiO0G82Nr9N7ApQ8MJR8feXmnZW6btwKU/s320/DSC00399.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#990000;">We went to the biggest aquarium in Europe: SO fun!</span></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401066943060263458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGTKOhoEA12zn-kRyhKhLF6yxaOsESwFzFEhOrxjWEzcHhAD2ZPwAH0X7FSLhyphenhyphenLTLpwvtoa7KIfQd5iqhQzwfq8FYMBfPzqvAHCnSOVyFYnhHUnMRoD-BYu4wQj_-vxArAtQjBfbeMJc/s320/DSC00431.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UIKuijo85xZiHBSTwBxqDvhGLPBAfvq4eIg4v6mUEid-vTDdwxeFFOTsdbUG42FUejUYyNeLqkHfdWi1I8EvM8o-JxxcAVR0T4dZmjaKPn2ac4GK1lHukn81z1QP2FsLSzNo8TwvEmA/s1600-h/DSC00403.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401069056847540370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UIKuijo85xZiHBSTwBxqDvhGLPBAfvq4eIg4v6mUEid-vTDdwxeFFOTsdbUG42FUejUYyNeLqkHfdWi1I8EvM8o-JxxcAVR0T4dZmjaKPn2ac4GK1lHukn81z1QP2FsLSzNo8TwvEmA/s320/DSC00403.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmdQBfrEVJcUNBysNImy9aC5s0-d9puQGv1RbtvQZO9MfAtOTU2wcRwUV6FyRjmz_skFPqof9mzAF7ycvec_5IRARU0JwtuSBEIA2ty2izsPQMfONzB2VK15u7xOTLkkmQTJkEfJPCVQ/s1600-h/DSC00410.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401068018127259970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmdQBfrEVJcUNBysNImy9aC5s0-d9puQGv1RbtvQZO9MfAtOTU2wcRwUV6FyRjmz_skFPqof9mzAF7ycvec_5IRARU0JwtuSBEIA2ty2izsPQMfONzB2VK15u7xOTLkkmQTJkEfJPCVQ/s320/DSC00410.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlADiaYKt8V0B5hytE-e3bDLKapmwm09uX6RtBYGk4Dv4mbhkRKvsWcojph3zxU5MZYGydcmyyKAdoVLHFO-QWM8jpHCQJrS08RyWcQLEKHoQK0A4BiCjK_R3jqjq8F5mFYD_ZldrDnA/s1600-h/DSC00411.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401068012729888914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlADiaYKt8V0B5hytE-e3bDLKapmwm09uX6RtBYGk4Dv4mbhkRKvsWcojph3zxU5MZYGydcmyyKAdoVLHFO-QWM8jpHCQJrS08RyWcQLEKHoQK0A4BiCjK_R3jqjq8F5mFYD_ZldrDnA/s320/DSC00411.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCyESX-sRa_MZ9Zm0NYPXSLmXnrgzkMlM19zvqsPgl13cVNmhyQf7Nyw9kX24oj8q3QebU84aVpKZRnbFh54idNdw4szezTAqaP46CZXjbvvfCPs6vSa8jsdjNd9kPvuXeN-JnBSZwDA/s1600-h/DSC00412.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401068006426725746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCyESX-sRa_MZ9Zm0NYPXSLmXnrgzkMlM19zvqsPgl13cVNmhyQf7Nyw9kX24oj8q3QebU84aVpKZRnbFh54idNdw4szezTAqaP46CZXjbvvfCPs6vSa8jsdjNd9kPvuXeN-JnBSZwDA/s320/DSC00412.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1HN-Qp0ZDpveg-gWXvEdItsV_6ON_guS7XW7L2UEV9uvqy27v4adYPDQ_AIK07T5kM8RVjaUImIXmPKYHnmV-6xi7YDK6OsBxaKICMtXltLoIf4dQfYrw4YWDozi4ZgyPekxk1t_hZw/s1600-h/DSC00418.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401068002637163314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1HN-Qp0ZDpveg-gWXvEdItsV_6ON_guS7XW7L2UEV9uvqy27v4adYPDQ_AIK07T5kM8RVjaUImIXmPKYHnmV-6xi7YDK6OsBxaKICMtXltLoIf4dQfYrw4YWDozi4ZgyPekxk1t_hZw/s320/DSC00418.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAcI3b5vN3trfa4v8qO_6CkzfNn_BNTDZA93ktkr0EtM1YHQc75OdyrdHv2xQb4IIeSLsGhJ2KdYjoUB1tXE0anVELvE5CIPl26h05-f7cCwITfTgL1ryPx_-08dYCKhACZos9o2JbNo/s1600-h/DSC00420.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401066953137482386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAcI3b5vN3trfa4v8qO_6CkzfNn_BNTDZA93ktkr0EtM1YHQc75OdyrdHv2xQb4IIeSLsGhJ2KdYjoUB1tXE0anVELvE5CIPl26h05-f7cCwITfTgL1ryPx_-08dYCKhACZos9o2JbNo/s320/DSC00420.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRIfeTbGB3_s0yPN5NpcvaMQAttqGD1ixGhByLyL24SQS2l2OsVvcvhRS7LEBi-hSprb6uuwaR5oPNDZlHBeZCj-o4f0DvtgKejXB92hJex32_VYmDQ-w_S4lqlgdoQc41reo-6RckDM/s1600-h/DSC00428.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401066950432128786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRIfeTbGB3_s0yPN5NpcvaMQAttqGD1ixGhByLyL24SQS2l2OsVvcvhRS7LEBi-hSprb6uuwaR5oPNDZlHBeZCj-o4f0DvtgKejXB92hJex32_VYmDQ-w_S4lqlgdoQc41reo-6RckDM/s320/DSC00428.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NMee9eSmQ-vFS_GHOoJEnikgCq7Y173IfUSlgLUR9mBKkg1fNo4c3hNrFbOnRT5xMHsPgu1Xw2VvWaf8M5JhirQnrTjGGtoK_hjShHFu51QVrip0Lga57lp65F3zWbdJ-r33XyXyVTI/s1600-h/DSC00429.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401066946252903986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NMee9eSmQ-vFS_GHOoJEnikgCq7Y173IfUSlgLUR9mBKkg1fNo4c3hNrFbOnRT5xMHsPgu1Xw2VvWaf8M5JhirQnrTjGGtoK_hjShHFu51QVrip0Lga57lp65F3zWbdJ-r33XyXyVTI/s320/DSC00429.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#990000;">More seascapes... </span><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdSy1tP0ixzNFxctU0giAsCWi752cALNeAez83Gx0P4DuUhwrYbVLiWeSkwCtRiao0hAhr-EJ9qXSjOBo1HJS50gx2_oKTeJGFfCzIGgo-PAUiNplUjAMIa6CH6F7jiCQAI7KYL0h41s/s1600-h/DSC00434.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401065843428894882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdSy1tP0ixzNFxctU0giAsCWi752cALNeAez83Gx0P4DuUhwrYbVLiWeSkwCtRiao0hAhr-EJ9qXSjOBo1HJS50gx2_oKTeJGFfCzIGgo-PAUiNplUjAMIa6CH6F7jiCQAI7KYL0h41s/s320/DSC00434.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOn6ZpR0DyN_UXIgHC9u-72JdvLiGzqzLbBeKKYsl12ueb24BfzeDADIyOST65PjInkfUwJ25tJCeceQR_A3JGYT4kL4NHYkHKOli3nNVoD9aSzgY-r9UY7xJmtPUFlE-bd279wIW9jY/s1600-h/DSC00435.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401065832737955842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOn6ZpR0DyN_UXIgHC9u-72JdvLiGzqzLbBeKKYsl12ueb24BfzeDADIyOST65PjInkfUwJ25tJCeceQR_A3JGYT4kL4NHYkHKOli3nNVoD9aSzgY-r9UY7xJmtPUFlE-bd279wIW9jY/s320/DSC00435.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EVh_P9s4CWYe-EhElg1HKb0DZ-wpfej_l0E4zka0LW8tctoiNoT4Ayv9SwoU5rY61g-kPhn8m9DoNDqOs7j6JvvRwTVIsEYqdRC9plNmmJxaqAooe_7PUrEnMgIG1vBaq8Ob_kW5Z20/s1600-h/DSC00436.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401065827915119186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EVh_P9s4CWYe-EhElg1HKb0DZ-wpfej_l0E4zka0LW8tctoiNoT4Ayv9SwoU5rY61g-kPhn8m9DoNDqOs7j6JvvRwTVIsEYqdRC9plNmmJxaqAooe_7PUrEnMgIG1vBaq8Ob_kW5Z20/s320/DSC00436.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfN5OC_LWDTV35cTK4K0uxJAEo-cbrsViw34rRB-v1A3IL9KF7DBrrbg1dd1OLNDW_tzn0d5c2K2MbsOrLRF6okkKKr9QB3QD_bTiXC1TzX31VOr-3Z-QHP7akps8KXC8f5q3NmhXK3M/s1600-h/DSC00438.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401064816756559666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfN5OC_LWDTV35cTK4K0uxJAEo-cbrsViw34rRB-v1A3IL9KF7DBrrbg1dd1OLNDW_tzn0d5c2K2MbsOrLRF6okkKKr9QB3QD_bTiXC1TzX31VOr-3Z-QHP7akps8KXC8f5q3NmhXK3M/s320/DSC00438.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#990000;">The bridge to l’Ile de Ré, an island in the Atlantic Ocean right off the coast of La Rochelle.</span></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401065847940026306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_u7GsSdcN-og5m7MKA4s35t7qnLnrjcraXwhoi_unJKQgvEjukI9rY9SMsOHCMewJg689aCYer7gQ-TEMdJ0Kc16UCcyIY4TipfG7Ph2XSR077VqeHAKdgOWjizjzQ-yC0u3eeKmN00/s320/DSC00432.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="left"><span style="color:#990000;">On the island, the weather was beautiful and sunny (and <em>dry</em>, lacking all that wonderful ocean air)...I loved being in nature again! Paris is pretty but it's not exactly natural (ie manicured forests, really?)</span><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaNxz-FnHLtGzIo9R_kWLTpu8Dg_ne84FCS8ZzIE5MG0-bAezRfrmWLtqZ5XOiqtQGWQJ2malp7Vum5m8iqwdYMAY4cMFuoazkQ_i2ZIicKKQ_Z2qA7p4Jwr3AwcbfxK3M6t3Eec_BPM/s1600-h/DSC00468.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401062117280009474" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaNxz-FnHLtGzIo9R_kWLTpu8Dg_ne84FCS8ZzIE5MG0-bAezRfrmWLtqZ5XOiqtQGWQJ2malp7Vum5m8iqwdYMAY4cMFuoazkQ_i2ZIicKKQ_Z2qA7p4Jwr3AwcbfxK3M6t3Eec_BPM/s320/DSC00468.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><span style="color:#990000;">If anyone can identify this creature that does not have any sort of skeleton, tentacles, or substance other than gush (eww), let me know!</span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomR25T-Zl8I8ELhrR3xsSqHvvpG32eHdw-Gu43lFiBDQ-uHGo4z8BfK7Yi9YxnAdamnxFykBAh7d5d17YBGxRHMs_3D5gzPbMmHlhVbWOsGZV_2Uyst6Pe5k2jBlw7lrHXbHd4nxQwQc/s1600-h/DSC00471.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401064803793980338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomR25T-Zl8I8ELhrR3xsSqHvvpG32eHdw-Gu43lFiBDQ-uHGo4z8BfK7Yi9YxnAdamnxFykBAh7d5d17YBGxRHMs_3D5gzPbMmHlhVbWOsGZV_2Uyst6Pe5k2jBlw7lrHXbHd4nxQwQc/s320/DSC00471.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#990000;">Hello Slug! He was about the size of my head! (and squishy, we tested)</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84QkvCyOBdtNmZEJRBZ_okn7BUfmTs6CUQHi9QEKXR4pNoZ5muv7RowcdEwAGRpCf9R14wTBYysFkJAY_eCXD92xSffRPvSqVlviPzdNkyZileKei8Uc-9DwpWWW9xylVPnu5tUt9yXM/s1600-h/DSC00470.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401064796989470946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84QkvCyOBdtNmZEJRBZ_okn7BUfmTs6CUQHi9QEKXR4pNoZ5muv7RowcdEwAGRpCf9R14wTBYysFkJAY_eCXD92xSffRPvSqVlviPzdNkyZileKei8Uc-9DwpWWW9xylVPnu5tUt9yXM/s320/DSC00470.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsif_-YOVsCUul4rmdMhKwaXD7E4j639KUngnu1AW2yibb9TxIbFRGzqtvil0RQMfHQiW_D4i64ZNMRuhPRFEFUI2wf1YIH3RDva5uCSa53G6iiQ9gSl9FmtN0vFSthKNl-MuTQbBbpY/s1600-h/DSC00447.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401059886900364802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsif_-YOVsCUul4rmdMhKwaXD7E4j639KUngnu1AW2yibb9TxIbFRGzqtvil0RQMfHQiW_D4i64ZNMRuhPRFEFUI2wf1YIH3RDva5uCSa53G6iiQ9gSl9FmtN0vFSthKNl-MuTQbBbpY/s320/DSC00447.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMg1BY98FTg4QKCpOF4RmxtUyoaNsQfOUidxqgYUNgvKYD9OL-hWCsd0d2yBP6qi4nLF_GyGmvUpf9t6GdmBIr1G8hNGUw6UOZLGd717Rs8FNHSiI3XgFFTLYRqAMxSZn2BZXPgGSXFtc/s1600-h/DSC00443.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401059882232481762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMg1BY98FTg4QKCpOF4RmxtUyoaNsQfOUidxqgYUNgvKYD9OL-hWCsd0d2yBP6qi4nLF_GyGmvUpf9t6GdmBIr1G8hNGUw6UOZLGd717Rs8FNHSiI3XgFFTLYRqAMxSZn2BZXPgGSXFtc/s320/DSC00443.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5Ixo4749sqAZAkKcBvqQrRRieLKhfCAVUEn-spZKm7FjXKjt5WWMgJshoG5lLMKWFrKqnFoaB0aBIcY-sxncCqVnTOM1zvKvtxX-43eIPJ1N3JJkuUexAnyHXXffyoHWAJGd8uAcWK4/s1600-h/DSC00442.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401059876452456482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5Ixo4749sqAZAkKcBvqQrRRieLKhfCAVUEn-spZKm7FjXKjt5WWMgJshoG5lLMKWFrKqnFoaB0aBIcY-sxncCqVnTOM1zvKvtxX-43eIPJ1N3JJkuUexAnyHXXffyoHWAJGd8uAcWK4/s320/DSC00442.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuctR5sdDK7HbeoTXj71ZhyphenhyphenCBH8OXgblUB5O5i3vtB1k9FSK12PLWhZaGsPpyIlFwTW0zKoba3h45aO_UnQuPNtKSdY6mwxgNJpMZ2R_jCfL6z6h4PRKLhb7Jv3OnAGqv_eys2HlEWcA/s1600-h/DSC00439.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401059874342437682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuctR5sdDK7HbeoTXj71ZhyphenhyphenCBH8OXgblUB5O5i3vtB1k9FSK12PLWhZaGsPpyIlFwTW0zKoba3h45aO_UnQuPNtKSdY6mwxgNJpMZ2R_jCfL6z6h4PRKLhb7Jv3OnAGqv_eys2HlEWcA/s320/DSC00439.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6O96zsNtHBr_PSoIC6YzBtZAnhGWwze6rDN4qmQp7VQTgtb3y24Xia3rg2VcgE4GRKzXqXR_yuKAAheVCrSgNRiMeahjuJikTXevdSW9kuvF3-d-TsKr8hIIZC9sq0pIACaN0KNpGDY/s1600-h/DSC00457.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401062112515225250" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6O96zsNtHBr_PSoIC6YzBtZAnhGWwze6rDN4qmQp7VQTgtb3y24Xia3rg2VcgE4GRKzXqXR_yuKAAheVCrSgNRiMeahjuJikTXevdSW9kuvF3-d-TsKr8hIIZC9sq0pIACaN0KNpGDY/s320/DSC00457.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGAwKA168LupPQVl8r7PoH9-2RxQq6rjl1dperXga2t41SIxC5AYNCzLPZhTVjBNsv9NxDVt0ipGt3H5LaX6GlI3nDEBFp6LcbiWr4j-Xpp8-1r0QHKILz9sceIl3F5BPYTBJcBBmjE0/s1600-h/DSC00460.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401062104769263746" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGAwKA168LupPQVl8r7PoH9-2RxQq6rjl1dperXga2t41SIxC5AYNCzLPZhTVjBNsv9NxDVt0ipGt3H5LaX6GlI3nDEBFp6LcbiWr4j-Xpp8-1r0QHKILz9sceIl3F5BPYTBJcBBmjE0/s320/DSC00460.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0Ab45CF0jbNsLZT6P9Iougj4jOOFnYv5TBX4AXCAJ1R8TN8WvU0QvWYBslYeEu1HH2e1z_X7CO4U0aZpN3ElIbA3SmQ450YPhsa4HqPHQlQQUD99nzDEeDUOx71i56UaemjwJAGKMs8/s1600-h/DSC00467.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401062097868552146" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0Ab45CF0jbNsLZT6P9Iougj4jOOFnYv5TBX4AXCAJ1R8TN8WvU0QvWYBslYeEu1HH2e1z_X7CO4U0aZpN3ElIbA3SmQ450YPhsa4HqPHQlQQUD99nzDEeDUOx71i56UaemjwJAGKMs8/s320/DSC00467.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="center"><span style="color:#990000;">Au revoir La Rochelle!</span></p>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-4870894236251750502009-11-01T05:31:00.000-08:002009-11-01T10:58:05.084-08:00I'm American!<span style="color:#990000;">Saturday October 31, 2009 - I'm American.</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Okay, so I know I should be blogging about La Rochelle….but first things first!! Last night, I had a CHEESEBURGER!!! Now, I know it’s a tall order to ask France to make a decent all-American cheeseburger and steak fries, but let me tell you it was a success! Over the past few days, my stomach and my head have been feeling a little woozy…I’m trying to find the balance between a student budget, French groceries and sufficient protein. No joke. I think I’m cured. I have never felt better than after creating my own Carl’s Jr. commercial in the middle of a nice French restaurant surrounded by distinguished French diners. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ahh</span>, I LOVED it! I think it was a bit of my homesick bitterness mixed with some “take that, France” attitude. </span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Okay, so if a juicy burger <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">doesn</span>’t remind me of my Dad enough; my friend Luke shows up. He is a fellow <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">CSU</span> student from our group and he is a <em>mathematics major</em>. So just as a background note, he is majoring in math. Period. And he also just happens to enjoy the French language, “it’s just a matter of equating a list of letters and symbol formulas with one that is already known to you…” Now he is here in Paris taking ridiculously high-level math classes <em>in French</em>. Remind me never to complain again.</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYZfklAh-vccwkOoS7J8eNYzyFIDMHjLMIjCtyN2K9B9abTHkNJlmG8TT8pm5hkN67tHsi-269xv4-B9IkGSUXPP9OPcOpJxFtYijQE5qZVl5WkAhTqc17llvhwRaSGonHM-t3-QtE8Y/s1600-h/DSC00480.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399128943817314658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYZfklAh-vccwkOoS7J8eNYzyFIDMHjLMIjCtyN2K9B9abTHkNJlmG8TT8pm5hkN67tHsi-269xv4-B9IkGSUXPP9OPcOpJxFtYijQE5qZVl5WkAhTqc17llvhwRaSGonHM-t3-QtE8Y/s320/DSC00480.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> </span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">...Why they gave me salad? I haven't the <em>slightest</em> idea.</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIoOP3WGtwDht6WzlUH9IFib7jronrDnPkqbR0BguIdvlonZ6EETsXEhu0q7Gzq7layha7lTboqqsB4Cbf9-KzOjSj_ZaApfh9xISujnGxPPqkHZzS6ivyMdOIeBoUPr3sYvpeb2s3dA/s1600-h/DSC00479.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399128942801010146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIoOP3WGtwDht6WzlUH9IFib7jronrDnPkqbR0BguIdvlonZ6EETsXEhu0q7Gzq7layha7lTboqqsB4Cbf9-KzOjSj_ZaApfh9xISujnGxPPqkHZzS6ivyMdOIeBoUPr3sYvpeb2s3dA/s320/DSC00479.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><span style="color:#990000;">All that said, he thinks it’s hilarious that I completely understand his, um, mathematical way of thinking. It’s simply what is logical. Most efficient. And what makes sense; why anyone else would do it differently, is beyond me… Ring any bells? Spending 20 years in an artist-engineer combination household, I have developed a certain set of skills that have become quite useful. As Luke is telling me about his circa 1980-something 4x4 Pathfinder (replacing the engine and running it over 400,000 miles) and our mutual hatred towards <em>unnecessary </em>debt…I begin to think, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">hmm</span>, I think I may have just met my Dad at age 25. Oh and did I forget to mention, he has a full ready-for-winter BEARD? This is just too much.<br /></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaoQXE7cbm-F9JckP_dgTKCh2swReH34tljAq3oWxfWSY6wGV3Zs0PjR0XptJuNrnTOzz9JI-5cuqk1fagIKB-lN2c1dvRGFrEa7rxbKNW4ZibFIYojFlue4tITnccFtqSbFzA0necMY/s1600-h/DSC00485.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399128936607990018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaoQXE7cbm-F9JckP_dgTKCh2swReH34tljAq3oWxfWSY6wGV3Zs0PjR0XptJuNrnTOzz9JI-5cuqk1fagIKB-lN2c1dvRGFrEa7rxbKNW4ZibFIYojFlue4tITnccFtqSbFzA0necMY/s320/DSC00485.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> </span></p><p><span style="color:#990000;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Joyeux</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Anniversaire</span> to my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Roomie</span> and thanks Mom for the best hat in Paris, I'm obsessed!</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32V1W5lseROQzKw4_4d4mmmxPtgeiWgo_1ngijc6jo8LDp-zFhtA9rWrVV8JA35ffgQoCzfQYkI08bEYoMvbgYN9FJFLSb8OT2dsM1bkzG4NtVZJhGOjo_p2wg4O5vWIUKX57StUSWRg/s1600-h/DSC00481.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399128932850410210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32V1W5lseROQzKw4_4d4mmmxPtgeiWgo_1ngijc6jo8LDp-zFhtA9rWrVV8JA35ffgQoCzfQYkI08bEYoMvbgYN9FJFLSb8OT2dsM1bkzG4NtVZJhGOjo_p2wg4O5vWIUKX57StUSWRg/s320/DSC00481.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p><span style="color:#990000;">Now off to Chocolate Chip pancakes at <em>Breakfast in America</em>...What can I say, I'm feeling patriotic.</span></p>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-22867434866327424152009-10-12T15:16:00.000-07:002009-10-12T15:31:53.286-07:00Back with Class!<span style="color:#990000;">Monday October 12, 2009 – Back with Class!</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><br />First day of school…but not in the way you might think! For those who aren’t already aware, I applied for a teaching position many, many months ago for my year abroad and I got the job as an English Language Assistant at a high school in the suburbs of Paris. For the past week, I have been observing English classes and today I began to teach. I have my own classrooms, keys, pigeon-hole in the teacher’s lounge, cafeteria card, and have to make my very own lesson plans…apparently I am supposed to know what I’m doing! Ha. Ha. I almost forgot to mention, I heard <em>my own</em> “teacher voice” today, you know the one I’m talking about; it scared me a little.<br /><br />So I teach 11 classes per week; four on Monday, one on Tuesday, and six on Friday. The way the system works is that a (real) English teacher can request an assistant (a not exactly real teacher) to work with their students. The classes are divided mostly in half and I take the group once a week to work on oral language and conversation skills. Today went really well…I wore my super professional Van Heusen dress that I bought during Grace’s Women’s Retreat last spring, perfect; kind of my equivalent to a power suit. The lesson I prepared went over well…I <em>did</em> do it three times in a row so that makes it easier. I tend to live in the teacher’s lounge or “la salle des professeurs” during the gaps in my schedule. I drink tea and eat fig newtons, not very French I guess, I need to work on that. But, I swear, it seems as though the teachers down <em>at least</em> 6 cups of coffee a day! This is the view:</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hC6o8pSGI8ZkPcDqj-m1ui8inn_u8SWqGMs4ruaERTyEukvhafXPgbd5cn7f9HmusUQf0bynDkLDLRtHrtE2J905WRlytWhgnuxP0GB567MWQ5-Wly5EqSvj1ShxHkJIQBegn0ifBw8/s1600-h/DSC00373.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391842222193552834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hC6o8pSGI8ZkPcDqj-m1ui8inn_u8SWqGMs4ruaERTyEukvhafXPgbd5cn7f9HmusUQf0bynDkLDLRtHrtE2J905WRlytWhgnuxP0GB567MWQ5-Wly5EqSvj1ShxHkJIQBegn0ifBw8/s320/DSC00373.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br />Oh I almost forgot: my commute. Not very exciting right, well it does involve 3 metro lines, 1 bus and 5 stations….don’t forget the stairs, remember! And, of course, this:</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5JRSjhJi43XHlwgvo5TZ-DtRCrfCM8hqDOvf6gGy-zCGYGjtrFTFpWwZKwPnJ4RBPrLjZZiHpjQ6G-Zz15cTBT48irso77V7zW_wRVUr0WSQLZvAwab3NbZQ7I74N88gL4X4SongUjc/s1600-h/DSC00324.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391842219694463586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5JRSjhJi43XHlwgvo5TZ-DtRCrfCM8hqDOvf6gGy-zCGYGjtrFTFpWwZKwPnJ4RBPrLjZZiHpjQ6G-Zz15cTBT48irso77V7zW_wRVUr0WSQLZvAwab3NbZQ7I74N88gL4X4SongUjc/s320/DSC00324.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> </span></div><div><span style="color:#990000;">That’s right 144 old stone steps all my own! Yes, this is the one and only stairway that leads up to my high school. When I do eventually reach the summit every morning, shedding layers and layers of clothing, as well as, 5 pounds of water weight in the form of sweat (I know, gross!) I get to greet my fellow colleagues and students after climbing 4 more flights of stairs once<em> inside</em> the building, face beet-red and out of breath. Jokes on me I guess. Thanks France! …PS that’s our new catchphrase! Feel free to apply it where needed during your stay, but you must only say it with a really stiff-slash-insane looking smile on your face. Don’t worry, it will come almost naturally.</span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#990000;">My first University classes begin tomorrow, so wish me luck…at both ends of the classroom!</span></div><div><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#990000;">PS my apartment smells like a fart, not a healthy fart, like a rotten someone/someTHING has <em>gotta</em> be sick around here…I think I should stop… it’s only the cheese in the fridge and it’s “fresh” meaning it looked like this when my roommate’s French boyfriend bought it.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391842234038723218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ77aoeFXykfKMhtwIssdqCLe6FhavMAkmaZVC96V52_tuGdY5CiB3sU-YSB_NrvE0oHzCGATTxnrsjIXAidhdsZuF1CsuqzfbxnuRtweQPoXf3e3rYfbS4KgP1Jw3S3SKw-QCWpwQBc0/s320/DSC00379.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><br /><p><span style="color:#990000;">Now you know why I strictly live off of Nutella.</span></p>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-91224664247679972342009-10-12T14:11:00.000-07:002009-10-12T14:44:34.239-07:00Sunday Afternoon<span style="color:#990000;">Sunday October 11, 2009 – Montmartre</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">So I realized that I’ve been here for going on two months and I still hadn’t visited Sacre Cœur and Montmartre… My tour guide was Trevor, my friend from San Diego. We took the funicular to the top of the hill to the Sacre Cœur cathedral. </span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391829451427785826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzow5HlLpsQFvvmhyphenhyphenVL_xF5n7Jn_ks0Sgv0E0xBSvarUZs4_bzMIGBUk4rkEJHD7cSK9CCwE5Ua_GVqrYhW4wL1ox-1VEyp4NefK746K-VoYh815tXOKftOv0JBR98_X3NSdIQUDLFnc/s320/DSC00350.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391828592581346930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDokjnTVqJzQlzKbd4q6Eal2kDzu9rQBY5gQK1UGQzMTPmYvP8HaYp1ysj2dBKt_Ma6ka-YwS-DmhdmaXWcvyihR3hjWR0RpjmGdcHc7oo7B3uKnbdvmnzYqIRtv7LqtVHk7VcVp6U7M/s320/DSC00356.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391826904268177874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9cc85tiW0Ib2jNUWZiAYVDF3H9GfKHjn_2vSQ2EjwGMEfrh5cEAErvLRRsFtyzPWINBCCzM1w5OGEivQmSy5WSMewUuTJQR8CgxMY3X2wUiim4ZVbQomYo7gQWOtcJ7AcfFgxuWx90U/s320/DSC00363.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391828583370027266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNz_rtP9UqDjyGa6LolvaZkGQmdCnCqOVEkAi-SESYBcsY_qVl9MK3HdlPFF2TsDJqrA9J-ehvV3lfFZLSMr7AKENh7huMdFa6LNgy_DvLswmQmd3zg-UUzSLaiVDD0AB_4pGGWeD1ULQ/s320/DSC00357.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Since it was Sunday, there were crowds of people everywhere enjoying the open market and some live music that included favorites like “Ticket to Ride” by the Beatles. One comforting thing about Paris, in spite of being so far away from home, is the music. I never go out without hearing a familiar tune that reminds me of sophomore year of high school or road trips trying to sleep in the Landcruiser back in the day. Oh speaking of Landcruisers, I actually see them quite often in a purely singular form: a tow truck. Since most European cars are so small the huge big rig tow trucks really aren’t necessary…they use a whole new form of beast below: (Photo dedicated to Dad and Doug, especially)</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmOPI4OSWOl6bthTLwmjRCZiG2KZWEyvuuJDq-WoS4_ER3VM_vEHyX2zvX4yBAVnx3sfg8pQfhHZT2PZhmc9LOVRsARPPKd3viKaqdBzVWu63J0ER-QKfCvSi36pGBlG3hJ4cwvID7x8/s1600-h/DSC00315.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391829465634927138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmOPI4OSWOl6bthTLwmjRCZiG2KZWEyvuuJDq-WoS4_ER3VM_vEHyX2zvX4yBAVnx3sfg8pQfhHZT2PZhmc9LOVRsARPPKd3viKaqdBzVWu63J0ER-QKfCvSi36pGBlG3hJ4cwvID7x8/s320/DSC00315.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> </span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Anyways, Sacre Cœur was gorgeous and we found the most perfect Pride and Prejudice garden I have seen; I fell in love with it. </span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391828600598966706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5tA_yyJCTZr0WpstbxD-ORyxp41vZtMpzz1qUyqgrbN0hx5OyZsVzsX4qP7-6fVj89ERtRYhTtQUYp1hWQ8__EIJD5GJyAbq_D626gJylernZ1gknPLxWdvyyACSSlR11_P7V0s5PBc/s320/DSC00353.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391828608169471426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cNI5G0A2f5m2HmCyVfNPeDP5CN-QeScyKALwbwzA5KF2aSnQdpIQIR6Uy0NIk5JdJu6dxG-SboPDojcHrv3Isry_MQXQa31rU7obAanye3JL-b8EscuPlV2TakgNPTBRKTOvPTGAc1I/s320/DSC00352.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Speaking of love, we also saw The Wall of Love! See the “je t’aime” on the right side?<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5OEupf_748Vlt_xDX-c_vpHBo_amIXSl12q5jrDZQ3OFR2xn8wnZNebaQK4ctNPWdcXRRtFzUayhirwNNBcw99H1liK2GjlDAlL3ThN7aRR9s7iOq_O3cPWGm9X92SYkjgil39InbzI/s1600-h/DSC00349.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391829456454461634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5OEupf_748Vlt_xDX-c_vpHBo_amIXSl12q5jrDZQ3OFR2xn8wnZNebaQK4ctNPWdcXRRtFzUayhirwNNBcw99H1liK2GjlDAlL3ThN7aRR9s7iOq_O3cPWGm9X92SYkjgil39InbzI/s320/DSC00349.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391826912464855762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z8oZSx4p356U25FUSJydd_qxn5VIvTlRTOlZ8zvCOjgLS13PrOehBLTEOMfMbthgbx479PH7JcZbHFRguYZ7FWFmqOvSwu09-nliHK5_IJ5v1N589fJ_ohMUYDMloe0s16RXyKX8dvs/s320/DSC00360.JPG" border="0" /><br />I’m not sure if I am correct, but there was an école des garçons or boy’s school nearby the funicular that had gates and stairways that looked identical to those in the movie the Red Balloon! That made me happy.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">After traversing all of those stairs we were in definite need of a snack. What better place to enjoy a break than at Amélie’s café or le Café des Deux Moulins from the movie. We indulged in crème brulée and chocolat chaud! The group sitting in front us indulged as well, in a couple cups of coffee!<br /></span><div><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391825268523916386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwvsSIsEmamz6ITB7ucBNm59rwLt7spxvCm5INKWQ0iHTO3ax5FEWkPHCL7wW1FCgqOc2puHL9wv_IR2F_wCJ8wCTWSxUS2siodZbOacFmMzUXZ_AwsTQj097IOYHg8NG5If-orz2JqQ/s320/DSC00370.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391826896475277842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ESfH_nX_G7fN1Adj-ReiRczk1iSjZTIoSlUv43g7FRWXjVQ2OBghjVHBNtZGgusQcr-l2_x-HB3LOiZo9ShKy51_mXfWnW_83k3rgicsCvvH5t5kJp8SkH1WbJsvtV9DOssPDbLcGAo/s320/DSC00368.JPG" border="0" /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiwyHfvQOMeJFkbibaBgysdU0_53rBAN1B0rM7pLCTlj0DriuLTKEQCoWA7nKjlFs6Gz0rB8GU1QzltAGtUluQLvBre7CGHy4RuJYqylQo_Nj3M5Nyu4SYAhtrVlJjBNUqs7podcswR8/s1600-h/DSC00369.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391825274698529698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiwyHfvQOMeJFkbibaBgysdU0_53rBAN1B0rM7pLCTlj0DriuLTKEQCoWA7nKjlFs6Gz0rB8GU1QzltAGtUluQLvBre7CGHy4RuJYqylQo_Nj3M5Nyu4SYAhtrVlJjBNUqs7podcswR8/s320/DSC00369.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br />The Moulin Rouge, probably only presentable in daylight. On a Sunday afternoon.<br /></span><div><br /></div><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391826885999433122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1M4LXaGI2anktkoGSrno6yVj9UAw88K9AE-uYHI09gNqxP4B_vuinAZbDswltwPt8Fthvddx278Zq2iKYl4eqXCKsERQLU2kSomy6wORZPACo_iqCIak3h69D-l-b3LVWtqrHz4cDW8/s320/DSC00372.JPG" border="0" /><br />PS I also found my dream home and the perfect bite to eat nearby!!</span></div><div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391825285687445730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjLhewSE5U7whGTFXsu3r8w9d6S_Vn2g1rRBfd3P7JA9AHs5HP70gpCkVMLRn3IsHvLb3pXO2TODpSeHJGr7p2PmcmqwqP6eUq6w6Juc8UScK2dX6FdLIfbak-6nP34EcY1rPtO5uXTc/s320/DSC00367.JPG" border="0" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391825288453239234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9opL8GtHHZCHqUPNH2Sf7gR48Y9V6Qse0jfssHmCBOo4_zxZhEiY1-KP5MA7hBVSnVGgqLzWrSHaO3lIPxz5nO2Dxer5GvhqvlEfKnLWOrVDoD0xrYq8ts1E4hSGrc_aTLAjiitkf3Uo/s320/DSC00366.JPG" border="0" /></span></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p><span style="color:#990000;">Who's with me?</span></p>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-50757404551490749912009-10-12T13:54:00.000-07:002009-10-12T15:09:37.507-07:00La Nuit Blanche<span style="color:#990000;">Saturday October 3, 2009 – La Nuit Blanche</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><br />In high school, my French teacher explained une nuit blanche as “une nuit sans dormir” or “a night without sleeping”. Every year Paris throws a huge all-nighter called La Nuit Blanche, complete with various attractions and artistic exhibits all over the city that are open all night long. Overall, it was basically a Disneyland crowd all over the city of Paris; I swear I didn’t even know this many people lived here! But, we had a list of event s to see and started with a star exhibit in the Luxembourg gardens…it was a disco ball hanging from an orange construction crane with a spot light on it with a one hour line to “experience” it. Um moving along, we headed to Châtelet. Crowds everywhere!! In the midst of things, we find a most likely <em>not</em> sober tight<em>-ish</em> rope walker that was going to give me a heart attack! I know I’m such a mom!</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391821207157581074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVJHIgSZ4_PYKvsojAy3qC8WAro1jvUafHZPJIIApEf6_R2N5YszoHpLdZs9NkvbYzP4MVo3UHGCXXFDOWduKgf3jOITHlDQWxGz0zbUyauOvTGf87sMHeR5xXA6avv3vvqQS7S_KmpE/s320/DSC00330.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">We decided to get a snack at a café, you know, right in front of Notre Dame. I still can’t get over that I’m here. Notre Dame at night is so beautiful! Ahhh…</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391821198203558418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KBXuPZX2ElQDv2tQvTUGeIkbeyRDAz9dkeoyAaVQv_6AqpUFcE5GuWoe0YTp7NrMzv5oRVo-n_sRdEIVemV3I-6MmqTbA6ca70HS4xygKcTLuo_RiwUIGqFoSuUxO6DFQgSekeDt8IM/s320/DSC00328.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391821891844041938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFLjsWzr75oW2bRevAB4Qcc7zRNSghCQdAjlEgTEKImP4sUPuBEKnoRPrTLc0ji78Lj69mFE21HWcofV0-jLjkHPHLVp6cTtttwp7fVbfEpVxnLBEQZTEuJ-wW99grCKB2vrVyIZaUJc/s320/DSC00329.JPG" border="0" /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0O9FrDm_QaYZEegf1OLdheuSthFSDcQP_bR8Tdlv691nOfVzu93zdK6RSze0MTCFiTZJ1ENNZWRmcRFjLrEemRod4JRTZXcJU3SP7BADwtWFkpTo2mrDzvCB3GBOxINp6jmjkesnRsS0/s1600-h/DSC00331.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391821879543132290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0O9FrDm_QaYZEegf1OLdheuSthFSDcQP_bR8Tdlv691nOfVzu93zdK6RSze0MTCFiTZJ1ENNZWRmcRFjLrEemRod4JRTZXcJU3SP7BADwtWFkpTo2mrDzvCB3GBOxINp6jmjkesnRsS0/s320/DSC00331.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br />My favorite metro stop, Arts et Métiers: It is completely bronze plated with huge crank gears built into the ceiling of the tunnel. Please enjoy also the gentleman in the foreground…oh wait it was actually a woman! Ew.</span></div><div><span style="color:#990000;"></span><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><div><div><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391821230224512914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdOPjTQXJzX4SQVD2roF2pq9qLLmHLTI83lDqmMDUYibu1Jkv2ZRlieBPTl47RMn1TrvFjBEVkw30Us-64BdIUQxwWn2kCCSsdOrhC8ErRvPB8QGsTPTYCBGVafpfC-ziKhgcMJ_sZIo/s320/DSC00335.JPG" border="0" /> Hôtel de Ville...and a few people.</span></div><div><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391821216598144066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WGpyR8nlcRI0lqjkRshbilEvqFKiTpaCRG9EHh313GnEllexbm432QyCAM9Zd1L63z9oP0KRyfAIUFBlQS1wMsE5aA2iv7ECqCCsZcg0xTRS6Ti5haCzrZDBEeG1YmsT8sFFP-Lyd_A/s320/DSC00332.JPG" border="0" /> </span></div><div><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#990000;">Back to the exhibits, well since everything had a line that was at least an hour and it was freeeezing, we just accepted the fact that it wasn’t going to happen. But wait! <em>The Kiss</em>! The line is so short, why not! (Red flag) Okay, so <em>The Kiss</em> is a ten minute short film of a couple making out on a bus. NOT a Hollywood, celebrity good-looking, good lighting, and spotless tour bus kiss…no, more like your average TMI PDA moment on public transportation! Haha, at least we participated in something, right?</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#990000;">BTW TMI= too much information and PDA= public display of affection oh and BTW= by the way :)<br /><br />Being the mom that I am, I was in bed by about 1a.m. Good night!</span></div></div></div>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-57121980428439289462009-09-30T11:00:00.001-07:002009-09-30T11:17:22.470-07:00La Tour Eiffel<span style="color:#990000;">Fall 2009 - La Tour Eiffel</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><br />So over the past month or so, I've gathered a little collection of Eiffel Tower photos...I'm <em>sure</em> the album will only grow:</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqOuLc-6wjsSjJ0CwCkxeVqhzhXQmqZoA46GpDnwnE4DKb5EaPHvRVJNexm9_KzzfPbVu7VPGoiMM-DOrsPq-xBZqoNMW0E5edGcMxtGlCB0u9PBOzhgaqwV9A1bC3lpU2ZY4a9iMII4/s1600-h/DSC00327.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387324760087437282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqOuLc-6wjsSjJ0CwCkxeVqhzhXQmqZoA46GpDnwnE4DKb5EaPHvRVJNexm9_KzzfPbVu7VPGoiMM-DOrsPq-xBZqoNMW0E5edGcMxtGlCB0u9PBOzhgaqwV9A1bC3lpU2ZY4a9iMII4/s320/DSC00327.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> My friend Trevor's birthday picnic!</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfbudGa01qppNuNgbVLZzyWqGphZL8YBRPbou09ebGZgKYpON0eXkCOMumMt4jubMTjj0XtVlgsxxGVQ3XePR9_Kd7emD-WHEgX-hbwj3jmg4iVsiAL2_nBR3O_8OOxmS85_7lREm7Zc/s1600-h/DSC00326.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387324752335763378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfbudGa01qppNuNgbVLZzyWqGphZL8YBRPbou09ebGZgKYpON0eXkCOMumMt4jubMTjj0XtVlgsxxGVQ3XePR9_Kd7emD-WHEgX-hbwj3jmg4iVsiAL2_nBR3O_8OOxmS85_7lREm7Zc/s320/DSC00326.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5Rd6b3Ot3SAcbw3j09dmecX7jrJTN2uQCH_lk6PwWVKWp0eh26UrZ5ZsYFzkpp_7DyJujWpcgZP7WCvcb2h2p-_K0qzaua2g8cKU8w7rkB0d-7b2keuw4GdZwiBS6gB-1grAutOjTtw/s1600-h/DSC00325.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387324743651279346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5Rd6b3Ot3SAcbw3j09dmecX7jrJTN2uQCH_lk6PwWVKWp0eh26UrZ5ZsYFzkpp_7DyJujWpcgZP7WCvcb2h2p-_K0qzaua2g8cKU8w7rkB0d-7b2keuw4GdZwiBS6gB-1grAutOjTtw/s320/DSC00325.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> At night, the tower sparkles every hour!</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcu1JjbNxiLdWk_lsHfcRqO-eaJ4_QcE_6JmOBze4oeT7fAUhEmpK3vQndDlFf64bttwqyngJf70f0zuW-7dE3Y1tA3SSjxoB1jEDprgyenjLRCSLzauLCRsjmWq7IMid5H8ZA84PXqc/s1600-h/DSC00280.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387324735589797474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcu1JjbNxiLdWk_lsHfcRqO-eaJ4_QcE_6JmOBze4oeT7fAUhEmpK3vQndDlFf64bttwqyngJf70f0zuW-7dE3Y1tA3SSjxoB1jEDprgyenjLRCSLzauLCRsjmWq7IMid5H8ZA84PXqc/s320/DSC00280.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnhyphenhyphenl6ERVqYyYDy9wVPxdf97lLFakuV8kDdMqvkHlCxhLzLWSqut53l5hBJa2bDGMvLf61UQiDxvJcmFT36bEtLPT10v7cUCRiAlU8KlVljLwG_sfnIBf8jEEPEvzhybsIz8P3OwzyiU/s1600-h/DSC00271.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387323379668434962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnhyphenhyphenl6ERVqYyYDy9wVPxdf97lLFakuV8kDdMqvkHlCxhLzLWSqut53l5hBJa2bDGMvLf61UQiDxvJcmFT36bEtLPT10v7cUCRiAlU8KlVljLwG_sfnIBf8jEEPEvzhybsIz8P3OwzyiU/s320/DSC00271.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXswF9CLvTpgKEM9uXYZZFWF2H_Q7iJFuscWW1d5LA-5JqediLFLv9kPUCxhqmMUEU8n-CUx19wUjy3V_aXhtxOebqX0aA7q7r-XVhvHFjroJmXpHhZEy7TugOapRMqs1XAG_M8N63W8/s1600-h/DSC00269.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387323373665206898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXswF9CLvTpgKEM9uXYZZFWF2H_Q7iJFuscWW1d5LA-5JqediLFLv9kPUCxhqmMUEU8n-CUx19wUjy3V_aXhtxOebqX0aA7q7r-XVhvHFjroJmXpHhZEy7TugOapRMqs1XAG_M8N63W8/s320/DSC00269.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh119FbR9t8lRjGcJrJc2K6SMh1G1LZpfvrbRx6JUWWc0Q1bNIZf_Sxoe7yVs8l_lznZW1TBji-wzLeDqubrLnMOPcKkjnaz4qGY8sIchzbW4TTZ3UI-matl3wplKlrBjPpR28T8As5BMI/s1600-h/DSC00102.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387323364856257650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh119FbR9t8lRjGcJrJc2K6SMh1G1LZpfvrbRx6JUWWc0Q1bNIZf_Sxoe7yVs8l_lznZW1TBji-wzLeDqubrLnMOPcKkjnaz4qGY8sIchzbW4TTZ3UI-matl3wplKlrBjPpR28T8As5BMI/s320/DSC00102.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcHQv2cqrlmTiQRQCbceT0syGcX49e7Zfa-oXjAqNAE-J3HuzTKIwRFwPnezR_os0qYXp-ydkU1rnQty7c8COQve8_HEqfZfHCbWh6CcQK858WJe3KbLhSXUxhurNKWerTMBdndrYBJU/s1600-h/DSC00096.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387323354106334578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcHQv2cqrlmTiQRQCbceT0syGcX49e7Zfa-oXjAqNAE-J3HuzTKIwRFwPnezR_os0qYXp-ydkU1rnQty7c8COQve8_HEqfZfHCbWh6CcQK858WJe3KbLhSXUxhurNKWerTMBdndrYBJU/s320/DSC00096.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> ...Still takes my breath away!</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438965746991386169.post-2927601339269264472009-09-30T10:25:00.000-07:002009-09-30T10:44:44.727-07:00Combien? Vingt euros. Quinze. Dix-sept. Oui, d’accord.<span style="color:#990000;">Saturday September 26, 2009 - Swap Meet </span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Can anyone say retail therapy? Today, I went to the World’s Largest Swap Meet, or so I’m told. It’s just outside main Paris and is really easy to get to. Although I did not want to wake up at 7:30 this morning, I had a feeling it would be worth it. I went with two of my friends Julia and Lily; the perfect not-too-many people to still get things accomplished and be able stick together group. First things first. I did not bring a pair of tennis shoes, to France I mean, like at all. Now I didn’t anticipate this being a problem, I never wear tennis shoes except while at the gym, but I also did not anticipate the minimum of <em>800 stairs I do a day</em>. Oh did I forget to mention that?! Yep, that’s right! On a very average nothing-to-see-here day, I counted. 803 stairs I counted. I only went to school, to my program office (to pick up a gigantic 15lb box of winter clothes, thanks Mom), and then back home I swear. Ladies, please hop on the next flight and you can live on bread, cheese, chocolate, and wine too…all you have to do is try to move around Paris each day. Holy cow! …Back to the shoes, basically my feet have been dying a little more every day. I knew I needed to buy real shoes, but naturally I’m not very good at settling. I can’t just buy regular-old converse like everyone else. No, I need the all black leather converse; hey once I have my mind set on something there’s no going back! I do a little research and back home they’re about $75; here, in a Parisian boutique, they’re 75€ ($110 yikes!). So… needless to say I’ve been holding off on that purchase until now. I found exactly the same converse I wanted for 50€ which is actually $73.35. Deal, Mmmkay! Then I proceeded to get really off track and bought two 10€ dresses and really pretty white blouse for work, a black leather jacket (20€!), some little black socks (in regular stores they’re about $6 a pair, ugh), and a pair of vintage Paco Rabanne sunglasses for a steal! Oh, and a pack of combs we split between the three of us. The craziest part: in central Paris, to buy a normal nothing-special-about-it comb will cost you about $9. What?! </span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNFrjdvAczroFmCwycrEb_5XBVJ47hlJFZyNzkahPaopBSSNMw8OXtOGRYeO7zOV8cQXtGfkoyXbAGl3TvxBN8Y2cE4g7dHz9k6WdL45qG6CsGcTM1nautGp4_jIoJxa8vXa8ys9ER_U/s1600-h/DSC00304.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387314472350297858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNFrjdvAczroFmCwycrEb_5XBVJ47hlJFZyNzkahPaopBSSNMw8OXtOGRYeO7zOV8cQXtGfkoyXbAGl3TvxBN8Y2cE4g7dHz9k6WdL45qG6CsGcTM1nautGp4_jIoJxa8vXa8ys9ER_U/s320/DSC00304.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> </span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Imagine the downtown L.A. Fashion District and multiply it by 100 = the swap meet. I don’t think we even saw a quarter of it…but we did manage to find the best lunch ever! Now, since I have this comparison going, when going to the fashion district, you don’t use the bathroom, you don’t eat anything from the vendors, and you shower immediately upon returning home. Now believe me, I did shower right away and did have to <em>pay</em> to use a bathroom, but the food was sooooo good (and so far, safe too)! My sister and I have a Quizno’s tradition in L.A. because a franchise is somehow regulated, right? Anyways, we found this little sandwich place, chowed down on massive chicken sandwiches, burgers, and fries! Dee-lish. Funny story: they will charge you an additional 75 cents, each, to sit at one of the tables. Students as we are, we decided to just eat on the go. Well, that was until the man tried to put my huge sandwich in a to-go container…read: <em>Not happening</em>. So he let us sit for free: Bonus!</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCXSfCFwOqwB0AU3A7KURUFl20W0f6CRI_w2zQnuytPetALTyFuArdO5GkjPPn2f-yE-li2qSd1IHk5_Y2mHvcnus6rMk5eDjk7R_qhUojIcduB2hh1B6OXGI3jsr-quJgSWprCpIJlc/s1600-h/DSC00306.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387314460538457730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCXSfCFwOqwB0AU3A7KURUFl20W0f6CRI_w2zQnuytPetALTyFuArdO5GkjPPn2f-yE-li2qSd1IHk5_Y2mHvcnus6rMk5eDjk7R_qhUojIcduB2hh1B6OXGI3jsr-quJgSWprCpIJlc/s320/DSC00306.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">PS this sandwich totally lasted for 3 meals!</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9rsdbYdNBChexQWc86o0NxMQpMCeEUPbadt3gWSEW6K0xk7H4swi0HJV1qbaGhAvhifRxdvsT1wjnYX66Ucg9nuhU_4G8-Z2YnB-GbQM-M350h0eykQuW9cCP6wW3nLgUkYmJAthTJk/s1600-h/DSC00305.JPG"><span style="color:#990000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387314452872556290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9rsdbYdNBChexQWc86o0NxMQpMCeEUPbadt3gWSEW6K0xk7H4swi0HJV1qbaGhAvhifRxdvsT1wjnYX66Ucg9nuhU_4G8-Z2YnB-GbQM-M350h0eykQuW9cCP6wW3nLgUkYmJAthTJk/s320/DSC00305.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#990000;"> </span></div>Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650931127498072151noreply@blogger.com1