Not sure what day this is... Thursday the 30th maybe?

I walked to the Rodin up the Blvd De Invalides. The gold dome building is Hotel des Invalides. This is one of the few areas in Paris where you are allowed to play on (or even step on) the grass so I see myself bringing the baby here in the future.
I took the self-guided tour of the Rodin museum that is in my guide book. The museum is housed in an old mansion that Rodin lived in for a time. As usual, I enjoyed what was outside the museum more (although I did like what was being displayed). There is a nice fenced in park around the museum that has more of his larger pieces displayed.

Found this in a statue. I liked the juxtaposition of something living with something inanimate.

Lunch with Greg, Rita, and Alexis. I guess they can't get good Pho in Portugal.

We met Nico after work at this cafe that was recommended by Rick Steves. It is on Rue de Sevres, in the heart of the shopping area.

Dinner in their neighborhood.

modern art and melted cheese

I went to the Pompidou to get my fill of modern art. I enjoyed the 1.5 hours I was there. Turned out to be a good dose- not too few Miro paintings and not too many urinals as modern art.

Alexis and Nico's friends Greg and Rita flew in from Portugal today to help celebrate the New Year. I met up with everyone at a very nice Fondu place for dinner. Read: lots of melted cheese.

We walked by the Pompidou on our way back to the metro so here is a picture of Alexis and I in front of it.

Tomorrow- museums?

baby bottles and gag gifts

Alexis and I continued shopping for the baby today. I enjoyed comparing what they have in France compared to the U.S. especially for feeding materials (can take the pediatric OT out of the U.S. but......)
The baby (and his parents) are close to being set....
Later, Alexis rested at home and I headed out to the Marias neighborhood. I finished one of Rick Steve's self-guided tours I started in March. I did a bit of shopping in the area that Rick reported as being the gay district. Apparently this is the neighborhood to find cheese graters in the shape of Eiffel towers, soap dispensers shaped like poodles, utensils that double as legos, mugs with mustaches on them. Yesterday I walked around the neighborhood known for shopping and had NO interest in going into the high end clothing stores, but today I wanted to go into every store. I am such a sucker for these kind of stores and I think I found the mecca. I bought some jewelery and a fun set of mugs.
We ended the night at a Crepe place about 8 minutes from their place. They were out of the hazelnut chocolate option so they made me a caramel and chocolate crepe for dessert. There was none left on the plate.....

Ten steps in a day....

Step 1: Wake up at 3:30 and lay in bed till 6:30. Fall asleep finally.
Step 2: Wake up
Step 3: Go shopping for some baby stuff (diapers, wipes, etc) with Alexis
Step 4: Have hot chocolate and pasteries at Angelinas
Step 5: Go with Alexis to a sports store to buy a "gym ball". Discover that it is not acceptable to help oneself to the display items- oops.
Step 6: Leave Alexis and go walking in the 9th. Head to Galeries Lafayette- department store

Step 7: Experience equal parts amazement and creepiness at the " Broadway Musical" theme in the store's windows. They used a variety of childrens dolls attached to strings to reenact popular musicals- Mama Mia, West Side Story, Mary Poppins. Very creative but pretty creepy...
Step 8: Give two metro tickets to Russian tourists who were confused on how to buy passes at the stop they were at
Step 9: Eat dinner and watch a movie with Alexis and Nico
Step 10: Update blog

26 of December

Today Nico and I rode the velibes to the market, letting Alexis rest at home. I was in charge of buying spreads and the veggies. Thankfully everyone was kind dealing with my poor language skills. It also helps that I always keep pen and paper in my purse for writing (and pointing).
But I did end up bringing home anchovy spread and NOT eggplant spread! Who knew that I would confuse the two.

We made veggie lasagna for dinner
And then we addressed Alexis's craving for ginger bread men....
I have some innate inability to do anything simply or should I say "cookie cutter" like... these are my gingerbread creations.... I think I am the one walking the dog- note the curly hair. Alexis is in the lower right corner with a pregnant belly. She thought my idea of hiding candy in the belly was gross. Nico is in the lower left doing Aikido moves and holding an iPhone (I know that was super obvious and didn't require explanation). I made 6, Alexis made 12..... Art is never efficient...

Merry Christmas

Alexis, Sandra, and Elisa enjoying the "9 euro" fire that Nico started.
My flight to France itself was thankfully very uneventful. And then I arrived in Charles De Gaule aiport.......

Shortly after arriving into the baggage claim area it was announced that the baggage handlers had gone on strike and that it should end in about an hour. We were told that it would be over in an hour every 30 minutes or so for 3 hours. I finally caught on.

We were then told for 2 hours that our baggage would arrive any minute. I think part of the problem was that once the strike was over the conveyor belt broke. An airport worker either sat or looked into the machine for over 3 hours. Not sure what he was doing to make the situation better except by talking into his walkie talkie every 10 minutes- likely saying "yep, still no luggage". (See picture above. Also note how there are people literally sleeping on the belt)

When the luggage finally did come and when I spotted mine it was like I won the lottery. I had some survivors guilt to leave the people I had been hanging out with... But not too guilty to abandon them- I had been there for 5 hours.

I am very thankful I got into Paris with no complication and at least at the airport I could walk around. And worse case, I could of left. I had so much food for Alexis in my carry-on I could of at least survived a few days =) And dress a few infants....

Alexis and Nico had to go to a class but they were able to leave their keys with a friendly lady at their local bakery. The bakery employees knew immediately who I was once I staggered in- I guess I had the "I have been traveling for over 24 hours look" =)
We had a nice Christmas Eve dinner with Sandra. We had gone shopping earlier in the day and bought veggies and cheese. We had a nice non-traditional French Christmas eve dinner- Raclette (it is that black thing in the lower right hand corner). Think fondu but in reverse- you melt cheese and pour it over veggies (and on meat for some).


After a relaxing Christmas morning we took the metro to Champ de Mars and walked past the Eiffel tower. Alexis and I bought some roasted chestnuts from a street vendor on the bridge past the Eiffel tower. They weren't roasting on an open fire but over coals in what I think was a shopping cart. Alexis then headed home and Nico and I walked to the Arc de Triumph, down the Champs Elysee, and through part of the Tuileries. It was a beautiful sunny (but not warm) day and we felt that it was necessary to stay out as long as possible to enjoy it. Which we did.

It was a great Christmas day. I hope everyone else has had a great one was well.....

Here we come Canda!

I didn't mean to make this blog strictly for my traveling updates, but that is what it has turned into.

I recently went to NYC for 6 days, which I will try and post pictures of soon.

I am now in WA state.

My friend Ingrid and I are on a rode trip up north to Canada. Our first stop was in Leavenworth. We did some climbing and hiking there. Had to warm up my body (for hiking) and hands (for climbing) a bit.

We are about to leave to drive to Canada. I will try to update this as I can and to post pictures.

Calgary Stampede here we come.

last day in Paris

Here are some pretty pictures. I just wrote a nice, long entry. I went to cut and paste it and was never able to paste it. I couldn't do edit undo either. So I am going to bed somewhat defeated and will try again tomorrow.

Perhaps someone could ghost write for me =)

Easter Sunday

Another beautiful day in Basque country.

Below is a picture of the Barbe, the family house in Bidache. Nico's dad and dad's girlfriend live downstairs. His sister and family live upstairs. It is such a nice place to visit. I should of taken a picture of the surroundings. I did take pictures of the dogs though. I will post those later.


In France the Easter Bunny does not deliver the Easter candy, maybe there is labor dispute with the European Union. Instead, the bells of Rome somehow become freed and fly over children's homes delivering high quality chocolate and other sweets. I am not trying to sound judgemental of this approach, it just seems weird to me. It is hard to think of something as weird though when "normal" for you involves a rabbit that lays eggs, owns a cute basket, usually wears a jacket, and sneaks into your home to deliver candy.



We helped hide the candy (for the Bells that is) around Vero and Danny's flat. Once the "bells flew over" Nina and Noe were told that the bells "just" flew over and dropped off some candy. Here is Nina finding another thing of super yummy chocolate with Aunt Alexis providing some not so subtle hints.

We had a nice Easter meal made primarily by Vero and Noe (Nico's sister and nephew). They were very kind to make sure I had a nice vegetarian option. I had to continue my quest to corrupt nice European children with our Easter ways- I brought out a box of peeps. I think they enjoyed playing peep wars more than actually eating them. Poor children- they haven't come to appreciate the value of eating sugar coated marshmallows yet.

The three of us took a nice, post-Easter dinner drive to the coast. We took a stroll in Hendaye where it was a bit windy and one could say even cool. There were the obligatory Norwegian tourists in their bathing suits playing in the cold surf. There was also a man walking around nude as Easter morning, except for a piece of fabric specifically placed for modesty, which was held in place with a strap. I guess we all have our ways to celebrate Easter. Mine usually involves food and sugar though.

It is always nice to face west and look at the Atlantic.

Home

I am back in Fresno as of 11:00 last night. Nothing like 24 hours of traveling......

Besides keeping friends and family updated, I have been using my blog as a way for me to journal about my trip instead the actual journal that I usually use. So I will be putting up more posts from the trip soon.

Stayed tune........

Pays Basque

On Saturday we spent time in Pays Basque (Basque Country). The Basque region is considered the southwest and northwest areas of France and Spain. We drove through a lot of the French Basque country (although we entered Spain twice).

Here are some pictures. As you can see, there is a distinctive architecture in the region. More importantly, it is just stinking beautiful and serene.

Friday

On Friday I rode one the rental bikes to Luxemberg Gardens. I unintentionally took a very scenic route. I pride myself on my sense of direction and map skills. Both skills were seriously challenged. In my defense, Paris is an old city that has a lot of complexities and the road system was created before the automobile was invented. It probably didn't help that the signage is not the best (am I blaming the city of lights?) and that I kept ending up at very busy rotaries. I do have to say that I am now a more confident and aggresive Parian bike rider (for better or worse....).

Luxemburg was beautiful. All of Paris is about to spring into Spring. Daffodils have bloomed and the buds on the trees are forming. It was great to see everyone enjoying the park. Alexis and I met up for lunch in the Rue Cler area and then went to one of her friend's pastery shops that speciallize in macroons

We were to catch the train at 5:45 and we were on time (heck, early even) and as it always happens we had to rush at the last minute. Apparently all of Paris was in our train station to escape for easter weekend. Alexis darted around the station cutting people off and sliding inbetween inperceivable spaces and some how I managed to stay RIGHT behind her. It was like the ultimate video game. Initially, she would look behind to see if I was there. Every time she did we nearly touched noses, so she stopped checking on me and became even more daring in her attempt (or as I suspect) to lose me in the train station.

We would of been JUST on time, when we found out that the train time was moved up by 5 minutes. So we had to run for about 10 train cars. We were told by the conductor to get on at car 12 even though our seats were in car 19. So we walked through the 7 other cars with all our stuff. I had a backpacking backpack on with Alexis and my stuff in it, and 2 purses. The train was so crowded and I was so overloaded that I probably ran into half of the train's occupants with my stuff. Whenever someone had to pass in the opposite direction, my only choice was to back all the way into the nearest restroom until the person or persons past. I got to know the restrooms well. Here is a picture of us once we finally got to our seats. Notice the beautiful glow.

More sight seeing

This is one of the bikes available to rent and ride throughout Paris. Don't worry mom, I took my helmet off for the photo opp.

One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to people watch. Lately, I have been observing how people pose for pictures. Since it is often just me at the sites, I do a self-portrait shot. I tend to have a big toothy grin in my pics and thought I would try to have a more subtle smile or even smirk. I tried this out in front of Notre Dame. My first picture (please see below) turned out okay but I didn't get a good shot of the church. I tried a bunch more and they got progressively worse (most of them look I just had my first round of botox accompanied with a large glass of wine)(I have a sample one below). Everytime I took a picture I would crack up looking at it. I guess I was making a scene because a nice German couple came up and offered to take my picture (which is the first one below).

On Wednesday I visited the "historic core" of Paris. I started at Notre Dame and decided to go up the tower. I had to wait in line for about an hour (which wouldn't of been so bad, but it was soooo cold and windy). Once on top I took the obligatory gargoyle pictures. You then go to the very top. As soon as I walked out of the stairwell it started to hail. There is only one staircase and they control its use so we had to stand in the hail for a few minutes before we could go down. So it was bit anti-climatic at that point.

We had a dinner party Wednesday night so I went shopping for some of the ingredients. I wish our grocery stores had the yogurt selection the stores here do. We had a nice dinner with Alexis and Nico's friends. I taught them how to play peep wars (thanks to our Sunday night dinner group!).

On Thursday I went to see Monet's water lillie's. I then found my way to Alexis's work (my phone wasn't working so I decided to go there directly). We went on a nice walk around the 6th. She dropped me off at the museum Orsay and I stayed until they closed. We will be leaving for southern France tomorrow night.