Friday, June 29 Cite de Science

Ford is interested in Engineering, so the science museum was on his list. Since we had had a late night we didn't get started until after lunch.

There were lots of hands on things. Here, Ford is playing virtual percussion instruments.


This kind of place takes more than one afternoon to really explore, but we wandered through it all trying the things that looked interesting. Ford did a picture scan of himself that was then placed in a Mummy movie. We both went into the moving cylinder that demonstrated inertia. We couldn't walk in a straight line or throw a ball across the room (it took a wicked slice.)

Ford decided against the Geode, because the presentation would be in French, but we took his picture with it.



Stopped at the MonoPrix on the way home, so that Ford could choose something he would like for dinner. He picked creole chicken nuggets. Marie made seared fois gras with sauted apples and salad. We were humming with happiness. This was particularly apropos, since it will be illegal in California tomorrow.

Thursday, June 28 Louvre, shopping and dinner party

Wednesday was a lost day. I didn't want to stray too far from a bathroom and Ford seemed happy for the rest.

Thursday I was ready to go again. Ford said that he hadn't slept well and I told him that I hadn't been able to walk his legs off, so he was't tired enough.

We started at the Louvre. (Along with one hundred million other people.) We went in by way of the inverted pyramid.



This used to be a fabulous way in because no one knew about it. NOW, IT IS PUBLISHED ON THE WEB SITE FOR ALLTHE WORLD TO SEE. Bummer.

This pirate seemed to be the teacher of the class that went in ahead of us




We did manage to see four of the big five. We were pushed along to the Venus de Milo. It is always the worst crowd there. On our way to the Mona Lisa, we saw the Winged Victory. I was pleasantly surprised. The crowd was much more manageable than when I was there with Matt. We were there at the height of the Da Vinci Code and there was a long queue to get into the room. This time there was a crowd right in front of her, but not out the door. We walked in the really ornate room with the crowns and Ford explained to me that they were on touch sensors.

We decided to wander through some rooms away from the crowds and found the Egyptian Scribe, and the medieval Louvre. Having had enough, we shopped on Rue Rivoli and found things for all.

Ford did have the excitement of seeing the police search (and pretty comprehensively pat down) 4 girls. Since we had seen them before racing pell mell in front of us with a young man, we figured he had the goods and the police were going to come up empty.

It was beastly hot, so we went home to shower and rest before going to a dinner party given by Charlie and Deborah. Charlie was Chuck's roommate at Princeton. They had returned the day before from a fabulous party in Marrakesh and were leaving on Sunday for Italy. It was really luck that we were in Paris at the same time.

Their apartment is on the 5th floor without an elevator, but I made it. Their friends Louis and Luz made up the party. Louis is also a Physicist. Deborah very kindly told Ford that she was making Turbot, but was willing to make him a hamburger. He took her up on the offer, requesting a little cheese on it. Since, in France, no one cooks anything "well done", it was a little rare for his taste, but he ate it well. We all had a delicious first course of a pesto pasta. The pasta comes in a thin round and is only available in one small area of Italy.

We, of course, had nice wines to complement each course.

For dessert we had Mara des bois, which is a fabulous kind of strawberry, and whipped cream.

It was late, so we headed home, arriving just behind Marie. She had been invited to a dinner party, too. (we were close enough, that we were probably on the same train but in different cars.)









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Tuesday, June 26 Invalides

WEAPONS, WEAPONS and MORE WEAPONS! What can I say. The Invalides is a museum of all of the ways that men have waged war against each other through the ages. They have expanded and improved the Napoleonic section. It now has really good explanations of stuff in English. The two World Wars have some good film, lots of pictures and propaganda posters.

We spent several hours there, stopping for lunch and then continuing. We finished with the always delightful very over the top Napoleon's tomb.



We came back for a rest and then took the metro to meet Mike and Stu at a Franco-algerian restaurant near Les Halles. (By the way, there is major reconstruction going on. The shopping area and the children's play area have been demolished.)

This ad in the metro is, believe it or not, for clothes for pregnant women.


At the restaurant we were served a little bowl of delicious stew with Algerian spices. It was so good, we ate it all up and asked for more. Ford had steak & frites, the rest of us shared lamb shoulder, couscous, salad & home fries.



Stopped for gelato and then walked part way home by way of the pedestrian bridge across the Seine. Last year there were some locks - this year they might overload the bridge.



Another bride. Everyone was really impressed with my camera's zoom capability. I took this from across four lanes of traffic and a good bit into the Louvre.



Ford cannot believe how much walking he is expected to do. But we were kind and took the metro the rest of the way.


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P. S. for Eiffel Tower

While we were standing in line, we watched what we thought was a rescue training operation on the tower.



The helicopter swooped right up to the side, and the we saw a fireman standing in the doorway when it flew away.

It turned out that a young man had committed suicide by jumping the night before, and now a young woman was emulating him. Workers on the tower managed to grab her, but couldn't drag her back, so the chopper team plucked her off and whisked her to a hospital. (There was an article in the paper, and then I found more info on line.)



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Monday, June 25 Eiffel Tower

When we were here last year, we figured out a great thing for the Eiffel Tower - get there at least a half hour before the ticket window opens. Since this year only one elevator is working, it was really important!!!



We were in about the 3rd elevator up and went to the top right away. After looking around, Ford decided to walk down from the 2nd level. We arranged to meet at the basketball court.

When I got there, he was already in a game. There were 3 French kids and as soon as he showed up, they invited him to play.






I decided to leave a little bit of Chuck there, too.



Back to Marie's for lunch and a little rest and then to the bateau Mouche.

Spotted a bride on the way






Went to Chartier for dinner. This is a very old "working man's" restaurant where the waiter writes your order on the paper table mat.






I ordered 6 snails and after trying one, Ford asked, "So we each get 2?". Yah, Ford.



Home to bed.


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Sunday, June 24, 2012 , Versailles

On Sunday, the fountains do their thing, so even though rain was predicted, we went. (I had checked the weather forecast and rain was predicted for every day that the fountains were scheduled.)

We bought our tickets on line - so did the rest of the world. It took us about an hour to get inside.




Ford at the front gate. Marie and Ford in line. Pretty much it filled up the entrance courtyard.



Each time I come to Versailles, it is a little different. They are always trying to make it better. Now, there are great little movies that show when the various parts were built and the history. You can see them online at www.versailles3d.com

There was also an exhibition of a fiber artist who used some of the artwork as inspiration.

Shoes made from pots and lids.



Lion covered with what looked like plastic tablecloths. Notice Ford resting in the background.



A helicopter covered with ostrich feathers and BLING.



By the time we got outside it was pouring.



Never daunted, we headed to the Petit Trianon. It is a far piece in the rain. After this we had a decision - keep going or take the tram and head for home. Ford and I took option 2, Marie stayed so she could see all of it.

I was truly frozen when we got home. We both took hot showers and my knees ached the rest of the night.

When Marie arrived, she showered while the oven heated and I prepared the haricot vert. We had ribs that had been precooked at the open air market, so just needed to be reheated.

It is light so late here that it feels like 6 when it is really 10. Our sleep schedules are really out of whack.

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June 23, 2012 Paris day 2

I just realized that this is house #7. I didn't wake up at all during the night so didn't have that "where am I" moment.

This morning we got up at a fairly good time, had showers and breakfast and started our tourist marathon.

We started with the Chateau Vincennes. It is a 12th century fortress chateau that has recently been restored. It is a little older than the Louvre.



There was a fair amount of stair climbing involved.




Ford made us go back to one point, because he thought that we had skipped the upper level. Then we walked to the back gate and encountered another bride.




I also photographed the assistant who was holding her bouquet.



And a very modern one it was.


(just realized that I forgot to post yesterday's bride:



The dress was pretty ugly, but the shoes were worse:



End of backtrack)

We had lunch at the Brasserie ilse St. Louis. It is closed in August, so I have missed it the lasr times I have been here.



I left a bit of Chuck here, because this was a favorite place. Marie made friends with the owners, so we were treated to a glass of champagne. They poured for Ford, too. M & I both had onion tart and the frisée with lardon; Ford had steak and frites.

Bertillion was open ( another rarity) so we each had 2 balls for dessert.




Next on our tourist list was Notre Dame.




The line was really long, but Ford was right, it moved really quickly. The choir was practicing a very modern song. It was interesting to hear it and the organ for a little bit, but it began to sound like the kids banging on the piano at Marie's.

We walked home, stopping at Mike and Stu's to use the facilities. Marie and I went to the market.

We had a very light supper: fois gras, figs and bubbly for M & me, ham sandwich for Ford.

Friday, June 22, 2012 Paris day 1

Ford and I started our very long trip in Hartford, CT. We took a small plane to Toronto. Everyone on the plane had both a window AND an aisle seat. There was a long layover and then the long flight to Paris. Ford was quite pleased - his seat companion was a young French girl. They were chatty until she went to sleep.
Here is Ford hanging out in the airport.

The shuttle van from the airport took the strangest route that I have ever seen. I had NO IDEA where we were and never spotted the Eiffel tower until we were almost to the apartment. Marie was getting very worried.

After a snack and a short nap, we decided to walk around to soak up some sun and fresh air.


Guess where!
We walked from the apartment to the tower, then to the Arc de Triumph, down the Champs élysées, over to the river and then stopped at a Brasserie for dinner on our way home. It was at least a 3 hour walk.
Ford and I both slept really really well.
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Tuesday, June 19, 2012 houses 5 & 6

I am now in Connecticut visiting my sister Susan and friend Lorraine. First I went to Susan's. ( house #5) She had invited my brother David's family. He came with his 2 kids, both of whom had had the "trip to Paris with Aunt Joan".

Starting from the left we have: Matt, Carrie, Susan, Luke, David, and Ford. David's mother-in-law had just had an operation, so his wife didn't come.



Then I went to my friend Lorraine's. The first night I realized that I might be hitting my limit in moving. When I woke up in the middle of the night needing to use the bathroom, I had to really think about where I was and what direction I had to move to. Luckily, I remembered in time!

We have been just hanging out. Today we went to Louie's for lunch and then had our toes done. She has very tickley feet, so likes it when someone else is with her.

This is just a little relaxing time before Ford and I leave for Paris.

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Monday, June 11, 2012 New housemates

After demolition comes important things that will never be seen. New electrical wiring, new plumbing pipes, new insulation.





My old insulation was cotton.





Alec and I have been out shopping. We have seen Heath tiles, glass tiles and are going to a stone yard. We also spent hours picking bathroom and kitchen things. Alec makes it easier because he has strong ideas about how things should look and I had said going in that he could make the aesthetic decisions.

After one last swim I moved on to my fourth home. This one comes with housemates!

Mr. Fish is an Australian arowana. He eats live meal worms.



The gecko eats live crickets.


There are also 2 cats that eat regular dry food - but they have been hiding since I moved in. Supposedly they like to sleep on the master bed, but I might not be staying long enough to make friends. Since I can sleep through almost anything, I don't think I will even notice.

I will be in this house both before and after my trip.



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Monday, June 4, 2012

Things have been quiet housewise, but we have still been busy.
Sunday of Memorial Day weekend we went to Scots Fest. Another family was also going so we met up to swap kids. The two younger ones and the dad (from near Glasgow) rode with Alec and me. Calder and Jef went in the other car with the Japanese mom. The little girls hummed and sang songs in Japanese the whole way.
I realized that although I went to many Highland games in my childhood, I had never really been able to see all of the things that were going on. I was always busy with the dancing and could only see little bits and pieces of the other activities. So this was really fun.
First, was the role call of the clans. We are Tennants, which is a subset of a more well known group. Unfortunately, I can never remember what it is.

Mary, Queen of Scots welcomed us.

Pipers piped. Each pipe band seemed to stand around in a circle playing all day. The leader walked around the group tuning each pipe.

Drummers drummed.

The pipe majors posed when they weren't practicing flinging their wand high into the air.

Dancers danced. Actually this group was waiting for the awarding of medals.
The little tiny one second from the left was the best.

The cabers were tossed. This was the event that Alec really wanted to see.



Believe it or not, they had a professional class! Scottish athletics seem to be quite basic - not a lot of equipment or rules. The Farmer's walk is carrying 150 pound weights in each hand and seeing who can walk the farthest. Heaving the sheaf (which I kept hearing as heaving the sheep) consisted of tossing a bale of wheat with a pitchfork up in the air over a crossbar much like a pole vault bar. A new world's record of 34 feet was achieved.
The little girls had their hair braided with a thong. This looked like a fabulous way of containing Branwen's hair and looked really easy. Turns out - not as easy as it looked when the lady was doing it.

Calder and his friend Mia bought shields.

At the end, we saw the massed bands.
During the day I ate a Scottish meat pie, others had fish and chips and the kids had hot dogs. The guys both enjoyed the fabulous choices of beers and we all enjoyed looking at the vendor's booths.
We stopped for dinner at Sonic on the way home. At sonic all orders are placed through the loud speaker ordering system, even if you are eating on the patio. Then the skaters bring it to your car/table. We placed our order to show how it was done. Then Chris, the scot, tried to place theirs. After a few seconds someone came out to do it in person, because he was impossible to understand. (Siri on the iPhone cannot recognize the accent either.)
I have moved on to my next house. This is a condo near Westwood with a swimming pool. The kids came swimming yesterday.