tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12506918457897937842024-02-19T22:22:55.424-08:00Inside OutThis is just a look into my day to day life....my thoughts, my hopes....my dreams...for myself and those I love.......the celebrations...the tough moments......come on in! The more the merrier!!!Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-34643840706861076282010-09-12T12:11:00.000-07:002010-09-12T12:11:46.056-07:00On a Roll!!!What the heck happened to the Paris recaps??? Ummmm.....well, let's just say the spring and summer were VERY busy and I just haven't had much time to hang around in the blogosphere! And now the computer with all of the Paris pics on it has crashed! You know.....that thing that happens that makes you feel like someone cut off your arms....and it happened the DAY BEFORE we were leaving to visit with Shelby and Justin in Texas! No way could I go to Texas without a computer to keep up with work, so I headed to my friendly computer store and bought a new one.......my thoughts? I need a back up computer anyway....doesn't everyone?<br />
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So until I can <strike>get off my bum</strike> find the time to take my old laptop in for a cleaning, I'm going to recap our wonderful visit with Shelby and Justin.....for my birthday!!!<br />
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We had a great trip down.....with bulkhead seats the whole way!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWXDW-_144GNfbLnMfeCu4heYo5RWg1abUbEaxCJJfH2iMeySuXhwvlK96T0Q0b8DwbcThEojPhyphenhyphen52t_O9eS7-X2jK52w8ejpL_DetSzVWWOngTqt0Tv3k_eAcU4DI0iD4h6IApshfW8/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWXDW-_144GNfbLnMfeCu4heYo5RWg1abUbEaxCJJfH2iMeySuXhwvlK96T0Q0b8DwbcThEojPhyphenhyphen52t_O9eS7-X2jK52w8ejpL_DetSzVWWOngTqt0Tv3k_eAcU4DI0iD4h6IApshfW8/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+020.JPG" /></a></div>I love, love, love Southwest Airlines.....for different reasons than Shelby does (TWO suitcases....free!). We had a layover in Tampa where we sat in a bar (NO!) and enjoyed Cosmos (me!), wings and beer (Dennis!).....hey, we were on vacation! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaRrEBE3BmB0dqVWYDKhyULxIJVM_aOohaBSB4Zs18kvsmKXNMbTt88pA8B5a1BpW2aGDMOHBDYmdXAL59Ta1C_UeyLRDMLuc29NWaWYtZb251xhreRUJ0IHDeaBIUk8ymvxI2kev9mI/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+015+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaRrEBE3BmB0dqVWYDKhyULxIJVM_aOohaBSB4Zs18kvsmKXNMbTt88pA8B5a1BpW2aGDMOHBDYmdXAL59Ta1C_UeyLRDMLuc29NWaWYtZb251xhreRUJ0IHDeaBIUk8ymvxI2kev9mI/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+015+edited.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we boarded for the last leg of our flight to San Antonio........across the Gulf. We were anxious to see if we'd be able to see any of the oil spill. And it wasn't long into the flight that we did.....all I can say is that it was disturbing....everyone on the flight stretched their necks to see out the windows and the looks on everyone's face said it all. What a sad, sad sight to see...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkxr3BBFWqhJjIj1gf43fecz9OZ28xkoroBOeZv5I3NM2px4xJ9LIGrMp_9nWY7f8D04qq7wTDqOTwrwJrEMRswcTqExEvB454FXHfqazUuHU6DRXae9GqRuOVS-dpNM5QeaeYIPwGkw/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkxr3BBFWqhJjIj1gf43fecz9OZ28xkoroBOeZv5I3NM2px4xJ9LIGrMp_9nWY7f8D04qq7wTDqOTwrwJrEMRswcTqExEvB454FXHfqazUuHU6DRXae9GqRuOVS-dpNM5QeaeYIPwGkw/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+021.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On one side of the plane the oil spill stretched as far as our eyes could see.....and on the other side was an equally disturbing sight....the beautiful bogs and wetlands that would never be the same again....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7fmiQIceUFjqJ31NzR0RIWXW0QGYdlMtdQ8pK6ULNBzpAPZqFz8MFsealz6PQKAUB8vEYtyjox-rrklPJl2AyXOKuxLP1KcPdXsyUQ5D2pzVfg9F3TGcjS2yQIehvjY8KsKflUi0Yvw/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7fmiQIceUFjqJ31NzR0RIWXW0QGYdlMtdQ8pK6ULNBzpAPZqFz8MFsealz6PQKAUB8vEYtyjox-rrklPJl2AyXOKuxLP1KcPdXsyUQ5D2pzVfg9F3TGcjS2yQIehvjY8KsKflUi0Yvw/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+022.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shelby met us at the airport.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPKgYK85BNgYoGDaGToavD9usyDpkBBDfgh7ecdN5DCeMCGkztS5BtuYtst0Ew2_XMHU4Z7W-NBiLAtOz0gc1cf6-L-sg6HFLGqKNVerkCwcarOTHHKdwnVe5O17FOZ4Z6Nx3amBzLzg/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPKgYK85BNgYoGDaGToavD9usyDpkBBDfgh7ecdN5DCeMCGkztS5BtuYtst0Ew2_XMHU4Z7W-NBiLAtOz0gc1cf6-L-sg6HFLGqKNVerkCwcarOTHHKdwnVe5O17FOZ4Z6Nx3amBzLzg/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+029.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and gave us a ride over to the car rental place, where we picked up the rental car that we got at a bargain basement price of $28 per day (Shelby helped us find that deal!),</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5orBcQ7mYR0aJv_vLg0tgouuO6vsINVew1Ia5iv7F3CtkheXX9qKFQusWJ9Z89N32KdqxrgbPGFVDxvLyCBYfK8EWOMEJxMujuqcIBD1OA4CazShStyBQ3ZS7UlGhJC8G9KUuDQKOlaU/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5orBcQ7mYR0aJv_vLg0tgouuO6vsINVew1Ia5iv7F3CtkheXX9qKFQusWJ9Z89N32KdqxrgbPGFVDxvLyCBYfK8EWOMEJxMujuqcIBD1OA4CazShStyBQ3ZS7UlGhJC8G9KUuDQKOlaU/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+030.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....then we followed her over to her new apartment </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb2IIEE65tpUhrOgy2ZwYreJ3Eu4OCzyDZnUbKnd7pn2M6ZBNv_isXY6z-SAVzMZtk2mwAYl2LHPsQDEF_ujijEIaL6uEDJFRZ6QhIGA_ZV_pF07e8pOtdLejVdQnQMY3nQ6XGFNXIOU/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb2IIEE65tpUhrOgy2ZwYreJ3Eu4OCzyDZnUbKnd7pn2M6ZBNv_isXY6z-SAVzMZtk2mwAYl2LHPsQDEF_ujijEIaL6uEDJFRZ6QhIGA_ZV_pF07e8pOtdLejVdQnQMY3nQ6XGFNXIOU/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+031.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">where we visited for a bit with her, Justin and one of my adorable granddogs....Miss Lily!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLztFKLPmDklfVa-muuXdnzhzn6wmFcfStJNKmUhwnPcMOC0JhOdioRtL6VxNVkyKJ9XWI0Q4OIBDkioD2xD_HqEZKVNWa1Nsp2XaeCWd6sSsSA_awvWpbAoqIF276nwtM3cqzGcDTrY/s1600/Lily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLztFKLPmDklfVa-muuXdnzhzn6wmFcfStJNKmUhwnPcMOC0JhOdioRtL6VxNVkyKJ9XWI0Q4OIBDkioD2xD_HqEZKVNWa1Nsp2XaeCWd6sSsSA_awvWpbAoqIF276nwtM3cqzGcDTrY/s320/Lily.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We made plans to meet up later at our hotel down on the Riverwalk and to have dinner at <a href="http://www.ritasontheriver.com/">Rita's on the River</a> for delicious Tex-Mex food.....and their classic River Margarita's, of course! We had scoured the internet for hotels and really wanted to stay at a nice, boutique type hotel.....we were NOT disappointed with our find....the <a href="http://www.hotelvalencia-riverwalk.com/">Hotel Valencia</a>!!! Go ahead....click on that link! I took photos, but they don't compare with how beautiful this hotel is. And the smell??? When you first walk into the lobby, there's a fountain...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiip-lwH8EtculOlGIE0k-ZuWtWDcBnmRXAhagW1jKYDU2CtgBIuISEUHVwroYPktb0j6mZnU37Fm11ykG2iMsEcX5KWPCQpckneMoSrn92KGyshW5IEnQEES_OkjMeA9EeZ0-ffcf0cSA/s1600/Valencia+fountain2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiip-lwH8EtculOlGIE0k-ZuWtWDcBnmRXAhagW1jKYDU2CtgBIuISEUHVwroYPktb0j6mZnU37Fm11ykG2iMsEcX5KWPCQpckneMoSrn92KGyshW5IEnQEES_OkjMeA9EeZ0-ffcf0cSA/s320/Valencia+fountain2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://frugalnovice.com/2010/06/hotel-valencia-review-giveaway/">(source)</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_yWlWeUCjv2smAKPZdSPdkuvmuovgQ_0pnpE44JlFIyCMaLd6bwRKEwWL1g0PZ08p-XlKW9zDdVj-AkgRjtfT-V8y1rTgDkQoUijnTtyHd___7fZv5fe3GsjyHv3qLHTuNhvxhSqtQ0/s1600/Valencia+fountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_yWlWeUCjv2smAKPZdSPdkuvmuovgQ_0pnpE44JlFIyCMaLd6bwRKEwWL1g0PZ08p-XlKW9zDdVj-AkgRjtfT-V8y1rTgDkQoUijnTtyHd___7fZv5fe3GsjyHv3qLHTuNhvxhSqtQ0/s320/Valencia+fountain.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.and the sound of the water is so soothing....but the scent that wafts through the hotel is amazing! Everything is very natural....the staff is extremely friendly and helpful...and ambience is AWESOME!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We watched the prices on this hotel for a few days and scored our room for $139 a night....and WHAT a score! Our room was spacious and comfortable...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRhmfeIvt3pnLtxR0bmhZtWOSPGijkjviCcTsL_2p1hLTsnqtxsNSkJUD9bskv_HwsmHg3hDXT2cO0_PvbzM92D9RfVenbNs01Gv0drPgUFRp1pjZcUIMmb_VZIy8VKcnnro7o0Uqg3I/s1600/Valencia+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRhmfeIvt3pnLtxR0bmhZtWOSPGijkjviCcTsL_2p1hLTsnqtxsNSkJUD9bskv_HwsmHg3hDXT2cO0_PvbzM92D9RfVenbNs01Gv0drPgUFRp1pjZcUIMmb_VZIy8VKcnnro7o0Uqg3I/s320/Valencia+room.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.hotelvalencia-riverwalk.com/accommodations.php">(source)</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We kicked off our shoes......and then noticed something on the counter.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBinQb00OV7EsFRDnAcUr3ghM69_MXvEsw1_qvKVheAz8HVoWFb20bsDU9I8KnBIeXTCUDjN0YY-rJu9fOrnZkCW3twAgsmlNdOh0B3KhUdKg5BPnUDOcgRufY_7IiPHv0YUM1GXRO6Y/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+034edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBinQb00OV7EsFRDnAcUr3ghM69_MXvEsw1_qvKVheAz8HVoWFb20bsDU9I8KnBIeXTCUDjN0YY-rJu9fOrnZkCW3twAgsmlNdOh0B3KhUdKg5BPnUDOcgRufY_7IiPHv0YUM1GXRO6Y/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+034edited.jpg" /></a></div>How awesome.....a gift basket from Shelby, Justin and Lily with snacks for our stay, including water, salsa, cookies homemade by Shelby and <a href="http://julioschips.com/">Julios tortilla chips</a>, which are only the best tortilla chips we've ever had...a must when in San Antonio! How sweet!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODgMD-4GQ6rBKeAq4sdZ35XAvdFEkqJG6Xwt9z3zMrM0sbR-yVD69KR_6v6WY-nWVDOm1AksyXR6iFUWi033s7LymLkYxAOE-IRPjyda3QEoM_55d42qDX5JlYq9XUcXKMYVsNuP0ll8/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODgMD-4GQ6rBKeAq4sdZ35XAvdFEkqJG6Xwt9z3zMrM0sbR-yVD69KR_6v6WY-nWVDOm1AksyXR6iFUWi033s7LymLkYxAOE-IRPjyda3QEoM_55d42qDX5JlYq9XUcXKMYVsNuP0ll8/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+036.JPG" /></a></div><br />
We decided to relax a bit before we met up with Shelby and Justin to head down to the Riverwalk! They came up to the room and were just as awed by our temporary home as we were....then we headed down to the Riverwalk....with a photo op here and there along the way....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90RqnwX66f_7iV5sZu7SauKnweH6Zohfw7YhkS2eBvnuGJXbUufkBWXfkhE86EQWqA-SBRWQTp5AwcN-NftfSCpCgmJDK2I7zIgwTHZVWnEPCwlAzPh7hgk_WbizWkvgp-ucnBidr4Y4/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90RqnwX66f_7iV5sZu7SauKnweH6Zohfw7YhkS2eBvnuGJXbUufkBWXfkhE86EQWqA-SBRWQTp5AwcN-NftfSCpCgmJDK2I7zIgwTHZVWnEPCwlAzPh7hgk_WbizWkvgp-ucnBidr4Y4/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+040.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ummm...yea....I agree.....it was so hard to get a decent picture! Combine the heat of Texas with the humidity down on the Riverwalk.....can you say "sauna"?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rita's is one of the most popular restaurants on the Riverwalk, although I had yet to eat there, so I was pretty excited! Not only is the food delicious, but they have a live mariachi band to entertain you while you wait for your food!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrdPMMesBdFeh9P8MnKz5vt9fdsuSXvbMQb9r-UkAx3UhQVhM84Mc71unysEgxYrEH-xnNKFLOIwp0zzIwEYp_ms_O4Py2SHyQL5Ju4Ktfb792uGbwBfgqHFOhtIedXCqTtdo6H-F4hg/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrdPMMesBdFeh9P8MnKz5vt9fdsuSXvbMQb9r-UkAx3UhQVhM84Mc71unysEgxYrEH-xnNKFLOIwp0zzIwEYp_ms_O4Py2SHyQL5Ju4Ktfb792uGbwBfgqHFOhtIedXCqTtdo6H-F4hg/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+043.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think we ordered one of everything on the menu because we <strike>couldn't decide what we wanted </strike>Shelby found a 50% off coupon at Groupon....what we didn't eat, they'd take home for Justin's lunch the next day! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSGkK5oSU1y7vO4puO2xgLE2WycshOgmp8tF9U7C6s8Hs4-D0JFM7IdmQ26cmnids4fsZEfxq7aP71oLBDRBj8zhzzmEQwb9rZ25reWd_gevWlw6J4n3aHIhkB2J5Gltta9YywofbJcY/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+046edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSGkK5oSU1y7vO4puO2xgLE2WycshOgmp8tF9U7C6s8Hs4-D0JFM7IdmQ26cmnids4fsZEfxq7aP71oLBDRBj8zhzzmEQwb9rZ25reWd_gevWlw6J4n3aHIhkB2J5Gltta9YywofbJcY/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+046edited.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The food was delicious....and the margarita's were not only delicious, but they were huge!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqdCHME6e0DeV10VnE0Eg8y4t5cWbSWHs9LpeZtWjy9cNy4dBMHkUTUdZrIjim-Onb11ONKyHDT6gCA31A10pTlbL0NIoHSHF8T2Q-d91BjaWQGK-z2zwImnM2PlSJmwztcEqcrCX6uU/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+044edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqdCHME6e0DeV10VnE0Eg8y4t5cWbSWHs9LpeZtWjy9cNy4dBMHkUTUdZrIjim-Onb11ONKyHDT6gCA31A10pTlbL0NIoHSHF8T2Q-d91BjaWQGK-z2zwImnM2PlSJmwztcEqcrCX6uU/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+044edited.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">AND we topped it off with fried ice cream....one....for all 4 of us because it's HUGE!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOgzqyQ01hO9n6Mekdi3b-QELPimyUevPcbj4iUKahYgrjPjS4FKQjWSK3-IU8KjFJ3j6wiAJMza2elUrk1WxztFuscYvbm2qWhlPJ8Fe0Q39iIP-BAoSP7Jd41kBfaVVRUfc5TINAoM/s1600/San+Antonio+Trip+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOgzqyQ01hO9n6Mekdi3b-QELPimyUevPcbj4iUKahYgrjPjS4FKQjWSK3-IU8KjFJ3j6wiAJMza2elUrk1WxztFuscYvbm2qWhlPJ8Fe0Q39iIP-BAoSP7Jd41kBfaVVRUfc5TINAoM/s320/San+Antonio+Trip+048.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were all so full that we decided to walk around the Riverwalk a little, then head "home" to get a good night's sleep. Shelby and Justin had to work the next day, so Dennis and I were going to spend the day together hanging out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next up....Dennis and I spend the day on the Riverwalk and the evening having dinner with the Sterne's to be!</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-81755126912452772882010-03-06T13:32:00.000-08:002010-03-06T22:27:49.156-08:00Paris - Day FourOn Day Four we were staying a little closer to our "home" and visiting the Montmartre area of Paris, just north of our area, Pigalle.....and only a 20 minute walk or so. Montmartre is the highest point in Paris and known for it's "artsy-ness"....oh, and Sacre Coeur! I was actually quite anxious for this day, feeling like I had a mission.<br />
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Only two days before I had received news of the birth of a beautiful baby boy to one of my colleagues, only to later find out later that little Jaxson was having breathing problems and was being transferred to UVA. Jaxson's mother is a very special lady to those of us who work at Bank of America Home Loans.....she is always there to help us in any/every way she can. And this made it even harder to hear this news. Jaxson and his family were on my mind as we set out that morning.<br />
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So much so that we went into the first church we saw after getting off the Metro, <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRGex0dymUWiyxXhNs9gyjb7KTEha-GhB1yCv98rOdM1jVYr2pFtyLbYtzbs3lP3u60HqiDKW0cmFBrOmYSYnTLgEMBxSOYjk4S7KfVvOygPG_IuOIXkShhVhtGRqtbl-DXrq3OCLWnA/s1600-h/Church+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRGex0dymUWiyxXhNs9gyjb7KTEha-GhB1yCv98rOdM1jVYr2pFtyLbYtzbs3lP3u60HqiDKW0cmFBrOmYSYnTLgEMBxSOYjk4S7KfVvOygPG_IuOIXkShhVhtGRqtbl-DXrq3OCLWnA/s320/Church+collage.jpg" /></a></div>said prayers for Jaxson, his family and his doctors and lit candles for each of them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sic5oshZK7N9hHYgHuY_VJyLzbzSMbC0S0HEaP-YCqTS0auzPMoRCwKohG3DHqgrNSmVaYpdOP7Aodlm08yH0mCJ-wkY25h-aKlRwOs-FCdZVLM0NBTOx9D1PvvfwHWpxbPsL6b-lKo/s1600-h/Jaxson+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sic5oshZK7N9hHYgHuY_VJyLzbzSMbC0S0HEaP-YCqTS0auzPMoRCwKohG3DHqgrNSmVaYpdOP7Aodlm08yH0mCJ-wkY25h-aKlRwOs-FCdZVLM0NBTOx9D1PvvfwHWpxbPsL6b-lKo/s320/Jaxson+Collage.jpg" /></a></div>Don't ask me what happened to those pictures.....I prefer to think it's the light reaching for the heavens for Jaxson. <br />
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We headed up the hill.....and when I say, "hill", I mean HILL! Although this peak is less than 500 feet high, the streets are steep....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFm7BDdo2QGJ1pP2bmJPFeuK6P2fEnJ2cpowDK02o6ICqEZv1Q0DmF_lmQjCFq8biPg6caJ9_NaSrgy5_eJG8DOCpLNwc1qssYjCIOvLT91PDSJ7SLSJ5_HlxBRVIhtP8eWuzOtMcphhU/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFm7BDdo2QGJ1pP2bmJPFeuK6P2fEnJ2cpowDK02o6ICqEZv1Q0DmF_lmQjCFq8biPg6caJ9_NaSrgy5_eJG8DOCpLNwc1qssYjCIOvLT91PDSJ7SLSJ5_HlxBRVIhtP8eWuzOtMcphhU/s320/Paris+Day+Four+007.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can tell by the angle of the street below how steep the streets are.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nDl9JQNitAExjXO8U_G4qNgJz7FIEu13vMnm19fxrqiHGdo6PtNg2pPGwIAusCEYcF2KcZLwX_B8KCobWGFvMHIaDmYMuvV_Z5re20TNibKhlKcZswEK02xTcVrHIfCZW1iKsC61uYw/s1600-h/Steep+street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nDl9JQNitAExjXO8U_G4qNgJz7FIEu13vMnm19fxrqiHGdo6PtNg2pPGwIAusCEYcF2KcZLwX_B8KCobWGFvMHIaDmYMuvV_Z5re20TNibKhlKcZswEK02xTcVrHIfCZW1iKsC61uYw/s320/Steep+street.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and yes, that is a picture of a door....more on that obsession in another post! At the top of the hill....</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuENbL9GBd5Mw2MJ1oenElbut66LN6FcFOUa3IQHYcFgTCqQymAWmhOIhxUX28SL8Bw-LKrW7ZSCquw3tOjkJZhrkTb_M4H5mRLEy_YoE_YGMmlt6-87rFeVcTDow53oPeWgTflREwnT8/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuENbL9GBd5Mw2MJ1oenElbut66LN6FcFOUa3IQHYcFgTCqQymAWmhOIhxUX28SL8Bw-LKrW7ZSCquw3tOjkJZhrkTb_M4H5mRLEy_YoE_YGMmlt6-87rFeVcTDow53oPeWgTflREwnT8/s320/Paris+Day+Four+012.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....the Galette de la Moulin, one of two windmills remaining on the Montmartre hill. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYEtw9mLbrSz15qfevsL0ExRqEoC65Hv4x1-0vMGUCzC8ObXLyO86KmaiMxO30sPxSPt_Tx1aRz20m5nxLO96xsYuKj_kl8pS-jPK21pjfazQiv-FfWk96DBu0ZpWcfWx6wtMkZZ4Cnc/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYEtw9mLbrSz15qfevsL0ExRqEoC65Hv4x1-0vMGUCzC8ObXLyO86KmaiMxO30sPxSPt_Tx1aRz20m5nxLO96xsYuKj_kl8pS-jPK21pjfazQiv-FfWk96DBu0ZpWcfWx6wtMkZZ4Cnc/s320/Paris+Day+Four+010.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Built in 1717, and moved to its current "home" from further down the hill in 1924, this windmill is actually open as a restaurant! It is one of two that remain on the hill....originally there were more than 30. The windmills are the icon of Montmartre and have been depicted in painting by artists such as Van Gogh, in this painting called <em>View of Montmartre with Windmills.....</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJce6w3tNFY8gWkc_ObTgePrsY5GtD86r-eePClwHdJxpnUv9N0_k1mHlSNdA_3zVJ6_F_aW7kdLe8_5dw64EiLD6dZ4ZC5xde-bm16YIRgIBGr5O9zeSrD9axmS7XJEPYW-AVNvC1ko/s320/van+gogh.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/Painting/700/View-of-Montmartre-with-Windmills.html">(source)</a></span></div><br />
The beautiful windmills have also been depicted in the works of artists Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.<br />
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As we were walking away from the windmill, we came upon this odd sculpture....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFW3xwKUAN0L0vwsbpOwKsphuQzhoZJXHwxwgqmpUhbFDE7twjd3LmqqNw0EFlMuyfZ6GSP7mLHXzYwhJl7lkw0wqDRTCFXashEi9Qf35gU_5bVeJdYu7c6McQUtKUeHL7e7-qQrzuJO4/s1600-h/man+in+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFW3xwKUAN0L0vwsbpOwKsphuQzhoZJXHwxwgqmpUhbFDE7twjd3LmqqNw0EFlMuyfZ6GSP7mLHXzYwhJl7lkw0wqDRTCFXashEi9Qf35gU_5bVeJdYu7c6McQUtKUeHL7e7-qQrzuJO4/s320/man+in+wall.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....referred to as "Man In the Wall", the sculpture is a tribute to Marcel Aymé, a French writer of children's stories, novels, and collections and he later wrote plays and screenplays.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we continued our walk, we noticed a crowded street of comings and goings, so we followed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6g7qJCMWsrR6ixZU7RWv_qwqDD-4s8DlR4HF97Y2oMj-kVKazL_tHha2cHS8TVIYL99zDgs2QdHgtV-ydikydbgzMNkNpzw2c4-zaeXfBBE7pGkoBIxyzaYutoe9CsIjU26Uq1QYIvW4/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6g7qJCMWsrR6ixZU7RWv_qwqDD-4s8DlR4HF97Y2oMj-kVKazL_tHha2cHS8TVIYL99zDgs2QdHgtV-ydikydbgzMNkNpzw2c4-zaeXfBBE7pGkoBIxyzaYutoe9CsIjU26Uq1QYIvW4/s320/Paris+Day+Four+016.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then the streets began to narrow, with shops and restaurants right at the street's edge....there was no place to walk! Amazingly, the people and the cars share the street!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0qn9c0hadCmJKqaJl9a1Pyjz_oGJdd33-X9gZeVQItRzRdBOsJ5urp7OARpK1DNwzyK7Phenz8o04He0Vu3iGbVN3BIO2UFSm3u4tGSgULdpkN_MlQpw-QjKjvUlXOTZ58GyVBF0pKg/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0qn9c0hadCmJKqaJl9a1Pyjz_oGJdd33-X9gZeVQItRzRdBOsJ5urp7OARpK1DNwzyK7Phenz8o04He0Vu3iGbVN3BIO2UFSm3u4tGSgULdpkN_MlQpw-QjKjvUlXOTZ58GyVBF0pKg/s320/Paris+Day+Four+017.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-5K7_k7gISe7f2QRSpkRKsazpPKZhuRI70ZGu7UhH422nkeRdMCKKO5FkoHvjuiwt62nduB8AnSOqcQk5Ca9UxQhmPTS6CdSS348Q-Cf0XES57CeAZtnd1cZZYDdGnrWLyUQcKuU8Sg/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-5K7_k7gISe7f2QRSpkRKsazpPKZhuRI70ZGu7UhH422nkeRdMCKKO5FkoHvjuiwt62nduB8AnSOqcQk5Ca9UxQhmPTS6CdSS348Q-Cf0XES57CeAZtnd1cZZYDdGnrWLyUQcKuU8Sg/s320/Paris+Day+Four+018.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRMqTRiglQiSM4FwpJgjxur8ZhcERxE3RO0n2auRE-SWFsdgjT_LlceDPxdiBynit62Hu5JDg7sdXurxLe6q12EwajJptCMuko1iYd4afl91_NFiL2do4aXZoNrKn-kDxu0D79-RjuXQ/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRMqTRiglQiSM4FwpJgjxur8ZhcERxE3RO0n2auRE-SWFsdgjT_LlceDPxdiBynit62Hu5JDg7sdXurxLe6q12EwajJptCMuko1iYd4afl91_NFiL2do4aXZoNrKn-kDxu0D79-RjuXQ/s320/Paris+Day+Four+019.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next we headed to the area referred to as "the artist's square", where artists set up their easels and paint, and display their work for sale. While not inexpensive, you can even have your portrait done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRk_IXNeepRYJuH_M9l1VjhV_I6eWz-Ca1BeNQxIpklXlKBgVfMNMIPOU4zkTWR2XeM96KKWdECEku-r_KvZkPJQqKbU-c_fiGd3wtwsvMGZByWtvGy9ULjHizcve83a9LZNInVBtwac/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRk_IXNeepRYJuH_M9l1VjhV_I6eWz-Ca1BeNQxIpklXlKBgVfMNMIPOU4zkTWR2XeM96KKWdECEku-r_KvZkPJQqKbU-c_fiGd3wtwsvMGZByWtvGy9ULjHizcve83a9LZNInVBtwac/s320/Paris+Day+Four+020.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfLpPJsLaGg8YzYa6VPEAZXSrGc6xFhngMudtaJpScRr9PRe9JZkzpGgL9P-A0RyzF-U5C4t3XBaTsNXweC-PORnOB67-uKOsaMK85qpb0Wh5mTaRvK923JUfGTqlTbiDUhLFcK3Icb4/s1600-h/artists.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfLpPJsLaGg8YzYa6VPEAZXSrGc6xFhngMudtaJpScRr9PRe9JZkzpGgL9P-A0RyzF-U5C4t3XBaTsNXweC-PORnOB67-uKOsaMK85qpb0Wh5mTaRvK923JUfGTqlTbiDUhLFcK3Icb4/s320/artists.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJU0Y8B4HRLk9QInekfHxWkT1zQnc9-SSaDlUF3e0M1svUt_BqxspL8F-jDPE_PyDfd4vqtDhBrqAsWBPK7CU9X5gmbU77oMr7LFVIh7bY5oxABKmKUymdeLuOvnJChlKLu-tfzyt0ZTg/s1600-h/artists1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJU0Y8B4HRLk9QInekfHxWkT1zQnc9-SSaDlUF3e0M1svUt_BqxspL8F-jDPE_PyDfd4vqtDhBrqAsWBPK7CU9X5gmbU77oMr7LFVIh7bY5oxABKmKUymdeLuOvnJChlKLu-tfzyt0ZTg/s320/artists1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While taking in all of the beautiful art, I noticed a gorgeous door and sent Dennis over to get a photo of it (yes, we all had a door obsession....I'll "blog" about that later) and he came running back to tell us all that we HAD to see the view! It was gorgeous and just steps from the "artist's square"....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSOSjpX4CWVM1zMKy-uq9j4qIohGC0BHI77MnSTn9biJwoboy6i68OU9k080IFcr_IHoncc66BGk0Ixh6yTTqtdu5skPt5ZTHyALWEEVTUfzIuKaWsr6-upITDavi-rnIfSo2QZ3f0bs/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSOSjpX4CWVM1zMKy-uq9j4qIohGC0BHI77MnSTn9biJwoboy6i68OU9k080IFcr_IHoncc66BGk0Ixh6yTTqtdu5skPt5ZTHyALWEEVTUfzIuKaWsr6-upITDavi-rnIfSo2QZ3f0bs/s320/Paris+Day+Four+022.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.....so beautiful! Next we headed towards Sacre Coeur....along the way we saw some incredible doors....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZOHpRvbZX4Tl16JtQNMshhWbVV6wR68Dx8ls-saIVehqqtfoilzP2mc_QiRyjmiHKAQ5G8B9tA_G-eiqgYsFQrwtaQTRcETUldqKDfy3PtxkCTlhKSRgWuRurZsx5OkW6DJvOuQ7Pt0/s1600-h/doors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZOHpRvbZX4Tl16JtQNMshhWbVV6wR68Dx8ls-saIVehqqtfoilzP2mc_QiRyjmiHKAQ5G8B9tA_G-eiqgYsFQrwtaQTRcETUldqKDfy3PtxkCTlhKSRgWuRurZsx5OkW6DJvOuQ7Pt0/s320/doors.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....."oh look, it's a church!"....and we went in. This church, the Church of Saint Peter of Montmartre, is the lesser known of the two main churches in Montmartre, founded by Saint Denis (no, not Saint Dennis....no such thing!) and built somewhere around 1096. As soon as we walked in, we lit candles for Jaxson, his doctors and his family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2CdhXdTETFro0UE7y3mz8fF_JfVg7G0wd_ku5-q7Wq2RQ0T3iGodhJdAfzeJcmZVAiiB9nsO9pXv0UdGECY-cFw9998Avj4xSnrsiFaKWJUAZUIQOr35ndMrlS_nHEC1pmg50LXoAT8/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2CdhXdTETFro0UE7y3mz8fF_JfVg7G0wd_ku5-q7Wq2RQ0T3iGodhJdAfzeJcmZVAiiB9nsO9pXv0UdGECY-cFw9998Avj4xSnrsiFaKWJUAZUIQOr35ndMrlS_nHEC1pmg50LXoAT8/s320/Paris+Day+Four+026.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH_pGiqxUbTZMNAONb0eQ4QOmxLyYDa6rWkVmG23t0jprQoJ1M8mb-GKBuIHXl2clSK804hRKtJQwDLz5vMH40FQ98ARhllficTxo-NqO_lai_tAcqHOFveHHe8axq-se23hKUzIQno0/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH_pGiqxUbTZMNAONb0eQ4QOmxLyYDa6rWkVmG23t0jprQoJ1M8mb-GKBuIHXl2clSK804hRKtJQwDLz5vMH40FQ98ARhllficTxo-NqO_lai_tAcqHOFveHHe8axq-se23hKUzIQno0/s320/Paris+Day+Four+029.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is a beautiful church and, although very large, it was quite dark and just made you feel hushed....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4SzNqpwL7bq3z8jgQbKGEPLt94HBh8bWxP9a8JobM3_SCEWMBHQvwrKka5QebqFldmnkA0fjeAlMy78UAyG_lAJltanPoE62Ss49SPSbGmltY4CwXIskKofBXaVtoqFWgbKmvG0aE-g/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4SzNqpwL7bq3z8jgQbKGEPLt94HBh8bWxP9a8JobM3_SCEWMBHQvwrKka5QebqFldmnkA0fjeAlMy78UAyG_lAJltanPoE62Ss49SPSbGmltY4CwXIskKofBXaVtoqFWgbKmvG0aE-g/s320/Paris+Day+Four+027.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtSX7PZ4W8RGzfWmk3xLr0N2oaxwN-6J8P3Cw8ZVhAhU9T4KD0rOcROMimCXjd4Cvx17Iou-BymSRu7dP3UVUR9bFBGlkhrn5eJq2_C0XmA8_ec5dsCgcpyCh1f17Y6aK_3oWgzGPe7w/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtSX7PZ4W8RGzfWmk3xLr0N2oaxwN-6J8P3Cw8ZVhAhU9T4KD0rOcROMimCXjd4Cvx17Iou-BymSRu7dP3UVUR9bFBGlkhrn5eJq2_C0XmA8_ec5dsCgcpyCh1f17Y6aK_3oWgzGPe7w/s320/Paris+Day+Four+030.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My pictures do not do any justice to this beautiful church. After doing some searching on the internet, I found a 360 degree virtual tour that is amazing! You can look at the amazing ceilings, the floor....everything! <a href="http://www.visitonweb.com/wikipedia/paris/flash/vue13-montmartre-saint-pierre-uk.html">CLICK HERE</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next up......Sacre Coeur, which is actually just "down and around" the corner from the Church of Saint Peter! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd-O-TRjGntVrfxbxnWm76YswvZWytyiw1PfJL94rXKXSDn6Nuvo-f1dEQToASWXAgocAWUduJSEfLVvsVRhkWrBAZCvtscdsdblTE4FmbOnm1xT6evoDV8UJKyAmnNn4bkCxbZzoXcI/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd-O-TRjGntVrfxbxnWm76YswvZWytyiw1PfJL94rXKXSDn6Nuvo-f1dEQToASWXAgocAWUduJSEfLVvsVRhkWrBAZCvtscdsdblTE4FmbOnm1xT6evoDV8UJKyAmnNn4bkCxbZzoXcI/s320/Paris+Day+Four+031.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's it at the end of the street! The closer we got, the more impressive IT got......and the more the excitement built. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40CqLQ2wqWiaUeuYgZTN6-IBL2_pSjhNPqI7y5GYtqIgVz5HzMk-w5DD37PLYbS7tMdTHjvJRz2v84tMchYOay28VCDw6-Vw-OurSK-8ofCmvQPKJCx-Rg62q8RzhbqfB3q9RK_8_F9o/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40CqLQ2wqWiaUeuYgZTN6-IBL2_pSjhNPqI7y5GYtqIgVz5HzMk-w5DD37PLYbS7tMdTHjvJRz2v84tMchYOay28VCDw6-Vw-OurSK-8ofCmvQPKJCx-Rg62q8RzhbqfB3q9RK_8_F9o/s320/Paris+Day+Four+032.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I had no idea of the beauty and magnificence that was around that corner!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPN4qNfYClcscfsZMt8XxCT4KaD4Vl4R7kfFZHTo9hScqnmR3yAzMSU_Gq9HPqPLmQFOKvx4nyLffqY15Co47pKAkKbbfnNXPGCNx9bFgDStIrqCYROG54hmYpylxtW1YlK8kSfdWxIw/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPN4qNfYClcscfsZMt8XxCT4KaD4Vl4R7kfFZHTo9hScqnmR3yAzMSU_Gq9HPqPLmQFOKvx4nyLffqY15Co47pKAkKbbfnNXPGCNx9bFgDStIrqCYROG54hmYpylxtW1YlK8kSfdWxIw/s320/Paris+Day+Four+033.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OK....I cannot wait for the "door post" to show you THIS door! It's amazing.....and it's JUST the side door....of the Sacre Coeur! Wow!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_KdL4iyYDYz31QCUMwsiau_b_Yk-x4ev6eS_bojC1Yp0MHRo8yonzDYxYlkgWq0K3oSaAwvF4x78L556GlsfBVVCHUMoAoli2bvqhZmseueba_-0LQDXW4m5dmIyHJAnZS3Du7aqulA/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_KdL4iyYDYz31QCUMwsiau_b_Yk-x4ev6eS_bojC1Yp0MHRo8yonzDYxYlkgWq0K3oSaAwvF4x78L556GlsfBVVCHUMoAoli2bvqhZmseueba_-0LQDXW4m5dmIyHJAnZS3Du7aqulA/s320/Paris+Day+Four+034.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, obviously we came upon the basilica from behind.....and this is what we saw as we approached the front....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivmcTdPOYeAuFXFKYqI8iUe1CKcy55LS4MCVmhJ0Xyw4CnpZ9W4TGlIRFh_9PYQHp_wO5TNFgRu9Ru2fOb_sGzjmp7tlREzJOzuuleM2GjXxU3aKZ6f-N629a4u2blbHWEGdzXuGM0gQ/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivmcTdPOYeAuFXFKYqI8iUe1CKcy55LS4MCVmhJ0Xyw4CnpZ9W4TGlIRFh_9PYQHp_wO5TNFgRu9Ru2fOb_sGzjmp7tlREzJOzuuleM2GjXxU3aKZ6f-N629a4u2blbHWEGdzXuGM0gQ/s320/Paris+Day+Four+035.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and as your round the corner.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqL4eo2HRY5rkGiCClkax8h_ua8RBY6LVgRn7V7zDUokpfmNLtCL6kohSmMbHO5hcThCkU9lHgccX8qpJ1XdeClhsLtgYa_m2pSTtKuSRJULNXjb6dJsdBOqU0RNFT4DN_SDSt0FjOCk/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqL4eo2HRY5rkGiCClkax8h_ua8RBY6LVgRn7V7zDUokpfmNLtCL6kohSmMbHO5hcThCkU9lHgccX8qpJ1XdeClhsLtgYa_m2pSTtKuSRJULNXjb6dJsdBOqU0RNFT4DN_SDSt0FjOCk/s320/Paris+Day+Four+036.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...people....lots of people! But what you can't help by notice immediately is that view! Sacre Coeur sits atop a steep hill and the view is absolutely amazing! You can't help but move as close as you can to it....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuTz3x-9vK3tZSWOjzj764zy467LhMFVUPcgVvN23kxBf5u_yU-Dsw5QkIgzJcYwiFhDQh1GRBt_UuWE3Q-nV15S2GtNhWpnpa2QQHm5l_BoDdBM0H-QMPJ6FgEydsr98I3cc8HaZGi0/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuTz3x-9vK3tZSWOjzj764zy467LhMFVUPcgVvN23kxBf5u_yU-Dsw5QkIgzJcYwiFhDQh1GRBt_UuWE3Q-nV15S2GtNhWpnpa2QQHm5l_BoDdBM0H-QMPJ6FgEydsr98I3cc8HaZGi0/s320/Paris+Day+Four+037.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We walked down the steps, trying to get as close as we could to that view...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGB3pJdohkZygi6CR771tId9A0x31wZQFdWsxd94GMMCdBEHD5gS_kXJfLgtuJRL5FP5qBfZnwDJSDnnEjzl5Nmt4BAMCyodykuNtqz4K5KzS49Y1uF3igPSg_Ax2HPjEgclRheFsO_0M/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGB3pJdohkZygi6CR771tId9A0x31wZQFdWsxd94GMMCdBEHD5gS_kXJfLgtuJRL5FP5qBfZnwDJSDnnEjzl5Nmt4BAMCyodykuNtqz4K5KzS49Y1uF3igPSg_Ax2HPjEgclRheFsO_0M/s320/Paris+Day+Four+038.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and then I turned around.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaLs47Wgd7IObYOFdBWelevYL_EDs_O4F1Xf5ANdVtjemREzi0s3_ccWIWNi2ZCwk_UfBPIyJh1wpZlFyzcVSOa4L6Kjkhx9Nht9qEMi0kbZFd428oCqdd6XYMuVtjKcldohOLkQEXcU/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaLs47Wgd7IObYOFdBWelevYL_EDs_O4F1Xf5ANdVtjemREzi0s3_ccWIWNi2ZCwk_UfBPIyJh1wpZlFyzcVSOa4L6Kjkhx9Nht9qEMi0kbZFd428oCqdd6XYMuVtjKcldohOLkQEXcU/s320/Paris+Day+Four+040.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is absolutely amazing....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwq9Yq9bg4iK-W0D_j3fV6b5UeFJtLSEiQyota-9l15FIgxzeLT7Us7vlNvvh4Ww84QteMgcBTNeSkszEja85tpn8OFo2bS8Bfxp-sZVpzTemYCh9k-faHHC5DQqJI_FQwDoE8HlC6nEM/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwq9Yq9bg4iK-W0D_j3fV6b5UeFJtLSEiQyota-9l15FIgxzeLT7Us7vlNvvh4Ww84QteMgcBTNeSkszEja85tpn8OFo2bS8Bfxp-sZVpzTemYCh9k-faHHC5DQqJI_FQwDoE8HlC6nEM/s320/Paris+Day+Four+042.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can see, the place was packed.....what you can't see is the line to get in that wraps around itself a multitude of times. We decided to pass on that and head down the hill to get a better view of the basilica and its domes! So, since I don't have any photos of the interior, I searched the web and found a few for you:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font: 0.7em "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; width: 400px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="300" width="400"><param name="FlashVars" value="galleryid=7230351894_ztW8m"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="movie" value="http://www.picnik.com/slide/slide.swf"/><embed src="http://www.picnik.com/slide/slide.swf" width="400" height="300" wmode="transparent" allowScriptAccess="always" FlashVars="galleryid=7230351894_ztW8m"></embed></object><br />
<div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.picnik.com/show/id/7230351894_ztW8m/t/sacrecoeur">"<b>SacreCoeur</b>"</a></div><div style="float: right;"><a href="http://www.picnik.com/" target="_blank">Create a free slideshow with Picnik!</a></div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">As you walk down the very steep steps, the views continuously change.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rPWYbrqPtpdOoxIAwj6S7uDXXI9DMzg7HHBGgg2P6ynFN2D3dCTnqC6shwONFhMFac11KztKfz6SrMhBECBbSVtHvyIGW7U9TrD6G0xdpWTwqPyEwMVqV7P0osMZ66HHjZ4rQeK-ISQ/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rPWYbrqPtpdOoxIAwj6S7uDXXI9DMzg7HHBGgg2P6ynFN2D3dCTnqC6shwONFhMFac11KztKfz6SrMhBECBbSVtHvyIGW7U9TrD6G0xdpWTwqPyEwMVqV7P0osMZ66HHjZ4rQeK-ISQ/s320/Paris+Day+Four+043.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The skyline gets closer....and Sacre Coeur gets farther away....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBDJLWcDOcs6LPK4ylAoyLwozZnsezkricONbjlDvKXGC9V3LR6DxTX9b8XPyKTejFa2MRfxLL95tHkjIOC8fDpOxUJYq5GLvhyphenhyphenaNyStjAUp-I8Nh_ZNH3tXEdvFxpijYcf1z31T_4ns/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBDJLWcDOcs6LPK4ylAoyLwozZnsezkricONbjlDvKXGC9V3LR6DxTX9b8XPyKTejFa2MRfxLL95tHkjIOC8fDpOxUJYq5GLvhyphenhyphenaNyStjAUp-I8Nh_ZNH3tXEdvFxpijYcf1z31T_4ns/s320/Paris+Day+Four+044.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Closer.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBqYSYdwqqtyaQ71_s82ZzDBeb9FtoWffXPpQNaUgICaAB5QJL73LxBnwnAXkxDj7w_ncZnhgPAe9kqWfSqE25G0JRqqdGcCGTMkwocfuXLTmWuQzPsstlzbEijGctlDWv-UA4ksmGL0/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBqYSYdwqqtyaQ71_s82ZzDBeb9FtoWffXPpQNaUgICaAB5QJL73LxBnwnAXkxDj7w_ncZnhgPAe9kqWfSqE25G0JRqqdGcCGTMkwocfuXLTmWuQzPsstlzbEijGctlDWv-UA4ksmGL0/s320/Paris+Day+Four+045.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Farther....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOzHyJI5P79hoWq0BWIgQNJT8GgRrQJLoeoBSnc10LNgYWVt7wDx6xVnJ2xoSJOKic0M-4hyphenhyphen5OtXkPnprFezPQdtB6I_62ssQ0xwocNm2seAI_eKAzCuyWk4r68nEGaWISLNilTfoCds/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOzHyJI5P79hoWq0BWIgQNJT8GgRrQJLoeoBSnc10LNgYWVt7wDx6xVnJ2xoSJOKic0M-4hyphenhyphen5OtXkPnprFezPQdtB6I_62ssQ0xwocNm2seAI_eKAzCuyWk4r68nEGaWISLNilTfoCds/s320/Paris+Day+Four+046.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No view is any less amazing than another and all are just breathtaking! Once at the bottom, we walked a few blocks looking for a great place to eat and we did find one. I know I took another 20 or so pictures that part of the afternoon, but they're gone....never to be seen again. I will tell you that lunch was fabulous.....I had steak frites and it was delicious...there was also more French Onion soup, which tasted different everywhere we tried it, spaghetti bolognese and a burger....yes, a hamburger...and it was good!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From there we headed to Gare du Nord, the train station. One of six in Paris, it is the busiest station in Europe moving about 180 million people per year! We had all wanted to take a day trip to London and had priced it before we left for the trip. But it was decided that we would book it in Paris, in hopes of getting a better price. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gare du Nord is huge....so Melinda and Brad checked things out, looking for where we could buy tickets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4_u6jW3FUPQkezEcl_m1vPoF7gSBV_EV9SlkWiEUjlWfCniXXvyTk3YIGl5SWusExXpU7tdMCY-mgPRBwzghJQpo_LmNJmF3lQ-BebVAIxvTFLHEoW8rjx6WDbzB1lG_MhgONlOH7po/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4_u6jW3FUPQkezEcl_m1vPoF7gSBV_EV9SlkWiEUjlWfCniXXvyTk3YIGl5SWusExXpU7tdMCY-mgPRBwzghJQpo_LmNJmF3lQ-BebVAIxvTFLHEoW8rjx6WDbzB1lG_MhgONlOH7po/s320/Paris+Day+Four+049.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The trains are really neat looking.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC0-qQdbWo_2C6Z8EqSFzBxkb_FqHeG3T0vAylFzKgfzmGjlRDelXjuLqj-7PgKJNJ9CiPsHlZvjXYxqKiXlQ07bfpKnvrRpZqrVW7RoyRoFg_InUpi5JOV_bx_QeQs-hYgrdeIg8vgA/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC0-qQdbWo_2C6Z8EqSFzBxkb_FqHeG3T0vAylFzKgfzmGjlRDelXjuLqj-7PgKJNJ9CiPsHlZvjXYxqKiXlQ07bfpKnvrRpZqrVW7RoyRoFg_InUpi5JOV_bx_QeQs-hYgrdeIg8vgA/s320/Paris+Day+Four+050.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we made our way to the ticket counter. Hindsight? Book in advance....book in advance....book in advance!!! The price of the trip had more than doubled and it just didn't make sense to spend those kinds of monies for just a day trip. Instead we decided to head back to the apartment and find a rental car on the internet and take a drive out into the countryside. But not before taking a "potty break"! Yea....finding a restroom at Gare du Nord? Not as easy as one might think.....along the way we saw the first military men of the entire trip (and the last)....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PkMMbTt6QoTTeYH0sBS-i6KfebuhvvApVFaUlkIpM81qgat_ap_vFNR9slLMhFjoOe5BnocaW7sLOogAOknrPeyK8h6z062yjKAHazipfC2WHpXJ5rg7nn8MPAfd8xv8-f2b2ux2C4Q/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PkMMbTt6QoTTeYH0sBS-i6KfebuhvvApVFaUlkIpM81qgat_ap_vFNR9slLMhFjoOe5BnocaW7sLOogAOknrPeyK8h6z062yjKAHazipfC2WHpXJ5rg7nn8MPAfd8xv8-f2b2ux2C4Q/s320/Paris+Day+Four+053.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check out the restroom! It looks like a spa.......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MKvAfjl3Yhud6WlEkz16lSM5O-QMpL5By_Uw1L2dDEJCFub2RgZyi63lKeiE6iRi-qc-RwsDRH8uRwplSIFnMWUTIipFKVrXP9mGfK86oRBujedmnZDUE7pKU4ZCIzNWG1umOMbm-JA/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MKvAfjl3Yhud6WlEkz16lSM5O-QMpL5By_Uw1L2dDEJCFub2RgZyi63lKeiE6iRi-qc-RwsDRH8uRwplSIFnMWUTIipFKVrXP9mGfK86oRBujedmnZDUE7pKU4ZCIzNWG1umOMbm-JA/s320/Paris+Day+Four+054.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and it costs to use it! Hmmm...what does that say on the door?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnA2hGDojn9a5iB2_vayiNuyg3SbxT83eZrU-aQCPznQs8lFPI7bO_EIs8DVBIdJWi2z6K3XWkScwtM2jxgv8JSAiv5jJwgAbftNXxRK4_RpJTX-dqzbyinws8LnB7p-B8kLmDUSqyn2M/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Four+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnA2hGDojn9a5iB2_vayiNuyg3SbxT83eZrU-aQCPznQs8lFPI7bO_EIs8DVBIdJWi2z6K3XWkScwtM2jxgv8JSAiv5jJwgAbftNXxRK4_RpJTX-dqzbyinws8LnB7p-B8kLmDUSqyn2M/s320/Paris+Day+Four+055.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ummmm...yea.....I mean, "thanks, but I'm just here for the toilettes"....maybe another time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh wait! I forgot to tell you! Little Jaxson is well and happy! See.....prayers are heard!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Note: It's driving me insane that I'm missing so many pictures....will check with out traveling partners to see what they have! Maybe the next post will be from them!</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-270379759713220512010-02-21T14:50:00.000-08:002010-02-22T09:27:15.375-08:00Paris - Day ThreeBonne Annee! It was New Year's Eve in Paris.....I felt like I was dreaming! We were all quite excited about the evening's festivities, so we decided to lay a little low during the day.....that and there was smoke coming from my shoes with all of the walking we'd done the previous two days!<br />
<br />
Dennis and I got up and went out into our own little neighborhood to further investigate beyond the 2 blocks we had seen so far. We walked a few blocks and it was so invigorating to see the excitement on the streets. The New Year is the most celebrated holiday in France.....they send New Year's cards throughout the entire month and everyone you pass shouts, "Bonne Annee"! But the preparation for the evening's festivities was evident.....and the treats in the windows of all of the shoppes were incredible....especially the pastries!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCWMFFD6nQsmV-v2lsLILF_GDhG0vW_r5tdPNTOm7oDwcS_CnujtwMPMCx3CxNfLZq8GF5t1n4rgSa2xzEaaSEZ8DJDcybNAQdaf68ngNlflC5u7jiwS97D-pKrVs3pS21TlQx49xDr8/s1600-h/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCWMFFD6nQsmV-v2lsLILF_GDhG0vW_r5tdPNTOm7oDwcS_CnujtwMPMCx3CxNfLZq8GF5t1n4rgSa2xzEaaSEZ8DJDcybNAQdaf68ngNlflC5u7jiwS97D-pKrVs3pS21TlQx49xDr8/s320/31.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQF5B3ehjc8elP7giWpaV4eG0bB8XQY2XridHWhSRGM9KQUqX6r9zXOSE23dut7CUKhki2WsUeC56Rt0K69quAtx1Uy9wCLGJ7CWXl7dyfZf4xF17H8B1Q3GndzBnqq1_QPpA9sriKo4/s1600-h/1aaaaaaaa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQF5B3ehjc8elP7giWpaV4eG0bB8XQY2XridHWhSRGM9KQUqX6r9zXOSE23dut7CUKhki2WsUeC56Rt0K69quAtx1Uy9wCLGJ7CWXl7dyfZf4xF17H8B1Q3GndzBnqq1_QPpA9sriKo4/s320/1aaaaaaaa1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9C8HEiNqTIhKm9H8TI9JM9ul4rMs6GDpFLBcGzCQNkhdQLm6jlCEpeOSzNJBWW6r_qw5_f2ddKhc68JXWMhsX4SAHsA2h-yDXxdxMxcIYV6ZVyjdzgqygotR6G7OclcBJ8hcQ4vHHX0/s1600-h/1aaaaaaaaaa4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9C8HEiNqTIhKm9H8TI9JM9ul4rMs6GDpFLBcGzCQNkhdQLm6jlCEpeOSzNJBWW6r_qw5_f2ddKhc68JXWMhsX4SAHsA2h-yDXxdxMxcIYV6ZVyjdzgqygotR6G7OclcBJ8hcQ4vHHX0/s320/1aaaaaaaaaa4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was so much fun just watching the people go from shop to shop preparing for their own New Year's festivities......and you could tell it was "all about the food"!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While walking back to the apartment, Dennis made a comment that he was ready to get rid of his "no shave November" beard....he grows it from November 1st until the New Year. BUT all he had was his razor. So I suggested going to visit the salon just outside of our apartment building and having the guy who had found his cell phone shave it off for him. He bit......and then we both did!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The stylist convinced us both to let him cut our hair! Of course, showing us New York Times write ups about him and the he was a stylist at The Red Door and did Cindy Crawford's hair helped.....so Dennis went first!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NYipF2Ubq8gaLWOWdkgWnH1r5B6bA_GZiS3TiSalvjkFz9F_fD10dVgxbkB45wE7x9YDxJp3CWa9XNklrKu5TOFvweSKsy0Y8EfQBKz9_KsSG1jYoJkJ7RGaZweJWA6j6QJG1o9fODM/s1600-h/1aaaaa3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NYipF2Ubq8gaLWOWdkgWnH1r5B6bA_GZiS3TiSalvjkFz9F_fD10dVgxbkB45wE7x9YDxJp3CWa9XNklrKu5TOFvweSKsy0Y8EfQBKz9_KsSG1jYoJkJ7RGaZweJWA6j6QJG1o9fODM/s320/1aaaaa3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and then it was my turn!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Tm5LSTflcn_Ne-HzzxCX_6he4WyqYRSn5dIPT7keAp-tk6aGsLGbXHMCLPT45J00yFhgA4zrrTvSHiGo9mPt1cMc1FRcdpnKoJ1pJk3zX4iGcnUndWfFvUvF4BXA3SppeppUeDQt_Po/s1600-h/11111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Tm5LSTflcn_Ne-HzzxCX_6he4WyqYRSn5dIPT7keAp-tk6aGsLGbXHMCLPT45J00yFhgA4zrrTvSHiGo9mPt1cMc1FRcdpnKoJ1pJk3zX4iGcnUndWfFvUvF4BXA3SppeppUeDQt_Po/s320/11111.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Both of us walked out feeling as though we'd been scalped.....I liked his haircut and he liked mine, but neither of us liked our own....well, not really. It turned out that mine was a blessing.....I had been afraid to plug in my curling iron since Dennis' hairdryer had sparked....and there was NO way you were getting a curling iron into this haircut. It was short....but it was easy. And Dennis was really happy to get his beard off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We went back to the apartment and Melinda and Brad were ready to roll.....so, we decided to head out for a bite to eat. We walked and walked and walked.....and ended up back at Pigalle. We found a great cafe and the food was great! I didn't get pictures (sorry, I was hungry!), but I did get a picture of the inside of the cafe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_h_N29FczRKbmeH9VysAjJZLwnyU5NHpbzhFZy0havlVa6RoKGQGzyWYa1813wi1qV7iUsOAn5EMiJk64flvy_wORPnwRwLVi-Nz5hy7GqSIPw8VyqrolN-7g8JoNCIxvtaRtvnCDc8/s1600-h/1aa11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_h_N29FczRKbmeH9VysAjJZLwnyU5NHpbzhFZy0havlVa6RoKGQGzyWYa1813wi1qV7iUsOAn5EMiJk64flvy_wORPnwRwLVi-Nz5hy7GqSIPw8VyqrolN-7g8JoNCIxvtaRtvnCDc8/s320/1aa11.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OK.......the above portion of this post was done a couple of weeks ago....I paused because the rest of the pictures weren't so great. I think that somehow a setting on the camera got changed and we didn't realize it, but after looking at them, I decided that they're pretty indicative of the rest of our evening. Read on.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After we left the restaurant, we headed back to the apartment to rest up a bit before the evening's festivities. We were all so excited about spending New Year's eve at the Eiffel Tower and we had all decided we'd head out around 10 pm. Well, I guess that most of Paris decided the same thing! Once we got down into the Metro, we realized this trip wasn't going to be easy....or fun! The place was packed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2V89NPEHzION1enhP3oJTJX9BUV7gRbkgfl9_U2cTcxNDB1z8iB-VxkvJoWBnjCQfIKmCq1eW_0XbIkzVTCBdxcN5QAoi2iwHYFbgf0JV898D_XUS32VIoz2_bj5QBfDv4PSsDss8CBw/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Three+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2V89NPEHzION1enhP3oJTJX9BUV7gRbkgfl9_U2cTcxNDB1z8iB-VxkvJoWBnjCQfIKmCq1eW_0XbIkzVTCBdxcN5QAoi2iwHYFbgf0JV898D_XUS32VIoz2_bj5QBfDv4PSsDss8CBw/s320/Paris+Day+Three+040.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the doors on the trains were bulging! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXhYfTKsXHwx97jp_IFNK9e9p2ROIS1RlfuMdjM0wEEpPnc4rYarkJBm3ZkmVnMgc31FvoEOaj5yYcUUpu6CgY57jcY9DvzVRALq2yoVK4j_Ti5QulmANtB8UiuzBaIJLK8KeZHHIolo/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Three+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXhYfTKsXHwx97jp_IFNK9e9p2ROIS1RlfuMdjM0wEEpPnc4rYarkJBm3ZkmVnMgc31FvoEOaj5yYcUUpu6CgY57jcY9DvzVRALq2yoVK4j_Ti5QulmANtB8UiuzBaIJLK8KeZHHIolo/s320/Paris+Day+Three+041.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We finally decided to get on a train going in the opposite direction to see if it would be easier to get on. Well, that worked.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7D0WJD5ZjVw3JZnKthKDVW-4nhiBZ5dmXQPnoRcO_0k4lo0jWgFDmqp3iI_w55jCFgceK1JUdugK07Duq7RYZVwEZvNFEIopYHYCgt9NENmLrPUu3qpfplLuvXmT-6c6o4bEjD0jtCBw/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Three+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7D0WJD5ZjVw3JZnKthKDVW-4nhiBZ5dmXQPnoRcO_0k4lo0jWgFDmqp3iI_w55jCFgceK1JUdugK07Duq7RYZVwEZvNFEIopYHYCgt9NENmLrPUu3qpfplLuvXmT-6c6o4bEjD0jtCBw/s320/Paris+Day+Three+039.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....but once we were on the train and it stopped at the next stops, we were pushed further into the train. At one stop, two guys were trying to get on....they were obviously pretty toasted and looked like they'd been in a fight or two already. Dennis was at the door and the rest of us were on top of each other. The guy started trying to pull Dennis OFF the train, while we were all pulling him back. It was the craziest, scariest thing I've experienced, that's for sure! Two guys next to me were scared out of their wits and got off, so the two guys got on....and they were mad! It was not an enjoyable trip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once we arrived at Trocadero, the stop for the Eiffel, it was apparent that it wouldn't be any easier getting off the train than it was getting on.....the stop was packed with people trying to exit the Metro. We made a quick decision to go on and get off at the next stop and walk back. GOOD CALL!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We didn't walk far.....and we didn't really get close to the tower, but we got close enough to see the light show and that was good enough for me! The streets were packed with people carrying their champagne bottles, screaming and yelling "Bonne Annee"!!! It was a much better vibe than on the train!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTs0kL3euQQ31z6eozCtTi86RKUZ5BlePP2ihq5jnKvO7LDGH9Ij83APzXJ9pBtldr1baoZZ3lSb_RSDBHtETILJcgXGyJCy4t3RrLqxUrgiFDqJEYJz6ShuEzn3SEfuXc_qIY5SRLIY/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Three+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTs0kL3euQQ31z6eozCtTi86RKUZ5BlePP2ihq5jnKvO7LDGH9Ij83APzXJ9pBtldr1baoZZ3lSb_RSDBHtETILJcgXGyJCy4t3RrLqxUrgiFDqJEYJz6ShuEzn3SEfuXc_qIY5SRLIY/s320/Paris+Day+Three+042.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzheA6pI9jk2LpjN6vNudXgJid85icSF7mz-Qia7sRobByTqjKQ678_VPbO43_IxeT-TSrhEsyPclZxocSuDKEkdn2wQSCphzyE75LcnZi24Esx1wlZdlFIcGr22xhn3lxavin2A26RU/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Three+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzheA6pI9jk2LpjN6vNudXgJid85icSF7mz-Qia7sRobByTqjKQ678_VPbO43_IxeT-TSrhEsyPclZxocSuDKEkdn2wQSCphzyE75LcnZi24Esx1wlZdlFIcGr22xhn3lxavin2A26RU/s320/Paris+Day+Three+043.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj13DG5Q3hN4Zw6zb4zYd63PbmFMBKKVkzbe1ZyMRN33SacqjYUqpfBBTpxdid5eVlbN8YYSwCtpslr9wMNxKl24QrNn1ZOxZFtvxRSeZWUi6agY9UgFwKwY9CVdPqgs-34b5QUqYAW0/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Three+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj13DG5Q3hN4Zw6zb4zYd63PbmFMBKKVkzbe1ZyMRN33SacqjYUqpfBBTpxdid5eVlbN8YYSwCtpslr9wMNxKl24QrNn1ZOxZFtvxRSeZWUi6agY9UgFwKwY9CVdPqgs-34b5QUqYAW0/s320/Paris+Day+Three+044.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's the Eiffel Tower above the head of the little girl in pink.....we were quite a distance from it, but we could still see the show. Since we'd had such a bad experience getting there, we decided to head back to the safe haven of our apartment.....didn't want to hang around long enough for the party goers to get any more drunk than they were already. So, we toasted the New Year with our own bottle of champagne....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhse4cDqTm2kOKMe0objOiYUmU3jigOtrt79dImoZfLTL53rgphXhIVYvVdqzj66tybQmarW6FddapJPfQjtvpuYMyaHwP4h8PDhfYS1VMw-DlwJ7Grgrnpc2czbsPhjrVG6BVsXfQGHBU/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Three+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhse4cDqTm2kOKMe0objOiYUmU3jigOtrt79dImoZfLTL53rgphXhIVYvVdqzj66tybQmarW6FddapJPfQjtvpuYMyaHwP4h8PDhfYS1VMw-DlwJ7Grgrnpc2czbsPhjrVG6BVsXfQGHBU/s320/Paris+Day+Three+045.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">......and headed home. The ride back was interesting, but not nearly as much as the trip there! It was apparent to me that the French are really patient people......every rude, loud and obnoxious person we saw was NOT French. The French are quiet, laid back people who, in my opinion, put up quite nicely with the "tourists".....every one we met was helpful and kind. I'd go back in a heartbeat....probably not for New Years....once was enough for me. I've marked that one off of my "bucket list"!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bonne Annee.....Happy New Year!</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-66870507120730788932010-02-21T11:28:00.000-08:002010-02-21T11:28:47.869-08:00Getting To Know You<div style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Getting To Know You...this fun meme is hosted by <a href="http://www.mannland5.com/?">Keely</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You can head on over to <a href="http://www.mannland5.com/?">her blog </a>to play along in this fun fest.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here are this weeks questions...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>1. How often do you wash/change your sheets?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">I like to change them every 3 or 4 days, but most of the time it's once a week</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>2. When is your birthday?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">July 10, 1955</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>3. Have you ever met a bloggy friend in real life?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">So far, all of my "bloggy friends" are friends, family and colleagues. If I have any that I haven't met, I don't know about it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>4. Brad Pitt or George Clooney?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">George.....no doubt!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>5. If you could change one thing about your body what would it be?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'd like to have my "twenty-somthing" body back....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>6. How often do you wash your hair?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">Every other day...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>7. Do you have pets?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">The only "baby" left at home is Shugs....our little white Lhasa Apso. She's the love of our lives.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>8. How many social networks do you belong to..if you had to give up one, what would it be?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm very new to social networks.....BlogHer and BlogFrog (are they social networks? I told you, I'm new!)</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-49287329362761165672010-01-30T21:33:00.000-08:002010-01-31T07:42:17.816-08:00Snow Day Par-Tay!!!!It snowed! Really, I'm not kidding......we finally have snow! And. lots. of. it. We measured in at 6.5 inches here and it's really beautiful. Dennis made oatmeal this morning...just seemed like a snow day kind of breakfast, and it was delicious! Then we watched a movie, but we were restless and really just wanted to get out of the house and see "the town".<br />
<br />
Shugs wasn't too sure if she wanted to go out or not....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEOpCQEFLtcaCfc-bhODIPRB6CJ0IBN0dQG6jbWiHm-XxozEcOAsjs3AGA29Ol333_22Un0B9AwCHUoQLG2-3sqUj-6CIGVSsoA3ay3K0K8DiBHGrIvaw47SfReLURAaVXqzUUQIY1yo/s1600-h/1shugs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEOpCQEFLtcaCfc-bhODIPRB6CJ0IBN0dQG6jbWiHm-XxozEcOAsjs3AGA29Ol333_22Un0B9AwCHUoQLG2-3sqUj-6CIGVSsoA3ay3K0K8DiBHGrIvaw47SfReLURAaVXqzUUQIY1yo/s320/1shugs.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At first, she just wanted to watch....then she decided to just go out on the porch...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLAD0INAddYlF1tJC-IX9-Zf2l2Q0vxAVqLyDmreDdbW_cVNyyG0ana5Q58bQGIZIC7JhTZiRHCL4fYOjhoVMOd2eLfkajC6HS1OGzJGdw49EuNRDmwjYs4Yh3HQIh20LrL5jkKwTeyY/s1600-h/1shugs1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLAD0INAddYlF1tJC-IX9-Zf2l2Q0vxAVqLyDmreDdbW_cVNyyG0ana5Q58bQGIZIC7JhTZiRHCL4fYOjhoVMOd2eLfkajC6HS1OGzJGdw49EuNRDmwjYs4Yh3HQIh20LrL5jkKwTeyY/s320/1shugs1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then she figured that it couldn't be all that bad if Daddy was out in it....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumoHAwUfFKV_B11RJ9MSOYIb8BffTTWYY5BlHLRnaYa9e-CfQeYPqWGoD2kZjhcHT1OInaO5oKBnSBFE2kVGfDe7g-UzZmjSP8dxkdeRmeTGCEbp0LaMFMRuZiwqqmTnVK1TR2m0Iucg/s1600-h/1shugs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumoHAwUfFKV_B11RJ9MSOYIb8BffTTWYY5BlHLRnaYa9e-CfQeYPqWGoD2kZjhcHT1OInaO5oKBnSBFE2kVGfDe7g-UzZmjSP8dxkdeRmeTGCEbp0LaMFMRuZiwqqmTnVK1TR2m0Iucg/s320/1shugs2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That lasted less than a minute.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jC6QMzfqWMDLWfOX6gddKfRNjxNODw6M-__6h5G_nDThqtPfHG7DrPvEXcUNKLZ_dG7ETPRz5T0FSrcaJ0NzCLS1uwX17zFKOhWXUSFkN5P_bFAbXRBTjeBt8P6GnvmeRIUCGl6gpKs/s1600-h/1shugs3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jC6QMzfqWMDLWfOX6gddKfRNjxNODw6M-__6h5G_nDThqtPfHG7DrPvEXcUNKLZ_dG7ETPRz5T0FSrcaJ0NzCLS1uwX17zFKOhWXUSFkN5P_bFAbXRBTjeBt8P6GnvmeRIUCGl6gpKs/s320/1shugs3.jpg" /></a></div>Later we looked out the front door and guess who we saw? The mailman!!!! So, it is true...."neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail".....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMuoyqxEPa8XnOwE0TIPxLjdzKyedgMVqHE6DAXVDcS6HwPOykdlqGVizqdrdlHUKfSbnmB5ywI86P-SaJJ52h0xvEQTeg5YsjdZacVZz2vuCfWu_xOl0p7QCoFixSC4ES3WRIAFkPlo/s1600-h/1amailman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMuoyqxEPa8XnOwE0TIPxLjdzKyedgMVqHE6DAXVDcS6HwPOykdlqGVizqdrdlHUKfSbnmB5ywI86P-SaJJ52h0xvEQTeg5YsjdZacVZz2vuCfWu_xOl0p7QCoFixSC4ES3WRIAFkPlo/s320/1amailman.jpg" /></a></div>Well, Dennis figured if the mailman could deliver the mail, we could go for a little drive....AND he wanted oysters!!! What?? There's a fridge full of food (well, everything EXCEPT oysters) and you want oysters? So, off we went.....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium2oH_ERO85pgTNni592qC3sUyhCqdfSkJ4QPYYNkQbTcmkbMaX6j-SC4JMGhyhd82rAW7XODKSdB8DENDbYTkO8b18CDzTYmsDnESpc28noNwBRERouhIXNdMI2I0E0WdbFJDoQriB8/s1600-h/1asnowday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium2oH_ERO85pgTNni592qC3sUyhCqdfSkJ4QPYYNkQbTcmkbMaX6j-SC4JMGhyhd82rAW7XODKSdB8DENDbYTkO8b18CDzTYmsDnESpc28noNwBRERouhIXNdMI2I0E0WdbFJDoQriB8/s320/1asnowday2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...to Farm Fresh! I was pretty sure I'd seen fresh oysters there the day before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7x5DMz8kZKvkI0g-FGfeS6NsKP0hpuX7KFO1_Y6-a8IXRlucDoaJ41wYjhIlCZvG-QBwG0jF9iZVP0ZME_I1fCch-E3klW5ngRhCoWOmvUcBsTBsm1eWCG8G-AV39Tr0abhqsGj_eRY/s1600-h/1asnowday3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7x5DMz8kZKvkI0g-FGfeS6NsKP0hpuX7KFO1_Y6-a8IXRlucDoaJ41wYjhIlCZvG-QBwG0jF9iZVP0ZME_I1fCch-E3klW5ngRhCoWOmvUcBsTBsm1eWCG8G-AV39Tr0abhqsGj_eRY/s320/1asnowday3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were a few cars in the parking lot, but not so many people inside.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtSA6vphRjJbHUYNqWnt-lQrzUzQZvu0N45-mJLQCyTJvhRSHMUXtsnDBoSE4-LGUY7ub7gpcskshor-yLbamDQBEnPe-u3K6gjrJrqLnrxMU-ASZJLOKBK1bNhl-w6b1urBEGh0GnYQ/s1600-h/asnowdaycollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtSA6vphRjJbHUYNqWnt-lQrzUzQZvu0N45-mJLQCyTJvhRSHMUXtsnDBoSE4-LGUY7ub7gpcskshor-yLbamDQBEnPe-u3K6gjrJrqLnrxMU-ASZJLOKBK1bNhl-w6b1urBEGh0GnYQ/s320/asnowdaycollage.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We found the oysters, a lemon and beer, then decided to take them over to the "other Dennis's" house.....Dennis West.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkmUpj8y858NJ2DI4Mz4khiDHa2CKsTTzBwGK1d2ZuJCDrKWYwov0fmgmsaHy54MFKNVBEYXsjNeO3T19-43PyGi8DmKcsotntzmra1upCPCjTJwmyuBsP-3M63pPKHdTI5IcBsq_zIM/s1600-h/1asnowday15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkmUpj8y858NJ2DI4Mz4khiDHa2CKsTTzBwGK1d2ZuJCDrKWYwov0fmgmsaHy54MFKNVBEYXsjNeO3T19-43PyGi8DmKcsotntzmra1upCPCjTJwmyuBsP-3M63pPKHdTI5IcBsq_zIM/s320/1asnowday15.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....we called, got an okay.....grabbed our oysters and beer....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUnQI6FyQQGaFYrS6W0N_J3e00DIP0afrOeRT9ip1dl-OEpTq885FnXQnk2W7WU7yjWtTDxGx0TkEhFmyn4p9NNW1eSk7R1hZRgqL0qNyv6-ekD7mq-tpG_L8v3mFazhMdJjrzqetgOo/s1600-h/asnowday5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUnQI6FyQQGaFYrS6W0N_J3e00DIP0afrOeRT9ip1dl-OEpTq885FnXQnk2W7WU7yjWtTDxGx0TkEhFmyn4p9NNW1eSk7R1hZRgqL0qNyv6-ekD7mq-tpG_L8v3mFazhMdJjrzqetgOo/s320/asnowday5.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and off we went! Once we drove up, it was pretty apparent that we weren't the <em>only</em> ones who had this thought!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIQZYBnw69uUSTftATi4lnvZ6QBk0fD6FgkJsGoAHwmpW90IkxRy3s-hFN0NqTj_Y82_aED6qXjGAbC0mMr9pSCFF38luyj5wV4NrSxtAMUUiBwH1DmEtcI352Lqaqh-6zjLvqEjS9b4/s1600-h/asnowday6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIQZYBnw69uUSTftATi4lnvZ6QBk0fD6FgkJsGoAHwmpW90IkxRy3s-hFN0NqTj_Y82_aED6qXjGAbC0mMr9pSCFF38luyj5wV4NrSxtAMUUiBwH1DmEtcI352Lqaqh-6zjLvqEjS9b4/s320/asnowday6.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was quite a lively group and we really had a great time! We cooked/ate/enjoyed the oysters....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjbXHxiPqiB2uX4D2iuLLdyeUZ0NXS5af0_Cl6tqQBjx2j7aluaKDxC8LXZU9AEGfucIUdU-L3SfWD2FLTxkTffZ2pM9NCeNYD92szv70g6aoec0olqS99rteT7kILIFOxchgk3b4L-M/s1600-h/1asnowday9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjbXHxiPqiB2uX4D2iuLLdyeUZ0NXS5af0_Cl6tqQBjx2j7aluaKDxC8LXZU9AEGfucIUdU-L3SfWD2FLTxkTffZ2pM9NCeNYD92szv70g6aoec0olqS99rteT7kILIFOxchgk3b4L-M/s320/1asnowday9.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2l8oeKqoLPDxoOYNp2L4Vug08wiRoD0lzv-AoW3-llVoL09KHJEVx7cAP_TlSFHzDX1iM2Jh0yvJau4F2wVgfI551Af-ZfcjAdRt7zG_MpsiwB3kdXVH1IP6n1K2_iwMrU5g35Zo2hn8/s1600-h/1asnowday13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2l8oeKqoLPDxoOYNp2L4Vug08wiRoD0lzv-AoW3-llVoL09KHJEVx7cAP_TlSFHzDX1iM2Jh0yvJau4F2wVgfI551Af-ZfcjAdRt7zG_MpsiwB3kdXVH1IP6n1K2_iwMrU5g35Zo2hn8/s320/1asnowday13.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpGhKrb-2hQS9sb7l3s82QcfxpHRWDRpyFLz7mvrThXU8MGhYurIlSk3W7Wtf8eTY7oN5Xx3iTbwm0PooTrAznm1kpMmC1XtRn3yQ98-RvexrFbmsGSJFGQHb5qzb9o4MXeptH0pKElU/s1600-h/1asnowday11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpGhKrb-2hQS9sb7l3s82QcfxpHRWDRpyFLz7mvrThXU8MGhYurIlSk3W7Wtf8eTY7oN5Xx3iTbwm0PooTrAznm1kpMmC1XtRn3yQ98-RvexrFbmsGSJFGQHb5qzb9o4MXeptH0pKElU/s320/1asnowday11.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....watched basketball and some golf.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQMzhmLvrvQ00XA05ZScsGJjC00WOeJKoUtpGNVMqc5ActXtdjP7cq7CRDVxX4cPBoW7GmB16sqLd3uneQg61CTnwLWMXjoAwzNacJPCMLAJ-9dTYDlHHAexOPjLNzKdkVV512q6yHdU/s1600-h/1asnowday14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQMzhmLvrvQ00XA05ZScsGJjC00WOeJKoUtpGNVMqc5ActXtdjP7cq7CRDVxX4cPBoW7GmB16sqLd3uneQg61CTnwLWMXjoAwzNacJPCMLAJ-9dTYDlHHAexOPjLNzKdkVV512q6yHdU/s320/1asnowday14.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhLLTPj1oI_FVHSvA8-Xju6LvRGFk-r2vohmY0ksz-ydgM7BvCS0Cytoa-miKTi6QplLs-7s-yuRcqtI1kbEb7ElLEPnqXQxjYrp4WkvFy3QbUZdxyX-4dNlLgO7znKzplEUwqBK_UgI/s1600-h/1asnowday8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhLLTPj1oI_FVHSvA8-Xju6LvRGFk-r2vohmY0ksz-ydgM7BvCS0Cytoa-miKTi6QplLs-7s-yuRcqtI1kbEb7ElLEPnqXQxjYrp4WkvFy3QbUZdxyX-4dNlLgO7znKzplEUwqBK_UgI/s320/1asnowday8.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">......the guys played darts......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-c_e5_AUu6jLSZWO9UwSSW5U0lM2SvnVUd8oWQYCviwowRBeRq2evJ62vGGqoBep-vQfNnqOW8bJcP2FkF65k8QEnrNYRb9h6pF3TciqesO_vVJ9RkOh9RLZP_qD2GZhedeLecJqN6FI/s1600-h/1asnowday10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-c_e5_AUu6jLSZWO9UwSSW5U0lM2SvnVUd8oWQYCviwowRBeRq2evJ62vGGqoBep-vQfNnqOW8bJcP2FkF65k8QEnrNYRb9h6pF3TciqesO_vVJ9RkOh9RLZP_qD2GZhedeLecJqN6FI/s320/1asnowday10.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...while the ladies did what they do best....chat!!!....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsewsG-fdjLFhzmhn6CUrsrWJwWH-1iUbJkeMcYEhS4A3H4DIsziaFE0mWsySR1pUkyWWQpFE-PBjZX8Ke7DIcn7pcbjNCo2hL7S_7PgrQ21iAQIp71DzPSgwzxRYDEd1wTFkyEA6cFk/s1600-h/1asnowday16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsewsG-fdjLFhzmhn6CUrsrWJwWH-1iUbJkeMcYEhS4A3H4DIsziaFE0mWsySR1pUkyWWQpFE-PBjZX8Ke7DIcn7pcbjNCo2hL7S_7PgrQ21iAQIp71DzPSgwzxRYDEd1wTFkyEA6cFk/s320/1asnowday16.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stevie West made a beer run!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuKJpTQfNZe9BU3rnUWVRgQaQTQsthj9CtnxMqgEqg39_xKBg9My-k1TbZxPjGtQOEdQXQZwdutVrBHZd7JsRDdkQYotAl1REw_2ZIR1sZ-TCv2Jq56FaODYirQHe_fNZ_yOTSr_ulhY/s1600-h/1snowdays1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuKJpTQfNZe9BU3rnUWVRgQaQTQsthj9CtnxMqgEqg39_xKBg9My-k1TbZxPjGtQOEdQXQZwdutVrBHZd7JsRDdkQYotAl1REw_2ZIR1sZ-TCv2Jq56FaODYirQHe_fNZ_yOTSr_ulhY/s320/1snowdays1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was great music by DJ Dennis.....and a bit of dancing!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8GaLCs_n-IWZds6cvKlgi7vXouLqQYaKmx4vMDtU7z4whM4w2b2o0H3mFyUz4DNk84dSRvVgCamJGxbrvoQ_Y5nyr5-dCZkmUn9Z_pQ390_ZU9Q5lJqhBz53E-vcwn3jKjM5mQEOZls/s1600-h/adancecollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8GaLCs_n-IWZds6cvKlgi7vXouLqQYaKmx4vMDtU7z4whM4w2b2o0H3mFyUz4DNk84dSRvVgCamJGxbrvoQ_Y5nyr5-dCZkmUn9Z_pQ390_ZU9Q5lJqhBz53E-vcwn3jKjM5mQEOZls/s320/adancecollage.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And one of the neighbors pulled kids up and down the street behind his John Deere tractor....looked like sooo much fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCt3AmqvI1KMg4pQB0LTgSgi4Zzg4NJUfmGHXmIZLWTor30Hd6PtCwpNHrXfd_fvGIDPKB-rqYNTjxp8cZisH3xhPFadYvncmzkDXdzMd_cEtbVTUI2vonro0b_gYTN2ou32s3UWfAaJ4/s1600-h/sledride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCt3AmqvI1KMg4pQB0LTgSgi4Zzg4NJUfmGHXmIZLWTor30Hd6PtCwpNHrXfd_fvGIDPKB-rqYNTjxp8cZisH3xhPFadYvncmzkDXdzMd_cEtbVTUI2vonro0b_gYTN2ou32s3UWfAaJ4/s320/sledride.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was just a great day spent with great people......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwcY_oyE9QvQPzP4_pFCyPCRFmut-VKBHZJYnVHmMKXGRLOyEjGd0UFAqa7BVQxGqfYVTTehPnh7_N-Hl9uGLwq-lgH5P4xQGFlvABwsqBaiaoSAhhW2YgkJCL1-4OHsWbSdvU349koY/s1600-h/1asnowday6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwcY_oyE9QvQPzP4_pFCyPCRFmut-VKBHZJYnVHmMKXGRLOyEjGd0UFAqa7BVQxGqfYVTTehPnh7_N-Hl9uGLwq-lgH5P4xQGFlvABwsqBaiaoSAhhW2YgkJCL1-4OHsWbSdvU349koY/s320/1asnowday6.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuopZfUqxr1Kw0ub7rFqDCKriPvlpBmX98CQh8AWA-QI5L74kQotzGLoHwwPGnrC9ZdLoWE0my3LYsclu75YYnDL7NTk_yBJSFz16JP2fKMXZHyB8X9laCu_Bg0-73VjoUI4EiX0C1oug/s1600-h/1asnowday7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuopZfUqxr1Kw0ub7rFqDCKriPvlpBmX98CQh8AWA-QI5L74kQotzGLoHwwPGnrC9ZdLoWE0my3LYsclu75YYnDL7NTk_yBJSFz16JP2fKMXZHyB8X9laCu_Bg0-73VjoUI4EiX0C1oug/s320/1asnowday7.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxIZqf1yPdtKsw34_4DvOewK8LBJB0vSq7B-xhGvYujD5ImRg1fsGGnV2w49g0APh-q3wtw3k2WT_Dr7IJtBkRlBO6hsfjF_zNlcTCUJcEuchO9vcRhszw2LV-dEa0ma-zxv4NktHskU/s1600-h/1asnowday20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxIZqf1yPdtKsw34_4DvOewK8LBJB0vSq7B-xhGvYujD5ImRg1fsGGnV2w49g0APh-q3wtw3k2WT_Dr7IJtBkRlBO6hsfjF_zNlcTCUJcEuchO9vcRhszw2LV-dEa0ma-zxv4NktHskU/s320/1asnowday20.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and a good time was had by all!!! See you guys soon! Maybe tomorrow! Hmmmm.....how about pizza....from scratch!</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-90369394427235230552010-01-28T13:20:00.000-08:002010-01-28T13:20:46.136-08:00UPDATE to Paris Day Two - Part TwoSomehow I forgot to add a significant "happening" that occurred on the morning of Day Two. When we left the apartment that morning, Dennis had his new international cell phone on his hip.....later that morning, he realized it wasn't on his hip!!! Uh oh! <br />
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By then we were already out and about, so he spent the rest of the day's travels wondering if he had actually lost it, or he had put it down after our morning adventure through the neighborhood.<br />
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That evening when we got back to the apartment, it wasn't there. We emailed <a href="http://herndonherald.blogspot.com/">Jessica</a>, Melinda's daughter, back in the US and asked her to call Dennis' cell phone. Since we couldn't make calls outside of Paris from the apartment phone, this was our only hope. Also, Jessica speaks fluent French, so she was our best and only hope!<br />
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We received an email not long after that saying that someone did, in fact, answer the phone and he gave her his phone number. We called him and he said he was at the same address as us! Turns out it was the owner of the hair salon in front of our building! <br />
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Dennis and Melinda went to pick up the phone and gave him a nice little reward.....nice guy!!! Anyway, I just had to add that, because it didn't stop there.....more to come on Day Three's post!<br />
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By the way, thanks again, Jess!!!Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-11110055740091048572010-01-26T19:53:00.000-08:002010-01-27T06:58:58.530-08:00Day Two - Part TwoOnce we were off of the Batobus, we decided to walk down the streets and just explore a bit. Just walking the streets of Paris is an adventure!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIVV-axmjo-1AxGNA-XD4beVb_CFPm6GTP9hGjt3_TBkVvSknqFFAco4T-XvIOT7ArgyNLRk730PpDq4FadpVgr1VmxikoKGHb3zsrYrnds_uRntpPMO1wGSMx9Luufpv1QHPmVbinEA/s1600-h/DayTwo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIVV-axmjo-1AxGNA-XD4beVb_CFPm6GTP9hGjt3_TBkVvSknqFFAco4T-XvIOT7ArgyNLRk730PpDq4FadpVgr1VmxikoKGHb3zsrYrnds_uRntpPMO1wGSMx9Luufpv1QHPmVbinEA/s320/DayTwo4.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm telling you, it's impossible to resist the brightly colored awnings on the streets of Paris....beneath each one is a window full of the most amazing.....<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0382p6y6vNwWxRwYGpDWw1_a_eHowLspbTQcXaLFFdk9sx8r7wbbrsCDyG1utK4ZiXNiu678YHX1QoYT1Wrk-oEzlioFNKsv6s0gD594gTy8Yf7SSAKqJzPv0aW5zi1sF5IVq3IW1V4/s1600-h/DayTwo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0382p6y6vNwWxRwYGpDWw1_a_eHowLspbTQcXaLFFdk9sx8r7wbbrsCDyG1utK4ZiXNiu678YHX1QoYT1Wrk-oEzlioFNKsv6s0gD594gTy8Yf7SSAKqJzPv0aW5zi1sF5IVq3IW1V4/s320/DayTwo1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.....unbelievable......<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LTpmg__XsV5B0W_agITRO5GnSpsFKgy1QrUqCdmo5kVGuTDol7QOracDRr7bXmqkEhUUunkbwItW4plzthP3ZQPNeQyfiLaFaxaHRVZB4DYnJyar8TFXooNvqL9Ty4QDMfoRwXqNfB4/s1600-h/DayTwo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LTpmg__XsV5B0W_agITRO5GnSpsFKgy1QrUqCdmo5kVGuTDol7QOracDRr7bXmqkEhUUunkbwItW4plzthP3ZQPNeQyfiLaFaxaHRVZB4DYnJyar8TFXooNvqL9Ty4QDMfoRwXqNfB4/s320/DayTwo2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">incredible.....<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfw6lFw158WlTbxZrOjWf_3W5zBphks3BsNQrIcEeWdFMEoVMdcOgSys_dO_xB5yqkB6t-o9i1Td4ryyTfwh2P3Bg7WGZ5qDzSlI2HXmg0KQz3BPGJ1d38W7oVl9TgwOh9b3dhRVyqbM/s1600-h/DayTwo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfw6lFw158WlTbxZrOjWf_3W5zBphks3BsNQrIcEeWdFMEoVMdcOgSys_dO_xB5yqkB6t-o9i1Td4ryyTfwh2P3Bg7WGZ5qDzSlI2HXmg0KQz3BPGJ1d38W7oVl9TgwOh9b3dhRVyqbM/s320/DayTwo5.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">TREATS!!! This particular place was also a cafe and we decided to take a little break to try their Crocque-Monsieur. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjBbM2ykWekgccZkICXvAIGCCv67H8S0ZYHv8xeo5F4kALwxlQAAATKVPhOZSbsdlCzfKd7yxf6vfmRTbYPK7efaqxmOwPicq-aROY5sfLHg74G7BthbCv3Z4tatWVa8a-JH2iELH6cs/s1600-h/acroquemonsier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjBbM2ykWekgccZkICXvAIGCCv67H8S0ZYHv8xeo5F4kALwxlQAAATKVPhOZSbsdlCzfKd7yxf6vfmRTbYPK7efaqxmOwPicq-aROY5sfLHg74G7BthbCv3Z4tatWVa8a-JH2iELH6cs/s320/acroquemonsier.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The daughter of a very dear friend, Kelly, had asked me to please try this sandwich while in Paris and to report back to her what I thought. It is <em>basically</em> a grilled cheese sandwich with a cheese sauce on the top.....but there isn't anything "basic" about the taste of this sandwich, so I can't leave with that description. The bread....oh my....is more dense than our sandwich bread and very buttery. Two bread slices are buttered and filled with ham and cheese, most often Gruyere, Emmental or other Swiss-type cheese. It is then grilled, then topped with a Bechamel sauce and more cheese, then browned under the broiler. It's one sandwich that you must eat with a fork! We all agreed that it was awesome!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back out on the streets.....more brightly canopied shops!!!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yij22-cZPRpStqY0aMrzQGdHE9842HiLYT9d66z6pbYGDF3HVrOFeCEBjyB8BZBLB6THygcoMyIDCFGS5IpHH8bcdaR5qma8ZsFVPqmko5tTyv_Ecr_tghOwzDWYk8k1_sxRulpMPtk/s1600-h/DayTwoShops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="61" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yij22-cZPRpStqY0aMrzQGdHE9842HiLYT9d66z6pbYGDF3HVrOFeCEBjyB8BZBLB6THygcoMyIDCFGS5IpHH8bcdaR5qma8ZsFVPqmko5tTyv_Ecr_tghOwzDWYk8k1_sxRulpMPtk/s400/DayTwoShops.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Each "neighborhood" has it's own<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">similar row of shops....from the left, the Poissonnerie (seafood), Boucherie (meats), Volaille (poultry), Charcuterie (pork, deli meats), Fromager (cheese), Vins (wine) and, not shown, the Boulangerie (breads) and Patisserie (pastries). There is also at least one produce market, too! And don't forget the grocery stores, which are smaller than what we have here, in most cases. I just can't imagine being able to walk out my front door every day to the freshest meats, vegetables, cheese and baked goods!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And every now and then......<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gWR4nde1gGvA_Urv0U09zQank1diPBkGBZIiZ3dWOhFzOiMESRJFQq6-kU8ZarOys9IwlQIXFES04bGciYYKYFbCz7PjfZQfekP6-RtGTJOiXy7LGtuydW6K9B-dAWkOGJicmOGNzKs/s1600-h/DayTwoMcDs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gWR4nde1gGvA_Urv0U09zQank1diPBkGBZIiZ3dWOhFzOiMESRJFQq6-kU8ZarOys9IwlQIXFES04bGciYYKYFbCz7PjfZQfekP6-RtGTJOiXy7LGtuydW6K9B-dAWkOGJicmOGNzKs/s320/DayTwoMcDs.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....there's a McDonalds!!! I think I might visit a McDonald's here if we had these neat little areas to sit with our meal, watch the world go by and enjoy a little WiFi. No, we didn't stop in here....but we did have a taste of French McDonald's food....more on that later.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After quite a bit more walking, we ended up in this great little cafe for a little dinner.....<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWucCtITlsMEgNMV90ptId6xH7FuEaL0PBM1rpc5OHJyBfvcrPyyPUiExEXsX7TjQagAyDb7AyK4fFXJ0gP2C0xInpztUeZii0kq7807ijTub1McNaNVCrsmkC9yyGLHf04HFzq_TYeI/s1600-h/DayTwoMelinBrad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWucCtITlsMEgNMV90ptId6xH7FuEaL0PBM1rpc5OHJyBfvcrPyyPUiExEXsX7TjQagAyDb7AyK4fFXJ0gP2C0xInpztUeZii0kq7807ijTub1McNaNVCrsmkC9yyGLHf04HFzq_TYeI/s320/DayTwoMelinBrad.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No, I have no idea what it was called.....or exactly where it was. I guess this is what happens when you're walking the streets of Paris and you see a cute little bistro, stop in for a bit of wine (because it's cheaper than water) or hot chocolate (with brandy, of course!). But I will tell you that this was one of our best meals.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchG0eL9lFq8H2am8ogfhSrEatXpZgKeiLIRuWkNgudJWIrmgmKRAA1ncNAsY-BR99MSGHVcgOH-Y2fd5dN2IxkrJRhmIuo07LNL6PCA9Np-t2wfWKpSIptbojxB4JloYAGE8BSuSIDYI/s1600-h/DayTwoMoule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchG0eL9lFq8H2am8ogfhSrEatXpZgKeiLIRuWkNgudJWIrmgmKRAA1ncNAsY-BR99MSGHVcgOH-Y2fd5dN2IxkrJRhmIuo07LNL6PCA9Np-t2wfWKpSIptbojxB4JloYAGE8BSuSIDYI/s320/DayTwoMoule.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Melinda and I had the Moule, which is mussels cooked in a wine, garlic, shallots and butter sauce. That pot was FULL and they were delicious! (Note: recipe coming soon to a cooking <a href="http://www.apronsrequired.blogspot.com/">blog</a> near you!)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg5UNg8IW5UxgiEsXahWQ1kXe376eLgebqaao5NjcnPXmYHuxjOMNCZeINFwX6R8KUZgDmdJPQ_PQ1OGhVP35LHFruYlruEvuAwZlBxwC5RYXLFt207HviYDov539VgDrGgHm7xTOw0c/s1600-h/DayTwoOnion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg5UNg8IW5UxgiEsXahWQ1kXe376eLgebqaao5NjcnPXmYHuxjOMNCZeINFwX6R8KUZgDmdJPQ_PQ1OGhVP35LHFruYlruEvuAwZlBxwC5RYXLFt207HviYDov539VgDrGgHm7xTOw0c/s320/DayTwoOnion.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brad had the French Onion Soup, which was one of the better ones we tasted while there (I think we tried it 3 diffrent times/3 different places).<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnGb5h315UmsZjZ5h6Puy0kC-TaJpebDJWhk3OirL27S2GzwDIrbaOhTBann-KzeRAlVJ8CjMsqp-tK8XYiv060a1A9_HzuNYTjzQVjaRim5Lg_2KZyfHHc0DE3KdiIwU9M3idAnL5GY/s1600-h/DayTwopotsalad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnGb5h315UmsZjZ5h6Puy0kC-TaJpebDJWhk3OirL27S2GzwDIrbaOhTBann-KzeRAlVJ8CjMsqp-tK8XYiv060a1A9_HzuNYTjzQVjaRim5Lg_2KZyfHHc0DE3KdiIwU9M3idAnL5GY/s320/DayTwopotsalad.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But the <strong><em>best</em></strong> thing ordered at that table was the dish Dennis had. It was smoked herring, which I'm not fond of.....but it had this incredible potato salad in the middle....and I had a tough time keeping my fork off of his plate. It wasn't like anything I'd ever had! I <em>will</em> try to duplicate this recipe....and I will share.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By this time, it was dark and we headed back toward the Batobus for the rest of the tour of the Seine.....but not before stopping into this elegant vin shop for a bottle of wine for the ride. I took pics of the inside, but....hey, blame it on the wine...that we'd already had!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOTFmRGtVYjCIOm2Uc68KaSWkcPuQYV7ZIDnP6-AzEbOeusBhHOImxFdUMs6T07eQwDziEJ3-AXOWgzcpQrdiXQpzC5hj6buvGGmFN_WuVYyo4T9MGE578rv0lqimjrBQQQg9AO4BLwU/s1600-h/DayTwoTree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOTFmRGtVYjCIOm2Uc68KaSWkcPuQYV7ZIDnP6-AzEbOeusBhHOImxFdUMs6T07eQwDziEJ3-AXOWgzcpQrdiXQpzC5hj6buvGGmFN_WuVYyo4T9MGE578rv0lqimjrBQQQg9AO4BLwU/s320/DayTwoTree.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a <em>real</em> Christmas tree! They have them everywhere in every color....and they're flocked! They are gorgeous.....<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBgNh_nyWYB0wVKxHwq0OEBCR_qzA1sULrklgx6EwOe_tRwEQrntjExQ8sBc7M87EgkxUVaJt-KRUjKLVc-aUnbZ8RDCJ3-a50DqVbkkrGnECaEA9vIL-W7xIWcxlJluAXE4s_o6LCYo/s1600-h/DayTwoTree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBgNh_nyWYB0wVKxHwq0OEBCR_qzA1sULrklgx6EwOe_tRwEQrntjExQ8sBc7M87EgkxUVaJt-KRUjKLVc-aUnbZ8RDCJ3-a50DqVbkkrGnECaEA9vIL-W7xIWcxlJluAXE4s_o6LCYo/s320/DayTwoTree2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know.....but it's still a cool picture, don't you think!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway, when we got back down to the loading point for the boat, it was pouring down rain again....and there was only ONE more boat for the night. So, we boarded....but not before getting a picture of Notre Dame at night....<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqotsAgXzuEb5gJQrk7oPM1xDBlt_jj5FDMH9TMPbe0C90GyY6Ex6akBZg9DX3MUeuLa8yW6bYBXhqTdN_8hDOMPgiBFwzs285QMUB5lRr-wc1n4DzQqOs03tH6HZ9F4-aIcfuvsYWYrA/s1600-h/aNotreDame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqotsAgXzuEb5gJQrk7oPM1xDBlt_jj5FDMH9TMPbe0C90GyY6Ex6akBZg9DX3MUeuLa8yW6bYBXhqTdN_8hDOMPgiBFwzs285QMUB5lRr-wc1n4DzQqOs03tH6HZ9F4-aIcfuvsYWYrA/s320/aNotreDame.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and our last stop was right back where we started....we grabbed our bottle of wine....<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8SuLTXgbhjoov7qIcoMaLaKO9PESuUQyLWoMoJ3MTfcyTdVzmD3fZxgMxtU7-dW3I6UM8c1Qz_jf2KgtF7LT3vp8l7D8WTG_Yn3tfNbdIPP-ykii7D9DoPX4vltVzYFgLMZ4EFdBahQ/s1600-h/1Dennis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8SuLTXgbhjoov7qIcoMaLaKO9PESuUQyLWoMoJ3MTfcyTdVzmD3fZxgMxtU7-dW3I6UM8c1Qz_jf2KgtF7LT3vp8l7D8WTG_Yn3tfNbdIPP-ykii7D9DoPX4vltVzYFgLMZ4EFdBahQ/s320/1Dennis.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and got off the boat to enjoy the views of the Eiffel at night.....so gorgeous!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1cC-xQPnX9NP3QvbGEe2QGZAle4s-hxaIWsL1pmuMXKwEXjwblghMM6JMpVtCBe34HXMnwhWz4wcjkkCv0fS60MwfvGxiykk1OL0dFpKHCjXyRpz8d9Iv0p3LVXXWSWwDHLUebc1qng/s1600-h/Aeiffel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1cC-xQPnX9NP3QvbGEe2QGZAle4s-hxaIWsL1pmuMXKwEXjwblghMM6JMpVtCBe34HXMnwhWz4wcjkkCv0fS60MwfvGxiykk1OL0dFpKHCjXyRpz8d9Iv0p3LVXXWSWwDHLUebc1qng/s320/Aeiffel.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are fabulous pictures of all of Paris' sights all over the internet....and I think I saw most of them before we went, but none can really give you the full spectacle unless you are standing right there.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We headed inland toward the Metro so we could get a view of the tower once the new LED light show went off....tried to get a movie of it, but....oh well....more wine, please!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwcHxtO7wpyWliZ7JXnH4R-8pH92ilLEjuOCyKRgLm3RgzNlZoG7ekEWvZMw77UF4RBbptfp6rTiRDm59xmXqc6YOIOPE3DlcxMEDYQDkXTYPbwAY99kfp8y-rigLotI65Z-QIC-PFKo/s1600-h/1Eiffelwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwcHxtO7wpyWliZ7JXnH4R-8pH92ilLEjuOCyKRgLm3RgzNlZoG7ekEWvZMw77UF4RBbptfp6rTiRDm59xmXqc6YOIOPE3DlcxMEDYQDkXTYPbwAY99kfp8y-rigLotI65Z-QIC-PFKo/s320/1Eiffelwater.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wine = creative picture? Ummm...maybe not!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anway...here she is lit up....again, nothing compared to what it looks like in action!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTGm-uXk_qWRmnbLpyeFYc1xx2t8t3eUEocQ_sDXRtG-uBm51IdWZX6lics0TOS7SYnoyH8mj2E6W1kHUSQeU8MHCrG3mWIYyYsG5uR6jv-lCGQhqKoKe6djO-yHvvRDr74nvTIOSx1I/s1600-h/1nighteiffel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTGm-uXk_qWRmnbLpyeFYc1xx2t8t3eUEocQ_sDXRtG-uBm51IdWZX6lics0TOS7SYnoyH8mj2E6W1kHUSQeU8MHCrG3mWIYyYsG5uR6jv-lCGQhqKoKe6djO-yHvvRDr74nvTIOSx1I/s320/1nighteiffel.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After watching the show, we started back in the direction of our neighborhood via the Metro....and saw more of those little flocked trees!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcZN_3_WDjeURrBVYUn8QazuDIKNvb1bxYt4Eqioepld8yz-oo1qti9u-hRBFOohQ92fcnNtl8VXoISs_7VVEOx76f5pprYCGj_uoJdWncZs9bsEK-qDW2qqRYPI7E0PzUp_UM6CRED0/s1600-h/1tree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcZN_3_WDjeURrBVYUn8QazuDIKNvb1bxYt4Eqioepld8yz-oo1qti9u-hRBFOohQ92fcnNtl8VXoISs_7VVEOx76f5pprYCGj_uoJdWncZs9bsEK-qDW2qqRYPI7E0PzUp_UM6CRED0/s320/1tree2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once we got to the Metro, we decided the Melinda and Brad had to see Pigalle.....so, we headed back to the spicier side of town. There is more to that area than sex shops and the like....there are lots of little bistros, cafes and sidewalk eateries.....we stopped at this one for crepes...<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCToMhvns-Jft92AR0FhL7HUJIMMO1jHCVWJyOsviR4_s6rId6_0ZjS3Vh0nXwj3SwK4vhcB1UfCKuRFnMreIdNJ-7TgA009fJTFeCCmKHiVDJ83Li8wqKkdg5qZWQzJG2AniQ3aaKNw/s1600-h/1crepes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCToMhvns-Jft92AR0FhL7HUJIMMO1jHCVWJyOsviR4_s6rId6_0ZjS3Vh0nXwj3SwK4vhcB1UfCKuRFnMreIdNJ-7TgA009fJTFeCCmKHiVDJ83Li8wqKkdg5qZWQzJG2AniQ3aaKNw/s320/1crepes.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While munching on the crepes, we walked down some side streets....uhhh, a little scary at first. We also took a step into the Musee de Erotisme (Erotic Museum), but since it was late (sounds good, right?) we didn't go in for the full tour.......but it was different!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAt2rRXu-n8cfTssyU9ud_oIloS2Rn7gVTjaDonyfRoHg4W1v_cG0A4pZV2yUmR-Ty3QnnATNpWxK1kJUO1VGWMgdd7mJU-WV2d4rpn3b0qh4LEY4tFgIqGW8WLPjnBzIcDYfDbfaeA4/s1600-h/erotic+museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAt2rRXu-n8cfTssyU9ud_oIloS2Rn7gVTjaDonyfRoHg4W1v_cG0A4pZV2yUmR-Ty3QnnATNpWxK1kJUO1VGWMgdd7mJU-WV2d4rpn3b0qh4LEY4tFgIqGW8WLPjnBzIcDYfDbfaeA4/s320/erotic+museum.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we did the <a href="http://cola-insideout.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-post.html">first night</a>, we passed this shop....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RT2T_AHqU96qeAZlA7v8Udbn_tOgi9f_li9FFL5tlBO5TYjBtfOZcz-wl-tla3Y6ZQWdg9p04soHqLM9zZWb6MYEjLcB6ahIb9cdUp-5IO3gpMh99DogblKhquuocghokaigmP3_I-U/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RT2T_AHqU96qeAZlA7v8Udbn_tOgi9f_li9FFL5tlBO5TYjBtfOZcz-wl-tla3Y6ZQWdg9p04soHqLM9zZWb6MYEjLcB6ahIb9cdUp-5IO3gpMh99DogblKhquuocghokaigmP3_I-U/s320/Paris+Day+One+137.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and Melinda starts talking to the two guys out front! It cost 20 euros (about $30+) per person to go inside. ( <span style="font-size: x-small;">Conversation out front: "<em>You want to do what? Uhhh.......what happened to that white bag with the wine in it? It's gone? Not happenin'!</em></span> ") Soooo....she's trying to talk the guy into letting all four of us in for 20 euros! Thank God he didn't fall for it, although after reading the reviews (Click <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187147-d246686-Reviews-Pigalle-Paris_Ile_de_France.html">here</a>) I'm really thanking him. I can just imagine how this blog would be reading right now if we <em>had </em>gotten in! Would I have gone? Probably....just so I could blog about it....not that I would have.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, back to the Metro and the ride home....next stop, Metro Notre Dame de Lorette....home!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx3HT1beE7-D9pgWAznbjCR-tX1w33pMiVn01H9AErXdZuRp3QfLSOB-hGANkFOR_RaSe_fzTWm8V6bZsDp2hu7A8xnsOLR1qVdMGN007FJsturT5fQ8ryVX9If9dtMfGpyu_V2OgvGk/s1600-h/ametro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx3HT1beE7-D9pgWAznbjCR-tX1w33pMiVn01H9AErXdZuRp3QfLSOB-hGANkFOR_RaSe_fzTWm8V6bZsDp2hu7A8xnsOLR1qVdMGN007FJsturT5fQ8ryVX9If9dtMfGpyu_V2OgvGk/s320/ametro.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-35454556997837770312010-01-21T23:10:00.000-08:002010-01-22T05:54:56.782-08:00Paris - Day Two - Part OneWe were up and ready to go on Day Two of our trip. I was most excited to just get out into our neighborhood to see what happens in the early morning. I'd heard/read stories of how busy the streets are in the morning, especially the vendors stocking up for another day of business!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, we headed over to see just what "our" charcoutierie (the butcher, remember?) was up to! We were just in time to see the day's delivery!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGsKP3I_3OAOaTm7HcF0itC2QTBjrdqTV3WW-HAO4qlvUQLSgJ8AIODq5XxAhP3FJgH30AMcEZlEA8qzaNdtOXSqMuTYk7mlwUYmu-d7axbKUiVaPGttmTftILZPzuS2F9p8-6RD0Ouw/s1600-h/Butcher2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGsKP3I_3OAOaTm7HcF0itC2QTBjrdqTV3WW-HAO4qlvUQLSgJ8AIODq5XxAhP3FJgH30AMcEZlEA8qzaNdtOXSqMuTYk7mlwUYmu-d7axbKUiVaPGttmTftILZPzuS2F9p8-6RD0Ouw/s320/Butcher2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They were in such great moods and just loved that we were interested in what they were doing!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKk_nmlGRWTXTIld4zm6Q7dU-6i6Orug84GFdRXEN7Frgur0xe0vwpQJIgt2s5BCz_vjuEjx22aRTyJleL5DkK1JZAjx3M_kDzqtHPvi1vdxbUqKAV6m6cbQ8QIRM6asRf6yq31Tn7hA/s1600-h/ameat+deliver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKk_nmlGRWTXTIld4zm6Q7dU-6i6Orug84GFdRXEN7Frgur0xe0vwpQJIgt2s5BCz_vjuEjx22aRTyJleL5DkK1JZAjx3M_kDzqtHPvi1vdxbUqKAV6m6cbQ8QIRM6asRf6yq31Tn7hA/s320/ameat+deliver.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He even stopped to pose and I didn't have to ask!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had NO idea that all of the beautiful meats in those cases were all carefully trimmed and prepped for their own cases. Our "meat cases" pale in comparison to these.....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TvCDi9oVT6UbHCdnXypdfMN-b0sdb5yeqigtQZzcawQXXvqhXMU6YAIvOGc7frwbNHXcJ_pBWqOY27d2mj2Dc0G9Ek5CNxExcPwT7h0EAt8-wGZgyhtwiufbLCkvZfht6jZxGQlRo2w/s1600-h/abutcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TvCDi9oVT6UbHCdnXypdfMN-b0sdb5yeqigtQZzcawQXXvqhXMU6YAIvOGc7frwbNHXcJ_pBWqOY27d2mj2Dc0G9Ek5CNxExcPwT7h0EAt8-wGZgyhtwiufbLCkvZfht6jZxGQlRo2w/s320/abutcher.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was somewhere about here where I started understanding that everything in Paris has an artistic flair......even the meat case. Check out these gorgeous tenderloins....oh, how I wanted to taste one of these.....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91WRnVL47elT5__8wOz8kNFtyAGXzrUIaHnYRDUNi1-WDx7sXaX1s_eLDZ3XbjtQWrvTAUSqBrxRMen5OQ6fKwknM7v4nsN5Va8vV5itrzxpzk3lbz67w_ldwIQB1kIOj3B8OED36Bqk/s1600-h/tenderloing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91WRnVL47elT5__8wOz8kNFtyAGXzrUIaHnYRDUNi1-WDx7sXaX1s_eLDZ3XbjtQWrvTAUSqBrxRMen5OQ6fKwknM7v4nsN5Va8vV5itrzxpzk3lbz67w_ldwIQB1kIOj3B8OED36Bqk/s320/tenderloing.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....but on that particular morning, I was happy to just look at these escargot (read: snails!) in the case. I really had no desire to try them (although we did...but that's another day).<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrz2UyKs7QgREYLZGC-Fy4mkX0a-jV5yj4gYMATpArdUfDmMS5NyXLSzI7W289ibjazoTAMd_DDgacfskR7fRZmAP6Zo6bRs9WxzF7VKS0y6R9LDtfKCQmtkfz0W5w6GZtivU8r-B_zsI/s1600-h/Escargot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrz2UyKs7QgREYLZGC-Fy4mkX0a-jV5yj4gYMATpArdUfDmMS5NyXLSzI7W289ibjazoTAMd_DDgacfskR7fRZmAP6Zo6bRs9WxzF7VKS0y6R9LDtfKCQmtkfz0W5w6GZtivU8r-B_zsI/s320/Escargot.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For the moment, I just wanted to soak in how incredible it was to see so many gorgeous foods in the cases.....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp651kOOtdyZjB_SDJ8kxskcPqgLrJxu5pKqqyTbA_iuB06mJuLl95BWIF_ogHfM3OqDAl_7KZXiL0NI6DZUZ6CLbSKNqB5H4RiXIS83DT7cLcpLDbl9wjmvk3JOFsmUUf2M1-P7-Yx0/s1600-h/charcouterie1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp651kOOtdyZjB_SDJ8kxskcPqgLrJxu5pKqqyTbA_iuB06mJuLl95BWIF_ogHfM3OqDAl_7KZXiL0NI6DZUZ6CLbSKNqB5H4RiXIS83DT7cLcpLDbl9wjmvk3JOFsmUUf2M1-P7-Yx0/s320/charcouterie1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But enough of that.....it was time to grab some pastries to have with our coffees/tea and then "hit the road" for another day of Parisian sights!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJFfYrJnrTUV54-KL2X03gJpxDNS-SN2U3SdcJnQeRYp52fwEOsEu1OIlOrxgkRS6Qgp9f591UYSZud-gvZ6oH0JdyVMNtjTA6wlRtH2FT7jzC_fvgD7U6DrRKn7fNes4S2WZfJTNWpE/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Two+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJFfYrJnrTUV54-KL2X03gJpxDNS-SN2U3SdcJnQeRYp52fwEOsEu1OIlOrxgkRS6Qgp9f591UYSZud-gvZ6oH0JdyVMNtjTA6wlRtH2FT7jzC_fvgD7U6DrRKn7fNes4S2WZfJTNWpE/s320/Paris+Day+Two+021.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, how I'd love to start every day off with a plate of these!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we got back to the apartment, Melinda was up and ready to roll!!!!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaq9Sm2lcINzAp79-aEKOb2-5G5FKG7LPK_2OZKAjnaaZWBYDKgs5E63gANAYv4dMIfsZ17WX7W6VC9QOPqq-PUDf4lR2RDhYu5namcl9JXXUAT-9tDEgaIY3y5ZcrMiySi2kBnZu54Y/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Two+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaq9Sm2lcINzAp79-aEKOb2-5G5FKG7LPK_2OZKAjnaaZWBYDKgs5E63gANAYv4dMIfsZ17WX7W6VC9QOPqq-PUDf4lR2RDhYu5namcl9JXXUAT-9tDEgaIY3y5ZcrMiySi2kBnZu54Y/s320/Paris+Day+Two+022.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, that's the window in the living room in our apartment....it looks out over the courtyard. It's so PARIS!!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, we hit the Metro and off to the Eiffel Tower we went! This was our first real view of it.....I just had to take the picture, even though I knew there were better ones to come!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyndiOoMxvnLZJhZ1v9ipbWsCg9Ylb4Jpts0gJR_GlUKSnnMDWKaTXXutCWd7J-vzBI__EesQRImZ_ncg1SpvUyCNTdynTH4PC_R8hGHo0ynBLJ3x20a4ApCcxG9jghpevJXvWQYntog/s1600-h/Eiffel+Day+Two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyndiOoMxvnLZJhZ1v9ipbWsCg9Ylb4Jpts0gJR_GlUKSnnMDWKaTXXutCWd7J-vzBI__EesQRImZ_ncg1SpvUyCNTdynTH4PC_R8hGHo0ynBLJ3x20a4ApCcxG9jghpevJXvWQYntog/s320/Eiffel+Day+Two.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Up close and personal......she's just gorgeous!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5PIBriPZsvBUeeaalOWA6yOg_xI9Agjz6F2Oe3MW-zU5tV09kAvONCl_46iAGP-VPdoTTmqe7fcShmIrvHSdeMxZ_aQQme6lur0IbdH4LbDF92R38W32aip8skgrg7Rs4JNcKTn5LiU/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Two+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5PIBriPZsvBUeeaalOWA6yOg_xI9Agjz6F2Oe3MW-zU5tV09kAvONCl_46iAGP-VPdoTTmqe7fcShmIrvHSdeMxZ_aQQme6lur0IbdH4LbDF92R38W32aip8skgrg7Rs4JNcKTn5LiU/s320/Paris+Day+Two+027.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Up closer? Wow!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgTw5erftRX6psn1l1n4vfLvXteHDi4gXFzn0tDXwjyu2j3eEKgdt6AVl1diraQ88GHkzqnk13stSB3iufh0BXo2XkiOe92iWU_kNVMinzT36K8K5iKALWMAj1Sd3H-3Cj4PIIq0oQps/s1600-h/Eifeelcloseup2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgTw5erftRX6psn1l1n4vfLvXteHDi4gXFzn0tDXwjyu2j3eEKgdt6AVl1diraQ88GHkzqnk13stSB3iufh0BXo2XkiOe92iWU_kNVMinzT36K8K5iKALWMAj1Sd3H-3Cj4PIIq0oQps/s320/Eifeelcloseup2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And closer? Oh dear!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflKf3YLCYd0y5BADlUeJYm8lQb9psOY3G1_0dl2YViGJQMqpohBRthb-_cTWYATUjYx-sY0IJEo48VRrk4d-Wi2rCsH3Xu_M__msFj5oAXZGYg211RWwCNDv_xafGy-4AgVgFSRiAsxw/s1600-h/Eiffelcloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflKf3YLCYd0y5BADlUeJYm8lQb9psOY3G1_0dl2YViGJQMqpohBRthb-_cTWYATUjYx-sY0IJEo48VRrk4d-Wi2rCsH3Xu_M__msFj5oAXZGYg211RWwCNDv_xafGy-4AgVgFSRiAsxw/s320/Eiffelcloseup.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ready for a few stats? The Eiffel was built for the centennial celebration of the French Revolution in 1887. It was completed in 1889. It took 2.5 million rivets (yes, rivets), 18,038 pieces of iron (excluding the rivets) and 40 tons of paint to construct....by 300 iron workers....and over 2 years to construct! It is now a French icon.....and it's gorgeous!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Because the New Year holiday is the largest celebration of the year for the French, Paris was packed!!! There were unbelievable lines everywhere for every thing! We decided to forgo going up in order to be able to see other sights.....that and we just couldn't justify spending 4 hours in line in the freezing cold. THAT and it is definitely another excuse (read: reason) to come back!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We ventured over to the other side of the Eiffel, along the Seine....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyy2r1Wo7bkusaews3nXE4FrAiJ34rgR9kVqM5Oj-re7FeHJ2Gtluj9DZlNQJ91j8MUg4VE8rpoiCIixDJubk8oB0WrQzVMK6BTKeZQM3n2QYW5-Z42TQ6zUQf-cYb_B2fs8y3tbIVco/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Two+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyy2r1Wo7bkusaews3nXE4FrAiJ34rgR9kVqM5Oj-re7FeHJ2Gtluj9DZlNQJ91j8MUg4VE8rpoiCIixDJubk8oB0WrQzVMK6BTKeZQM3n2QYW5-Z42TQ6zUQf-cYb_B2fs8y3tbIVco/s320/Paris+Day+Two+029.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The views down the river are beautiful....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9y3MrnAF54ia2_7YCu4f0w-sPLZ0pOfiYOPOfOHxuEPpF822A5cGiqozDJ5I3B0Fb3LaOi_ddjbQgc4K1VCvlGhUec_WHjcjT_etgoHfiqePabaxglBtC37YzUsn_ZzY7ORPVsG-yl4/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Two+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9y3MrnAF54ia2_7YCu4f0w-sPLZ0pOfiYOPOfOHxuEPpF822A5cGiqozDJ5I3B0Fb3LaOi_ddjbQgc4K1VCvlGhUec_WHjcjT_etgoHfiqePabaxglBtC37YzUsn_ZzY7ORPVsG-yl4/s320/Paris+Day+Two+028.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh look....it's a boat! Oh wait, it's a restaurant....with heaters....and wine....and toilettes (at 75 cents per person). We decided to take a little break to warm up (inside and out)....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZj3q6evKIwluGV6UcPwH2IAlxWtXrXzXu68G0bgFUnFW4x96_JEtHZSf6J33CmDELXmolIhSdvVuvU2JOP83O7Rn6DXZp55YjYJ4iYPyEYxXQnCV69WsQOVQe7jvaEb0WNufCVFqwf9A/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Two+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZj3q6evKIwluGV6UcPwH2IAlxWtXrXzXu68G0bgFUnFW4x96_JEtHZSf6J33CmDELXmolIhSdvVuvU2JOP83O7Rn6DXZp55YjYJ4iYPyEYxXQnCV69WsQOVQe7jvaEb0WNufCVFqwf9A/s320/Paris+Day+Two+032.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also decided to get tickets for the Batobus, which is a boat ride down the Seine where you can get off and on as much as you like....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAqc7aLvsxMmJQOaqxl5plN8pLEIKVqLPXXhOvvEJGLcug28G9JUTjIARhsscBgQoKCD375dUeMShSPEt3cOT8GvDtHS2KSuB1FOCh21XZ2P4NrZ56KKeHTUK_uuJMcn3_Rcd0uXHCbc/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Two+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAqc7aLvsxMmJQOaqxl5plN8pLEIKVqLPXXhOvvEJGLcug28G9JUTjIARhsscBgQoKCD375dUeMShSPEt3cOT8GvDtHS2KSuB1FOCh21XZ2P4NrZ56KKeHTUK_uuJMcn3_Rcd0uXHCbc/s320/Paris+Day+Two+031.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A little wine and bread and we were off!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQO_k42hEmVhvW2Ek4-cmUtvexURMEYvEhUwBpNLGAc4JlFx0moVQwgDFrEJU0GUXlIgQHQVJap2QBDbLIU8-mzdLDlzBXvGRrOYWlmth3jNQc55DvLlhCHI1ugg7Vb8yw30kC6gJ1KDg/s1600-h/Batobus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQO_k42hEmVhvW2Ek4-cmUtvexURMEYvEhUwBpNLGAc4JlFx0moVQwgDFrEJU0GUXlIgQHQVJap2QBDbLIU8-mzdLDlzBXvGRrOYWlmth3jNQc55DvLlhCHI1ugg7Vb8yw30kC6gJ1KDg/s320/Batobus1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The views were awesome.....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2lar3-BD5TmB8EV4upIYgDr2ZhsC1bLt5UWcV33DDQzg03FOS9kAG-AEaOr75YALrkDHlcxFeG5CEvrQNtoI2ZbbGK2VbsdkCno3_7JRmKZIIcba-IFWNHjRBHvZGW-Dv2Bh6p736yE/s1600-h/batobus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2lar3-BD5TmB8EV4upIYgDr2ZhsC1bLt5UWcV33DDQzg03FOS9kAG-AEaOr75YALrkDHlcxFeG5CEvrQNtoI2ZbbGK2VbsdkCno3_7JRmKZIIcba-IFWNHjRBHvZGW-Dv2Bh6p736yE/s320/batobus2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and the bridges were....ummmm.....yep, I'm speechless! Imagine that!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xqqO-jEUa6_VTZlu7ZEIOzZs4zjpV9aT65ucDigMDOUYgSgikc-QUeG4cFH2SuP2jCdYJHfcQfQBXDif7BLd8hI6wkWDlucwOKPjCdA-lb1vqAshqtV5U2t0z-am6U28IXuNZ3DheE4/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Two+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xqqO-jEUa6_VTZlu7ZEIOzZs4zjpV9aT65ucDigMDOUYgSgikc-QUeG4cFH2SuP2jCdYJHfcQfQBXDif7BLd8hI6wkWDlucwOKPjCdA-lb1vqAshqtV5U2t0z-am6U28IXuNZ3DheE4/s320/Paris+Day+Two+043.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check out the boats!!! We don't have anything like these in our harbors!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnbRKdSW_lnhdfbja5ILzJvnRGIUifqw2nf1nYAXF9-Nwqi0WFahgT7s3mlLhJAIFs8-BJdz7399zOEn7aofl8O7gHpO7JH4wZaiwPwF6V2Bt1nAG-M_kP7u6sZKyZUtkXMrVllWcyd8/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Two+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnbRKdSW_lnhdfbja5ILzJvnRGIUifqw2nf1nYAXF9-Nwqi0WFahgT7s3mlLhJAIFs8-BJdz7399zOEn7aofl8O7gHpO7JH4wZaiwPwF6V2Bt1nAG-M_kP7u6sZKyZUtkXMrVllWcyd8/s320/Paris+Day+Two+044.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And like I said....everything is Paris has a "flair".....check out the front of this boat!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wiSjDyHaib3lypbsYtK6XQ8SWA3CLYN0XAEbN1Y_xR5cfsOVPouJri9K-KvkljZuhvTaqXB0Z5fdfuSoGI4WXC0fxmC5urqN10CqwpkGP2liPid4YKRxRXFzInSDxC_AZNuwNa7rgc4/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Two+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wiSjDyHaib3lypbsYtK6XQ8SWA3CLYN0XAEbN1Y_xR5cfsOVPouJri9K-KvkljZuhvTaqXB0Z5fdfuSoGI4WXC0fxmC5urqN10CqwpkGP2liPid4YKRxRXFzInSDxC_AZNuwNa7rgc4/s320/Paris+Day+Two+063.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are a few pics of our trip along the river Seine....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 0.7em 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; width: 400px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="300" width="400"><param name="FlashVars" value="galleryid=6796452974_cF7n9"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="movie" value="http://www.picnik.com/slide/slide.swf"/><embed src="http://www.picnik.com/slide/slide.swf" width="400" height="300" wmode="transparent" allowScriptAccess="always" FlashVars="galleryid=6796452974_cF7n9"></embed></object><br />
<div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.picnik.com/show/id/6796452974_cF7n9/t/picnik-show">"<b>Picnik Show</b>"</a><br />
</div><div style="float: right;"><a href="http://www.picnik.com/" target="_blank">Create a free slideshow with Picnik!</a><br />
</div></div>And then we rounded the corner....and we found ourselves back at the Notre Dame! Truly, you cannot get enough of her!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmM74vFvbne13ZkS40oSFszkt5icpPmwuBxE-hgPzRkpJfpsaNkyvRhcNBU1hp3fbhQg-tiMrMGg75Bg_vIW0Ncdk64osmfynyNNvC5CMwrFUhnz13mlyho10ulA2tLPTTmItWamBcPI/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Two+079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmM74vFvbne13ZkS40oSFszkt5icpPmwuBxE-hgPzRkpJfpsaNkyvRhcNBU1hp3fbhQg-tiMrMGg75Bg_vIW0Ncdk64osmfynyNNvC5CMwrFUhnz13mlyho10ulA2tLPTTmItWamBcPI/s320/Paris+Day+Two+079.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, we decided to get off at this stop and hit the streets!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-uTYOg0EeZZQculLFx8_Bn8mxsb50uVlBXGviFdqHLtil28klYvsFTuU6H7dFpOxUgWjHWfKWGxV5B_E_C2oJVHVPSJDctsnz_vEdkq9dFIrfjDKnDVzlvA5UYwjMo55ckxsp1l_8T4/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Two+080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-uTYOg0EeZZQculLFx8_Bn8mxsb50uVlBXGviFdqHLtil28klYvsFTuU6H7dFpOxUgWjHWfKWGxV5B_E_C2oJVHVPSJDctsnz_vEdkq9dFIrfjDKnDVzlvA5UYwjMo55ckxsp1l_8T4/s320/Paris+Day+Two+080.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next up.....street walking....and lots of delectibles!!!!<br />
</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-35125368263160380372010-01-15T20:17:00.001-08:002010-01-15T21:10:22.388-08:00Paris - Evening One - Hitting the Streets!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have no idea where that burst of energy came from, but neither of us was ready to retire, so Dennis and I hit the streets. At first, our thoughts were to just check out the surrounding neighborhood. We headed down the street....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHTAcNcZI6o2-6b-qSpcqAatSiTYsglutuoGvtzq-SEmsb5_B_WfI3f-zDiyUqWebDlUU-zGKIK0UEeS3a-AtAWeolDoN3FBxDt02KT0fdZMQAEg7Gcv8_wLifq4P4f2BI1aqiRiDyMo/s1600-h/Evening13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHTAcNcZI6o2-6b-qSpcqAatSiTYsglutuoGvtzq-SEmsb5_B_WfI3f-zDiyUqWebDlUU-zGKIK0UEeS3a-AtAWeolDoN3FBxDt02KT0fdZMQAEg7Gcv8_wLifq4P4f2BI1aqiRiDyMo/s320/Evening13.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...alot of the streets had these lights strung above them...it was really pretty. Especially once we looked back and realized how far uphill we had gone!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGuFtuG1B8BRxyX4J_uNT-lDjF1nzPFhmK4HvAw4bsqaqN5Pqcna3EtmOBDwpekEnDbbAn4DHZKh-TOuCNwluwSvJmW4Fv7Gp9xCkHOKM1by-hu9utyZSC8JMKgDHipuYYHG053QOdVQ/s1600-h/Evening21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGuFtuG1B8BRxyX4J_uNT-lDjF1nzPFhmK4HvAw4bsqaqN5Pqcna3EtmOBDwpekEnDbbAn4DHZKh-TOuCNwluwSvJmW4Fv7Gp9xCkHOKM1by-hu9utyZSC8JMKgDHipuYYHG053QOdVQ/s320/Evening21.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of the shops were now closed, but we did find the vin (wine) shop,</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJVlUglMc7kBXZawEjTmH2CmqSm0ti4GG-0OOVjx51r2f3zZqfxO2lyiUJBYdLr6PfXBHbFFyHmRaPejcyUzG-0joalfjes_ODGnPxFJukhABxYmy4RtU23D7xfEU7o_0FZsJ-eBUGk8/s1600-h/Evening20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJVlUglMc7kBXZawEjTmH2CmqSm0ti4GG-0OOVjx51r2f3zZqfxO2lyiUJBYdLr6PfXBHbFFyHmRaPejcyUzG-0joalfjes_ODGnPxFJukhABxYmy4RtU23D7xfEU7o_0FZsJ-eBUGk8/s320/Evening20.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and the prices seemed to be very reasonable! Champagne was a bit expensive.....go figure!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Anyway, we kept walking and finally we came to a four lane street with a rather large median in the middle....to the right, not much. To the left.....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07yByY-xHUKVUMZU63eax0G4wgQXM8Fy9zsyikxnii59FB02Mt2IQK9twOlWWXFgb0I_tUYH32A4LBWVq6HAYDDj1Yz_TbY8Q852KNCiRn7-oshYBVWKvsLZCChESRahIpbPDyEWvcCA/s1600-h/Evening16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07yByY-xHUKVUMZU63eax0G4wgQXM8Fy9zsyikxnii59FB02Mt2IQK9twOlWWXFgb0I_tUYH32A4LBWVq6HAYDDj1Yz_TbY8Q852KNCiRn7-oshYBVWKvsLZCChESRahIpbPDyEWvcCA/s320/Evening16.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were in Pigalle!!!! Pigalle is the old "red light district" of Paris...even though it is known as the "seedy" part of town, in recent years it has become a more trendy spot to visit, although it's still a bit risque' (French word? You bet!) </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remembered that the Moulin Rouge wasn't a long way from our apartment, and was in this direction, so I figured it was up ahead....and it was! BUT, there was lots more to see along the way.....</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSDSvbK9ifDhirKTXKEkJz2i-7UmLExvfC_pXvDBqtcI-RdfA9PHxPJUAl0uR_d9zJftyDjZkO0zd8BgYY9q412ZZACDIN6ojAb9-WIGk3RDXo3DlsTV4aGpdGP7S1GspLCfAzQrTPNM/s1600-h/Evening15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSDSvbK9ifDhirKTXKEkJz2i-7UmLExvfC_pXvDBqtcI-RdfA9PHxPJUAl0uR_d9zJftyDjZkO0zd8BgYY9q412ZZACDIN6ojAb9-WIGk3RDXo3DlsTV4aGpdGP7S1GspLCfAzQrTPNM/s320/Evening15.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follies Pigalle is a former cabaret, but is now a very trendy nightclub. We kept on walking....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6NWg-aF42CpOIeDQ3E69didvUsK2raSP8aSxD0x6rGitlifW5fy_rczl57yBlRgmNNdk73qEqXKgPynJmGrfDWfmmY418nkAqHYMVNQQCFrRjmb9H9N0GAJ6xYwPGvPeC1YAkY65r5M/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6NWg-aF42CpOIeDQ3E69didvUsK2raSP8aSxD0x6rGitlifW5fy_rczl57yBlRgmNNdk73qEqXKgPynJmGrfDWfmmY418nkAqHYMVNQQCFrRjmb9H9N0GAJ6xYwPGvPeC1YAkY65r5M/s320/Paris+Day+One+136.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yep....that says what you think it says! It's a little bit of everything inside that place.....I guess you could call it a "sex mall"! Hey, they have their own Facebook page...don't bother, it's in French.</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So.....we kept walking.....</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgCIEO-ryMg5LSwaja9I8HdtMJXm5GmkpFNcfp1RP_NaBrW7z_snJRKNreknX2P4DdIkW-CyKTZCH7wDiW9wHS2ARbdEvqO0DCmYfVk2TQSWT6wRK_N-144lzSZRNA4SrEE2Sttf_71g/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgCIEO-ryMg5LSwaja9I8HdtMJXm5GmkpFNcfp1RP_NaBrW7z_snJRKNreknX2P4DdIkW-CyKTZCH7wDiW9wHS2ARbdEvqO0DCmYfVk2TQSWT6wRK_N-144lzSZRNA4SrEE2Sttf_71g/s320/Paris+Day+One+133.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stopping for a "photo op" at this place, we were approached by a couple of men who had been standing at the front door....they offered Dennis a "deal" to go inside...even said I could come along! Ummmm.....no, thanks. We kept walking....</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXvs9hPRabNJlgpzItiZXsk-BSpPzjGBpnodydwXfiUfWoA8TcWdVT9jxA4mW9rz8SeX8c4sNTXRYsmpl2jc7OWHxdiHXYBLQP8es1lNhNuub7Pek3CJ3dGkFRhOJQj36zH8YkO1DKfQ/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXvs9hPRabNJlgpzItiZXsk-BSpPzjGBpnodydwXfiUfWoA8TcWdVT9jxA4mW9rz8SeX8c4sNTXRYsmpl2jc7OWHxdiHXYBLQP8es1lNhNuub7Pek3CJ3dGkFRhOJQj36zH8YkO1DKfQ/s320/Paris+Day+One+137.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">......it appears that word is part of a universal language! Look closer at the smaller sign!</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQXgNUokYtWnGDxitWPzSeVofHrB9p4RAYB-P_kHiBWMLZHFmoHCHuV4O5Rf7c6xcz2XUfaTkUwLoNlTlojdv7kyIp0MoR78R7k032HDpX1uzVIOUXudUu1f8Sm7oRrZ6cfbounKpCWw/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQXgNUokYtWnGDxitWPzSeVofHrB9p4RAYB-P_kHiBWMLZHFmoHCHuV4O5Rf7c6xcz2XUfaTkUwLoNlTlojdv7kyIp0MoR78R7k032HDpX1uzVIOUXudUu1f8Sm7oRrZ6cfbounKpCWw/s320/Paris+Day+One+138.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Believe it or not, we were still not tired....so we kept walking....</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-kKjEiHWevkk51Wr6JhpMtLuE4oy9l8uiOldl5ICpH0zstSPbEF5T8r8YqYH22bMLG-VjoX-MxCl0jHE145bqt3LgXOGeC2kPg1ZOMB_-5Tc-cDsdd7AhREVrVebnZsDmyTcnOtUU8k/s1600-h/evening24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-kKjEiHWevkk51Wr6JhpMtLuE4oy9l8uiOldl5ICpH0zstSPbEF5T8r8YqYH22bMLG-VjoX-MxCl0jHE145bqt3LgXOGeC2kPg1ZOMB_-5Tc-cDsdd7AhREVrVebnZsDmyTcnOtUU8k/s320/evening24.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvO4TFOZ_DdDP8ccE_xEXcnYODdC69O5dRIilwQd-HhSHz0q7PqLPS7ScOVSr02j357LuAnMwWTQA5gVy3ASN5JIYj85jtjs-BJDpezR1qo1sLoLsAxNBvIdhR7uuwIAhi7cVqwQTMEc/s1600-h/eveningpigalle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvO4TFOZ_DdDP8ccE_xEXcnYODdC69O5dRIilwQd-HhSHz0q7PqLPS7ScOVSr02j357LuAnMwWTQA5gVy3ASN5JIYj85jtjs-BJDpezR1qo1sLoLsAxNBvIdhR7uuwIAhi7cVqwQTMEc/s320/eveningpigalle1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally....there she was....</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUT6YHwaBA-dJ7x6o5ovvaGZdQ0p1UJu2W7goLaTrHXbhs53G6TOp3q6XSxVA8RBiveyDIUJUc3aSAWqKjQc0_bgxJ63KKLS4kLp1o4NWtc5m8Z8_1Z4HhhEbUZjsDT1SrXar1id7Sg3I/s1600-h/Evening22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUT6YHwaBA-dJ7x6o5ovvaGZdQ0p1UJu2W7goLaTrHXbhs53G6TOp3q6XSxVA8RBiveyDIUJUc3aSAWqKjQc0_bgxJ63KKLS4kLp1o4NWtc5m8Z8_1Z4HhhEbUZjsDT1SrXar1id7Sg3I/s320/Evening22.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She looked just like I thought she would....the Moulin Rouge!!!</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">OK....now we're tired! Hey look.....there's the Metro!</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_bc8umBpi6xCcNxv1t9blPDTJ0oveUbWAKjzHjeU33sKv_aHhB3-sklYai3EHv_Sju-oT6IaIh8mYEY2myxOBK3FmqgD_PIxEVQtrWpILoXqp03nX20-cqu-wQaZUblPE_TwkgSoPIA/s1600-h/MetroPigalle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_bc8umBpi6xCcNxv1t9blPDTJ0oveUbWAKjzHjeU33sKv_aHhB3-sklYai3EHv_Sju-oT6IaIh8mYEY2myxOBK3FmqgD_PIxEVQtrWpILoXqp03nX20-cqu-wQaZUblPE_TwkgSoPIA/s320/MetroPigalle.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodnight!</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Oh wait...one more thing, just in case you decide to visit this area of Paris. Although we felt completely safe in this area, and there are lots of other cafes and shops, you may want to check out these <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187147-d246686-Reviews-Pigalle-Paris_Ile_de_France.html">reviews</a> before checking out the interior of some of these shops. We got lucky....but more on that later......</span><br />
</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-64803679577380866682010-01-14T20:48:00.000-08:002010-01-14T20:48:03.471-08:00Paris - The First Supper!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At this point, we've been awake for around 30 hours....we've seen alot within the first 10 hours of arriving in France and now it's time to head back to our "home away from home" and check out the neighborhood for something to eat!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">First stop......the Shopi...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPCy2ExuwqVM7rGrDD6PUqHkC4bl5YCkbscPu2U8A6c3kmytNhwTgt8DIyKbOJiXMaoSYL-EHv5y-riGUFQjTlBcTLFkfyJdWPpEBJ_kKDDQKo5B7nzLxIwrTWH5RbiHVyxzBbR9uPng/s1600-h/SHOPI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPCy2ExuwqVM7rGrDD6PUqHkC4bl5YCkbscPu2U8A6c3kmytNhwTgt8DIyKbOJiXMaoSYL-EHv5y-riGUFQjTlBcTLFkfyJdWPpEBJ_kKDDQKo5B7nzLxIwrTWH5RbiHVyxzBbR9uPng/s320/SHOPI.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was the little grocery store that was directly across the street from our apartment. They had pretty much anything you needed, including liquor, wine, produce, meats, etc.. BUT, if you really wanted the French experience AND the freshest and bestest in produce, meats, cheese, and baked goods....you just walked THROUGH the Shopi out onto the next street....and VOILA!!! </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">There you found two charcouteries (butchers)</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLyTCvS9EemwfPvCmFLt7n8OMJAMwjVVp88B5z2EWJIDalM7zAoRv5quQv_M26r6MtKz7OAr5caTMDH14e12zoVUdbrMFouTFMu6Fbml6y-TwceDhXV2dJyN6i0mc1UMRfcM74S_HpRk/s1600-h/abutcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLyTCvS9EemwfPvCmFLt7n8OMJAMwjVVp88B5z2EWJIDalM7zAoRv5quQv_M26r6MtKz7OAr5caTMDH14e12zoVUdbrMFouTFMu6Fbml6y-TwceDhXV2dJyN6i0mc1UMRfcM74S_HpRk/s320/abutcher.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">, 2 boulangeries (bakeries)</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngs_JfOanQs9hNdpGwdH7RoeKjA5N4hYvtc6AEO7eY7fCiQP_0-YkRKrevPpEW5_VkTk5rEuJa1NBHg4iMPXGfAwrfvTFvuLcRiK00UxgMJ78SS9a-G9pY-ik4joYO5uDs6njZME0T9I/s1600-h/Evening5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngs_JfOanQs9hNdpGwdH7RoeKjA5N4hYvtc6AEO7eY7fCiQP_0-YkRKrevPpEW5_VkTk5rEuJa1NBHg4iMPXGfAwrfvTFvuLcRiK00UxgMJ78SS9a-G9pY-ik4joYO5uDs6njZME0T9I/s320/Evening5.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">, a patisserie (pastry shop)</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVGXl2GS6Hqq_YMVDfrlgzaAoqTi-cqVu3pZ6xc-EWpo3N7YDLwVf8z9b0VZ6pSSW5EDi_Q9jtBwuDPVOYg_HtLEklBS3vdF0JQofSabrFXCNFHtgqJOP5HU2DxxHsYBjH6znhhpHjqM/s1600-h/apatisserie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVGXl2GS6Hqq_YMVDfrlgzaAoqTi-cqVu3pZ6xc-EWpo3N7YDLwVf8z9b0VZ6pSSW5EDi_Q9jtBwuDPVOYg_HtLEklBS3vdF0JQofSabrFXCNFHtgqJOP5HU2DxxHsYBjH6znhhpHjqM/s320/apatisserie.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">, a fromagerie (cheese shop)</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkAoDkTKMHavpWTjtR1W42flTEtuKRigaX6uJ8eHmOyhyWoEzQbJfi6VfQkGakQAZ_fgfGrI_KmcdHF29RaYKoTSTzcc7cNeEZ6cUF8xxvEhfEnPjMVxnNI90HpnzmIlxHlVuQI_Bwhs/s1600-h/acheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkAoDkTKMHavpWTjtR1W42flTEtuKRigaX6uJ8eHmOyhyWoEzQbJfi6VfQkGakQAZ_fgfGrI_KmcdHF29RaYKoTSTzcc7cNeEZ6cUF8xxvEhfEnPjMVxnNI90HpnzmIlxHlVuQI_Bwhs/s320/acheese.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> a poissoniere (seafood shop),</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rLeCQBDSSZGGTIxX4PEPdTAljcEtkhGq957lUZ_uBMji8Dz-ejMYb32hTzD1rDUwamc9MnWotWSaoEx6eMaNhVwpcXfl-mHGyp0Bxa6jj9C3ZZbgFsGsboyHAitpkMmL1RWp-lXYt8c/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Two+106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rLeCQBDSSZGGTIxX4PEPdTAljcEtkhGq957lUZ_uBMji8Dz-ejMYb32hTzD1rDUwamc9MnWotWSaoEx6eMaNhVwpcXfl-mHGyp0Bxa6jj9C3ZZbgFsGsboyHAitpkMmL1RWp-lXYt8c/s320/Paris+Day+Two+106.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and the produce shop (ohmigosh!)</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lfxJb3MMo2uC_LQyFAPFM4PxMGjWI_a3eX0O_mm1-3eB-NHvSEqQH3x6HaAJJW_ddeS3uXP_rWubvFWJ4dNjtELwizuBD-xIj4wBA4v9OYQvouvCU9wWQzb6BQawfwcich5yvfRbmPY/s1600-h/Evening3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lfxJb3MMo2uC_LQyFAPFM4PxMGjWI_a3eX0O_mm1-3eB-NHvSEqQH3x6HaAJJW_ddeS3uXP_rWubvFWJ4dNjtELwizuBD-xIj4wBA4v9OYQvouvCU9wWQzb6BQawfwcich5yvfRbmPY/s320/Evening3.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you know me at all, you know that I had to pinch myself to make sure I hadn't died and gone to heaven!!! It was everything I dreamed it would be and more.....food at it's finest....entrepreneurs (ha...French word!) that specialized in one particular aspect of the food group and ensured it was its best. When you walked into their shops, you could see the pride in their faces....they knew you were going to love what they had to offer....and they were right! Even the sight of what they had to offer was incredible!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">OK....back to earth! We were hungry and it was late....we stopped first at the butcher and bought 4 chicken breasts (Melinda wanted to make her chicken cutlets)....then Dennis I went to the <em>other</em> butcher and found a huge oven (sorry...too excited to take a pic) full of freshly rotisseried chickens! Score! Remember....it was getting late!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We all finally agreed to the rotisserie chicken and Melin and I went off to the produce shop to get an accompaniment....salad!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qXqTCQ_2M_Rm5LDvyClMrrfU08AUMDV7NOlws_oGo1w8zPXI7OenaGsjHYcxIh7mLgJPSCmiBGy8G_Q7BhcyypJGLop9FYRSu9kc_gfn9COS0wIzLCOs1yODe8_-NeIfkYg1XTtnhR4/s1600-h/Evening1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qXqTCQ_2M_Rm5LDvyClMrrfU08AUMDV7NOlws_oGo1w8zPXI7OenaGsjHYcxIh7mLgJPSCmiBGy8G_Q7BhcyypJGLop9FYRSu9kc_gfn9COS0wIzLCOs1yODe8_-NeIfkYg1XTtnhR4/s320/Evening1.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_7Jxe2H63kuNinb-9ePpgi8zNpi-BPB2XOjjh0fe4ovkDOpInmGVIpTivIEoORpyCqmAWu8e2sUABardHXX9VZlB-uil0WlYP3iNmA4qn0jcHbd-Qo35VlpAYTSQZZHHNQWO6pNtZkY/s1600-h/Evening8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_7Jxe2H63kuNinb-9ePpgi8zNpi-BPB2XOjjh0fe4ovkDOpInmGVIpTivIEoORpyCqmAWu8e2sUABardHXX9VZlB-uil0WlYP3iNmA4qn0jcHbd-Qo35VlpAYTSQZZHHNQWO6pNtZkY/s320/Evening8.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also scored some fresh brie and freshly baked baguettes to snack on while dinner was being prepared (although how long does it take to prep a rotisserie chicken!?).....heaven on earth....but only in France!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8R7D8t0OcQSquM_FNgciAYOKy7aJKr5ERQRDYBqrRTr3zBE6q8suW1mgJKf2U_vCB1C0TtreRD12rBhyBTFBYcrv_iwsHUE4tHhWoF8KKJxJO112C33q59Veys-xmCn5lDBPmowy2bk0/s1600-h/Evening6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8R7D8t0OcQSquM_FNgciAYOKy7aJKr5ERQRDYBqrRTr3zBE6q8suW1mgJKf2U_vCB1C0TtreRD12rBhyBTFBYcrv_iwsHUE4tHhWoF8KKJxJO112C33q59Veys-xmCn5lDBPmowy2bk0/s320/Evening6.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once we'd tasted the cheese and bread, I thought there might be a possibility that we'd be eating the chicken and salad the next night. But I guess our weariness from the trip had summoned an appetite....Melinda set the table...</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sVVuq0H_8KFTgnFfKXeCSXdgxXJDPPkpIwslonmS76_ChrNsrInIVjNNBypW8ILrg4LxqhrdMBeN6DUTCs_r6cUAjpAepKllbL3_yKcLwp_WxB61YB0FnyO1nzSgH8booqXLkAZGIf8/s1600-h/Evening9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sVVuq0H_8KFTgnFfKXeCSXdgxXJDPPkpIwslonmS76_ChrNsrInIVjNNBypW8ILrg4LxqhrdMBeN6DUTCs_r6cUAjpAepKllbL3_yKcLwp_WxB61YB0FnyO1nzSgH8booqXLkAZGIf8/s320/Evening9.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGcQcrEwgCOroXvcpxpwvSdTgUht3Mu9pokhqJ76TTVSfKeJ9ikN2y06VbKfLNMJG3kPMvBun1BVeHSj4H-7xxsot3tbB8V3HvawGmVBdRIXLQcsHn9M_w9S8EdlfuNC9TlplJJpMjUY/s1600-h/Evening10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGcQcrEwgCOroXvcpxpwvSdTgUht3Mu9pokhqJ76TTVSfKeJ9ikN2y06VbKfLNMJG3kPMvBun1BVeHSj4H-7xxsot3tbB8V3HvawGmVBdRIXLQcsHn9M_w9S8EdlfuNC9TlplJJpMjUY/s320/Evening10.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and we all sat down to a delicious dinner.....our first in Paris!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">After dinner the guys sat down with all of the Paris "guides and maps" we had accumulated to figure out their next plan of "attack on Paris" </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWP5lnFU4mNjZf7evZeI5WuuYJpal-7ZikmeJKwmhCe-4wuYtHbf6XuA-UDn4pEw-IhhdSrWj5D_E6UbU2jWRgud2EV0UJexQcJlmaI4kGNYLhF9FjHnFLP5e0O0DMsbapQtAasMrOQI/s1600-h/Evening11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWP5lnFU4mNjZf7evZeI5WuuYJpal-7ZikmeJKwmhCe-4wuYtHbf6XuA-UDn4pEw-IhhdSrWj5D_E6UbU2jWRgud2EV0UJexQcJlmaI4kGNYLhF9FjHnFLP5e0O0DMsbapQtAasMrOQI/s320/Evening11.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">while Melinda and I cleaned up from dinner and prepared our dessert......from the patisserie!!!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">None of us could decide exactly what we wanted from the incredible selection at the pastry shop, so we got just a few things to taste.....from the top left, coconut pie, a mini Bouche de Noel and an apple tarte tatin with raisins.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLbEHzPb0SUkHf-_WDl8mSrGAiyhnulR6HRQlsrwWTboMcyd2MfDtnbtspCwp7GYtmPL4Bk9jB4GBtmt-sgFFvzitHWI7_e7vNe30vhhFoMXc8dQBCFXVbK5Cn-EBCIlBoDdUqye3Lcg/s1600-h/Evening12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLbEHzPb0SUkHf-_WDl8mSrGAiyhnulR6HRQlsrwWTboMcyd2MfDtnbtspCwp7GYtmPL4Bk9jB4GBtmt-sgFFvzitHWI7_e7vNe30vhhFoMXc8dQBCFXVbK5Cn-EBCIlBoDdUqye3Lcg/s320/Evening12.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Bouche de Noel confirmed for me that mine was just tooooo dry and I paid very close attention to the texture and taste.....next year's Bouche de Noel will definitely taste different than <a href="http://apronsrequired.blogspot.com/2009/12/yule-loggin.html">this year's</a>.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The coconut pie was incredible....I've tasted several coconut pies in my lifetime, but this was so different. The French desserts aren't as sweet as the American desserts....you really tasted the custard and the coconut. It was so silky and delicious.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The apple tarte tatin was also delicious....not my favorite (the Bouche de Noel was), but it was different than an American apple pie....again, not as sweet, so you really taste the main ingredients.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I don't know what "chemical reaction" occurred after that, but the desserts affected us all quite differently....Melinda and Brad found their PJs and started to relax, but Dennis and I felt energized (no, I have NO idea where it came from) and decided to hit the streets.....</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Next up....hitting the streets....the risque side of Paris!</span><br />
</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-5517986785465494712010-01-12T17:08:00.000-08:002010-01-12T18:07:01.446-08:00Paris - Day One - Part Two!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I left off with our visit to the Notre Dame. We didn't get to go inside....the lines were very long (about a 2 hour wait), so we decided to just do a walking tour of the area. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">From Notre Dame, we left the Cite' Island, crossed the Seine to the Right Bank and headed for the Musee de Louvre, the most visited museum in the world. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkflbH4yUB_ENZ1w0uQy9kg8YBg6KuQoOc7Rn3NVl83ryZ7h6LHoOzg995kF1V_lE43fqw6qi8CATNbw55XTdnqZQDORMK69grYIjaz6MNFz9o2MAXacmH6Rd8pUpi7V5Ik8w1W8hZXyY/s1600-h/Louvre8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkflbH4yUB_ENZ1w0uQy9kg8YBg6KuQoOc7Rn3NVl83ryZ7h6LHoOzg995kF1V_lE43fqw6qi8CATNbw55XTdnqZQDORMK69grYIjaz6MNFz9o2MAXacmH6Rd8pUpi7V5Ik8w1W8hZXyY/s320/Louvre8.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> Unfortunately, we wouldn't be part of that head count....turns out the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays! Such is our luck, right? Well, truthfully, there was no way we'd be able to see all of the 35,000+ objects that are on display, especially on our first day.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8Y1dUukn4SBo7CelkI2W3fmlbfv28JA1i5qJIEDJVJrRR92MXeWJ6n2aeyw__ak7_3OTlSf1fkJpnkJITgRT54vGa2Nk8A8f4JdxyFKLcqAkVdV2kpt6_WdsUO9nMZwQQaJnHuLp8Vo/s1600-h/Louvre2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8Y1dUukn4SBo7CelkI2W3fmlbfv28JA1i5qJIEDJVJrRR92MXeWJ6n2aeyw__ak7_3OTlSf1fkJpnkJITgRT54vGa2Nk8A8f4JdxyFKLcqAkVdV2kpt6_WdsUO9nMZwQQaJnHuLp8Vo/s320/Louvre2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It truly is a sight to behold. Although it does seem a little odd at first to see the very modern Louvre Pyramid sitting square in the middle of architecture with so much history, it is truly spectacular! It was commissioned by the former French President, Francois Mitterrand. It was created due to issues with the original entrance to the museum, which could no longer accomodate the massive number of visitors each day.....it is now the main entrance to the museum. Isn't it beautiful!?</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSc9v8L0XY2TlODyLpHD4jHO0RmOdNQPVdIKVwbFw4OhKXUvSAWOTYTcv1BqcqcgyLWwsQn1hXhbAuDKk_DixnqRHTogAAY5csR2hFr-kM4rkxGyw8OHZuvMSx4oSKSpq9j_zWXSppNas/s1600-h/Louvre4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSc9v8L0XY2TlODyLpHD4jHO0RmOdNQPVdIKVwbFw4OhKXUvSAWOTYTcv1BqcqcgyLWwsQn1hXhbAuDKk_DixnqRHTogAAY5csR2hFr-kM4rkxGyw8OHZuvMSx4oSKSpq9j_zWXSppNas/s320/Louvre4.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3wxqrHk3MmDTvFJ5G2MCt9bMuFYtismEemzX0_ia82v_Vrr2PJflEayMVP4Tif5onJhabWo_cCsWyd93YTc-C-dqcVJNXhaSgBkvUB1Btgn3-XSIcZem4ubo-b2eKgz9wGP7Lu0HdWE/s1600-h/Louvre5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3wxqrHk3MmDTvFJ5G2MCt9bMuFYtismEemzX0_ia82v_Vrr2PJflEayMVP4Tif5onJhabWo_cCsWyd93YTc-C-dqcVJNXhaSgBkvUB1Btgn3-XSIcZem4ubo-b2eKgz9wGP7Lu0HdWE/s320/Louvre5.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The architecture of the buildings and in the surrounding area are amazing, too!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDjzZ1x-Tlb0iqjOobu9riZ6eOHdt30RQzte6F3IShI2XGGlRpaeMRH0-kGApPBag9SOO4M9zk-AFBGHOb7AuVD5OTKGkWhbonZUFUbHwQcD_VrTJXCwUjt7WmzikJVVeNVq2Ynf-aLU/s1600-h/Louvre6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDjzZ1x-Tlb0iqjOobu9riZ6eOHdt30RQzte6F3IShI2XGGlRpaeMRH0-kGApPBag9SOO4M9zk-AFBGHOb7AuVD5OTKGkWhbonZUFUbHwQcD_VrTJXCwUjt7WmzikJVVeNVq2Ynf-aLU/s320/Louvre6.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once you turn around and face the other direction, you see the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel....not to be confused with the larger Arc de Triomphe. </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrIsnufoshGOOh6XPJ3R7c7pg76KKqdaWDpthyhOuercx-rwutBMxpV-MqXKg9nFd3D79dRSObMADIXuXdG09htCMlYiVIdaseCmiKCCSacb_oz7AOlw51HRufsvcwiOKA7dBCfc5lM0/s1600-h/Louvrarch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrIsnufoshGOOh6XPJ3R7c7pg76KKqdaWDpthyhOuercx-rwutBMxpV-MqXKg9nFd3D79dRSObMADIXuXdG09htCMlYiVIdaseCmiKCCSacb_oz7AOlw51HRufsvcwiOKA7dBCfc5lM0/s320/Louvrarch.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They look similar, but the Arc de Triomphe is much, much larger. The architecture is unbelievable, and it's much more accessible, since you don't have to cross multiple lanes of unbelievably fast moving cars!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCszmTnpWs9ES2f-MAAsG3RAMdRu_P_G_eBf2RKFI8IQ3zAYiBcnXwyLLPmMb5fm5VYUTAb0_NINj_9Ar0y5eELBMHV4RCZ8V8dHtoqS-UBnXTSIpctu8-2_MhqRP7_cwaeB7v5hS5cWc/s1600-h/Louvre+monument.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCszmTnpWs9ES2f-MAAsG3RAMdRu_P_G_eBf2RKFI8IQ3zAYiBcnXwyLLPmMb5fm5VYUTAb0_NINj_9Ar0y5eELBMHV4RCZ8V8dHtoqS-UBnXTSIpctu8-2_MhqRP7_cwaeB7v5hS5cWc/s320/Louvre+monument.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-ThWFgz5iSyA9d4wueqj_JXxLD9I4xzOL6FeR8kVO7D2M5sDePys5hlBx3RIDwLtvLZNCLAqD_5w1dTm-w4AMPcc6xBCMb6VbJ3ScQS6paJSe_DcfTqQWLuAf_coa_9nDbCuNTv1Zzg/s1600-h/Louvresatue1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-ThWFgz5iSyA9d4wueqj_JXxLD9I4xzOL6FeR8kVO7D2M5sDePys5hlBx3RIDwLtvLZNCLAqD_5w1dTm-w4AMPcc6xBCMb6VbJ3ScQS6paJSe_DcfTqQWLuAf_coa_9nDbCuNTv1Zzg/s320/Louvresatue1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazing, isn't it? Everywhere you look in Paris, there is amazing architecture!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">From there, we moved on into the Tuilerie Gardens, which cover over 60 acres! Even though it was winter, it was still beautiful and there were lots of visitors! </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEp2AHuLFF7zaKoC9huEfwz8wFVXl7OJgzWHyaPRhHNF-UpsuIXVQf_Gw0M4nhSFovT2TVB9XQvYgd2J_agZcNBWxD_2O3cPqpTyx82BuCKpRxWEFEmPjTVcx5pb4HKkeRMGx08M_KZQ/s1600-h/Tuilerie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEp2AHuLFF7zaKoC9huEfwz8wFVXl7OJgzWHyaPRhHNF-UpsuIXVQf_Gw0M4nhSFovT2TVB9XQvYgd2J_agZcNBWxD_2O3cPqpTyx82BuCKpRxWEFEmPjTVcx5pb4HKkeRMGx08M_KZQ/s320/Tuilerie2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The views are superb from the gardens....most of Paris is so built up, that it's usually only at heights that you can get a great view.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wz2mf4Fz8zALQrpRIX9Ev4Gt_FI45cPf7HcsLnyWg1Ns9WbRCDj66rJNFncoaOUPAy8r2RDBxQLtI7s9NutJnF14d9nVsT1PlhcFCSFAW1ITejpld4qkmoF8opy3Q9Oahp55zgAP4_w/s1600-h/tuilerie1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wz2mf4Fz8zALQrpRIX9Ev4Gt_FI45cPf7HcsLnyWg1Ns9WbRCDj66rJNFncoaOUPAy8r2RDBxQLtI7s9NutJnF14d9nVsT1PlhcFCSFAW1ITejpld4qkmoF8opy3Q9Oahp55zgAP4_w/s320/tuilerie1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6GOFlJ41-uYQLyiS3W32yAqKPCXhcXGM56vri011nXbjNIlH7BfLAkU4VxaYh7a41Jl5b6wpHQcGVvvP_Wy-M22vIi0TZ-0rAnw5od2s4X1O2DoW7NG8jhCZ7CJ6cEE2imRAbKytKx8/s1600-h/viewfromtuilerie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6GOFlJ41-uYQLyiS3W32yAqKPCXhcXGM56vri011nXbjNIlH7BfLAkU4VxaYh7a41Jl5b6wpHQcGVvvP_Wy-M22vIi0TZ-0rAnw5od2s4X1O2DoW7NG8jhCZ7CJ6cEE2imRAbKytKx8/s320/viewfromtuilerie.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KWGFssdnKvJTX0ODot-mo3FnAy7Jt3uOuVNF0jxS-hxuyUzsHSltOhPN9huoLlXF5CtnwEnbfiKTK2hgmd02rFFi5oLtkKnzU_32Jn6wSR4rSWcBCQlk-o7NZgRcX0vbLwnP0Stwpnk/s1600-h/viewfromtuilerie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KWGFssdnKvJTX0ODot-mo3FnAy7Jt3uOuVNF0jxS-hxuyUzsHSltOhPN9huoLlXF5CtnwEnbfiKTK2hgmd02rFFi5oLtkKnzU_32Jn6wSR4rSWcBCQlk-o7NZgRcX0vbLwnP0Stwpnk/s320/viewfromtuilerie2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The gardens are filled with ponds, water fountains and lots of sculptures:</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8zr-bOrK3esakQIDCdwwqZXrVZw9wzbiqO0Q62H8IAnkx2BtakOGJgn4KP9zWpN4A7AH-d6328C_DiK2MpggoEgrehKlJf9n654IkUJaJ2QGnArtDREm4kQtPNUZ40PERXM7AX0PaFg/s1600-h/Children+inpark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8zr-bOrK3esakQIDCdwwqZXrVZw9wzbiqO0Q62H8IAnkx2BtakOGJgn4KP9zWpN4A7AH-d6328C_DiK2MpggoEgrehKlJf9n654IkUJaJ2QGnArtDREm4kQtPNUZ40PERXM7AX0PaFg/s320/Children+inpark.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKsprq76agZkjzK50DCtWdFhQnJ8keFvVhzOCMKZm8r0Ihdfr4Zp0nDvVEdD7SYqyImyuCub4Iy07WZFazCrbcHIF-tjj67gri-mIVO46zFQCL4Ny1trVi-7BdF3cZa41fz8OcujJRE8/s1600-h/Tuileries6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKsprq76agZkjzK50DCtWdFhQnJ8keFvVhzOCMKZm8r0Ihdfr4Zp0nDvVEdD7SYqyImyuCub4Iy07WZFazCrbcHIF-tjj67gri-mIVO46zFQCL4Ny1trVi-7BdF3cZa41fz8OcujJRE8/s320/Tuileries6.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRZ1PBlDmCqyphSCkjFdhxwC7oSy8P3EBSnjkJfEzY8x0XZqHDclHRHIuYBe9WAon8xS32y3CsNTf8LG5gbV9_hZZXyhU94SAmGH9vbcqf8_2jIvKg_UOddsGoD0SHRr-YHGtwUC1Y-E/s1600-h/Tuileries7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRZ1PBlDmCqyphSCkjFdhxwC7oSy8P3EBSnjkJfEzY8x0XZqHDclHRHIuYBe9WAon8xS32y3CsNTf8LG5gbV9_hZZXyhU94SAmGH9vbcqf8_2jIvKg_UOddsGoD0SHRr-YHGtwUC1Y-E/s320/Tuileries7.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WfODONjJesehyvKzjuYJwrJxbxpqwmhM14u21_k5qoFtGmdGdbjUigfQuE__Valh8TTXf5Xxjmv3D1mPh-h2bZDmrQHzFj1m0dWhZcuARh-lh4dc54JDwmBcNFhNCW9Nn3ORbtED20c/s1600-h/Tuileries8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WfODONjJesehyvKzjuYJwrJxbxpqwmhM14u21_k5qoFtGmdGdbjUigfQuE__Valh8TTXf5Xxjmv3D1mPh-h2bZDmrQHzFj1m0dWhZcuARh-lh4dc54JDwmBcNFhNCW9Nn3ORbtED20c/s320/Tuileries8.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dennis especially liked one of the ponds!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdSDGtpMFP21WaiGsDCNx0RSJ7nSIlaNKVWcHJ_-rsYbpxi7uyjOAnZc8Wj2diJbxdZn-HQWdX6o_q3LScGw3QmXKXgUDVZ9lyU3LwERdxw5hSuuApdXSB4RVahv41_4o52h7Bnrr5nw/s1600-h/Tuilerie4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdSDGtpMFP21WaiGsDCNx0RSJ7nSIlaNKVWcHJ_-rsYbpxi7uyjOAnZc8Wj2diJbxdZn-HQWdX6o_q3LScGw3QmXKXgUDVZ9lyU3LwERdxw5hSuuApdXSB4RVahv41_4o52h7Bnrr5nw/s320/Tuilerie4.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>(Roundtrip tickets to Paris, $1600, Cost to use public toilettes, $1.50, Photo Op in Tuilerie Gardens....Priceless!)</em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> Originally, the gardens were the site of the Tuilerie Palace, which was burned down in 1871. The fire lasted over 48 hours. There are efforts now to rebuild the palace in hopes of restoring the "harmony" of the gardens, from the Louvre to the Champs Elysses.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Next up....a more contemporary art display at the edge of the gardens by Louise Bourgeois.....born in France in 1911, she married and moved to New York in the 1930s and is a very well know artist. We were drawn to the "Welcoming Hands", each one displayed on top of granite stone columns. I couldn't resist taking pictures of them, but what was most irresistible was putting your own hands in theirs.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 0.7em "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; width: 448px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="336" width="448"><param name="FlashVars" value="galleryid=6708083735_54kQf"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="movie" value="http://www.picnik.com/slide/slide.swf"/><embed src="http://www.picnik.com/slide/slide.swf" width="448" height="336" wmode="transparent" allowScriptAccess="always" FlashVars="galleryid=6708083735_54kQf"></embed></object><br />
<div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.picnik.com/show/id/6708083735_54kQf/t/picnik-show">"<b>Picnik Show</b>"</a><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next up....La Grande Roue....the ferris wheel at the end of the gardens, just before the Champs Elysses. It was built for the millenium celebrations and was only supposed to be there for a year. The owner refused to remove it, so it was dismantled in 2002, but starting in 2007 it comes back for the end of the year festivities. I'm so glad we got to see it!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhCqL9q-l9X19QYrHkDyVA0UsrD7jPQHJAk8aagCL4dCvLpbuybY_ZcXs4w9tPNMP6ORUNHTg3I2wU5lR_aiixmKhCKu8UzSSqpybnzxHq-Ftq8N0TQS20laMIpvgFMQWhlUcZHUltLg/s1600-h/ferriswheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhCqL9q-l9X19QYrHkDyVA0UsrD7jPQHJAk8aagCL4dCvLpbuybY_ZcXs4w9tPNMP6ORUNHTg3I2wU5lR_aiixmKhCKu8UzSSqpybnzxHq-Ftq8N0TQS20laMIpvgFMQWhlUcZHUltLg/s320/ferriswheel.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPFuqlZc3CAGIBt9OxApzPYy-t341BAW44L1bfbc_oDoFncAX56NXOZqBg7n7eSyEBpnQojKDDzWfBS1gS3kHzZFJRWFL71ehSqneLBX9j9VSHFHDgvcodwGB154NgXNt_QL3TagiBzk/s1600-h/aferriswheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPFuqlZc3CAGIBt9OxApzPYy-t341BAW44L1bfbc_oDoFncAX56NXOZqBg7n7eSyEBpnQojKDDzWfBS1gS3kHzZFJRWFL71ehSqneLBX9j9VSHFHDgvcodwGB154NgXNt_QL3TagiBzk/s320/aferriswheel.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With tired/cold feet, we'd found ourselves at the Champs Elysses. </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5w72Vpkj3jxsUp5lGxv2cQ-qksxCyUKcaV9jh_kHmjWKtG1gcf7Q-twEEHuVkmUq6tqGBviQG5yyW9gS_yeW051_brnYzMgqdS1JMFa89zdWUPiR1gYFHZY-I9za2Oej3gEqX6TT3dc/s1600-h/Champs1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5w72Vpkj3jxsUp5lGxv2cQ-qksxCyUKcaV9jh_kHmjWKtG1gcf7Q-twEEHuVkmUq6tqGBviQG5yyW9gS_yeW051_brnYzMgqdS1JMFa89zdWUPiR1gYFHZY-I9za2Oej3gEqX6TT3dc/s320/Champs1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It is 1.25 miles long and is the most expensive strip of real estate in Europe and is one of the most famous streets in the world. It boasts high end stores such as Louis Vuitton....</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgmogt9b57OJlxnKDAVlRu0uICy_5WKS-frrH2MG7gEEDlsNqAgj5GXK44Ta3SXUxrn6SkKA6JvCtCvA7bFrYSauGDm3Q7Dj3VirpYUx-6V-Luuz85uHxMGvRKSK5FZrMiNZQ3TX5Kx8/s1600-h/Champs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgmogt9b57OJlxnKDAVlRu0uICy_5WKS-frrH2MG7gEEDlsNqAgj5GXK44Ta3SXUxrn6SkKA6JvCtCvA7bFrYSauGDm3Q7Dj3VirpYUx-6V-Luuz85uHxMGvRKSK5FZrMiNZQ3TX5Kx8/s320/Champs2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...Prada, Hermes and Chanel. And right in the very center of this beautiful avenue sits the Arc de Triomphe.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBn55irB4a_ewaB2P12u2LryubTZj5hXt4S6NryTj_Dr101xAlzrd1BDrrNNgoNT3zX_GUqY88ZnyarGk6CUV5pQUNqkna9JFjEJ-xzYqGji-9u7Hb9I9kaWYilUoIOYoilogEo-iFoY/s1600-h/Arc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBn55irB4a_ewaB2P12u2LryubTZj5hXt4S6NryTj_Dr101xAlzrd1BDrrNNgoNT3zX_GUqY88ZnyarGk6CUV5pQUNqkna9JFjEJ-xzYqGji-9u7Hb9I9kaWYilUoIOYoilogEo-iFoY/s320/Arc1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon to commemorate his victories, it wasn't completed until 1836 and is engraved with the names of the generals who commanded French troops during Napoleon's regime.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDuqbqvd6XTL2LnKyK7sYcQzyoVwXPVyXK7TGaMOYkDbiXZUCE-Ksfm_6zX67IwsTZPZJMYLEPYmWtHh1Xk_kCtFUkjtUYzIjW_GnNI7d8JHaMh7HNsVTrmRw4ZirMrwnfF2OAfZfya8/s1600-h/Arc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDuqbqvd6XTL2LnKyK7sYcQzyoVwXPVyXK7TGaMOYkDbiXZUCE-Ksfm_6zX67IwsTZPZJMYLEPYmWtHh1Xk_kCtFUkjtUYzIjW_GnNI7d8JHaMh7HNsVTrmRw4ZirMrwnfF2OAfZfya8/s320/Arc2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We decided to jump on a bus and ride around the Arc for better views.....I, for one, was not keen on the thought of trying to cross the traffic from the 12 streets that merge into the circle for a close up!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRs74L2uX693KetKANyoEZCFmm95xunUwy8vBqp5D27q_Epb890tCJdKnyN2_d-AL_s-6eqLL5xFg7RmUh7eYhqQc3TDao0iMJgm855GYWpCPOmtnH_V3DlCMLANfAtzuO-GNtmA2Bj54/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRs74L2uX693KetKANyoEZCFmm95xunUwy8vBqp5D27q_Epb890tCJdKnyN2_d-AL_s-6eqLL5xFg7RmUh7eYhqQc3TDao0iMJgm855GYWpCPOmtnH_V3DlCMLANfAtzuO-GNtmA2Bj54/s320/Paris+Day+One+104.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By this time, it was getting late, so we decided to head back to our apartment and check out the neighborhood for a bite to eat! </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Next up.....Paris - Evening One!</span><br />
</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-7477588844479700092010-01-11T21:07:00.000-08:002010-01-12T05:00:42.684-08:00Paris - Day One!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, here's the deal.....we woke up on Monday, December 28th at 6 am (12 noon Paris time), left Virginia at 3 PM (9 PM Paris time) and arrived in Paris at 6:30 AM (12:30 AM US time) on December 29th. We were finally finished with checking in at the apartment by 9 AM (3 AM US time) and decided to unpack, then hit the streets! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First stop.....breakfast! Now, keep in mind that Parisians start their day completely different than we do. It starts off with cafe' (strong coffee, cream or not), and maybe a croissant or some other form of pastry. On the other hand, WE were looking for some substance, hoping it might compensate for our lack of sleep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Just a few doors down from our apartment was a cafe....made sense to us! Dennis, Brad and I chose a ham and cheese omelette....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlL1NVUetP1WZvifobSfZGMcKSdFgh97PJOL_2av11-itGYkDrVz3Xc1FGXw4prMy9rcbd7De2aODyz_iiiYy-ru9e4UUWzz23HKOqogps1Wovp1fUum7gllQFv6Nel4ZSWecZAcxffU/s1600-h/omelette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlL1NVUetP1WZvifobSfZGMcKSdFgh97PJOL_2av11-itGYkDrVz3Xc1FGXw4prMy9rcbd7De2aODyz_iiiYy-ru9e4UUWzz23HKOqogps1Wovp1fUum7gllQFv6Nel4ZSWecZAcxffU/s320/omelette.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Melinda went with the special, braised endive with a cheese/cream sauce and frites (french fries). Melinda picked the best meal that day....her endive was delicious!! The omelettes.....not so much!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWX_QV6mBsYkdmWSqy6LlXHPMWjVusy-vA7oaTDfBV1p-fTyqASc14Nsnc4BgIBNbwYWFmUFMuinG9_q5U33G3Dx7c5p246031ajnBAfDalranKswvISNpor_rQTZBSCtjhQQgl5gVtNk/s1600-h/Endive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWX_QV6mBsYkdmWSqy6LlXHPMWjVusy-vA7oaTDfBV1p-fTyqASc14Nsnc4BgIBNbwYWFmUFMuinG9_q5U33G3Dx7c5p246031ajnBAfDalranKswvISNpor_rQTZBSCtjhQQgl5gVtNk/s320/Endive.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My omelette didn't have any cheese, and Dennis' and Brad's wasn't much better. OK.....we're in Paris....surely there is fab food somewhere! We just kept on rollin'! With a little food in our bellies, along with some serious cafe' (coffee), we set off on our first tour of Paris.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDNcxgUTsKmBghftcyyVlfw9CkTFlp-cIfFtRJngdKXKMEgNr5JZYZIFRQ5wvl6-khrqv-ZpjP0HrnRgFy_1nM0470f2s8NNlnH6Uy-g9S3h-allbcX9He3N8SaIo_dTtYauAn-4kIoM/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDNcxgUTsKmBghftcyyVlfw9CkTFlp-cIfFtRJngdKXKMEgNr5JZYZIFRQ5wvl6-khrqv-ZpjP0HrnRgFy_1nM0470f2s8NNlnH6Uy-g9S3h-allbcX9He3N8SaIo_dTtYauAn-4kIoM/s320/Paris+Day+One+042.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First stop....the Metro! The Metro is Paris' subway system....and wow, is it intricate! We purchased a pass which gave us access to the Metro and the bus system for a full week....life saver! The entrance to the Metro was less than a block from our apartment, next to a beautiful church.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1j9ewOYwriNbuVeJbKL1LtVtYHRsF7YKZh5UARJG916sqk0b9Q_rf_nD5fpzTbtTFe0ekdOUfoNt-byGYqrixR8u7G_diAyh1fH2iD-zTwwqbzs8wgZzqsr_NsY-_7uow119nnqLFyk/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1j9ewOYwriNbuVeJbKL1LtVtYHRsF7YKZh5UARJG916sqk0b9Q_rf_nD5fpzTbtTFe0ekdOUfoNt-byGYqrixR8u7G_diAyh1fH2iD-zTwwqbzs8wgZzqsr_NsY-_7uow119nnqLFyk/s320/Paris+Day+One+043.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Metro system in Paris is awesome.....you can get anywhere in minutes and the maps are very easy to read and understand. Below is our station!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjSH5ZHu_J9EtyRUggHRxtvDTcUahDAjRbcoT9KvNg7YtUNNOfdDN6lUOWXB2_zwfn_B-LuC7YyLVcjAuKoPDnw2qgMQxnjorfKWeffHmXfQaS3Dy_lb1J9mBZAdt-bjkkKb2zwxR6EE/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjSH5ZHu_J9EtyRUggHRxtvDTcUahDAjRbcoT9KvNg7YtUNNOfdDN6lUOWXB2_zwfn_B-LuC7YyLVcjAuKoPDnw2qgMQxnjorfKWeffHmXfQaS3Dy_lb1J9mBZAdt-bjkkKb2zwxR6EE/s320/Paris+Day+One+045.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow....we spent a ton of time on these! I have many memories of my time spent on the Metro..some that make me smile and one that makes me shiver (more to come on that later!).</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgmRhe95sl8AdH5ujkLdKqIMyQkyxnjfz44ZcL5kW43yHFGcQXOlaIG__gUrbI6V2RGQw6XxFvYwdO2wRC0G2FNB0mYPue3naMAllJhxWKk-pw9jFmIzjx4ersmG0NHwYSsBmslgs1Gc/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgmRhe95sl8AdH5ujkLdKqIMyQkyxnjfz44ZcL5kW43yHFGcQXOlaIG__gUrbI6V2RGQw6XxFvYwdO2wRC0G2FNB0mYPue3naMAllJhxWKk-pw9jFmIzjx4ersmG0NHwYSsBmslgs1Gc/s320/Paris+Day+One+046.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The obvious choice was the obvious choice.....go where all tourists go! Central Paris......on the Seine!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KMrvDLWPFUpMbMaaUjtVcS332UpLlYoZgMU2vF1A4H5M_M8fQJ45c6Ztom3LLN9J_7LlhqIjWf6AtKz-1j7WEpQSfIcaVT1UY3ojoTtqxuFLR4ld1v3gyxGOXo9d5JkkPwDfx2YYZD4/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KMrvDLWPFUpMbMaaUjtVcS332UpLlYoZgMU2vF1A4H5M_M8fQJ45c6Ztom3LLN9J_7LlhqIjWf6AtKz-1j7WEpQSfIcaVT1UY3ojoTtqxuFLR4ld1v3gyxGOXo9d5JkkPwDfx2YYZD4/s320/Paris+Day+One+050.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes....it looks just like all of the travel books....really! And the Seine is just beautiful.....the water may be a bit muddy and it runs very fast through the city, but it's beautiful!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-m-tXqQAOs1C9zVN4IrtahgApVR6W9ujW4FdfIPu1HE3UXOSYCnfWp7tp09czhTeC3uhjoiHcZCc1xSmZZsxEfPfEbYUuf6clZMdYK2uUKYrAiLsQNvLa2xhNTmEYXBJ2kiese6YLXo/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-m-tXqQAOs1C9zVN4IrtahgApVR6W9ujW4FdfIPu1HE3UXOSYCnfWp7tp09czhTeC3uhjoiHcZCc1xSmZZsxEfPfEbYUuf6clZMdYK2uUKYrAiLsQNvLa2xhNTmEYXBJ2kiese6YLXo/s320/Paris+Day+One+051.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next stop....the Cite' Island in Paris....home of the Notre Dame (Our Lady of Paris in French)....it is the cathedral of the archdiocese of Paris. Construction began on this beautiful structure in 1163....can you believe that? It was completed in 1345....dang! Now that's history!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UW3xkbmILvFhJTfFP6Yyhg8tpUh6RVfIMAap-ZmFt698HXdhz8wGTE4tJv59CeJHc2Ucdhals7vzPfzhLUeJCdoFVd_pYtOI3nvrE8ks5SKxzMxb8YZbUGt2PDeNmkQEF15ixNHHpTw/s1600-h/Notre+Dame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UW3xkbmILvFhJTfFP6Yyhg8tpUh6RVfIMAap-ZmFt698HXdhz8wGTE4tJv59CeJHc2Ucdhals7vzPfzhLUeJCdoFVd_pYtOI3nvrE8ks5SKxzMxb8YZbUGt2PDeNmkQEF15ixNHHpTw/s320/Notre+Dame.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Isn't it fabulous!!! Oh, wait until you see it at night! In the meantime, here are a few more shots...</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2SM74b7Q5sCtvCHoEPUJwM5z7n4Psbt6yrkg7__-Pn6N_oaaG2eoinM04f4F20J37z0bnfn6Sg0v2ytoI6c8qckqOsZND7fDFmKRlbHrLAl6ejuQNltouAtqlszj3igsMSsXzv4PFx4/s1600-h/NotreDame2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2SM74b7Q5sCtvCHoEPUJwM5z7n4Psbt6yrkg7__-Pn6N_oaaG2eoinM04f4F20J37z0bnfn6Sg0v2ytoI6c8qckqOsZND7fDFmKRlbHrLAl6ejuQNltouAtqlszj3igsMSsXzv4PFx4/s320/NotreDame2.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSrV6_HJV3HjRDq2lGLvmJM_tThzesjxd2PunWO79guO0tyDd8tzlEj-m3qHxxLIH-9S4cwGTJb_RRV8q4m8XDvEOWQq9TAgSn-zEnl-UX_1SKIZggVtXhD91qZPYN2wtD2Ymk0UUTHk/s1600-h/NotreDame3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSrV6_HJV3HjRDq2lGLvmJM_tThzesjxd2PunWO79guO0tyDd8tzlEj-m3qHxxLIH-9S4cwGTJb_RRV8q4m8XDvEOWQq9TAgSn-zEnl-UX_1SKIZggVtXhD91qZPYN2wtD2Ymk0UUTHk/s320/NotreDame3.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmJ6xVVuptFJn9ZUXLXt5m8kKZ4YuDA3zqzIhGcc7sRzHZnWcpULu-Pltlb-WiJkqn2DPOmd6qabcDUNLXPYia3w1I6aIydzcoj74dsJ_evr8RGFXb2P9F8M9epbSaycNh0H5WKpllis/s1600-h/NotreDame5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmJ6xVVuptFJn9ZUXLXt5m8kKZ4YuDA3zqzIhGcc7sRzHZnWcpULu-Pltlb-WiJkqn2DPOmd6qabcDUNLXPYia3w1I6aIydzcoj74dsJ_evr8RGFXb2P9F8M9epbSaycNh0H5WKpllis/s320/NotreDame5.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From there we walked the streets towards the Louvre, where there were many <br />
"street vendors" making sandwiches and CREPES!!!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIKrR7Ox6vrJ2Ifvo3KrYsZhIvd-P3uDO8WGr98AJE_hwAKLdKa15qEIUhG_WJsasoftQH7QPPUgXq3UohnHW274Ef8I3jcsv1oTP4JyJPPWqG-U3qWg3C-b7WtQs0xADTQMM7doIvIw/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIKrR7Ox6vrJ2Ifvo3KrYsZhIvd-P3uDO8WGr98AJE_hwAKLdKa15qEIUhG_WJsasoftQH7QPPUgXq3UohnHW274Ef8I3jcsv1oTP4JyJPPWqG-U3qWg3C-b7WtQs0xADTQMM7doIvIw/s320/Paris+Day+One+059.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some were filled with savory fillings, such as cheese and ham, but most people ordered the Nutella with other fillings. We were still a little full from our breakfast and decided to wait for our "crepe experience".</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Next we headed down the streets of central Paris toward the Louvre....</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fMT7przMl29x8mOUtnQMvpymsYWjFUGUWD-QlLFFscCIxS6myu4cIa19X80vLGFGVkBAKo_XpbZ8dSyHSQYwy8SUw-zjHUm4PakhhcXa-QcjGxStYgqLksUvfn-OI_Kho9bd3zhz7LM/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fMT7przMl29x8mOUtnQMvpymsYWjFUGUWD-QlLFFscCIxS6myu4cIa19X80vLGFGVkBAKo_XpbZ8dSyHSQYwy8SUw-zjHUm4PakhhcXa-QcjGxStYgqLksUvfn-OI_Kho9bd3zhz7LM/s320/Paris+Day+One+060.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">but not before taking in the activity on the Seine.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHn7J9xcIHOfTLrjGf5-EauaZjzU_R_1qBkBZD8AtZCr7BhaDmaKsn3RmkZyOhaUpS66DWxifHh76AzV9DVXfiHaV6HuL4UTT-wYy6-lUede5yREunnULDrJtE1gRJWgC0tNyWn39NsBo/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHn7J9xcIHOfTLrjGf5-EauaZjzU_R_1qBkBZD8AtZCr7BhaDmaKsn3RmkZyOhaUpS66DWxifHh76AzV9DVXfiHaV6HuL4UTT-wYy6-lUede5yREunnULDrJtE1gRJWgC0tNyWn39NsBo/s320/Paris+Day+One+061.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuHEO5Gu4mKBGTwXMlRD73tRiDOYxeuLByrAOQpLVmxqMEGnaSGGZSGtOGPV6jr_a_lWeLTVc4uXD9yxt8j-eNquS3zkN9HNJTLP0E4Y8k5gEEqvb7lOhvPEeed3HorZ2Yl17_-Mh3cY/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuHEO5Gu4mKBGTwXMlRD73tRiDOYxeuLByrAOQpLVmxqMEGnaSGGZSGtOGPV6jr_a_lWeLTVc4uXD9yxt8j-eNquS3zkN9HNJTLP0E4Y8k5gEEqvb7lOhvPEeed3HorZ2Yl17_-Mh3cY/s320/Paris+Day+One+063.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next up? The Louvre and the rest of our Day One in Paris!!!</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">*Sorry.....I promise not to drag out every day into several posts, but this really was the longest day.....our first! Go figure! See you soon!</span><br />
</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-21497035788360339282010-01-10T00:01:00.000-08:002010-01-10T05:56:49.116-08:00Special Birthday Wishes.....<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a special day for some very special people and I wanted to take a moment to wish them all a very happy birthday! Birthday greetings go out to Denise Sutton, a very special lady and dear friend, Debbie Moore, a new old friend and GBHS classmate, Harriet Sadler, a great lady of real estate, and Omar Higazi, my favorite of my son's friends! I hope you all have a very special day!!!!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPX4xIzCxZaQmzySdw4KCx3HlZnRzwTmmCvWb-nr5m82J7tqUSu9Jw2hKV0xthc8RJYkukShOmG89hfSQ-08Q9zgcFgLvORoQPlrcsxOsL46NBUOL_LphERiqgLe5skg1VkAPA0xPwCHE/s1600-h/Happy+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPX4xIzCxZaQmzySdw4KCx3HlZnRzwTmmCvWb-nr5m82J7tqUSu9Jw2hKV0xthc8RJYkukShOmG89hfSQ-08Q9zgcFgLvORoQPlrcsxOsL46NBUOL_LphERiqgLe5skg1VkAPA0xPwCHE/s320/Happy+Birthday.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-77467018318595870552010-01-09T20:24:00.000-08:002010-01-09T20:24:17.097-08:00Paris - Getting there!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were all pretty excited to begin the trip we'd been planning for almost a year. We were packed and ready to go early on the morning we left. Our flight didn't leave until almost 3 pm, but because security at airports had tightened since Christmas Day, we decided to get to the airport early. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlAY3MhE7vFPFx-tBriqX59DD6cxczUGhRAMh51thAdRHndAT_w75EQ3_enSxhSYOiSHcr7JJq-CzAZfu2T65FhS34s7ohB02U5xfGmFYcTYoDXYemC3a1L5KinwRKXrrVEGi7qlnTcA/s1600-h/Departure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlAY3MhE7vFPFx-tBriqX59DD6cxczUGhRAMh51thAdRHndAT_w75EQ3_enSxhSYOiSHcr7JJq-CzAZfu2T65FhS34s7ohB02U5xfGmFYcTYoDXYemC3a1L5KinwRKXrrVEGi7qlnTcA/s320/Departure.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We met Melinda and Brad at the airport just as they were getting the tickets for our flight....first to DC, then to Paris. It didn't take long, so we moved on through security and headed to the bar! Time for Bloody Mary's and a couple of post trip pics!</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE8qzDu2TNHc4Yebdv5t3u9uXgaKFYRNEKTSR_bfMFjHLATy7geFeyizaSAUsHohkPdGCT_QlnTRnsCyDouSXJXeq1b-Ncdz4wAogcy66oqBMYubs2XaGN015PcYg0ozULYOsJiRVyu0/s1600-h/Paris+Trip1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE8qzDu2TNHc4Yebdv5t3u9uXgaKFYRNEKTSR_bfMFjHLATy7geFeyizaSAUsHohkPdGCT_QlnTRnsCyDouSXJXeq1b-Ncdz4wAogcy66oqBMYubs2XaGN015PcYg0ozULYOsJiRVyu0/s320/Paris+Trip1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The trip to DC was pretty uneventful....I mean, how much can happen during a trip that lasts less than an hour!? We were a little concerned about making our connecting flight because there wasn't much time to get from the domestic terminal to the international terminal, but we were worried for nothing....piece of cake!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The trip from DC to Paris was....uhhh.....it was looooong! There were several movies to watch, but none that really interested me. We were in the "economy" section, which meant our knees were right up at the seats in front of us.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5QaU6bvKcpBIe6hBFSrXjzrtaE2vn4G_vGgMmLzvTJjE3ZS6MzK953x6EvJy2oRKHvq3ieAkmz-Km1UuhK0e4pGDXQEnv98q83gd5e5LK4Ys5dDZyP9UQXgYB8MPKKDdO5RL1mn_mtQ/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5QaU6bvKcpBIe6hBFSrXjzrtaE2vn4G_vGgMmLzvTJjE3ZS6MzK953x6EvJy2oRKHvq3ieAkmz-Km1UuhK0e4pGDXQEnv98q83gd5e5LK4Ys5dDZyP9UQXgYB8MPKKDdO5RL1mn_mtQ/s320/Paris+Day+One+028.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll go ahead and tell you now that we were lucky enough to get Economy Plus seats on the way home....5 inches more room and it was WORTH IT!!!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We arrived in Paris at 6:30 AM Paris time....Brad had no problem getting his "snooze on"....Melinda "snoozed" a little and Dennis and I "snoozed" not at all. Dennis was seated by himself four rows in front of us....had a great seat, but not so great a seat mate. But once we landed, there was plenty of adrenaline to keep us all going.</span><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYMN_u5W6hT39VY7T3is0s9G0HpBFGY00xbceWG8C7WcNdLILZHxs7yydNRSxToKd75zAH3tIEHzBu8Ah8OY3Xbs2JtkX-jjJ2sUGyHnpHu_ueQZGrp4CSD1t5hU4JU4Gj9Rlq-AwnsM/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYMN_u5W6hT39VY7T3is0s9G0HpBFGY00xbceWG8C7WcNdLILZHxs7yydNRSxToKd75zAH3tIEHzBu8Ah8OY3Xbs2JtkX-jjJ2sUGyHnpHu_ueQZGrp4CSD1t5hU4JU4Gj9Rlq-AwnsM/s320/Paris+Day+One+032.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We had arranged a taxi with the company that rented us the apartment and were happy to see him when we arrived. He loaded up our luggage....</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMwL14rScdXfrFlXe11Kj7evnfejJDj7qRjgx2c6fYHdy9ZGZpD-qkXriYYUEOczW8jVgKFwyjVNWTCTJ7mp-rsfR0pAlFYssjMypVTjvHCZyIhiIELj1ArsKvzbZesrJ7jkR5BhX0dY/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMwL14rScdXfrFlXe11Kj7evnfejJDj7qRjgx2c6fYHdy9ZGZpD-qkXriYYUEOczW8jVgKFwyjVNWTCTJ7mp-rsfR0pAlFYssjMypVTjvHCZyIhiIELj1ArsKvzbZesrJ7jkR5BhX0dY/s320/Paris+Day+One+035.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">....and we headed into the city......just in time to miss the traffic rush hour! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYwaYwjphsj_g7Q_myAVglj53hPJj-mYkGhIzLAJPrDCWQUmtZP91N_Nk2BkzvAUoiL3sy4umKcNLHGSBja4CdN4AjcqhMnedp2aNO0w4gLwiWDMNRGkkdZRCPauuBXuoBpj-o233G8I/s1600-h/Paris+Day+One+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYwaYwjphsj_g7Q_myAVglj53hPJj-mYkGhIzLAJPrDCWQUmtZP91N_Nk2BkzvAUoiL3sy4umKcNLHGSBja4CdN4AjcqhMnedp2aNO0w4gLwiWDMNRGkkdZRCPauuBXuoBpj-o233G8I/s320/Paris+Day+One+036.JPG" /></a><br />
But we were a little earlier than we were expected, so our "greeter" was about 30 minutes behind us. The taxi driver dropped us (and our luggage) off at a cafe down the street from our apartment where we tasted our first cafe au lait!!! Ummm........ div=""></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mFXVvSuKawCXSAv0pMdirnHbXLGiZWY6_8fFk0AH3mLfwH7-SbPbIGQk_U9ugyHqV9tLeaxdpBCyYazrdRjYozgAlGKfNs_gt2A2TqwOjYAfHn14MI7gpKy2CXK4qwswxf2KFxxZwmQ/s1600-h/cafe+au+lait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mFXVvSuKawCXSAv0pMdirnHbXLGiZWY6_8fFk0AH3mLfwH7-SbPbIGQk_U9ugyHqV9tLeaxdpBCyYazrdRjYozgAlGKfNs_gt2A2TqwOjYAfHn14MI7gpKy2CXK4qwswxf2KFxxZwmQ/s320/cafe+au+lait.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was raining and it was cold......the cafe hit the spot! But before we were finished our "greeter" came through the doors to "greet" us. He went ahead of us to make sure the heat was on in the apartment while we finished our warm drinks, then joined him.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The apartment looked just as we'd expected......it was actually a little larger than I'd thought it would be, but just as special! I was soooo excited, especially once I had a minute to go through the wonderful kitchen!</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We unpacked our bags and then decided to hit the streets of Paris? Sleep? Who needs sleep????</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Next up.....our first day on the streets of Paris!</span><br />
</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-34454516031025358342010-01-07T18:57:00.000-08:002010-01-07T18:57:56.717-08:00Home Away from Home~~<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, we're back from our trip to Paris......I can't tell you how disappointed I was that the internet connection was so weak that I was unable to "blog" at all! My goal was to post in the evenings about our daily adventures....so much for planning, huh?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've been anticipating these posts for quite sometime, so without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to our "home away from home"!!!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbj1NVyYzhlAV_nR9kxAB34DkSJWAmD400_RafgiFrx9FmlBrDm2UdX4BLCXj167us8D8JuCzIJgPfOLZvCh3kXsoYaT6b7mmKytnOX4_xmEFG8hOQNDstaigamLJbEWEZ3uVii_xqo0/s1600-h/FrontDoor1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbj1NVyYzhlAV_nR9kxAB34DkSJWAmD400_RafgiFrx9FmlBrDm2UdX4BLCXj167us8D8JuCzIJgPfOLZvCh3kXsoYaT6b7mmKytnOX4_xmEFG8hOQNDstaigamLJbEWEZ3uVii_xqo0/s320/FrontDoor1.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the entrance to 7 Rue Notre Dame de Lorette, in the 9th arrondisement of Paris.....not a very touristy area, which I just loved! Soooo....come on in!</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQuHdVP6qkjBvNl-qXP7xS-l2k2grP36GrMeobj6V3FVqi0rxVkRDlbusNiVTuQknlhPZZhDGPAAAda441kdBr1boCcit5MbI6IZr7Yk8rkqeysnIM2z6KLKiAEkbU-vXuAevX8qeArs/s1600-h/Frontdoor2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQuHdVP6qkjBvNl-qXP7xS-l2k2grP36GrMeobj6V3FVqi0rxVkRDlbusNiVTuQknlhPZZhDGPAAAda441kdBr1boCcit5MbI6IZr7Yk8rkqeysnIM2z6KLKiAEkbU-vXuAevX8qeArs/s320/Frontdoor2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now you know that my heart just skipped a bit when we opened the door to this:</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpBUeOxAP99Dn0lswzFfTU68jazYOklTLo-NJnx-93K5gkLCsmrsE8ALY8Iohhpj718AlbXRjh5jOMX8TX_T7JDJrLcwTzJYOoJqYOdtwn8IDiGo9r5OHg4PdKeKE4TJDkv_RPML-9lY/s1600-h/Courtyard1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpBUeOxAP99Dn0lswzFfTU68jazYOklTLo-NJnx-93K5gkLCsmrsE8ALY8Iohhpj718AlbXRjh5jOMX8TX_T7JDJrLcwTzJYOoJqYOdtwn8IDiGo9r5OHg4PdKeKE4TJDkv_RPML-9lY/s320/Courtyard1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's just sooo Parisian! Then you take a few more steps, look to the left and THIS is what you see:</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqybRw1R1FHjV80_fGs9iSdSvzNyO6N4pZIVhLA3Mvaw0YB9Xu10DoWerCmSqsY7cSBdml0a84HlndwJxLWi4iYW0vkEXUxGdQWhJMSLzPhtOYyCPwEIuN8YRYrFPRMc4ypGgSV6yyb0/s1600-h/Courtyard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqybRw1R1FHjV80_fGs9iSdSvzNyO6N4pZIVhLA3Mvaw0YB9Xu10DoWerCmSqsY7cSBdml0a84HlndwJxLWi4iYW0vkEXUxGdQWhJMSLzPhtOYyCPwEIuN8YRYrFPRMc4ypGgSV6yyb0/s320/Courtyard2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We spent quite a bit of time "chatting" in this area! And those 4 windows to the right??? They were OUR windows! And when you look up, this is what you saw:</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KbGfY78sv7irue-kGxiojR0GhWMGX5akeYK2KCOKrqyrHkTlJi8D8SxEBLCTbH7r3Vi19EWljOiClrI3PDBZIVqnQd66pdL4J3A9z1NOXkIZXomrjmkFSyxxcdPzy7GAa2nCIFwQvAM/s1600-h/BuildingExt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KbGfY78sv7irue-kGxiojR0GhWMGX5akeYK2KCOKrqyrHkTlJi8D8SxEBLCTbH7r3Vi19EWljOiClrI3PDBZIVqnQd66pdL4J3A9z1NOXkIZXomrjmkFSyxxcdPzy7GAa2nCIFwQvAM/s320/BuildingExt.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those are our neighbors up there! Well, actually all but one were gone for the holiday.....it's a Parisian thing. Then you walk through the door to our building's lobby (hmmm.....very small lobby), you see this:</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-vB7ykf9KEwXB879ikTRByCe_G2vLNDUk77ounXaZhyphenhyphennPCM7Ck7c9hlwqMD9UlW1HJRcVFhqFm3_O43NowCv8i_e6Bq4eJPoc_X0d9X4-HsUa9s85RXMm8DrFjcdFwg2OTlgA6LSPug/s1600-h/AptStairwell1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-vB7ykf9KEwXB879ikTRByCe_G2vLNDUk77ounXaZhyphenhyphennPCM7Ck7c9hlwqMD9UlW1HJRcVFhqFm3_O43NowCv8i_e6Bq4eJPoc_X0d9X4-HsUa9s85RXMm8DrFjcdFwg2OTlgA6LSPug/s320/AptStairwell1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I told you it was small.....but then you look up and this is what you see!</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYR2oneq01URrgzJtcrWcbHkQ4yqYo8uAkq9BHMl_a7cfJu0aWXpGDs1pq0IqDOziyAYKpfdvqVqLske_U-JbYlxDJkHnSjc5Z5wHFFd6v-O_1Sh7Ewv-lrrols4IGYcQETFV7dS-2fg/s1600-h/AptStairwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYR2oneq01URrgzJtcrWcbHkQ4yqYo8uAkq9BHMl_a7cfJu0aWXpGDs1pq0IqDOziyAYKpfdvqVqLske_U-JbYlxDJkHnSjc5Z5wHFFd6v-O_1Sh7Ewv-lrrols4IGYcQETFV7dS-2fg/s320/AptStairwell.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Isn't that beautiful! We were fortunate enough that our apartment was on the first floor, so we didn't have to climb them, but they sure were lovely to look at! </span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWU2pBPNO7yAEbOUqUrnWNS_L-ZVqqDGSMg_JcTRccyAkRrVD4eVFTPLMgAiCb1q5yKtCLFbqTqYgYjwZdA4D3JGQbZFEPp3rw0XnE2z_3qOv2rWnfyoW_6cPe2yHTnxrgWwTFBummqM/s1600-h/AptFoyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWU2pBPNO7yAEbOUqUrnWNS_L-ZVqqDGSMg_JcTRccyAkRrVD4eVFTPLMgAiCb1q5yKtCLFbqTqYgYjwZdA4D3JGQbZFEPp3rw0XnE2z_3qOv2rWnfyoW_6cPe2yHTnxrgWwTFBummqM/s320/AptFoyer.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still, it was hard not to look back at the courtyard....I would so love to see it in the spring, wouldn't you?!</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now for one of my favorite rooms......yep, the kitchen!</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3UKCk_qs_FBFI-ee6AEpOppyljsfiryKTl8xVX0IgY01SLU_GHuma_dS5HxnakmP3NlKoTqAc_PWksorLOAcFzQ-i7g0-fv84ZONlQ4bFGUPRRBuofJvTy3RFQg5YTJJJn57jD6j0tI/s1600-h/Kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3UKCk_qs_FBFI-ee6AEpOppyljsfiryKTl8xVX0IgY01SLU_GHuma_dS5HxnakmP3NlKoTqAc_PWksorLOAcFzQ-i7g0-fv84ZONlQ4bFGUPRRBuofJvTy3RFQg5YTJJJn57jD6j0tI/s320/Kitchen.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisObcFo7NyNENdGMDkvXhWbhQaqds3ri7dT-CMvdVk-TOO7a8iQ1Ev3z0Lg3V5MxYeKD8Jsho8C5Yfyhn26XE-FM3Z3ri7RmQNTkr1PLx3uc0TDng8ZQvYeKJCcn5kqpXITdW3rTQ7DaY/s1600-h/kitchen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisObcFo7NyNENdGMDkvXhWbhQaqds3ri7dT-CMvdVk-TOO7a8iQ1Ev3z0Lg3V5MxYeKD8Jsho8C5Yfyhn26XE-FM3Z3ri7RmQNTkr1PLx3uc0TDng8ZQvYeKJCcn5kqpXITdW3rTQ7DaY/s320/kitchen1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although the wine opener was a little weak, the glasses were small and the coffee cups even smaller, this kitchen had everything we needed to be comfortable. </span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then there was the beautiful dining room and living room:</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHUVUHdY-kpNWGQD5oDYwXn7dAJxZO8MutH8_v6eLI7osbSF-ZRsQtv29jH4_WhUhSgRmGqPfF1l_SA4vzpOurEpIQ9rU4dTlVTs3-M4av-VNZOkPR8KMZMBotIq7VybmMi3w5-CKQEQ/s1600-h/Living+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHUVUHdY-kpNWGQD5oDYwXn7dAJxZO8MutH8_v6eLI7osbSF-ZRsQtv29jH4_WhUhSgRmGqPfF1l_SA4vzpOurEpIQ9rU4dTlVTs3-M4av-VNZOkPR8KMZMBotIq7VybmMi3w5-CKQEQ/s320/Living+Room.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzyrpMWlQRv5jsuNZwhZI0poQfPYs06IKa4D-Ju8kcfwt4aZEYv3ncUsLcNVxtw5eBAF__SICZt0MVgvRooa3DTU2diqg6d57bs1NfZrLnpafcmyP1KgnfPnzJzkzCoG1g9eegcoac1I/s1600-h/Dining+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzyrpMWlQRv5jsuNZwhZI0poQfPYs06IKa4D-Ju8kcfwt4aZEYv3ncUsLcNVxtw5eBAF__SICZt0MVgvRooa3DTU2diqg6d57bs1NfZrLnpafcmyP1KgnfPnzJzkzCoG1g9eegcoac1I/s320/Dining+Room.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">....and the bedrooms.....</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yLzvl99XmnfkXRMH0r2DkgJy34B5Mg8PI72bmKLj5XpD_ImgSahfUG43TQJcfmsrDAOfshmPzvU-BiJxrzpF3JC8qzNTnHfIkyzBkEj2AqXgp0XOpdYKbM1C6K4Bu6-Na_mwgiWgxlo/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Seven+085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yLzvl99XmnfkXRMH0r2DkgJy34B5Mg8PI72bmKLj5XpD_ImgSahfUG43TQJcfmsrDAOfshmPzvU-BiJxrzpF3JC8qzNTnHfIkyzBkEj2AqXgp0XOpdYKbM1C6K4Bu6-Na_mwgiWgxlo/s320/Paris+Day+Seven+085.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppwD8TUaPLtoXisOrkAqax1pAXA1rLWghkokUiQGfunBrhR2OOKYJ2QmD6p1SqgCxPo8esx0hrMaH918x9-8jPlSBeCuucHwKH6p07N0Bu9-X4L89Lob5Xvaj-biiu-npfu2PrVxKYDo/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Seven+086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppwD8TUaPLtoXisOrkAqax1pAXA1rLWghkokUiQGfunBrhR2OOKYJ2QmD6p1SqgCxPo8esx0hrMaH918x9-8jPlSBeCuucHwKH6p07N0Bu9-X4L89Lob5Xvaj-biiu-npfu2PrVxKYDo/s320/Paris+Day+Seven+086.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.....and the bathroom(s).....</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2ydl8sPxsT4eFfg3xoD314jvHZpBlQjy2AVxDev1vFxDH4-pkcWlz0ajcppQrSqE1mZhTPCmtxOruRpOtsSwpFuS_7lHd3lrnI9P9Rjl6gY_wVbofjsFpnn_rgkDiEpoi6Tne0wEJkw/s1600-h/Bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2ydl8sPxsT4eFfg3xoD314jvHZpBlQjy2AVxDev1vFxDH4-pkcWlz0ajcppQrSqE1mZhTPCmtxOruRpOtsSwpFuS_7lHd3lrnI9P9Rjl6gY_wVbofjsFpnn_rgkDiEpoi6Tne0wEJkw/s320/Bathroom.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess you could say there is no such thing as a "full bath" in Paris. The bathtub is is one room and the "toilette" (pronounced twahlette) is in a separate room called a water closet. I actually like it this way!</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaoa5vEzzKlB0IP-GuYczsciuk5c-9R7XxcEDsy1PoZvKhFv21mRhYHW249o8GPFwJ_bHwF3YqRg5Yj2xqj3phBxIV9G5dN8j-mD5xw_RcEWIDI2J7oQNOoBqQKI4kabTceQmMLTwWIQ/s1600-h/Paris+Day+Seven+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaoa5vEzzKlB0IP-GuYczsciuk5c-9R7XxcEDsy1PoZvKhFv21mRhYHW249o8GPFwJ_bHwF3YqRg5Yj2xqj3phBxIV9G5dN8j-mD5xw_RcEWIDI2J7oQNOoBqQKI4kabTceQmMLTwWIQ/s320/Paris+Day+Seven+026.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were all very comfortable here in this lovely apartment. It was so nice to come "home" after a long day of walking the streets (and climbing the stairs) of Paris to a "home" and not a hotel room. We even had a washer and dryer, so we didn't have to bring as many clothes as we would have otherwise.</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, if you're planning a trip to Paris and want a great place to "live" while you're there, my advice is to contact <a href="http://www.parisaddress.com/paris-apartment-rental/qs.php?ref=LORE7">parisaddress.com</a>. They were great to work with, very accomodating and very patient with us. They even arranged our taxis to and from the airport! Thank you very much! I hope to see you again soon!</span><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Note: Pictures of the dining room, living room and bathroom are from the <a href="http://parisaddress.com/">parisaddress.com</a> website. Mind didn't come out so well.</span><br />
</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-66575131960979692532009-12-26T21:51:00.000-08:002009-12-26T21:51:58.075-08:00A Very Merry Christmas.....<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year.....isn't it for everyone? I grew up with strong holiday traditions....and when I started my own family we added some of our own traditions. And now one of our Christmas traditions is to enjoy someone elses tradition......Christmas eve with Melinda and Brad.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Melinda grew up in a New York Italian family and every Christmas eve her Mom made Lobster di Frivolo.....lobster, clams, mussels and shrimp in a light tomato sauce over pasta.....it is fabulous!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This year she served this spectacular dish to 30 of her favorite friends and her loving family.....we were very blessed to be part of this group. The evening starts with her antipasti....romaine lettuce with fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, salami, ham, roasted red peppers, black olives and pickled vegetables.....drizzled with olive oil and fresh parmesan. I have to make myself stop so there's room for the main course!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Needless to say, it was an evening that warmed the heart and lifted your spirit. If you weren't in the Christmas mood when you got there, you were when you left......here are some photos from our evening:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKoQGey5eF5_5Qx7L_UgV_jZZ0WDfonMOmBPWvnSpbt4TYpqcyXipgZVOEo79zf0u2FWz9gL6NXACk2VNtV_djWMoqM8T6t2fBXe01T91xW_XPQfajKx0NH36Mg1AlaYt-8ts5DV-W7w/s1600-h/XmasCollag2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKoQGey5eF5_5Qx7L_UgV_jZZ0WDfonMOmBPWvnSpbt4TYpqcyXipgZVOEo79zf0u2FWz9gL6NXACk2VNtV_djWMoqM8T6t2fBXe01T91xW_XPQfajKx0NH36Mg1AlaYt-8ts5DV-W7w/s320/XmasCollag2.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5ewcDw85Lsvy2-uA1C1kgwSNTEZgnlQXUgvS09GQVVXQ4gUD9-lvXbvc_jNIa8Z9xzEsxxJAY3nV-JDimYR1NZRHAa4vGcZ2zv0nzpegHiXEOqam16rbCXNGLWkwVZpd01AXPgyRgFA/s1600-h/XmasCollage4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5ewcDw85Lsvy2-uA1C1kgwSNTEZgnlQXUgvS09GQVVXQ4gUD9-lvXbvc_jNIa8Z9xzEsxxJAY3nV-JDimYR1NZRHAa4vGcZ2zv0nzpegHiXEOqam16rbCXNGLWkwVZpd01AXPgyRgFA/s320/XmasCollage4.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was truly a very, merry Christmas....spent with great friends and enjoying great food!</span><br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Merry Christmas everyone!!!</span><br />
</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-18850512114888353422009-12-23T06:10:00.000-08:002009-12-23T06:10:45.384-08:00Look!!! Over there>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know you probably haven't been watching it click down like I have, but we're now in the single digits! This time next week we'll be in Paris getting ready for the New Year!!!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMso-VljsIZ0IOYwrxK2Q_JD991BsQ912EOH81bjueO6oZ_7IHYmLNloUYCT4Hzz0BEYariIzD9HgmNGMkQisjXJdy3eFuYWiQOLun1axCWwvUh_tCyej8bK8jyJ71NgGLLnDT2FMx4Sg/s1600-h/eiffel+new+years.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMso-VljsIZ0IOYwrxK2Q_JD991BsQ912EOH81bjueO6oZ_7IHYmLNloUYCT4Hzz0BEYariIzD9HgmNGMkQisjXJdy3eFuYWiQOLun1axCWwvUh_tCyej8bK8jyJ71NgGLLnDT2FMx4Sg/s320/eiffel+new+years.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">If all works out as planned, Melinda and I will be posting here about our adventures.....stay tuned!!!</span>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-58149066086051480942009-12-18T20:27:00.000-08:002009-12-18T20:39:36.356-08:00Office Party!!!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Work.....well....it's work!! But when you "work" with people like those that I work with, it does make it so much easier.....and the group I work with was <em>full</em> of holiday spirit today! We had a luncheon get together today and you could feel the electricity in the air in the elevator! Not only was there grub, but there was a Tacky Christmas Outfit contest! No wonder these people are so good at figuring out how to get the job done.....their creativity level is beyond none! Check out some of these outfits!</span><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcU1hnkHXzn6jk4RHy1xzt61Sckn14uxUBNsNW2-39w8Uj0o8XZStvvRal8Sys1gPnGArQJ1EyI8b3w4xBzd0h5FkmcewjvTLQVqZSxk16dr1Sakdm1YmhdiN6ja7vZeoNQF-N8LSXLI/s1600-h/Xmas+Party+-+Office+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcU1hnkHXzn6jk4RHy1xzt61Sckn14uxUBNsNW2-39w8Uj0o8XZStvvRal8Sys1gPnGArQJ1EyI8b3w4xBzd0h5FkmcewjvTLQVqZSxk16dr1Sakdm1YmhdiN6ja7vZeoNQF-N8LSXLI/s320/Xmas+Party+-+Office+030.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZ0gcOg0oeJrMk8P6xb0ZisMLrVwEnl0YgEtS8PzWHRh_ZveX81zBvzsFNfAeoiuRU3SCZkH-WUSU000RWAS7HvG6YTmfB9AqgxLoFax2bWIAvvUIxOxt8bBaDf-OBsqwDaEzBXWhM0s/s1600-h/Xmas+Party+-+Office+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZ0gcOg0oeJrMk8P6xb0ZisMLrVwEnl0YgEtS8PzWHRh_ZveX81zBvzsFNfAeoiuRU3SCZkH-WUSU000RWAS7HvG6YTmfB9AqgxLoFax2bWIAvvUIxOxt8bBaDf-OBsqwDaEzBXWhM0s/s320/Xmas+Party+-+Office+020.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTr3tUiExBFh530OSDSqcw_QYkjbydtNkURORZ2P4A5Or4DRpE7D1tHuVak2hRw9JKP4GGg8mzbzgc8F35B26VR8UzMZ3Mc3rzgcVc6vE6SfK7nAbQVA8HKSr7jrAZ-nQmvLsp2vXLrs/s1600-h/Xmas+Party+-+Office+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTr3tUiExBFh530OSDSqcw_QYkjbydtNkURORZ2P4A5Or4DRpE7D1tHuVak2hRw9JKP4GGg8mzbzgc8F35B26VR8UzMZ3Mc3rzgcVc6vE6SfK7nAbQVA8HKSr7jrAZ-nQmvLsp2vXLrs/s320/Xmas+Party+-+Office+025.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0q3Gz_ezWPnCXB5acrSFMFy6nhOVignHqeeqdQ6aGjp_zSOVi-gtl61VrpF1tIvYLXa7_eVQJHqZ6qpqGqn4-WhSO5RaiZRQKIHdKyEBv3D2lOfo9KDpE0el0BGVdQquaHbwDOlnpG7Y/s1600-h/Xmas+Party+-+Office+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0q3Gz_ezWPnCXB5acrSFMFy6nhOVignHqeeqdQ6aGjp_zSOVi-gtl61VrpF1tIvYLXa7_eVQJHqZ6qpqGqn4-WhSO5RaiZRQKIHdKyEBv3D2lOfo9KDpE0el0BGVdQquaHbwDOlnpG7Y/s320/Xmas+Party+-+Office+019.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, after the "parade" it was time for lunch....the food was delicious and it sounded like the conversation was fun. Unfortunately, I was working on a new loan for someone, so I had to eat at my desk. But I popped my head out every now and then just to take in the smiles and the laughter. Yep...this is definitely a group that is full of holiday spirit!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1l5rSrojYzqmnFJjkhRqQ2zh5FUfO2nW6JFOJYGYPTQXxJWExqMIw3YNZ8YUHf7huetOw0QZbyyqGwyjU3JS-PuSEdLDWEIlDtD1MUncWFxWNnVcMSHPvGKGAY-XYZI4txcflkbm3Dow/s1600-h/Xmas+Party+-+Office+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1l5rSrojYzqmnFJjkhRqQ2zh5FUfO2nW6JFOJYGYPTQXxJWExqMIw3YNZ8YUHf7huetOw0QZbyyqGwyjU3JS-PuSEdLDWEIlDtD1MUncWFxWNnVcMSHPvGKGAY-XYZI4txcflkbm3Dow/s320/Xmas+Party+-+Office+031.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All I can say is that I am very lucky to be able to work with the people I work with.....not only are they full of the holiday spirit, but they are full of the spirit of life and in helping each other be the best we can be. I just love their spirit!</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yGos5KPj2tKyLkJM5ljL50-o_C6rXNrUbyIh1IDD775FohnznKxKLWgO02eZ0p_UuBYu3jVGhyphenhyphene3TJVN7yyOKvD_mq-Zs2yo08qxkMEDvM1iRaT_NkMp1_qW9yy_NDnpTorFXbnBHeY/s1600-h/Xmas+Party+-+Office+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yGos5KPj2tKyLkJM5ljL50-o_C6rXNrUbyIh1IDD775FohnznKxKLWgO02eZ0p_UuBYu3jVGhyphenhyphene3TJVN7yyOKvD_mq-Zs2yo08qxkMEDvM1iRaT_NkMp1_qW9yy_NDnpTorFXbnBHeY/s320/Xmas+Party+-+Office+016.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiadzstSUAavG1qy-ONVxFEhKZpnkjJLh-rW_nhIKyCIMXmR6zTb0GGH7zYuWlw7cO_2duNlvC-3-mWO1AW2cKqMr2TcRQJqX6l9XyVm3VlE6MekUrJsZTiFSl5mvvkVMxvu7_8XCzkbQ/s1600-h/Xmas+Party+-+Office+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiadzstSUAavG1qy-ONVxFEhKZpnkjJLh-rW_nhIKyCIMXmR6zTb0GGH7zYuWlw7cO_2duNlvC-3-mWO1AW2cKqMr2TcRQJqX6l9XyVm3VlE6MekUrJsZTiFSl5mvvkVMxvu7_8XCzkbQ/s320/Xmas+Party+-+Office+017.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-20595478117288433812009-12-12T16:09:00.000-08:002009-12-13T14:43:16.673-08:00Party Time!!!We had a busy morning today.....Melinda had her handyman come to the cabin to figure out what the problem is with the water. He had winterized it when we were up the last time, but we were still having issues (it's become a Friday night at the cabin thing). Finally he fixed the pipes while we made breakfast, then we showered and headed to Floyd to see if we could "find some finds" at the antique shops. <p>We struck out there, so we headed up to Chateau Morrisette for their Holiday Open House. There was still some snow on parts of the mountains....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_wwfnohNL-_MPj7CBxyH9B92Nzx_6eMoC6p0eBTYEDaDqTfxZjxJsMcydZxVsAZ9oDPPryK-zmxG_9_atAvkL3Ijg7k1nb-d_bIOIWVrq0Gmbv_bskk-DHDJU9D4je_4dENKzq76eWQ/s1600-h/Snow+on+Mountain.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414852509104135138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_wwfnohNL-_MPj7CBxyH9B92Nzx_6eMoC6p0eBTYEDaDqTfxZjxJsMcydZxVsAZ9oDPPryK-zmxG_9_atAvkL3Ijg7k1nb-d_bIOIWVrq0Gmbv_bskk-DHDJU9D4je_4dENKzq76eWQ/s320/Snow+on+Mountain.jpg" /></a>...but we loved the ice on the side of the mountain.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiFprKtKLkv01OhV8NaQon8Qei5XZKzRh37CHkTl_qLND_tZJJLrT8j1RIjLC4vWi_FuGIMc2wwovHKyqkMz4DrbmMAMb-ojlYY9wnN6TALNiUepN8umfY8pJm3UkIQUH7KhJI7Vr8XE/s1600-h/IcyMountain.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414517849563440290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiFprKtKLkv01OhV8NaQon8Qei5XZKzRh37CHkTl_qLND_tZJJLrT8j1RIjLC4vWi_FuGIMc2wwovHKyqkMz4DrbmMAMb-ojlYY9wnN6TALNiUepN8umfY8pJm3UkIQUH7KhJI7Vr8XE/s320/IcyMountain.jpg" /></a>The party was actually very nice! There was quite a bit of food.......pork tenderloin with fig and apricot chutney, shrimp, crab dip, mozzarella skewers, pasta, lots of veggies, cheeses and dips and even wild boar sausage cooked with peppers and onions.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xmNCO-Tq5Irgi0Nwjt9FNlzeAY2AVwNW-TuuP5fjHIvnm4ZVQQ5ckMEHWkG9fhKpw_TOvdA0SP76AN-JRSZAr6xLPdjIBd97kcBsVVdFTxxpJGC8WZnCjdRkrRn-_Z_XvuIseW-QVAQ/s1600-h/Wildboarsausage.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414852510788870866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xmNCO-Tq5Irgi0Nwjt9FNlzeAY2AVwNW-TuuP5fjHIvnm4ZVQQ5ckMEHWkG9fhKpw_TOvdA0SP76AN-JRSZAr6xLPdjIBd97kcBsVVdFTxxpJGC8WZnCjdRkrRn-_Z_XvuIseW-QVAQ/s320/Wildboarsausage.jpg" /></a> I have to say that it wasn't half bad! There were also tasting stations throughout the winery, which was beautifully decorated for the holidays.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivc3SP0TqTHZ-WAO9aHn5jSc0pr1aXFmezfkNOuJM5oLGFlegmxwVY8dbmYOP1KBCvJwgkvWkc3tpdSou_GYiqJiW-hvYDLLQj-yjxVjouDIfE6DILQSqqkx9Sj1Lw1TAR3H43FlfR480/s1600-h/Party1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414852493476163650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivc3SP0TqTHZ-WAO9aHn5jSc0pr1aXFmezfkNOuJM5oLGFlegmxwVY8dbmYOP1KBCvJwgkvWkc3tpdSou_GYiqJiW-hvYDLLQj-yjxVjouDIfE6DILQSqqkx9Sj1Lw1TAR3H43FlfR480/s320/Party1.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxuh6Cxshn3JhpyqrA5sEezqN1ZNA9jZNtnfixY9sYSW0JRZ4VrTatPR1QgY1n0XPqvtWOZtb2ajDAJNtd4sQ71VhcYXehotjzRXkOiBrL6EERsmQleQl1E7dPwdjPvAIt8nRWm90E4Q/s1600-h/chandelier+in+lobby.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414517815473132530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxuh6Cxshn3JhpyqrA5sEezqN1ZNA9jZNtnfixY9sYSW0JRZ4VrTatPR1QgY1n0XPqvtWOZtb2ajDAJNtd4sQ71VhcYXehotjzRXkOiBrL6EERsmQleQl1E7dPwdjPvAIt8nRWm90E4Q/s320/chandelier+in+lobby.jpg" /></a>THEN there was the dessert station with a Bouche de Noel,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvrHZC_0C6Tgualg8g0AbGxMpEYoo5efcrErXGN5Qx6FBOjOR9ecj5kduvHKN9Gjsqp2Lp3SwJXnoWqDoZDmC4A8ksDpdF813S7u9NSoQKpxtOigU12OqlKYyuw9Y-kne3pMdmho8bE4/s1600-h/Buche+du+Noel.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414514227718649218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvrHZC_0C6Tgualg8g0AbGxMpEYoo5efcrErXGN5Qx6FBOjOR9ecj5kduvHKN9Gjsqp2Lp3SwJXnoWqDoZDmC4A8ksDpdF813S7u9NSoQKpxtOigU12OqlKYyuw9Y-kne3pMdmho8bE4/s320/Buche+du+Noel.jpg" /></a>different truffles, pumpkin crisp, apple crisp, chocolate decadence, several different types of mousse, chocolate covered strawberries...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVC7UJJNZLXVtlQzcJD6StYYJiFv8h7Ei5QjJaJCTkP0xmZsybAOD3I9pyN_2WEnRYXg7VWByuzS1Io1aApABwMAADbHVqfPD798jvtz4IVyCBsYcW4eSJ8q6uuVrhbfqCoeeLT3tp0vo/s1600-h/Desserts.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414517820527095938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVC7UJJNZLXVtlQzcJD6StYYJiFv8h7Ei5QjJaJCTkP0xmZsybAOD3I9pyN_2WEnRYXg7VWByuzS1Io1aApABwMAADbHVqfPD798jvtz4IVyCBsYcW4eSJ8q6uuVrhbfqCoeeLT3tp0vo/s320/Desserts.jpg" /></a>...they really know how to put on a party, that's for sure!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 293px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414852478562295538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAyR9VuKxHR5i2UrqzH73IQpmAmSCAbkmHTN2_UTsiuSvU_2wOaJEKwNsC5EeSwrELGGiJR74cG-Eqpv4p0mrIGFOkQTCH2o2Xs3Tm1SssWk96uSSXHiRBwICb3M-leNBJ1p_fwtUeUs/s320/Food+table.jpg" />After we were stuffed and thoroughly "wined", we went to pick up our cases of wine, which we got at 30% off!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNHby-MPURvJ2G7O95NkFG-NoIx5cOgbs1YQR_WOv5WIjUltnzVVEumw2k6qnk60T_qDJtUXaWTSz2ISI2cigxmI_ttJ6iURrS5G4Ocg52UUB-p5D6uwTKevYJB1OyUOTrubdlJlptLI/s1600-h/melindbuyswineedited.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414852487098359394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNHby-MPURvJ2G7O95NkFG-NoIx5cOgbs1YQR_WOv5WIjUltnzVVEumw2k6qnk60T_qDJtUXaWTSz2ISI2cigxmI_ttJ6iURrS5G4Ocg52UUB-p5D6uwTKevYJB1OyUOTrubdlJlptLI/s320/melindbuyswineedited.jpg" /></a> Then we found a "Redbox" and headed back to the cabin for a relaxing evening watching movies and drinking a little wine..........then we head back home in the morning! This has been a wonderful weekend....I guess we'll be remaining members of the Kennel Club!</p>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-82127473483467291082009-12-11T20:32:00.000-08:002009-12-12T08:58:05.473-08:00Heaven Froze OverWe're here! I know it's only been two weeks since we were up here at the cabin, but this was a weekend we were all looking forward to. Remember when we joined the "Kennel Club" up at Chateau Morrisette? Well, if you spent $150 on wine within the year, you got invited to the exclusive Christmas party! And we did....and now we're here! Tomorrow is the "bash"!<br /><p>Shugs knew immediately that we were going somewhere when she saw us hustling around this morning to get packed....then we took her bed out to the car and that was it! She sat in the car until Melinda got to our house. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgljmoZttxuoloRs59RuDKQgMgEXtAJtpUDgcddASEzab9n21vw7Tqa6Dpkgw_yOMWdgJg7Bh5YazWa9N4iaUEgJtLwXCsYRktE8XSFfOr81pUG3_ebhaJnL22bjAhxF_sl0m25HXWNA/s1600-h/Cabin+-+December+-2009+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414207653074174322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgljmoZttxuoloRs59RuDKQgMgEXtAJtpUDgcddASEzab9n21vw7Tqa6Dpkgw_yOMWdgJg7Bh5YazWa9N4iaUEgJtLwXCsYRktE8XSFfOr81pUG3_ebhaJnL22bjAhxF_sl0m25HXWNA/s320/Cabin+-+December+-2009+001.JPG" /></a><br />She was soooo excited! The trip up was uneventful.....but we did see some snow!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67JVdQLIlLNnM8a8LC5nraXKOZ30VyuIiECpc_xwd6M5uw0iSjog7Q2k57OID3lIWWeg5lnlU86HeqKbMxzsKnIWw60B9zy3ay7k4o1B1vmPfvSVs38wBZKsZ8dfwvWq0SqHGRRGrPO8/s1600-h/Cabin+-+December+-2009+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414207666397072306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67JVdQLIlLNnM8a8LC5nraXKOZ30VyuIiECpc_xwd6M5uw0iSjog7Q2k57OID3lIWWeg5lnlU86HeqKbMxzsKnIWw60B9zy3ay7k4o1B1vmPfvSVs38wBZKsZ8dfwvWq0SqHGRRGrPO8/s320/Cabin+-+December+-2009+004.JPG" /></a> And we weren't the only ones heading to the mountains!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeYXsTExIFPqQzikFlq7yEe6nPaiPFabvcWUfBehVeXXdU5mD5lHMQUBoGqzzt-g6cna2p_PDcj9-zXRl4PksTTQ6Dve1uqUfU8c20jxVwXJXF37mOzjHian5ZgRVN5manVcjXGLdseI/s1600-h/Cabin+-+December+-2009+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414207668150911154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeYXsTExIFPqQzikFlq7yEe6nPaiPFabvcWUfBehVeXXdU5mD5lHMQUBoGqzzt-g6cna2p_PDcj9-zXRl4PksTTQ6Dve1uqUfU8c20jxVwXJXF37mOzjHian5ZgRVN5manVcjXGLdseI/s320/Cabin+-+December+-2009+005.JPG" /></a>This picture was taken at 74 MPH!!!! Once we got here, the temp INSIDE the cabin was 17 degrees........we turned on the baseboard heaters (which do little to raise the temp) and stoked the woodstove to try to get the cabin warm. We even turned the double ovens up to 400 degrees and used wood trays to try to fan the heat into the rest of the cabin.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gb0YFM9s6aEji4AvfEB2jZgDqmoBfcrVHV-9n9-g97oqhxZoVutz5BVCov5sHUD8y8MKBqDECKWh8l5SVk3WAMib00jufKIFOyK44sNTVzj-5_993-V4ZuogqUuhmhHShY88mTJZrqA/s1600-h/Cabin+-+December+-2009+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414207676885792690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gb0YFM9s6aEji4AvfEB2jZgDqmoBfcrVHV-9n9-g97oqhxZoVutz5BVCov5sHUD8y8MKBqDECKWh8l5SVk3WAMib00jufKIFOyK44sNTVzj-5_993-V4ZuogqUuhmhHShY88mTJZrqA/s320/Cabin+-+December+-2009+007.JPG" /></a>Then I made my Clam Chowder for dinner, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUIz9qhyXe2eQtjvWo9I7CKPeDmtOIojutisYJHcphkL5GFrOohMUUZjyFgXhVJ3psyA6SV1KdTOWxLg4LUbUZpS2KokeN5wI7zqbtLRK7pcEEF7laaDxGlMa6A89kn7iVdctYVKStmM/s1600-h/Cabin+-+December+-2009+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414207681291557858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUIz9qhyXe2eQtjvWo9I7CKPeDmtOIojutisYJHcphkL5GFrOohMUUZjyFgXhVJ3psyA6SV1KdTOWxLg4LUbUZpS2KokeN5wI7zqbtLRK7pcEEF7laaDxGlMa6A89kn7iVdctYVKStmM/s320/Cabin+-+December+-2009+008.JPG" /></a>but when we went to sit down on the chairs they were soo cold that Melinda took the cast iron IRONS off of the wood stove and literally ironed the chairpads so our bums would be warm!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJjyjRWdZLMV_uuICh98xb_oDbvKj_EYftn6GbH3w3IFwIa02mgciOXujRfNQluMsNMFMA7fbgu6jMNoINLtpcEM4EeKZR3PpUt72YvS788f4dJmK8pw2-ply6Z-y4MBZcFlCfkIxM30/s1600-h/Cabin+-+December+-2009+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414210647418204610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJjyjRWdZLMV_uuICh98xb_oDbvKj_EYftn6GbH3w3IFwIa02mgciOXujRfNQluMsNMFMA7fbgu6jMNoINLtpcEM4EeKZR3PpUt72YvS788f4dJmK8pw2-ply6Z-y4MBZcFlCfkIxM30/s320/Cabin+-+December+-2009+009.JPG" /></a> Mensa......here she comes!<br /><p>Slowly but surely the cabin warmed up....and so did our bums!!!! Melinda decorated the cabin for Christmas, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVjznGFoHaE-arwbiBlw3J-DhkeNhBauR895QDtZo7tQvm2DggpfjOV_r0JxGcVFQuIw4XboyvyYLu6SdCOHwV2QIXkU0JsmHoPClP-L4ZtUwa2Py7yJmGx_E5VO9gbpX67pkbUDgrXQ/s1600-h/Cabin+-+December+-2009+018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414210656678387890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVjznGFoHaE-arwbiBlw3J-DhkeNhBauR895QDtZo7tQvm2DggpfjOV_r0JxGcVFQuIw4XboyvyYLu6SdCOHwV2QIXkU0JsmHoPClP-L4ZtUwa2Py7yJmGx_E5VO9gbpX67pkbUDgrXQ/s320/Cabin+-+December+-2009+018.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtHAj4U4VWDBFmg0u-g78g_aAccoRX9o1k878BPdr1WxSFt9G7CFYOSmJJerKEluxAQczpW3visFFILeuVJDWB_AnIbeZtp7Wa6IPaqd65-8vUKYdEj1CUJpx2peM7yAUtT9_u5sZg1c/s1600-h/Cabin+-+December+-2009+021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414210662427840946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtHAj4U4VWDBFmg0u-g78g_aAccoRX9o1k878BPdr1WxSFt9G7CFYOSmJJerKEluxAQczpW3visFFILeuVJDWB_AnIbeZtp7Wa6IPaqd65-8vUKYdEj1CUJpx2peM7yAUtT9_u5sZg1c/s320/Cabin+-+December+-2009+021.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI91CRdt0Z-paGked_hXcJlkWE18ySu62hdTRQxyTWKYemmFCxJIEih_j1ld8S0XZJlnQghxjP8KvjTRGKOmJuRH1eCeKBgapjCqv-MPmvLZae_-8tw2voR_e5edEtp-bpIDbZlOOD8g/s1600-h/Decorations+-+Mantel.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414393544545568850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI91CRdt0Z-paGked_hXcJlkWE18ySu62hdTRQxyTWKYemmFCxJIEih_j1ld8S0XZJlnQghxjP8KvjTRGKOmJuRH1eCeKBgapjCqv-MPmvLZae_-8tw2voR_e5edEtp-bpIDbZlOOD8g/s320/Decorations+-+Mantel.jpg" /></a><br />while Dennis watched old war and horror movies....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBeLzntoaJzPcR6znzBtgN5q9hyphenhyphenjgyoYzR5baTycG0rx-HodBskkxVSJvRFNfxB6Ewe_b_7YVUQWLTYEZk9eyCyZcb1UFRZ298Ml29UpJIUT3NwnRFKD0N-x9YgQRIyNdHuNfBU7GqFc/s1600-h/Cabin+-+December+-2009+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414210651375882786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBeLzntoaJzPcR6znzBtgN5q9hyphenhyphenjgyoYzR5baTycG0rx-HodBskkxVSJvRFNfxB6Ewe_b_7YVUQWLTYEZk9eyCyZcb1UFRZ298Ml29UpJIUT3NwnRFKD0N-x9YgQRIyNdHuNfBU7GqFc/s320/Cabin+-+December+-2009+016.JPG" /></a>....and I surfed the net to make sure we wouldn't miss the December meteor showers.<br /><p>The cabin is warm now.......and we're all much more relaxed (it helps not having layers of clothes on) and waiting for 2 AM for the beginning of the peak of the meteor showers. More to come! STAY TUNED!!! More tomorrow....unless we drink too much wine!<br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-81571066548601189622009-12-04T13:32:00.000-08:002009-12-04T14:10:16.932-08:00Thankful......As you already know, this year we spent Thanksgiving with Melinda and her wonderful family! Since Shelby wouldn't be home this year, we thought it might seem less like someone was missing.....besides, we<em> love</em> spending time at Melinda's. She is quite the hostess and she's a wonderful cook! <p>Since we each have "faves" that we only eat at Thanksgiving, we split some things and made duplicates of others. How many different types of dressing did you have? Well, we had three! Melinda made these fabulous stuffing cups in a muffin pan that had apples in them!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix30F1TOSck7LBxqH8-AolLvjk-Bq5lFp4gDK3WihamnltF-FIpDGdNaXqGnFa4BqBCo2apjlUyfYtCfvQQ7uEodU8nayiRlATFRURUgEn50hcBvB3tdnIBsxBcaR97LRN4hE6i98Ccyw/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+047.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411504623361727954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix30F1TOSck7LBxqH8-AolLvjk-Bq5lFp4gDK3WihamnltF-FIpDGdNaXqGnFa4BqBCo2apjlUyfYtCfvQQ7uEodU8nayiRlATFRURUgEn50hcBvB3tdnIBsxBcaR97LRN4hE6i98Ccyw/s320/Thanksgiving+047.JPG" /></a>Then she made a savory stuffing with sausage. I made an herb dressing. We also had two different gravies and two different types of mashed potatoes! Brad's mashed potatoes are deliciously creamy<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcabb5REPjx0D2knoGs8m0Y8NzluvIooBR86TaIfb2YzmzCUCE3Rm_BM9p_MBaWOi4gNRbqHV87l3MEaPYHLaV7oDZTAbi3M0aWEqq-UewfB44qF6WPBTpcUDzIXQGX__NffNco2O7uLg/s1600-h/Bradspotatoes.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411499749287450354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcabb5REPjx0D2knoGs8m0Y8NzluvIooBR86TaIfb2YzmzCUCE3Rm_BM9p_MBaWOi4gNRbqHV87l3MEaPYHLaV7oDZTAbi3M0aWEqq-UewfB44qF6WPBTpcUDzIXQGX__NffNco2O7uLg/s320/Bradspotatoes.jpg" /></a>and I made roasted garlic mashed potatoes (recipe to follow on my <a href="http://apronsrequired.blogspot.com/">cooking blog</a>)Melinda made the turkey<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfrCk2uJBp9LKvlUz9Tgi11mcpHGYDGbv2bcEZvKaiijH1dKSckeWV6BGrMyBqWY01TcCmN_Gr2oHnVwJmmXPgRboYCt3EdzNldO6zFXm-6x4UNJGZDeruGzcNnlvhVbRjHE7sx8of9M/s1600-h/The+Turkey.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411502887558057538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfrCk2uJBp9LKvlUz9Tgi11mcpHGYDGbv2bcEZvKaiijH1dKSckeWV6BGrMyBqWY01TcCmN_Gr2oHnVwJmmXPgRboYCt3EdzNldO6zFXm-6x4UNJGZDeruGzcNnlvhVbRjHE7sx8of9M/s320/The+Turkey.jpg" /></a> and I made a ham. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9ZS5zS_ld8Ir6RLClfhfgh-C20Un6RnoTSj2Fv8c9030jqo_V-C2iI3sPrlZ6QOLrG5qSASHgOUFRAB5sXOYeDoj9BOBmaX4A3r6OKoph9ZrgydO3B8JICXM38r2usz1xoKyc9Mwu4A/s1600-h/The+Ham.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411502884106901106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9ZS5zS_ld8Ir6RLClfhfgh-C20Un6RnoTSj2Fv8c9030jqo_V-C2iI3sPrlZ6QOLrG5qSASHgOUFRAB5sXOYeDoj9BOBmaX4A3r6OKoph9ZrgydO3B8JICXM38r2usz1xoKyc9Mwu4A/s320/The+Ham.jpg" /></a>Besides the food, another reason we love having family meals at her home is that she sets the most beautiful tables, which add so much to the holiday feeling in the air!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6owQhi_tENhEJaCcCoNDSOLHtxuG983TTfi6a6tPPJqEA8TyPYuBYp7uQwI_HjAu5C7lGET6JsiinGeF51uGeb6qx7Cpxg7ryw2UrLVcN5AgwF8N4c5hYCffTKv_OHO3etr0wg_ey2_Y/s1600-h/MelindasTable.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411506593002717442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6owQhi_tENhEJaCcCoNDSOLHtxuG983TTfi6a6tPPJqEA8TyPYuBYp7uQwI_HjAu5C7lGET6JsiinGeF51uGeb6qx7Cpxg7ryw2UrLVcN5AgwF8N4c5hYCffTKv_OHO3etr0wg_ey2_Y/s320/MelindasTable.jpg" /></a>She's been collecting pieces for years......and she even has dishes for every occasion! Brad sliced the turkey...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUYpDp0_2zcSuY0l5i59AgFlx0xUx_8g8Ibyq8Y2Lztsu4H4AkLZ2WLygaXo1nLvbZQV2DkgILSX2UzZpSyUbKTntFSpKxeVbNaFGCLCjs5bdiL7rkNn_woHWmq4CnDeyCdo-OUFCMDw/s1600-h/CarvingTurkey.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411499755116172082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUYpDp0_2zcSuY0l5i59AgFlx0xUx_8g8Ibyq8Y2Lztsu4H4AkLZ2WLygaXo1nLvbZQV2DkgILSX2UzZpSyUbKTntFSpKxeVbNaFGCLCjs5bdiL7rkNn_woHWmq4CnDeyCdo-OUFCMDw/s320/CarvingTurkey.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaN9TN5_xXLejPMQvp80xfLxge9aUv8AWEERmQ8BsXn3AK8IX0yJvNHAx9V0HSIPvbW9rB3hC6idKW38stFFd2VtBUZHGW770WV3il2PMhnuexBuxXtWS4DvAIFn5-a71SSWE5g2WO-WU/s1600-h/slicedturley.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411502870996689842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaN9TN5_xXLejPMQvp80xfLxge9aUv8AWEERmQ8BsXn3AK8IX0yJvNHAx9V0HSIPvbW9rB3hC6idKW38stFFd2VtBUZHGW770WV3il2PMhnuexBuxXtWS4DvAIFn5-a71SSWE5g2WO-WU/s320/slicedturley.jpg" /></a><br />..the ham was already sliced....the table was set...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZRP4wzcwv5tISZ0LDyb0lIUQAymY19uZ1Oh21NPmsTt4B4-0n5eGZRzYJIhLXGBXhfrJK-BLNl1oZ6AbdsLsM4e-1OVqnqtPPitx1nJ7MPO_xo0CSVLidyoRHgNHdySYQlvu5-maeac/s1600-h/Settingtable.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411502860497411778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZRP4wzcwv5tISZ0LDyb0lIUQAymY19uZ1Oh21NPmsTt4B4-0n5eGZRzYJIhLXGBXhfrJK-BLNl1oZ6AbdsLsM4e-1OVqnqtPPitx1nJ7MPO_xo0CSVLidyoRHgNHdySYQlvu5-maeac/s320/Settingtable.jpg" /></a><br />...everyone had arrived....(that's Evan!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEC7tys0IJ5cskL6DT5GoG5wXgnzH5nJJomwWtOXrZbatuXxSPFkUUUlvJqjdi1txeuidyKKTRa1K5qSjlWcKn3vq2dviXNqAJRIIu6Sh8fU0vYOCW4ttQQ_u2G-pHGXnOy-mBqIcjWmc/s1600-h/Arrival.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411499740351135794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEC7tys0IJ5cskL6DT5GoG5wXgnzH5nJJomwWtOXrZbatuXxSPFkUUUlvJqjdi1txeuidyKKTRa1K5qSjlWcKn3vq2dviXNqAJRIIu6Sh8fU0vYOCW4ttQQ_u2G-pHGXnOy-mBqIcjWmc/s320/Arrival.jpg" /></a>...we even had our favorite wine chilled and on the table! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhIMbCQhr6PwrnrJOQThDOmScSKneedCnYgpsAqvpZS9xwk214yOw0bxl16xpNitvluB2r-mkC44sPQZpkPr361LZz80Hs5g_wYAZl6sz-FhN8FiEJcym_sf6kRAwtTv9Cbqw40ehEmY/s1600-h/DogBlue.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411499773411049714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhIMbCQhr6PwrnrJOQThDOmScSKneedCnYgpsAqvpZS9xwk214yOw0bxl16xpNitvluB2r-mkC44sPQZpkPr361LZz80Hs5g_wYAZl6sz-FhN8FiEJcym_sf6kRAwtTv9Cbqw40ehEmY/s320/DogBlue.jpg" /></a>All that was left to do was eat. It was one of the best Thanksgiving dinners I've ever had.....mostly because it was spent with people that I love and am thankful are part of my life. I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving that was as filled with love and gratefulness as ours was!</p>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-66747443437459835852009-11-30T09:32:00.000-08:002009-11-30T10:51:25.070-08:00On Frozen Pond.....Melinda and I had a great weekend up at the cabin this weekend. It was a "girls" weekend and we were going to work on a secret OSL Christmas project (details to be revealed after Christmas). The "girls" included me, Melinda, Shugs and Chloe! The dogs love to go to the cabin and do quite well on the 4.5 to 5 hour trip up. Chloe (nicknamed "Knee Wart"), of course, sits in Melinda's lap and Shugs lays in her bed in the back....both snooze. <p>We had a little bit of a problem getting the water turned on, but had an even bigger problem getting the cabin warm! The winds were whipping outside at 20 mph and the wind chill was 21 degrees. Melinda got the woodstove going quickly, but with all of the rain they'd had up in the mountains, the cabin was cold and damp....it didn't warm up until around 2 AM, when we finally fell asleep snuggled in robes that had been warmed by the heater. <p>The next morning, we awoke to this....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVUCmaX8JVmu6eKQFiB93sePULz-VoLwsrelKxg_2jUHZ3lNiXa3BJ_kTgb6L8cpnEDmwwC_6av3W-00_Ly8UcgAEg9m1Qyv_dGkGxlIE8XcqzqsybqmbQIO7VM0mC9a6vC4rb9Yn6xE/s1600/frozen+pond.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409964946602839922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVUCmaX8JVmu6eKQFiB93sePULz-VoLwsrelKxg_2jUHZ3lNiXa3BJ_kTgb6L8cpnEDmwwC_6av3W-00_Ly8UcgAEg9m1Qyv_dGkGxlIE8XcqzqsybqmbQIO7VM0mC9a6vC4rb9Yn6xE/s320/frozen+pond.jpg" /></a><br />....yep, that's a frozen pond. At least it was the only thing that was frozen! Remember this trip?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xTpIW6Lr_0RFZqvllfilhKmZlMeNaCQ57SLKqe1FE6Z3szm5U6pyNawN634mCm_LCvSCOtaxhwrWK9j6krE5xeJonDGwnII0Mb3a1Ap353kCqEGSJAi1MZs9_vAYVoBTg-jQZpguta4/s1600/Frozencabin.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409967966215438034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xTpIW6Lr_0RFZqvllfilhKmZlMeNaCQ57SLKqe1FE6Z3szm5U6pyNawN634mCm_LCvSCOtaxhwrWK9j6krE5xeJonDGwnII0Mb3a1Ap353kCqEGSJAi1MZs9_vAYVoBTg-jQZpguta4/s320/Frozencabin.jpg" /></a>The "big freeze" weekend last year was actually the same weekend this year! <p>The dogs just love going to the cabin.....once we pull onto the dirt road up to the cabin, both of their heads are up and the noses are going full speed. The scents of the mountain are familiar ones now and neither of them can wait to take their noses out of the air and put them to the ground! <p>Shugs has also gotten used to her "morning walks". Dennis takes her up and down the mountain every morning and she loves it. Well, Saturday morning she gave me a little time to drink my coffee, but after that she was ready to go for her walk and she wouldn't stop nudging my leg until I put the second cup down and took her. She waited patiently <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ekujRkPEKl23bZBz1_ZrliGBu7ky_denmYzKLKZzyHVsh-of7Ta8rh7pzwQ1zmVKjCnXRc4xPXXwnSdj8U_Qc9lP5eQN1VgDV7FXl2ptsrPEw6Vx7aVUPAgUQRFIDjj35wpWaRRyOo0/s1600/shugs8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409964949237381490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ekujRkPEKl23bZBz1_ZrliGBu7ky_denmYzKLKZzyHVsh-of7Ta8rh7pzwQ1zmVKjCnXRc4xPXXwnSdj8U_Qc9lP5eQN1VgDV7FXl2ptsrPEw6Vx7aVUPAgUQRFIDjj35wpWaRRyOo0/s320/shugs8.jpg" /></a>while I put shoes on and put a coat over my PJs.....and then she was off! <p>It's a wonder she doesn't run into a tree because he head is down the entire time. She stops here and there to sniff a little deeper and sometimes gets a little ahead of me, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dZ-fs6npNH5_6l2sOMMrqbSkMRAHAyMOKXc0XOFJ6Klv3rCcMhfZTJhHuuZ5J8NZn_gBrvqI_yfHPBMJw1MDUOC0cqyrRmk6GGS7Jdj23Jy2KwyaRl5qPQmN-IxWYynLg7bsoAuA860/s1600/Shugs1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409963079231124162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dZ-fs6npNH5_6l2sOMMrqbSkMRAHAyMOKXc0XOFJ6Klv3rCcMhfZTJhHuuZ5J8NZn_gBrvqI_yfHPBMJw1MDUOC0cqyrRmk6GGS7Jdj23Jy2KwyaRl5qPQmN-IxWYynLg7bsoAuA860/s320/Shugs1.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkE4gEU9omfvpZzdO8K40r28gC727dXTZM2sjnSnVbO9OI6KLooqNsKaGA21YZBrtAckolyvS3T3Xq1Ump013gmBw3RAEl0F9-I1O63kWjp6caUw3D5HH9_XlwHNJBp0TrpUQIz3d9fU/s1600/shugs4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409963085518556178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkE4gEU9omfvpZzdO8K40r28gC727dXTZM2sjnSnVbO9OI6KLooqNsKaGA21YZBrtAckolyvS3T3Xq1Ump013gmBw3RAEl0F9-I1O63kWjp6caUw3D5HH9_XlwHNJBp0TrpUQIz3d9fU/s320/shugs4.jpg" /></a>but always stops and turns to make sure I'm still there. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLJTO-d9dblZMtTkhr_iPp1viwNTPi2wdA49ob5L1H6wEHTKTUh8hMLWDjrcxFZXCMtJ7amhij_Go6qYtQODOTCR5ADRfHx0FQLMdGXUi4fGkWTxjD8RTsnqdIpH2hV_U-aaJl3w48L4/s1600/shugs5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409963090112087842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLJTO-d9dblZMtTkhr_iPp1viwNTPi2wdA49ob5L1H6wEHTKTUh8hMLWDjrcxFZXCMtJ7amhij_Go6qYtQODOTCR5ADRfHx0FQLMdGXUi4fGkWTxjD8RTsnqdIpH2hV_U-aaJl3w48L4/s320/shugs5.jpg" /></a> It is such a cute sight.....this little white, fluffy dog that looks like she should be sitting on a fluffy pillow with tassels just struts up and down the mountain looking for animal adventures. <p>Once, when Dennis was walking her, they went up a pretty steep mountain that had been recently cleared. Shugs got about 15 yards ahead of Dennis and she was obviously on the trail of something. All of a sudden a deer came up out of the brush and Shugs went up on her hind legs and toppled down the hill backwards. I think she aged a couple of years after that! <p>She spends most of her days sitting on our front porch waiting for a squirrel or bunny to show itself, then she moves very slowly toward it......she has no idea that she is white...and they can clearly see her, although every now and then she does get close. But the animals up at the cabin aren't little bunnies or squirrels. There aren't any lions or tigers, but the newest sign down the road from the cabin is this: <div><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.clarionledger.com/misc/blogs/Outdoors/rheflin/uploaded_images/bear-sign-763688.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.clarionledger.com/misc/blogs/Outdoors/rheflin/2008/10/great-delta-bear-affair.html&usg=__NKN-oau_hA_RXFpSGZI0ZL-5b9g=&h=214&w=320&sz=13&hl=en&start=39&itbs=1&tbnid=XIz_TKveGo8TkM:&tbnh=79&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbear%2Bsign%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409963074992756098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sXBDUm9jSzhQjhfMtr6WoTK6yVtcn8ujdBTUhpFbvapPUesz7waQqHckQWYo_2walTvwZEipoyF2CTfQPMLb2hY-38pQef1LeElTDsf_YR1Abljewy60yh5rn77qwkRloE42QWddnxw/s320/bear+sign.jpg" /></a> There is a black cat that hangs out on the mountain and Shugs had her cornered once.....that was fun! Melinda has seen a fox and God only knows what else is out there! In the meantime, Shugs spends most of her cabin weekends sitting on the porch.....waiting....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kdGKOLWy1GvXBpFwp55PubYd5zvcXA3HtMgFtNgK9OB4UttVBD_3EEmPDmsGbIjaX5G9YMRJvQw5FAwPsKqQW8vBAvyLQeFdApTzm4xa_X7Z7hKeaAxRDnO-TuapmatFlCVsITTyNHs/s1600/shugs9.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409969875963083890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kdGKOLWy1GvXBpFwp55PubYd5zvcXA3HtMgFtNgK9OB4UttVBD_3EEmPDmsGbIjaX5G9YMRJvQw5FAwPsKqQW8vBAvyLQeFdApTzm4xa_X7Z7hKeaAxRDnO-TuapmatFlCVsITTyNHs/s320/shugs9.jpg" /></a><br /></div></div></div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-9553425601775071202009-11-26T20:31:00.000-08:002009-11-27T06:50:46.000-08:00The Results Are In!!!First let me say, "Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!" It was a wonderful day....some of us are snoozing with our bellies full, but I knew I had to get this post in before I could close my eyes. <p>As some of you may have heard, today was <em>not only</em> Thanksgiving.....it was also the First Annual Thanksgiving Throwdown. It was a last minute thing that Dennis and I came up with the other night after watching <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/throwdown-with-bobby-flay/index.html">Bobby Flay's Pumpkin Pie Throwdown</a>. Since we were having Thanksgiving dinner with Melinda and Brad, I called her to see what she thought of the idea....she was definitely on board! <p>I called some friends of ours, Kraig and LeeAnn Sullivan, to see if they would be able to be our judges....and they were on board! <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jQHoMvaWbST4xAQ0-12T8IjiTGzLgkC49clCGr59h2ZHPfVDOFLmC2k6mCQ6J_IN1O0odyt2HEqZhxZCMugDuwu8AgSMCPkenIc8KGbnEEW3OmrEfs6rdd0HA18_Kv2MVecyEXz2cow/s1600/Thanksgiving+057.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408641238473929618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jQHoMvaWbST4xAQ0-12T8IjiTGzLgkC49clCGr59h2ZHPfVDOFLmC2k6mCQ6J_IN1O0odyt2HEqZhxZCMugDuwu8AgSMCPkenIc8KGbnEEW3OmrEfs6rdd0HA18_Kv2MVecyEXz2cow/s320/Thanksgiving+057.JPG" /></a>All that was left to do was to pick our recipes, gather our ingredients and bake! <p>We didn't make it easy for Kraig and LeeAnn......there were some wonderful entries and all were delicious. <p>I made a classic pumpkin pie, as did Jessica and Adam......they brought his mother's recipe and it was to die for! Dennis opted to make a pumpkin pie with a graham cracker crust, a pecan struesel and a filling enriched with bourbon and molasses.....it was so rich and full of flavor! Anna made a devil's food, pumpkin cake with a pecan topping....it was WOW!!! And Melinda made a pumpkin cheesecake....the Cheesecake Factory should pay her for her recipe as it was fabulous.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bZ7FKzFyYcgl-I-EbEHaLS87bu-lYR6JK7bqJXhXkjayx_SrmPoDhBo7wgrJCShmPD2w_TWvnL7o032SojA2_SzN353kB3Jz1qjizc_zra7OQPgSpjUCriqxdpKpkMFCdICv-uwkyXw/s1600/5Pies.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408641223658385538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bZ7FKzFyYcgl-I-EbEHaLS87bu-lYR6JK7bqJXhXkjayx_SrmPoDhBo7wgrJCShmPD2w_TWvnL7o032SojA2_SzN353kB3Jz1qjizc_zra7OQPgSpjUCriqxdpKpkMFCdICv-uwkyXw/s320/5Pies.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGcxVP1XqNAY4lyjCg4mAEmSfvWcB8SPKpsgQy9iVQUjztuMhwAcUiAMbxCXipjfuG1Hs3bWT3Gh9weqsUNuFvplQmDRINF-XVN7g1_tpMpo_CASBonkTJqx-gbVDSw1JJwOfb1ru3D0/s1600/4Pies.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 237px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408641214848262050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGcxVP1XqNAY4lyjCg4mAEmSfvWcB8SPKpsgQy9iVQUjztuMhwAcUiAMbxCXipjfuG1Hs3bWT3Gh9weqsUNuFvplQmDRINF-XVN7g1_tpMpo_CASBonkTJqx-gbVDSw1JJwOfb1ru3D0/s320/4Pies.jpg" /></a><br />After Kraig and LeeAnn arrived, we set plates in front of them with samplings of each of the sweets and they took their first bite. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Fhmbm9RkNoCBCJcrC5MBaQIyKCGKUtnpusPbg5hiXgKeiOL1NcLqH4ULNBMyA3FYEnF1wRltVsIK2WnriM_ZBdiwmVRoHeHjvPe3w747ezFjhcS5MCPVtgda5jbI5qI1TW8vBPLuhjQ/s1600/Thanksgiving+058.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408641245773926578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Fhmbm9RkNoCBCJcrC5MBaQIyKCGKUtnpusPbg5hiXgKeiOL1NcLqH4ULNBMyA3FYEnF1wRltVsIK2WnriM_ZBdiwmVRoHeHjvPe3w747ezFjhcS5MCPVtgda5jbI5qI1TW8vBPLuhjQ/s320/Thanksgiving+058.JPG" /></a>Kraig pronounced the winner after his first bite....hey, no fair! LeeAnn wanted to taste more! We all watched them as they sampled each entry, then left them alone to make their decision. It actually took a little longer than I thought it would, but then again, I knew they had their work cut out for them. <p>Soooo......who was the winner? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5g7JrraySUSCyX8MtypVG9G_y0uFkBv5jZ5tqTm_SNxQCm8Yu8wzeWisDadoDpb41IVas3lt3fyi9DQlkag4YexXqxjdo3LNWuHvS8cCc7jchx-xICaS9nesmwpfmIpntrAo8gpuRq0/s1600/Thanksgiving+062.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408642478320668370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5g7JrraySUSCyX8MtypVG9G_y0uFkBv5jZ5tqTm_SNxQCm8Yu8wzeWisDadoDpb41IVas3lt3fyi9DQlkag4YexXqxjdo3LNWuHvS8cCc7jchx-xICaS9nesmwpfmIpntrAo8gpuRq0/s320/Thanksgiving+062.JPG" /></a><br />Congratulations, Melinda!!!! (Of course, you know she did her "happy dance"!!! <p>After that, we decided to have Kraig and LeeAnn's son, Bryce, do the drawing to determine next years "dish"...............he drew SOUP! <p>We plan to "fine tune" this a little so that judging will be a little easier. My first thought was a lobster bisque.....now HOW do you compare a lobster bisque with a chicken soup....or a butternut squash soup. We have a year to figure out the details. In them meantime, you're ALL invited to join us.....either to share in the fun or to bring your own entry! It really was fun and we're all excited about our new tradition! See you next year? We even have a trophy!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLcZT1-DcqfkEWx6dy4GPFgMfeQ9LFOFXdqaprYDWbfEPsYlMvC0TcchHxLw3DL1jNCn1rKBaLHPKQMsGQeq0ADDOfq9FdI3v0gP3-LFGUTQ-E5dT9A-Pf2UO6zuL2-8O9vGN5b0vuDk/s1600/Pies.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408641232262757394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLcZT1-DcqfkEWx6dy4GPFgMfeQ9LFOFXdqaprYDWbfEPsYlMvC0TcchHxLw3DL1jNCn1rKBaLHPKQMsGQeq0ADDOfq9FdI3v0gP3-LFGUTQ-E5dT9A-Pf2UO6zuL2-8O9vGN5b0vuDk/s320/Pies.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></p></div></div>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-26989768327992034802009-11-23T15:51:00.000-08:002009-11-24T17:28:26.483-08:00Day Trippin'................If you haven't had a chance to get up to Williamsburg in a while, then you may have been missing out on a great treat! I had been wanting to go to the <a href="http://www.williamsburgfarmersmarket.com/">Williamsburg Farmer's Market </a>since I'd read about it on a cooking blog that I can no longer find and since I thought it was the last weekend (only open on Saturdays), I rushed to get out of the house and get there before it closed at 12:30 (yep, I'm a late riser...). It was a beautiful drive up, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9AppNlwgfk7ysc_hiWIy4MkuDpqIvgZX2e6DSbhSwZv10Zm7-Iyv6LrkM_qN_3R2lmIJ5h70OmetRyAeWfNunjJ5xxo-GAcAOh5l7xaArNYBTExVnr-mFY5Jz_kPZZznptcA1_35CpY/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+028.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407490703179886338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9AppNlwgfk7ysc_hiWIy4MkuDpqIvgZX2e6DSbhSwZv10Zm7-Iyv6LrkM_qN_3R2lmIJ5h70OmetRyAeWfNunjJ5xxo-GAcAOh5l7xaArNYBTExVnr-mFY5Jz_kPZZznptcA1_35CpY/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+028.JPG" /></a>although alot of the color is gone. I quickly found a parking spot and sprinted over to Merchants Square with only an hour to spare!<br /><p><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407484460286452386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgym6ZmAAQj5EBd7NJayDaNYO_QZiy1lRsmRDID2NXYSN0P6Iw8D-gRotzffcnEOK5h07VW0LN20WSqyF7w-9qpNMmMtYtV3pCpW2Y-ZQeITwOCXjqwyHKEILh4M6Ia43qX60KQXqfwGcg/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+002.JPG" />It really was a wonderful time.....the vendors are all so different and all so friendly! There were plenty of baked goods, </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRNw2q194LcNM5N_2s-BFF26nPlsLzUHsM0kFM3WEJ0U5NskeJX0IuTsRzSv8ljOeMnl0-_YpXLRIIUR2joy8heRYIHAnHh8h5rzG3hnwT3jkjNHiJi9urIfm9PpG_p5wCno0jKsc0cQ/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 244px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407486306867797618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRNw2q194LcNM5N_2s-BFF26nPlsLzUHsM0kFM3WEJ0U5NskeJX0IuTsRzSv8ljOeMnl0-_YpXLRIIUR2joy8heRYIHAnHh8h5rzG3hnwT3jkjNHiJi9urIfm9PpG_p5wCno0jKsc0cQ/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+009.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t07t7pSmeQN7T65fXc_V9sznoi5IykG7DAUvpLihCk3GFWzhMqSamwpw71mW3_5AsKP3hHg-wjJ9Q3Y0o-yyxjYZGr43YnosWSMvHDcbqyg5XIlZlg43RmpjxQV1526Hv5lWGDd9Z_w/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407486326986878978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t07t7pSmeQN7T65fXc_V9sznoi5IykG7DAUvpLihCk3GFWzhMqSamwpw71mW3_5AsKP3hHg-wjJ9Q3Y0o-yyxjYZGr43YnosWSMvHDcbqyg5XIlZlg43RmpjxQV1526Hv5lWGDd9Z_w/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+013.JPG" /></a><br />meats, apples, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbALdlZv4Mb6I-SLf6-uq7e4nXH5ig_OmxTkksGaWG66iIKogpzGQyE1SkxNRG70JLnRYDZJ4RvhJVC1g8I91Xxf8iX1BC6pWB424y5jTG1DwXCUCK1exYi1JmqZZyTTniHJ_M449Jg5M/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407486338739430546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbALdlZv4Mb6I-SLf6-uq7e4nXH5ig_OmxTkksGaWG66iIKogpzGQyE1SkxNRG70JLnRYDZJ4RvhJVC1g8I91Xxf8iX1BC6pWB424y5jTG1DwXCUCK1exYi1JmqZZyTTniHJ_M449Jg5M/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+015.JPG" /></a><br />homemade soups and sandwiches,beautiful crafts,<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xdnsNntH2HIkQYjYXx4QLJ-ncfoOEFxYteyBEaIJzZXOuN0eTffetocAQW-mCz6aS1A6UNrLGh16ck6M0E24QcCfQRWEfjVhCI6KJWmwNt_AGsrJPzQBeCnlPgWxpeQUKs7MQ-6h720/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407494602707132642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xdnsNntH2HIkQYjYXx4QLJ-ncfoOEFxYteyBEaIJzZXOuN0eTffetocAQW-mCz6aS1A6UNrLGh16ck6M0E24QcCfQRWEfjVhCI6KJWmwNt_AGsrJPzQBeCnlPgWxpeQUKs7MQ-6h720/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+017.JPG" /></a>fresh pastas<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FotfWFZKPpeaBjTfusCB762uhP1aX-QYAni1QV6kae0-eZbDgTWNJJ4zTUbEWEl7mvYvhSWcimhByIaVVM15UY9zm2U6Z3Q2NyMsCvHEXA2y3r4LAjo7OA_ZMya2lJnd-mdac7hG8I0/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 182px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407494618263008546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FotfWFZKPpeaBjTfusCB762uhP1aX-QYAni1QV6kae0-eZbDgTWNJJ4zTUbEWEl7mvYvhSWcimhByIaVVM15UY9zm2U6Z3Q2NyMsCvHEXA2y3r4LAjo7OA_ZMya2lJnd-mdac7hG8I0/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+019.JPG" /></a><br />and sauces, cheeses, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjj0EhNht2XKJJIJzj_YQ1cN2-1hDAPyzkV7O23-FhGWcQ3DgZ7UVXmXGz8sWjkuMd8KFYK2989RtbKWteRUyG0ilX8dGsn18RXOr2YWdqpS6qlyJjP4KtdvzAEzLoRuJVRJXFyh4dMQ/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407484476889698194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjj0EhNht2XKJJIJzj_YQ1cN2-1hDAPyzkV7O23-FhGWcQ3DgZ7UVXmXGz8sWjkuMd8KFYK2989RtbKWteRUyG0ilX8dGsn18RXOr2YWdqpS6qlyJjP4KtdvzAEzLoRuJVRJXFyh4dMQ/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+006.JPG" /></a><br />homemade soaps,<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROU6a5Jf5hUqX_YbyE3Itlge7ASQrEZrRz7fIG6yQI9TEf2Oz39vo-mFNbOg10CYe86g7UmsVsdar3H4tuYtY4fjW9-wC_5cb-QZx33MYrXjHlHybRO4VsBN0ef2RUQLDwllRy9LTbXg/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407486321902390210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROU6a5Jf5hUqX_YbyE3Itlge7ASQrEZrRz7fIG6yQI9TEf2Oz39vo-mFNbOg10CYe86g7UmsVsdar3H4tuYtY4fjW9-wC_5cb-QZx33MYrXjHlHybRO4VsBN0ef2RUQLDwllRy9LTbXg/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+012.JPG" /></a><br />herbs and vegetables.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGz1LzJutf8fVl0e9rhWCIjA5jfU3i9NIT8coml0GJCWr7DVNUwlyMGnH_ZHBqY4O9gU__bEMMbHiVZUyV_3QwdrrQ608nAuAFOr3llUV7QCh1toW7Q7CfS76fjXMgCreFHKnU7ihiYg/s1600/adobe3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 251px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407818801352338322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGz1LzJutf8fVl0e9rhWCIjA5jfU3i9NIT8coml0GJCWr7DVNUwlyMGnH_ZHBqY4O9gU__bEMMbHiVZUyV_3QwdrrQ608nAuAFOr3llUV7QCh1toW7Q7CfS76fjXMgCreFHKnU7ihiYg/s320/adobe3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTmZEbiqPq9-V-R0MBmMLhInkV7wln9NUqB98IWQR3YZ-vGq6Xi2AHhIRVyOrV4EieGT7GuX8UoxhpECxpFy1CuoHAqLNVqpY2dbNp1n-DkDg-htnNa3fU6mSRjM2rrVyDqk_ANiCYAY/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407484450989686562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTmZEbiqPq9-V-R0MBmMLhInkV7wln9NUqB98IWQR3YZ-vGq6Xi2AHhIRVyOrV4EieGT7GuX8UoxhpECxpFy1CuoHAqLNVqpY2dbNp1n-DkDg-htnNa3fU6mSRjM2rrVyDqk_ANiCYAY/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+001.JPG" /></a> It wasn't quite as large as my <a href="http://www.freshfarmmarkets.org/markets/dupont_circle.html">favorite market </a>at Dupont Circle in Washington, DC, but that could be because it's late in the season. I'll let you know once I become a regular here...<br /><p>I also took a little time to drive around to soak in the "Williamsburg" culture....I just love that place!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA-uiNAbmz-nvYUEz8KtYAPjqFA3itShkaSGsKQ7A6689M0Za9qoQjowmoK7PRE8EmRJKJ0L_eGSzWWZgOILLmzCjqI3DSRE46sJITpL5sHsKPKdsCVKcgbTpbEj_Y2BaYjjowx_ExFY/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+031.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407494627568037794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA-uiNAbmz-nvYUEz8KtYAPjqFA3itShkaSGsKQ7A6689M0Za9qoQjowmoK7PRE8EmRJKJ0L_eGSzWWZgOILLmzCjqI3DSRE46sJITpL5sHsKPKdsCVKcgbTpbEj_Y2BaYjjowx_ExFY/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+031.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiF_w8gUv9shHayzux0494FKksDSG6lG8I0LhPCH4Wxq4DgC4PNl4S2FOVgEzWNqptFV8R0CrVoa4llM4HHqL6K9jK1YW3ZSyyAD47mQmq3ulpo9X4W5OPvuxTERfp4qDOyWha5jW0Us/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+033.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407494630577505714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiF_w8gUv9shHayzux0494FKksDSG6lG8I0LhPCH4Wxq4DgC4PNl4S2FOVgEzWNqptFV8R0CrVoa4llM4HHqL6K9jK1YW3ZSyyAD47mQmq3ulpo9X4W5OPvuxTERfp4qDOyWha5jW0Us/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+033.JPG" /></a><br />Even when I was young (a looong time ago!) I always felt a connection to Williamsburg. It's so beautiful, but I most love it in the fall and in the winter.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE44CnrRHElBJtoIAMn2tuYKibzJUw7tEME_mwdUjHACzYvlehRxiTsfRfv86h_DW2M6MHjLNrYyO2D-IF7yHl0AARMjnpWJDiMyRWjPSwI0eILrlYVW074j-443woCc-JJq_g7SY600E/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 164px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407490706763895426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE44CnrRHElBJtoIAMn2tuYKibzJUw7tEME_mwdUjHACzYvlehRxiTsfRfv86h_DW2M6MHjLNrYyO2D-IF7yHl0AARMjnpWJDiMyRWjPSwI0eILrlYVW074j-443woCc-JJq_g7SY600E/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+029.JPG" /></a><br />And right now it's decorated for Christmas, which I especially love!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1CTq3pExrlokhoQcmEYw7DHPvCogBP9QxKiBmMTjPaIGRoL2UBBCuU03hcXIUxA37BhtgjHy0l75UsfKN3BsHVxQk5q8ahFXlsIpc2Mc8B3CjXypsRd_BDkscbI-FVlg6aTK9yDS7Lw/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407490694477148962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1CTq3pExrlokhoQcmEYw7DHPvCogBP9QxKiBmMTjPaIGRoL2UBBCuU03hcXIUxA37BhtgjHy0l75UsfKN3BsHVxQk5q8ahFXlsIpc2Mc8B3CjXypsRd_BDkscbI-FVlg6aTK9yDS7Lw/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+026.JPG" /></a><br /><p><br /><div>If you haven't checked out the Williamsburg Farmers Market, there is still a chance!!! Their <a href="http://www.williamsburgfarmersmarket.com/">website</a> says they're open on November 28th and December 12th, but one of the vendors said they'd be open on December 5th, also. I'd call ahead to make sure about the December dates before going.....maybe I'll see you there!!I can't wait to go back next spring and summer.....I can only dream of the wonderful veggies, herbs, etc., that will make their way back to my kitchen!!! ~~~~dreaming now~~~~</div><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5s2xD6aTX8hrLsOqD-Asv5WB5cwBO5x-y0w3dvHKyTBl1M4I_G0LPoVNJmohM7HAH8Rcum4hAGanQkhbnaiWRNbwXr7t1B7m-Tb94v_6MAusrdvcWAaCex6lWccGj8K4b_uR8Coa28k/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407484486783214306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5s2xD6aTX8hrLsOqD-Asv5WB5cwBO5x-y0w3dvHKyTBl1M4I_G0LPoVNJmohM7HAH8Rcum4hAGanQkhbnaiWRNbwXr7t1B7m-Tb94v_6MAusrdvcWAaCex6lWccGj8K4b_uR8Coa28k/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+008.JPG" /></a> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div>Oh wait....I forgot to show you what I got!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHfZcbUizzz9TqVZXgI_KYr_7XQKO9VRoN5TesrZOR1vQg37cjnCxMV9lm7HS6VRkAARvHWPiW7IJ8Jas6riugJvd5jnigm7B-RG3zsOVUzA-lKQAuRoIN2bsburQgcJMYbBNjGoJtjE/s1600/Wmsbg+farmers+market+025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407497711398384882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHfZcbUizzz9TqVZXgI_KYr_7XQKO9VRoN5TesrZOR1vQg37cjnCxMV9lm7HS6VRkAARvHWPiW7IJ8Jas6riugJvd5jnigm7B-RG3zsOVUzA-lKQAuRoIN2bsburQgcJMYbBNjGoJtjE/s320/Wmsbg+farmers+market+025.JPG" /></a>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250691845789793784.post-62074794971557028682009-11-20T15:36:00.000-08:002009-11-20T17:17:30.039-08:00Ida Done It....But.......we had a great time anyway!!! For those of you who live right here in the Seven Cities, you know exactly who "Ida" is! She's that Nor'Easter that sat right on top of us for 3 (as in "THREE") days and dumped 8 to 10 inches of rain on our heads! We had alot of rain when Hurrican Isabel hit here back in 2003, but the tide rose much higher with this storm. <p>Our neighborhood was flooded and we couldn't get out, but throughout the worst of the storm we met up with neighbors and walked the street watching the tide come in and trying to guess how high it would get. Some had water in their garages and most had water up to and over their foundations. We were relatively lucky.....it did come up to the foundation, but didn't get underneath the house. It came up over the base of our shed, but because it's so well built, you could only see dampness at the seams of the flooring. It DID completely cover our dock, which was amazing! Here are a few photos from the storm.... <p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406345060421143378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPI0F0f7ks8Z23ymUmq_8hzc6mITMY17TsYf0lAFDIglFwoXBE1CVXKVwFn7jNEnnrXfV56Wmal5ZcXNwATPYwJ67EvxJeaSgpy14DtcBT4fP0faDv0IZYpiwYysk51LYui3fkUe3iH48/s320/Ida+058.JPG" /><span style="font-size:85%;">Dennis set out early on the first day and this is what he came upon on Bells Mill Road....good thing he didn't "set out" earlier!</span><br />><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QvrSUTqdzeOIEEDe0PyzkvHkbYDz9VVv_-m-ymmJ_2Wgk7_hevvraL46peOQxTHAAqKBfaoa9FXfYGl5WHpsf_aLeR9-veIovDYUJcaNVuxS8cS10OCJGOhmJgjkaie24AizJEXQ60E/s1600/Ida+057.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406345087718255202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QvrSUTqdzeOIEEDe0PyzkvHkbYDz9VVv_-m-ymmJ_2Wgk7_hevvraL46peOQxTHAAqKBfaoa9FXfYGl5WHpsf_aLeR9-veIovDYUJcaNVuxS8cS10OCJGOhmJgjkaie24AizJEXQ60E/s320/Ida+057.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">This is our next door neighbor sitting at the entrance to the neighborhood. Yep, he turned around and came back!</span> <p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKGynUVDAtRMJixBouTwrcgjaxzZdX_JGKNOAmjb4xatiIdcEy5d8UZaJ4kdx9ZVqUsnXgnq_WXcGsZex8vBlvM7gTDAlA40w_tX1Wao4VP3lVkOjsiR-Aub1M9eA9hkvDgxs2E10mkg/s1600/BackyardIda1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406345071732906898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKGynUVDAtRMJixBouTwrcgjaxzZdX_JGKNOAmjb4xatiIdcEy5d8UZaJ4kdx9ZVqUsnXgnq_WXcGsZex8vBlvM7gTDAlA40w_tX1Wao4VP3lVkOjsiR-Aub1M9eA9hkvDgxs2E10mkg/s320/BackyardIda1.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">This is the view from our deck....on the first day! The highest the water got was up to the flowerbed you see at the bottom right part of the picture.</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-UfFlT8CAEyhNjKO4mEZ5MFmttgBYeKa1DbX19ZQ-up-nwjiW7o3lhrUPzboNDpVZsBV_jTWIQsNAk7Ag78Mc_r4U7s1BHiuHJlSGuY66t7_SzQzb3zT1PXA2iLWFdX5YKB7OUsb39M/s1600/Ida+054.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406345078924029474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-UfFlT8CAEyhNjKO4mEZ5MFmttgBYeKa1DbX19ZQ-up-nwjiW7o3lhrUPzboNDpVZsBV_jTWIQsNAk7Ag78Mc_r4U7s1BHiuHJlSGuY66t7_SzQzb3zT1PXA2iLWFdX5YKB7OUsb39M/s320/Ida+054.JPG" /></a>This is the dock...on the first day! Since the highest tide came in the evening, that picture isn't so great, but you'll get the idea... <p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY87WLRPdwziPxBW67fZNf1Q1lPxzdRJxFTN2Sx6hKPNVCRl0nNvb2CEF7oFT_ihGb3-yUa_01FtCeJzfax1H3H07oOiKNtHhjQSXv-tRHj-o6n4yAdBPgMB-T3cYUSzX7IWLo0M3rjgQ/s1600/Ida+075.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406345093026926082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY87WLRPdwziPxBW67fZNf1Q1lPxzdRJxFTN2Sx6hKPNVCRl0nNvb2CEF7oFT_ihGb3-yUa_01FtCeJzfax1H3H07oOiKNtHhjQSXv-tRHj-o6n4yAdBPgMB-T3cYUSzX7IWLo0M3rjgQ/s320/Ida+075.JPG" /></a>This picture, taken from the deck, is the walkway along the back of the house...everything you see was completely under water the next night! </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3VDr2D1P4_0nw9qengGAEBHQT-6FZjDZbNKt5hceMOFnzyKKUN9-d8oVR1k5w9whxsnkzjuJ1fy4hgn0vXPVXiYaZUUtFeWPu7CKvbjcVS0hSk1vYJaW8oVaCnq_gCO0plR-ktaatC8/s1600/storm2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406352214276448898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3VDr2D1P4_0nw9qengGAEBHQT-6FZjDZbNKt5hceMOFnzyKKUN9-d8oVR1k5w9whxsnkzjuJ1fy4hgn0vXPVXiYaZUUtFeWPu7CKvbjcVS0hSk1vYJaW8oVaCnq_gCO0plR-ktaatC8/s320/storm2.jpg" /></a>This picture was taken the night of the highest tide....but this was taken 1 hour before it's peak. EVERYTHING was under water...but the battery in the camera was dead! Argh!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7n4k3N-drLWeYNpxLXsX3Cr2iovIPXGMiQa4ZPFeB2PrgyPEGjp_8cJ6xdXhB5DeE44mFiuYgPy_kjxv2Ge1U4wmc4H5cKVKAmXODWfM_WsodalRTGtNmwR83CEYToPZvOvqZkHRsUec/s1600/Storm1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406352202061980722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7n4k3N-drLWeYNpxLXsX3Cr2iovIPXGMiQa4ZPFeB2PrgyPEGjp_8cJ6xdXhB5DeE44mFiuYgPy_kjxv2Ge1U4wmc4H5cKVKAmXODWfM_WsodalRTGtNmwR83CEYToPZvOvqZkHRsUec/s320/Storm1.jpg" /></a> This was taken about an hour before high tide peak....it went up another 3 or 4 feet into the yard....and left quite a mess....see:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRI_CNHdhBOYWEtDmj7PvjPiUqGxbR6Lgw6_JvPlZ3coyEINoyH464tebAjkEFumWca0CcmpbnaupGCc52yzasNMbvMY3oxfbZVD6NoiniF086tirtgr-6Df28nXXh3FoEyJRJJDQwB8M/s1600/storm4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406352224739027010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRI_CNHdhBOYWEtDmj7PvjPiUqGxbR6Lgw6_JvPlZ3coyEINoyH464tebAjkEFumWca0CcmpbnaupGCc52yzasNMbvMY3oxfbZVD6NoiniF086tirtgr-6Df28nXXh3FoEyJRJJDQwB8M/s320/storm4.jpg" /></a> The water went up beyond where it left the "mess".....which ended up in more than 20 bags! AND we used alot of it to put our gardens to "bed" for the winter.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqYh9ypTJI2aJ1p0SPVyFaRAHVkCg1PV9fTpL_bU5bvccMMKpBWV5skl0waiSxBh3usWsu-aNaKE9fBP5VAwjZFO7kfCLEFwpONCnTliw7caiY4jGQ3R1BYtJywQMaFuBIXA-xZUjrLY/s1600/storm3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406352217394596690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqYh9ypTJI2aJ1p0SPVyFaRAHVkCg1PV9fTpL_bU5bvccMMKpBWV5skl0waiSxBh3usWsu-aNaKE9fBP5VAwjZFO7kfCLEFwpONCnTliw7caiY4jGQ3R1BYtJywQMaFuBIXA-xZUjrLY/s320/storm3.jpg" /></a>View from our deck of neighbor's yard....similar to the view in picture #3!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWNQ0rmzW5d6yUfWViH1n7wcRqFlif806BrET4KOR5FPU7191ZgcIyHZy-Ra_U8hE5iTOYt1Fw079aDYfYaad6xJ4MUlkwPf2xxoyYVHRqskptgyIF-ZZHfmOcKSifihEEOaQC57TcPQ/s1600/storm5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406358133203025362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWNQ0rmzW5d6yUfWViH1n7wcRqFlif806BrET4KOR5FPU7191ZgcIyHZy-Ra_U8hE5iTOYt1Fw079aDYfYaad6xJ4MUlkwPf2xxoyYVHRqskptgyIF-ZZHfmOcKSifihEEOaQC57TcPQ/s320/storm5.jpg" /></a>This picture was taken the morning after the "peak" tide.....still pretty high, but not as bad as the night before. <p>All in all, we fared surprisingly well! We didn't lose power or satellite TV....we didn't get wet (other than a little bit our running around the neighborhood) and we didn't run out of food, water.....or cocktails! <p>Although my office was open EVERY day, several closings were delayed, but everyone was so nice about it! Now that was a first in a long time.....buyers understanding about delayed closings! Success!!!! <p>Now I guess we need to wait to see how the salty water affected the gardens..... </p>Colahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458243311983596038noreply@blogger.com1