Hello from France... I know.. finally :-)

11 Sept 2010: leave for Seattle

13 Sept 2010: Leave for London, British Airways, Flt. #48

14 Sept 2010: Arrive London, noon

14 Sept. 2010: spend night at Comfort Inn, Kings Cross

15 Sept 2010: Euro Train from London to Paris, train #9024

15 Sept 2010: Montpensier Hotel, Paris (Sept 15-18)

18 Sept 2010: pick up car at Charles d’Gull Airport

18 Sept 2010: Hotel Beaudon, Pierrefonds France (Sept 18-19)

20, 21 Sept, open travel, will be Northern France, by the D-Day Beaches

22 & 23 Sept, 2010: Manoir De La Roche Torin, Mont St. Michel

24 Sept, spend night in Rennes

25 Sept 2010: turn in car at Rennes

25 Sept 2010: Train from Rennes to Messac

25 Sept 2010: pick up boat in Messac

25 Sept to Oct 9: will be on boat (going from Messac to Pontivy, canal de Nantes a’ Brest)

09 Oct 2010: turn boat in by 9am

09 Oct 2010: train from Messac to Rennes

09 Oct 2010: All Seasons Rennes Centre Gare Hotel

10 Oct 2010: Eurotrain from Rennes/Paris to London

10, 11 Oct 2010: Marriott, County Hall, London

12 Oct 2010; Leave London, British Airways 3:10 pm arrive Seattle @4:45pm (same day) flt#49
















Well now that you have seen our plans to where we are going.. Here below is actually what we did do and how things are going… at this time

Arrived London.. We fly into London-Heathrow and had to deplane via stairs. Been awhile since we have had to do that! Then we take busses to the main terminal, where we go through customs and all that fun stuff. Now I have to tell you, we are use to taking busses OUT to the plane, as last time we went into the terminal via a gate ramp coming out to the plane. Oh well We made it.. Wanted to smack the lady in front of me.. She laid her seat all the way back and I swear I could look down at here.. They put the seats any closer.. A cruise across the ocean will sounds really good! Might take a few days longer.. But you won’t have someone’s head on your lap. I should admit.. By the time I was really irritated with her I was also very tired by then.
We got through customs and got over to the Tube desk and we bought our “oyster passes”, for the tube. Goodness sakes.. We had left London last time.. Owing one pound on each of the cards.. Shame on us! Once outside, boy I have to say it was very humid! I was really surprised. After the tube and a short walk .. We got to our hotel, and by 6pm.. I was asleep. I woke up and thought I had slept all night.. I slept hard and heavy.. Sheese it was only 8pm.. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to sleep that night.. But 11pm.. I was asleep and woke up … at 7am.
Off to Paris! This morning.. I am so looking forward to the Louvre… But the people.. Ugh to way to many people! Fact is WAY to many people.. I can’t express enough.. Just way to many people. So far the few people I have asked for directions… have been nice. On the train, I sat next to people from Australia.. And they were fun to talk to. Their son (older) flew to London to give them a tour of Paris and of France around Paris.. He hopes someday to move to France.
Well first night in Paris brought a so-so dinner.. Not the greatest.. But the chocolate mousse was good.. We saw a lady there that was in a Komodo... Very unusual. And our hotel room.. well hehehe that is something else.

Coffee is strong enough to give a “steel monument” heartburn! It is all espresso style.
At the hotel, the bed is small and about 18 inches from the floor to the top of the bed.. Poor Mel has to double up to get onto the bed. I agree it is very low to the ground.. And again.. Very small. Meantime, he is sure in 7th heaven.. The ONLY 2 channels we get here that are in English.. Are news channels! Okay… revenge is sweet… I get it.. But couldn’t we have had just ONE English tv show channel.. sigh Breakfast here in the hotel was croissants and coffee. And the coffee was so strong, it reminded me of coffee my Uncle use to make, you could stand a spoon in it. Meantime all this bread, ought to do my blood sugars good :-/
So today, once I can pull the man away from the news tv.. We are heading towards the Louvre … Like I told the man.. I did not come to Paris to sit around a crappy hotel room! So.. He has 5 minutes.. Have to do some tough love here!

Walking over to the entrance of the Louvre.. Who did we run into.. The people from Australia! It was very nice and surprising to see them.. Never did see them again the whole time at the Louvre.. And we left about 2:30pm.. Did learn… anyone with a handicap pass gets into any museum free in all of France.. I happened to have mine with me.. So Mel and I got in for free.. Nice to learn this.

AHHH the Louvre! Miles and miles of art.. Any kind.. Any era… any country! The 3 bad things I think about it.. 1. Not really English friendly 2. No water fountains and bad ass hot in there! Till you get to Egypt.. They have it nice and air conditioned! I was also nice to see the Egyptian Art.. I could even read a wee bit.. only because it was in Latin and some is like English words.. Yea J I rented a wheel chair and pushed Mel around.. No way would he ever have made it as long as we did.. We went ALLLLLLL over that place.. Trust me on that one! They had elevators that go up.. They go down.. But to go from floor to floor.. All the way down at one.. You couldn’t do it.. You had to go from elevator to elevator.. One area of museum to another area.. I am surprised I didn’t get blisters! Then we had lunch.. So.. Okay.. I am done with Paris.. Would rather rent the car early and get out of Dodge… Way to many people.. And this hotel room is about to do us in… it is like walking in a boat.. Out on the ocean.. We get up at night.. And all but run into stuff the floor is so uneven..I mean WAY UNEVEN! But then.. Instead of paying at least $200. A night for a hotel..it was still in US 125 euro.. so wasn't cheap price wise. But we opted for the cheaper hotel… so believe me.. You get what you pay for! :-) Who knows what we will do tomorrow!
We found a Italian place for dinner.. It was pretty good actually for Italian in France! These two guys came in and sat down.. OMG you would NOT even begin to imagine the food them two guys put away.. They started with a platter of sausage and meats, one of parmesan cheese chunks… then they ordered a steak for two that was at LEAST 3- 4 inches thick! It was like a T-bone.. But sheese.. Still! After they ordered that.. One guy got a bowl of Spaghetti and one got a bowl of fettuccini, they each ate half and the other traded and ate it.. Mel and I had the same size bowl of pasta.. And I was full after half of it! PLUS they are 2 baskets of bread.. Now this was BEFORE their dinner came.. They had veggies and potatoes with the steak.. Man it was hard to believe they could eat all that.. I hurt just seeing what they ate.. And chunks of parmesan.. I just don’t see how they could just eat it.
Got back to the room and decided after about killing ourselves on the uneven floors.. We would go ahead and check out tomorrow and hopefully drive towards Pierrefonds.. That is if we can get the rental car early!

Well another morning.. Another day in paradise.. We had breakfast and checked on out.. We basically have an idea how to get to the airport.. But that is it.. The Metro is busy this morning.. It sure is a far cry from London’s Tube.. It is dirty here and in places smells of urine. I notice that water that has ran down the walls and the graffiti along the train/metro line. It is a shame.. Because Paris is a huge city.. With a lot of old history and could be a marvelous place to explore…and I am so very sure, there is so much history here... we have not even touched the surface. It is though a shame about all the graffiti. Another day.. I am happy to get out of town.
I wish my hubby felt better… he is getting so tired.. And this we knew would happen.. But I have 3 thinks against me now.. That is totally messing with this trip 1. I don’t speak French, 2. news 24/7!! . I have a POS computer (we’re not going there!) 3. Hubby has no ambition, and I don’t want to go out alone to explore.. I feel bad for him.. Wish I could do something to help.. But all I can do is stand by him and let him mend.
Going to stop here and will write more later.. Ya know… don’t want to miss the latest news updates!

Left Paris.. got our rental car and headed for Pierrefonds. The first day here is the last day of Merlin filming at the castle. So castle is closed. I think some of the crew are staying here at our hotel. I saw the little gal that plays Gwen, this morning leaving the hotel. And then from the room, one of the crew guys leaving with I think the one who places Arther in the front. You know that was pretty cool.. Merlin is one of our very favorite shows.. Let me drop a hint here.. I HOPE SEASON 3 IS BEING RECORDED!!!
Pierrefonds Castle is HUGE and just amazing.. it just sits there (like it is going to get up and walk away.. duh) but it sits there this impending force.

France by the ocean is very beautiful and the people when they slow down.. Are very nice. I can make out a few words.. A few. Had an Italian guy last night at the hotel.. Hitting on me..while i was using the computer. Guess he didn't understand the part.. MY HUSBAND... he even gave me his room number, just incase I needed any help. sheese well okay then. I told hubby and we both got a laugh :-) I did learn though that I know more Italian then I do French. Well on towards the D-Day Beaches.


Our next plan is to drive to Bayeux and spent the night… THEN the plan is to go tomorrow to the D-Day beaches, we will be staying about 12 miles from the beaches. Our hotel room is NOTHING like it was the night before where it was a huge room, electric drape closure and an amazing view of the harbor.. ( If anyone is coming to France.. I very highly recommend staying in Fecamp at the Le Grand Pavois, we spent the night before Bayeux there.) Now though we are staying at the Le Lion D’Or in a very old part of Bayeux. On the lounge wall they have photos of famous people that had stayed there in the past.. John Wayne, Spencer Tracy and several times… Eisenhower, Prince Charles, etc. It was pretty cool to see all the photos… they were even all signed for them

D-Day beaches is not what you would expect, where there once was barbed wire and dunes, it is now houses and restaurants‘. I am not sure what really I expected.. But from what I saw.. Especially at Omaha Beach.. When we (Americans) went ashore.. With the cliffs around.. We were, no doubt.. Sitting ducks. At Omaha Beach they do have a very large memorial to honor the servicemen who died there. I am surprised there were not more deaths. We went into a couple museums and that was very interesting. The nice part, there was a family there, and dad was busy teaching his kids all about the history of D-Day and explaining to them.. What it meant. I told him when we were leaving it was great what he was doing with his kids. He said they have been stationed in France for 2 years and this is part of learning history of America. Way to go! We had lunch there.. I have to tell you they have AMAZING onion soup here.. Or as we call it back home.. French Onion soup.. Omg sooooooo good.

Last night we stayed at Manoir De La Roche Torin, by Mont Saint Michel. We were going to stay at the mont.. But 500 meters to GET to the office and then 80 steps UP to the room.. Mel never could have done that. So we will spend 2 nights here and today we are playing catch up and later we will go to the Mont… hopefully have dinner there somewhere. So two nights here.. then onto Rennes!

Well I think I will try to post this.. And HOPEFULLY Friday night before we leave for the boat.. I will be able to post again. If not.. I will post as soon as I can..

You all take care.. Keri (mom J )

Our 2010 trip..France

Well I figured before we leave I ought to show you a few places we plan on going. Only because I may not be able to add photos while we are over there. I have found their Internet to be horribly slow in places.
We fly into London.. We love London and enjoy seeing all of the history that is there...and there is a lot of it there. I never have made it downtown.. and that is okay with me.. I love the history and the plays! They have awesome theater there! That is where we saw WICKED.. if it comes to a town near you I recommend you see it... it is awesome :) http://www.wickedthemusical.com/
In London we only have one night and then the next morning we will take the Eurotrain http://gofrance.about.com/cs/trains/a/eurostar.htm , to Paris. We will be staying at the Montpensier Hotel http://www.montpensierparis.com/. It is only a couple blocks from the Louvre and we have two day passes for it. http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en . We will be in Paris for 3 days then we rent a car for a few days and go to a amazing castle.. Pierrefonds. It is the castle that is used in the making of MERLIN on the BBC one channel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Pierrefonds We will be spending two days there and also seeing the small town.
From Pierrefonds we will go north and up along the coast to an area known as the D-Day Beaches. We plan to spend a couple nights up there and eventually driving west over to Mont St Michel.
Mont St Michel use to be a fortress and a might grand one it was too! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Saint-Michel And for more ionformation on it.. Rick Steves has a great piece about it ..so stuck it on here also!
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/france/mont.htm we will be spending two nights on here.. so that will give us a chance to explore and rest when need be.. because of all the stairs.
From Mont St Michel.. we go to Messac and pick up our boat! http://www.leboat.co.uk/destination/france/brittany we will have the boat for two weeks. We had thought of going down and then over to Pontivy... but got an email that part of the canal will be closed for construction repair. So bummer.. now we rethink where we are going to go. I am sure where ever it is.. we will enjoy it. We turn the boat in on October 9th in the morning then we go spend a night in Rennes so we can explore the town.. the next morning we catch the train to Paris and then onto London. When we get in we will take the tube (their subway and btw.. it is fantastic!) http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2625.aspx
In London we will be staying at the Marriott http://www.marriott.com/default.mi We spend 3 days here.. then finally we have to fly out on October 12th at 3:10pm and arrivein Seattle at 4:45pm! If only it were that simple.. we fly 9 hours and 35 minutes. But once we get to Seattle.. we take off and go up to Ferndale and see a new grand daughter that was just born.. Jillian Fay Casey :) We are home by monday and Monday.. it's girls day at the spa! and that will be fun and awesome!
So hope you all take care and I will be thinking of you all..
HUGS..Keri :)