Not sure where I had left off last time.. PLUS I have added and changed a lot of what I had written before. So if some sounds like a repeat.. SORRY.. I am really trying to get into the mood to do this proper :) Au revoir....
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 ! 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.. But then.. Instead of paying at least $200. A night for a hotel.. We opted for the cheaper hotel… so believe.. 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! 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… but that would have to be for another day.. I am happy now 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 things against me now.. That is totally ruining this trip 1. I don’t speak French, so news! 24/7!! 2. 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. Maybe I will buy a friggen puter to use when we travel over here (Europe)… Have to admit.. I wish I would have brought my MAC.. TOSHIBA is a FPOS and ought to be FTITT! No, please don’t ask me to translate.. Just know.. Toshiba.. Is NOT my favorite computer!
Going to stop here and will write more later.. Ya know… don’t want to miss the latest news updates!
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, if they say it slow. Had an Italian guy last night at the hotel.. Hitting on me.. Even gave me his room number.. Just incase J I needed any help. Sha okay.. Did learn I know more Italian then I do French ... lol.. Hubby got a good laugh out of that.. The next morning there is the little Italian guy.. Sitting by himself.. At least he didn’t come up to us.. Yeah.. That was amusing.
Our plan is to drive towards Bayeux and spent the night … THEN the plan is to go to the D-Day beaches, we will be staying about 12 miles from the beaches. We get to the hotel, see a sign with guest MR FAY on it.. And park. Our room is small and faces the main road, it is warm and stuffy and the window doesn’t open, for security reasons with it being on the street. Hmmm okay then. 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.) Tonight 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 Then I learn we have to pay 8 euros a night to park at the hotel.. That bites… But this morning the little road beside us was closed and they had a market going.. I bought a couple things from there.. Mel even walked with me down and back.. He bought sausage and cheese.. I bought stuff J We found a HOLLY HAT though..
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 went ashore.. With the cliffs around.. We were no doubt.. Sitting ducks. 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 all 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 their part of learning about the 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. Cute little hotel had a fabulous view of Mont St Michel… and the cows in the pasture next to us .. 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, well maybe once.. But not every time he wanted to rest. Kind of wished we had stayed there.. But.. Another time perhaps. So we will spend 2 nights here by the Mont, play catch up and later we will go to the Mont… hopefully have dinner there somewhere. Ended up having dinner at the hotel omg so good.. Their scalloped potatoes are to die for.. It is thin sliced potatoes, this Normandy cream and Guerer (sp) cheese sprinkled on top. That is it.. I couldn’t believe how good they were!
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.
THE BOAT..
Well today we picked up our boat.. And rented a couple of bicycles to take along with us. I have to say though.. I forgot our train tickets BACK to here.. But as it was.. We would have missed that train anyway.. OMG trying to find the place to turn the car back in.. we knew it was at the train (Gare) station in Rennes… and she said there was a sign.. No address so Miss G was of no help.. OMG I finally had Mel just park and I walked down to find where the rental return was.. Yeah.. There was a sign.. It was about the size of a pound of butter on a sign.. With like 7 other returns. BUT was also on a parking sign. Needless to say if I hadn’t walked about to try to find it.. We would still be looking for the damn thing. Needless to say EVEN knowing French at that point.. Would not have helped. BUT we got the car turned in.. then bought train tickets to the WRONG town.. I was so ticked.. I didn’t even stop and think of where we were going… ON THE TRAIN!! Via boat.. We are going to Redon.. NOT TRAIN… so up we go to exchange the tickets to Messac.. Which got us down here at 2pm.. Not 4pm with a change in trains.
We are SO .. SO glad we bought groceries yesterday.. And got them onto the boat so we didn’t have to do all that today. Tonight.. We are staying in the Marina.. We went for a bike ride.. And then I fixed dinner and now J Hubby is taking a nap.. You know you are supposed to nap .. That is why everything closes so early for a few hours.. Just what he needed to hear. He was amazing today.. He walked all the way from the train station to the boat rental.. Which is a good mile. I tried to get him to sit down and I would bring a bicycle to him.. But he kept walking. He says it was Mont St Michel that put him in shape to walk this far. Let me JUST ADD.. He did NOT do this with out whining and moaning the WHOLE way J He did good J He deserves a nap.
Our boat does not have any tv .. There for we pretend there is nothing on tonight. J Only the big.. Big boats have satellite.. BUT.. They had books (English and German and French) that you could take and keep or what ever. I have books.. I will for sure have them all read by the time we come back… he will still probably be reading the first book.. HOPEFULLY he will do nothing more ambitious then drive the boat and sleep! I really want him to catch up and heal. There are a couple spots we want to go to.. So if we get no further then there.. So be it..
Woke up this morning to a nice blue sky and calm winds.. We have to admit.. It was cool getting out from under the blankets.. Much preferred staying under them where it was warm and toasty! BUT.. First thing we had to do was wipe all the windows because of the moisture.. We couldn’t have left even had we wanted to.. Because couldn’t see out our windows. It was when I looked at the temp about 930..48degrees.. Not bad for me.. But SOMEONE asked if we were in Antarctica!! Sheese :/
We left out of the marina at 1030 heading for Redon. Got through the first lock just fine.. And the young man was very nice and called ahead so they new we were coming at the next lock. Yesterday when we were at the Marina, I asked about the “black water” tank and where we pump out at.. He informed me.. They do NOT pump out.. As the boats contribute to 0.7% of the pollution in the waterways over here.. Hmm lovely I thought, kill me if I fall overboard!
There doesn’t seem to be to many boats out on the river.. That is kind of nice at least this way we can maybe get a moor spot. We did pass my boat though.. “Contessa” ahh lovely boat.. Oh well onto Redon…
Made it through the second lock, the lock man spoke very good English.. I like that J
A few days later….
Friday…
I think I am about to die.. I did so many locks today and it’s been POURING down rain! UGH.. I am so glad I have a rain coat.. but eventually even that got soaked and I was still in spots getting wet. Well what can ya say.. It is fall.. I am in France and with a man I love… What can be better then that J
We have gone from Messac to Redon spent the night.. Went to La Gacilly spent the night.. Back to Redon spent the night…. Headed to Guenrouet and spent the night and tonight we are in Nort-Sur-Erdre tonight. It is to rain all weekend all though we hear not as much as today though.. So Sunday we will leave in the morning back to Messac.
We’ve seen lots of cows.. Every color you can imagine.. I have my favorite.. Little beige colored ones with brown spot on each side of the tail J Stacy I have photos for you. We have seen lots of swans and ducks and water foul.. And even a critter for Jax’e.. 3 actually I think they were otters.. I had the perfect shot and I tell Mel “SLOW DOWN“.. And it went under the water.. Dang.. it was so perfect.
Well I guess since no internet until tomorrow.. I will head on off to bed.. Love to the kids....
Talk to you all later….
Well Here we are back in Blain.. Kinda wish it was Blain WASHINGTON.. Can’t say I care for France, or maybe I should say the canal.. This I think is the boring’est trip we have had. It has a few really beautiful small towns.. But the canal.. Cows, horses, sheep and trees..
After August/September, about everything shuts down.. The restaurants all tend to close more then one or two days and they may or may not have a sign. You could walk into town.. How ever far that may be. Then they may or may not have a lock keeper at the locks.. And they are “on your own” from noon to 2pm.. And they MAY OR MAY NOT be back at 2 pm. AND… if it is raining.. They MAY OR MAY NOT come out to do the lock! Also the boat is smaller then we have had before, with a radio … all in French. The CD player doesn’t work .. Or so I was told. And spiders.. OMG.. I cant believe all the spiders, killed them from the bed, my clothes, hubbys clothes.. I am SICK of SPIDERS! Sorry Usually I have lots to write about that is so positive.. But 4 days of rain…. A very small boat, lots of spiders and locks every mile.. I am tired! I am ready to get off the boat and go to London.. Fact is.. Wish we could cut this short and go to London early.. I know.. Buck up.. But if it keeps raining I am sure I will have a new expression other then BUCK UP…Even the hubby admitted it is pretty boring.. BUT.. We have done a lot of sleeping.. even I have been sleeping more then usual.. But then I have read 3 books and now on my 4th. And I still have 6 days left to go.. I think if we can.. We might leave early.. I have to pack and post a lot of my stuff home and some.. Om I think I will throw away it has been tore and rust spots on it and little holes here and there. So perhaps… to the garbage…
The valuable points of being on the water.. The little lock keeper who gave me a batch of lavender, the lock keeper who rode his scooter to the next lock, because it was unmanned and I shouldn’t have to do the lock alone.. Being with Mel and even though he doesn’t talk much.. Hehehe getting him to talk some.. Which is better then not at all. In this boat it is pretty amusing to watch him.. He barely can fit through the doors, they are very short and narrow doors. Then the shower.. He has to sit down for that. I would be frustrated if I was him.,. But he is taking it really good. Cracked his forehead a few times.. But doing okay!
I guess I ought to back up and talk about the Mont St Michel.. We managed to park kind of close to the Mont entrance, but still it was a hefty walk.. We got to the entrance and was greeted with stairs.. We had to walk through the village to get up to the Abby. When we got to the base of the Abby.. We were greeted (with I think they said there were) like over a 1,000 steps. I am sure and I am sure hubby will agree with me.. That had to be GOING UP! We made it and then we paid and had more stairs to go up to the top. Where we paid they said were 900 stairs.. I believe it.. The next level … not sure.. But there were stairs and more stairs. Of coarse once up… you had to come down, and with hubbys bad knee.. It was pretty tense. I didn’t let him sit for long, because if he did his legs would feel like jelly. It took like 4 hours to go up and back down. He had to sit a few times.. But he did good. He picked a good day to go.. We got out to the car, and the rain started to come down, it rained all that day and part of the next. We finally got out if it.
It was something to see, the night before we had driven over to it to see it in the night time.. It was pretty awesome looking. The Mont and Pierrefonds Castle.. Were (and still are) the WOW factors of this trip. I also enjoyed the Louvre, I learned one of the ceilings in the Louvre were once in Egypt in a temple. I can hardly wait till Dec 2011, for when we go to Egypt! It is in the planning stages now..
Last night because it was raining all day.. I made homemade egg noodles and chicken soup. It was good.. We finished it off tonight.. It was even way better.. I did good! I had two spices and made it work.. Added onion, carrot and celery.. Oh yeah it was good.. Glad I made it. Tomorrow would be nice to eat out.. But dang.. everything opens like at 7:30pm for dinner.. I don’t like to eat that late.. Messes with my pills and me.. I like to eat about 5:30 or 6pm.. Well I know it isn’t about me.. Lol…
I guess like any other night since the stupid internet doesn’t work and I had to pay for it THEN they charged me twice! I will be emailing them tomorrow.. Telling them I want our $$ back.. I am sure they will just laugh and say “crazy American”. BUT… the kid in Nort-Sur-Erdre gave me an extension cord to use for my computer.. There for… I am in the boat.. Not at the toilet.. Hmm maybe I would get internet at the toilet!
We talked about going to Arizona tonight… he said he is looking forward to that.. I am also! The place we go has an awesome pool, a super puppy area.. Right out the gate.. Puppy sniffing land and lots of motorcycle trails! Plus 6 miles (via the back roads mind you!) to the WalMart, a mile about to Walgreens and the grocery store (go before 8am or after 7pm) AND… the people there are pretty awesome too.. Well they were last time we were there.. J Stayed about 70 degrees and had really no dust storms to talk about.. Not anything like there at Arizona City.. OMG they were horrible. I don’t see how kids and adults don’t have brown lung.. I cough like crazy in Arizona City.. I can imagine all the lung problems down there. Hope my son has a good air filtering system on their house, for their new little daughter.. Yeah.. It gets bad. And then the street sweeper comes along.. And makes a mess and poof cloud as bad as any dust storm.
We might spend a little time going down this time at Lake Havasu it really is a very pretty area and we enjoyed it last time.. It wasn’t the desert… but the lake was sure nice.. But then.. Who knows.. J I don’t think we will go cross country in December again though.. Sorry Stacy L
Well it must be ablout 9 or 9:30... Time to head for bed.. Read a couple hours.. Get up and do the same o same o… all over again.
Talk to you later… You all take care.. Keri
OMG.. I forgot to tell you about the rental car and the turn in at Rennes! And the crème brulee’…
Well another day.. Another RAINY day.. Nothing worse then having to sit in a boat .. And sit, doing nothing. All though I am sure when we leave today we will have more UNMANNED locked and I will have fun playing out in the rain. Watch.. As soon as we turn the boat in.. it will become nice. They said Sat that it was to clear up Sunday and be nice the rest of the week. I guess they are a little like our weathermen! ONLY… our weathermen are actually a little closer usually in the forecast. Anyway .. Enough about rain and my whining.. It is a new day and we are closer to coming home. But then when we get home we get ready for our trip down to Arizona. I hate to say it.. But I am looking forward to going. I wish my family could be down there with me at holidays.. But for now.. We do what Mel would like to do. I know if I said I didn’t want to go, we wouldn’t. But I also know of the exercise he gets down there, and how much he feels better in the warmth then the cold. Heck even I feel better in the warmth then the cold. Boy my old bones sure tell Arthur is around when it is cold out. Lately.. Both of us have been feeling the effects of the weather over here.. None of which is very pleasant.
I feel so bad because I have nothing to say about this canal trip.. The leaves are turning color, quickly I might add. The canal is very pretty and the countryside is pretty. But it is trees and cows … Did see an old wind mill.. Tried to take photos through the trees.. Not sure how good it turned out.. But will try to post a picture of it also. Ahh photos.. I am going to probably put them on a separate post after this one. So keep an eye out for it!
We made it to Redon tonight.. was going to go out to eat.. but all the restaurants around here are basically closed. It seems Sunday and sometimes Monday are closed day.. but was told this time of year they sometimes just close to ...close.. okay then..
Tomorrow we should with no problem make it into Messac and the boat rental place. We will hang around a day .. get the boat mucked out.. things packed.. go to the post.. mail a few things.. and then if nothing else.. head to Rennes and spend a day or so there.. since we don't go to London till Saturday.
Well you all take care and I will write again when I can... Soon though will be in London and have no trouble on the internet :)
