California Bound (Almost)

We are in our last day in New York, have had a marvelous trip, and are ready to return to California. While in New York we have seen four wonderful shows and have one more to see this afternoon. Having been to New York on more than one occasion, we have not felt any pressure to see the sights. Our pace has been relaxed by New York standards. One of my favorite recreations has been going to Times Square and watching people with camera and Starbucks in hand. The weather has been very nice here (sorry Gina and Ryan) with temps in the high 70's to low 80's with no humidity. Tomorrow when we leave the heat and humidity is supposed to come back for a return engagement.
It has been wonderful seeing family and friends in New York, but we are ready for home. New York is exciting, but crowded; and even with the new pedestrian friendly Times Square, the crowds heading to and from shows can be daunting. There are even crowds on 8th avenue, but not as much as on Broadway. Crossing the street is still an adventure and I am quite sure the cabbies speed up when they see a foolish pedestrian walking against the light. I am also pretty amazed that neither of the cabs we were in had accidents with the way traffic in midtown is. Lots of horns and lots of traffic, especially in the evening. Driving crosstown can take forever and the meter keeps running as you are stuck in traffic.
Most New Yorkers have left the city for the 4th so there should be mostly tourists this weekend. We will miss the fireworks but look forward to coming home to California. It has been a blast, but it is time for this trip to end.

We're Not In Paris Anymore, Toto

Greetings from New York City. We left Paris on the 28th and arrived in a hot and humid New York at around 1 in the afternoon. Dianne had arranged for a town car to pick us up and we were grateful to see our driver holding a sign with our name after we cleared Customs.
We are stayingb at the Novotel on the 33rd floor with a commanding view of Times Square. The weather has become much more pleasant and we should have temperatures around 80 today.
Last night we saw Promises Promises with Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth. It is a wonderful show and Sean Hayes (Jack from Will And Grace) is amazing. We had seats in the third row orchestra so could see facial expressons and sweat on the brow. This afternoon we see Memphis and will have dinner tonight with our friends Janine and Gerard tonight.
It is now the next day. I was typing on my blackberry and was defeated by technology so have gone back to the computer in the lobby with its 20 minute time limit. We saw Memphis yesterday and it was phenomenal. If any of you get the chance to see it if you come to New York or if it goes on the road, do not miss it. Had a wonderful dinner with friends Janine and Gerard last night. Today is very pleasant in New York. We will have lunch with cousins Kathy and her son Brian and tonight go to see Billy Elliot. We are enjoying our stay here in New York, especially since the weather has become very bay area like. Humidity has left the house.
Art

Almost Home

We find ourselves at the Novotel Hotel at Charles de Gaulle Airport for the night prior to our flight to New York tomorrow. We have a treasure trove of memories from our two weeks in France and have had a marvelous time. I'm glad the pants I brought have an expandable waste as I think I may have put on a kilo or two while in France.
Thanks to all who have followed our blog and we will update as time allows in New York.
Art

Back to Paris

We had a slight shift in our schedule because all of Paris went on a one day strike meaning that all workers were off....translated into river talk...the locks were closed for a day. So they our boat went a different way and parked for the evening so we could go to Giverny and see Monets Gardens and some to Versailles. But all is well, the strike is over and the locks are working and we are back in Paris today. Now to Monet's Garden in Giverny. If you have ever seen a Monet painting of the garden then close your eyes and visualize what it would be like in person...and there is where we were yesterday..right in the middle of the painting, standing over the lily pads, crossing the bridge many times, breathing in the scent of the flowers, and looking at all of the foliage here and there. I do not think I saw one weed or dead flower..The gardeners keep it so well...it is only open from April to October so millions of people come during that time. Hundereds of children were there on a field trip just yesterday. So I think Monet's Garden has been my favorite beautiful place. Omaha beach was my most inspiring experience and heart moving experience and the Church at Ste. Chappelle was the one that made me sit and say "AHHHH". So now, after a stay at a hotel at the airport we will be going to NYC. I am looking forward to seeing Gerard, Janine, Michael and of course the shows. Bye for Now, Love, Dianne

This Change In Travel Plans Is Brought To You Courtesy Of A French General Strike

We are on the last leg of our river cruise and have experienced what one should expect while travelling in France, a general strike. As a result of the strike we had to moor at Rouen again last night rather than cruising to Vernon due to the fact that none of the locks on the Seine were working due to the strike. So today, rather than ten minute bus trip from Vernon to Givenchy, we had a one hour ride from Rouen to Vernon. We roll with the punches.
Monet's garden at Giverny was a highlight of the cruise. Yor really feel that you have walked into a Monet painting and just drink in the beauty. The tour of his house we could have done without because it was quite crowded and we felt like cattle being herded from room to room. After Giverny, we went to Vernon with a very small crowd, had a nice lunch, and a tour of the town and museum. Since we had our travel plans changed, Uniworld gave us each 15 Euros for our lunch and paid our admission to the museum. Our guide was Patricia, a delightful local guide who is also a painter, so she was able to point out fine points of some of the paintings we saw in the museum. There were two Monets on display in the museum. One of the best parts about the museum was that it was not crowded. The majority of our boat took an optional tour to Versailles this afternoon, and from what we hear, it was packed, possibly due to the stike yesterday. I am so grateful that I got to see Versailles on my own at the beginning of the day while it was relatively uncrowded.
I need to correct some information I gave out in the last post about Champlain. He did sail from Honfleur, but he founded the city of Quebec. It was La Salle who left Honfleur and eventually sailed down the Missississippi and claimed all the land for Louis XIV. There, I feel better. Honfleur is cute but very touristy. I know, I know, we were there as tourists, but many of us felt that way about Honfleur. Rather than stay in Honfleur for lunch, we returned to Caudebec where our boat was, had lunch, and then I had a very enjoyable stroll around the town with camera in hand. A lovely day. I was going to visit the church in Caudebec and heard the bell of the church start pealing. As I approached the church, I heard organ music so was looking forward to perhaps another private organ recital. As I rounded the last turn in the bend, I practically bumped into a vehicle which turned out to be a hearse delivering the deceased to his or her funeral. I did not go into the church.
I would have been more regular about posting on the blog, but the computer onboard is linked to a satellite and unless the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars, it can be difficult to get on the internet. It is kind of hit and miss and there have been more misses than hits lately.
Tomorrow we return to Paris and disembark on Sunday then on to NYC on Monday.
It is now several hours later. The satellite may have gone on strike because I could not publish this last night as I intended. Fortunately, since I have such a vast store of technical savvy, I was able to save the draft, don't ask me how. As our trip in France winds to a close, some things I have learned. The Seine meanders through some beautiful countryside and though it goes west, it snakes in a north south fashion to meet the sea. Think of a snake slithering and you get an idea of how the Seine moves. Paris is a shopper's paradise. Any of you who know me know how much I love to shop so a shopper's paradise is lost on me. I kept on looking for Ross but could not find one. Could not find Target either. But I did find Starbucks. Europeans use their forks differently from Americans. They cut, stab, and lift food to mouth without switching the fork to the other hand. French coffee is good and strong but the idea of refills is foreign to the French. And never drink coffee with your meal. It is served after. Paris is a beautiful city, but you know that if you have been here.
For now, au revoir.
Art

On The Road To Honfleur

Today finds us in Caudebec about a half hour bus ride from our next point of interest, Honfleur. According to what I have read, Honfleur is noteworthy for its strategic location as a seaport. Champlain sailed from here on his way to America. Unless my history is faulty, I believe Champlain sailed down the Missississippi and claimed the land for France and called it Louisiana. In 1803 Thomas Jefferson bought Louisiana from the French and thus doubled the size of the United States. Honfleur is described as having medieval charm with cobblestoned streets and timber construction homes. I'm sure cobblestoned pavement was a marvelous advance in its time, but it does present challenges for walking, especially if a cobblestone is missing and you are not looking where you are walking.

We have either adopted or been adopted by two delightful older women named Claire and Althea. Althea is British and lives now in Australia and Claire is British and lives in England. Claire is 80, but you would not know it and Althea may be older, I believe. They are both full of life and wit and make wonderful table companions as we have shared many meals with them. I hope to have their spirit when I grow up. They are both widows. Claire shared with us that her second husband (she's outlived two) was part of the flotilla that tried to save Canadian soldiers at Dunkirk but the effort was thwarted due to the fact that there were cliffs between the flotilla and the Canadian soldiers so they had to be abandoned. I love meeting people who have a connection to the living pagenat of history we are experiencing. Her husband died just last year at the age of 96 and gave her 18 of the happiest years of her life.

Just about time for breakfast so more later.
Art

Rouen

Let me take you back to the 11th and 12th century...to when Rouen was the capital of Normandy(do not hold me to dates please). This is where we are, parked on the river, but a short walk to the old section of Rouen. You might be more familar with this fact...Joan of Arc was burned at the stake her also....she fought for France at the young age of 18 and 19. After awhile she was encouraged to stop but being the woman that she was, she did not stop. She was caught and tried as a treasoner. They fooled her into signing a phony paper that said she was a heretic and the rest was history. It was only in the beginning of the 20th century that someone figured that they got it wrong and she was made into a saint. There is a modern church built in her memory...it is filled with stain glass that goes on forever...Joan would be happy. The small streets have homes all listed as they were built in the 11th, 12th , 13th and 14th century. The timber homes are as they were back then....did you know that prior to the 15th century...homes were built with overhangs...this is so people could through various things out the window..yes, you guessed what....and it went in the streets...this is why men had wide brimmed hats.

I know Art has told you of Omaha...we were given flowers to put on any grave we wanted in the cemetery...I chose a young lad named Willard Wilson from California. I that we had a bond because he was from California. He died in the July of 1944. I said a prayer for him and thanked him for his courage and bravery. The movie was touching too so now I want to see the longest day...the movie.
Bye for now.... Dianne