Paris Day 3

Today was a lazy day.  We got up later because we didn't go to bed till after 1 am.  We are getting use to eating later in the evening.  It was hard at first because my instinct is to eat about 6 pm, but here they usually eat between 9 till 11 pm.  We decided we would eat late after the Moulin Rouge show.  

This morning since it was Sunday we figured things wouldn't be open as early.  We did laundry again, so we don't have to pack it with us.  While the laundry was going we ate breakfast in a little outdoor restaurant across the street so we could keep an eye on our clothes as we were warned by several ladies that people will steal them if you leave them in the washer too long.  Breakfast is interesting here because you can't just get eggs and toast or anything like at home.  I had a great ham and cheese omelet this morning, but the interesting thing was it came with a salad with beans on top and vinegerette dressing.  Salad for breakfast!  

After laundry we deceived to head back over to Champs Elysees avenue and do some "shopping". Since we have backpacks we are having to be very careful what we buy.  I already mailed one package home from here that cost me $55 to send, but it sure lightened my backpack so was worth it.  I will probably mail another one after Switzerland and Germany, planning to send home some chocolate.  

This afternoon we had tickets to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.  I was really worried about it, because I am scared to death of heights.  The ride going up had me holding on, but once we got to the top it didn't bother me like I thought it would.  Very awesome view.  After the Eiffel Tower, we took a boat cruise down the Seine and then headed back to our flat to pack and get ready o head to Lauterbrunnen Switzerland tomorrow morning on the train.  

  

I will add more pictures another time.  I have them on my big camera and can't download them to my iPad right now.  I made the choice when coming to actually bring 2 cameras, my pocket travel one and my big Dslr camera even though I knew it would mean more weight, but it has been worth it.  

Really looking forward to being in a much smaller community tomorrow and away from so many people.  I do have to say the locals have been so very helpful in translating and answering questions, but other tourists are flat rude.  Not all but some, just cut in line and walk up in front like they don't have to wait in line even though they see the long lines.  Today,  I just stopped several from cutting in line and letting them know where the line was.  Needless to say I found out cuss words are universal, but at least they didn't get to cut in front of me.  

Paris Day 2

Today we made our way around Paris. Our flat is just across from the Norte Dame Cathedral so we went there first. So eautiful looking at these buildings knowing they were built thousands of years ago. The detail in each one is so fascinating.

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Then it was on to Arc de Triomphe. We climbed the stairs to the top to enjoy the views of the city. The tomb of the unknown soil der from The Great War is located under the arc. 

 

Avenue des Champs Elysees.  

We walked along the Champs Elysees and the lunch and people watched sitting in the outside restaurant enjoying the sunshine. After lunch we rode the bus around going over to the Eiffel Tower and walking around. We have tickets to go to the top later. Then it was off the Musee de Louvre, the crowds were crazy and it was so hot in there. We hurried through and moved on. We spent the afternoon walking around shops by out flat, and then napping so we could finish off the evening by going to Moulin Rouge. I really enjoyed the show. 

    

  

 

Paris, Day 1

We arrived in Paris about 1 pm and took an uber ride to our flat and got settled in. It is right by the Seine river and downtown. We decided that since there was a laundry mat about 2 blocks away we would do laundry first.  Of course we know no French so we're thankful when some lady took pity on us and taught us how to operate the machines. Our have to go to this box and key in your machine and pay then it will turn on the washer.  

After getting laundry done we walked around for soulless miles through the streets and the down to the Louve to see it.  We wnded up taking a boat cruise tonight to get aclamated to where things are and distances.  We have a good plan on what to do over the next couple days.  

  

  Love all the architecture. 

  The lock bridge.

 

London day 3

I was going to post this morning on the train ride to Paris, but there was no wifi and we were underground for most of the ride so I couldn't access data.  So to play catch up, our last full day in London entailed us riding the underground out to Abby Road so we could walk across the crossing.  It is a busy road so tourists attempt to take pictures in any breaks from the cars.  Nothing like risking your life for a photo.

   

After taking the underground back over by London Bridge, we went to Borough Market and walked around for several hours.  I bought a very cool wood bowl made from olive wood that I now have to ship home because it weighs down my backpack.  

  

After the market, we hoped on a boat ride that took back to Westminster Abbey where we walked through shops and through awesome little streets.  The streets are very narrow  where only one car fits so they are trying to squeeze by each other at times.  The drivers in London are scary, but dang good.  Never saw a single wreck in London.  

 

I love the doors in London, actually they are the same here in Paris.  The door knob is low and in the center of the door.  They are all colorful to all the brick and marble buildings.  Being here has made me realize how modern and young America is.  

   

 This is the place we stayed at in London.  We are using Airbnb for all out flats on the trip and have been really pleased with them so far.  

 The royal carriage.   This is the monument I climbed up the other day, realized I didn't have a picture of the outside. 

 This is what remains of an old church that was destroyed during the blitz in WW2. 

Friday morning we packed up and hoped aboard the Eurail to Paris.  It is crazy to think we were going about 180 mph on the train.  Didn't seem like it at all. 

Day 2 London

Today we went out to Kensington Palace, such a beautiful place.  Loved that the flower gardens are all done in white in memory of the 20th anniversary of Diana's death.  We also got to see an exhibit of hr gowns,  just beautiful.  After that we took the underground back over to tower bridge area.  We went and saw the Crown Jewels and walked around Tower of London. From there we went to the top of Sky Garden, if you come to London reserve a time to go up.  It is free, just have to reserve your spot.  Such a great view.  Then it was off to climb the steps of the monument!  311 seps up a spiral staircase.  The view was amazing, but walking out on the bservation deck was a little over whelmingfor me as I am terrified of heights, but eventually I made it around.     

 After the monument, it was on to Tower Bridge.  We went up inside, and up on the upper To decks they have a glass floor.  If I thought the observation deck was difficult, then walking across the glass floor on this upper deck was even more difficult.  I was clinging to the sides for dear life.  It was very freaky to see the River Thames below with big ships going underneath.  We stopped in to walk through All Hallows' by the Tower church.  A very old church where John Quincy Adams was married.  I really love the old structures and the ceilings in these buildings.   Then it was off to the HMS Belfast, a WW2 Battleship.  It rained most of the day today, but was so humid and about 65 degrees.  

   

People everywhere, fast paced hustle and bustle.  Really looking forward to getting to Lautterbrunen after Paris and just being able to rela and chill for a few days.  

We realized how expensive things are here for American items.  This 54 ounce bag of Skittles, was 39.99 pounds, or $51.76 in US dollars.    they would have to be pretty tasty skittles for that price, because They sell for about $14.00 for the bag at home.  

  Exhausted, and ready for bed.  Put almost 26,000 steps on the Fitbit today. 

London

Yesterday was our first full day in London.  The underground subway system is the best way to get around, but be prepared.  I felt like a cow being lead to slaughter and if you get out of line your your trampled to earth.  People are on a mission here for sure.  It felt like robots programmed watching the morning commuter.  No emotion, very serious if not angry looking faces from everyone with their headphones in, moving along to get where they needed to go.  Even on the escalators going in and coming out of the subway, lined up one on every step just moving along.  

Our adventures today included the hop on, hop off service, but it took us awhile to figure out where the pickup point was outside off Waterloo station, but eventually we found. It, then we were off and running for the day. We went to Buckingham Palace first where the people were cry to say the least.  Literally thousands of people lined up to watch the changing off the guards, but then we found out it wouldn't be happening because there was an official visit happening.  From there we went around on the bus to Wet Minster Abby and spent time going through it.  What a beautiful place!  They don't allow photography inside.  Sir Issac Newton and Charles Darwin are buried in the floor inside along with many others in the tombs.  The lines moved very fast.

One major thing I learned to day is that garbage cans are very rare things in London.  We have been amazed at the trash everywhere, but then realized after packing my trash around why people litter so much.  When I asked a store keeper bout it, the reasoning was that it is a safety issue.  In the 70's Ireland would place bombs in the trash recepticals and so they were outlawed.  There are employees that do nothing but go around and pick up trash all day.   Restrooms are also very hard to find and when you do the lines are long.  I have to say my fear is I won't know how to opporate the toilet in flushing it or figure out how to use the faucets!  I know this sounds funny, but they re pretty high tech compared to ours.  Most of them wash and dry right in the sink.  You put your hand under To sense water, but then you wave your hand under the sensor and it starts blowing air to dry your hands.  Took some getting use to for sure.  

We spent some time in Piccadilly square at the end of the day, eating dinner and jut walking around.  It is much like the time square of London.  So many tourist for me.  It was nice to get back to our room.  We re tying in Air BnB places this trip.  London is the only place we are staying in a house with other people.  The host is very nice and there are usually two or three other guests each night.  Our room is very nice and comfortable.  It feels good to get back to our room at night just to relax and plan what to do for the next day.  

I will have to go back and add photos as I can't get them off my small camera, but I can off my larger camera.  

 

  

Whipped!

Megan and I are both exhausted.  In our room waiting for a decent time to be able to go to bed.  We both got a couple hours sleep on the plane ride over.  We were too excited on the ride from Minneapolis to Reykjavik, but from Reykjavik to London were able to sleep off any on.  The crusty thing was knowing that it was the middle of the night at home and it was already the middle of the day here.  Tonight we just walked around the area we are staying and will belong to bed early.  Traveling is exhausting.  My first impression of London is dirty.  We ate chicken at Nandos tonight.  We both ordered the mild chicken but it was very spicy. 

Now to sit and figure out our game plan for tomorrow before I fall asleep.  

Trip of a lifetime!

Last Friday night I finished working on my Master's in Addiction Counseling Degree.  I was so excited to be done with college and not having to spend my evenings studying and freaking out about completing assignments after working all day.  However, as excited as I am to be done with school, the best part happens on Sunday, May 14.  Megan and I will leave for Europe.  We (I actually mean she for the most part) have been planning this trip for about the last 7 months.  The trip has been a dream of both of ours for about the last ten years and we finally decided that we were just going to do it.  As we were trying to decide on dates our trip kept expanding.  We originally thought about 10 days, then 14 but finally settled on 21 days.  We both wish we actullly planned for another week as we are still cutting out things that we don't have time for.  

We booked airline tickets so we knew the dates.  then we started searching out the route we wanted to take and reserving AirBnB apartments along the route. We ordered train tickets and reserved seats on the busy trains.  The last step of the process has been making reservations and buying tickets for things that we want to see and do.  I will be posting about our trip along the way and sharing lots of pictures.  On Sunday, Sam will drive us to Bismarck where we will fly out.  Minneapolis and then on to Reykjavik , Iceland before going on to London, England.  I will update this and post about our journey along the way on here.  

How life changes!

I have to say that I forgot I had this blog until I came across it a couple weeks ago. I was amazed I haven't been here since 2010. Oh the changes in those 3 years! My grandson is now 4, his younger sister, Brayleigh, is going to turn 2 this weekend and he has a new baby sister, Brienna, is 2 months old already! I am now an LCPC, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. I have a full time job working at the school as a therapist working with K-2 grade kids. I ventured out just about a year ago and challenged myself into starting my private practice. When I was going to college the thought of being a counselor was not really an area I figured I would go. I wasn't sure that I would like helping others work through their issues. But after I got out of college I had a lot of student loan debt and realized that if I got my counseling license I would be able to apply to the National Health Service Corp for loan repayment. I got a job that allowed for loan repayment and got my license and then apply to the NHSC and was accepted for loan repayment. I worked the two year commitment for the loan repayment and found I love my job in working with kids. I still don't enjoy the paperwork part of the job but deal with it. Last year I saw a need for a private practice but didn't know if I had the self-confidence and drive to what it would take to start my private practice, but pushed forward through the paperwork and learning what it took to start my own practice. I found an office, ordered furniture and let a few people know I was hanging out my single. I was as full as I wanted to be within the first couple months. Now I am really full and keeping busy. I have to say I love my job and am so glad I went down this path. Looking back on the past 3 years, I would have never guessed I would be where I am right now. Now onto some cute update pictures because what is a blog post without pictures!! I will try to post more now that I remember having a blog!! I love this picture! Jerad, Braydon, Brayleigh I will have to get an updated picture of Brienna but here is one from when she was born!

wow I am bad

I am such a bad blogger. Humm July 2009, well since then I have turned another year older. Still working at the same job, wrecked my Honda. Brayden has celebrated his first Christmas and his first birthday! Birthday for Brayden was great. He is walking and on the move now.

I am in the process of studying for my LCPC exam and have been studying like crazy because I am hoping to get to take the test in May. Study, study study, that is my life now.

I will have to post some quilt tops I finished recently. I am trying to work on getting a bunch of old unfinished projects completed.