Paris

They always seem to build train stations in bad neighborhoods. My first impression of Paris, when we got off of the train was a very trashy part of town. Trash everywhere, dog poop everywhere, public toilet had people poop on floor. Disgusting. Happily we got a nice hotel room, and a palatial (by European standards) Bathroom! The girls had their own room.

Our 2nd day, was a much better impression of Paris, beautiful city, train station was just in a bad part of town, like the bus station in S.F. Rode the Paris subways, and tour buses. We got to see the Arch de Triumph, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower from a bus first.

The children fed the birds in front of Notre Dame, and they were almost completely tame. Both pigeons and little sparrow sized birds, eating from hands. That was the kids favorite part of Paris feeding birds.

There were beggar gals from India there, that would ask you if you spoke English, and then handed you a card that said their mother was dying of Leukemia everywhere.

We also saw the Louve Museum that day, at least part of it. awesome art, want to see more. We saw the Mona Lisa as well. We went back to the Louve again one more day and Viewed French painters like Jordan, Objects de Arte, and Sculptures. Lots of photos.

Some French lady laughed her head off at us? Could it have been the way we were dressed? I must say that there isn't much in the way of fashion in Paris the clothes in the bay area are much more fun, and less drab. The French don't smile as much as the English But I watched them go by in the subways and they don't smile at each other much either, so not so bad.

One day we went to the top of the Eiffel Tower today, wow! Got there early, the lines got long, and the waffles were so crowded, I could have gotten pregnant. You can see all of Paris from the Eiffel Tower, what a view, got major vertigo!!!!

On our last night in Paris, we had a tour guide that showed us the sparkling Eiffel tower, that was soooo beautiful. Doug got Video, I will have to show when he gets it up on the web. We went to Frankfurt, Germany to fly back, the Germans are much more friendly people then the Parisians (the country French are suppose to be much friendlier). But again the train station was in a very bad part of town. Flew back exhausted.

London

Spent one of our days in London with Mark Walis, at the tower one day, got a behind the scene look at some of rooms. Mark is running a reenactment show at the tower nowaday, and he sic'd his actors on me. Probably knowing I was the ham from hell. We had a lot of fun. The crown jewels were incredible, imagine wearing a fortune on your head, we saw gold tureens, that would probably need 4 men to lift, and giant, egg sized diamonds. He is a fount of information on English history, very fun. We also spend a day with Martin Harris (Scrooge), saw his town where he grew up at Graves End. He knew all the history of the town, including the places where Dickens hung out, got married in, and lived in.

He also took us to many wonderful sites including beautiful churches, fun pubs, and the back way in to see Leeds castle, unfortunately the woman who runs the tours was peeved, but couldn't really do anything because the public paths are the public paths.

We got to see Martin and Anna's beautiful house, that they have remodled into a cozy comfortable home. You could hardly believe it was the same house, when we saw the before pictures!!!

It was really nice hanging out without costumes and characters. We got to hang out and have dinner and chat for quite a while. While in London, we also saw their version of Chicago, from nose bleed seats. Be careful of those ticket sellers in London, and make sure you get what you paid for.

We had a great time in the market at Camden Loch, although the crowds were a bit unsettling thru the literal warren of twisty sellers, of new, used and hand crafted items. We also saw wonderful performers at Covant garden. The best was a juggler who stripped down to his underwear (gold speedos),

and climbed all over this poor audience member. I took a lot of picts of him of course.

The weather the whole time was pretty hot and muggy, with lots of clouds, and some sprinkles. Alot like Florida. Saw the Palace from outside the gates, and got to travel in a ferry down the Thames. We later took the Eurostar to Paris. Very fast train, could hardly watch the scenery go by, it was sooo fast.

Visited the Automobile Museum and the Montague Estate a couple of days ago. This particular car, is called the Picasso, car, for obvious reasons.

We also saw a first car, several speed record breakers, and the Royal caravan, which is a petite little camper with only room to sit in it.

This is the Montague Estate, in Beaulieu, near Lymington, it is included in the Automobile museum tour. The Montagues reside in the back of the house, and allow visitors and tourists in to the front few rooms as a tour. I wonder what it is like having strangers constantly roaming around your house.

The 2 ladies in victorian maid outfits are the docents who welcome guests into the Montague house to tour the house. I happily sang for them some Jazz songs, and my silly donkey song.

This is the Montagues victorian kitchen, kept for visitors to see how a victorian kitchen used to function.

Thatched roofs still abound in England. I am told that the maintenance is fairly expensive though, compared to slate roofs.

The bird silloettes on the roof, are fake birds, said to bring good luck to the house.

Beware of Elderly people sign. After all you know they are dangerous;-)
Below are the wild horses of Beaulieu, they don't act very wild.

more automobile museum

Mosaic floor of Abbey ruins

Lymington

Sweet little town, lots of beautiful buildings, very old bricks. Mason's must do very well in England. I love the little alleyways, and how all the little cottages are named.

The church in town, has grave sites so old, that the names and dates have been worn to being unreadable. Doug got a date off of one that was 250 years old.

I haven't yet come accross an over cooked vegetable, but Doug says it is because we keep getting food in foreign restaurants.

People at the timeshare, are dressed very conservatively, was glad to find a little more interesting attire in town. I'll bet it is even more interesting in London. Here is a picture of our timeshare, an English country Estate, that has also been a Courthouse and school.

Haven't heard many Americans talking mostly all sorts of english accents, mostly refined lovely lilting, want to talk back with same accent, would that be rude? Would anyone even notice when it is the norm?