Paris - Week 1 - 7/8 to 7/9: Notre Dame / Paris Walking Tour and Reims

We got up relatively early on Friday and parked the car at Saint Germain-en-Laye, got on the second train of the day into Paris.  It worked well because we got seats together and stayed seated all the way through to our change point at Les Halles.  Arriving at the Cite station (pronounced See-Tay as in Ile de la Cite) we made our way to the front of Notre Dame and started Rick Steve's Paris Walking Tour

Notre Dame is an imposing edifice!                                                                                                     

And it takes time to really see it all from all sides.

At the park behind Notre Dame, the walking tour showed us another little know memorial... the Deportation Memorial.  It is a remembrance of the 200,000 French who were held and placed in concentration camps by the Nazis.  Very stirring building that was small, but affected us like the memorial in Berlin.   The hallway is lit by 200,000 crystals, one for each victim.

After that we  strode through the left bank and over to the Louvre - which we will tour another day.

Saturday was highlighted by a drive over to Reims in the East part of France - Champagne country.  The drive took us longer than expected as the French highway system and maps aren't coordinated well and drivers here do fascinating maneuvers. 

Reims also has a "Cathedrale de Notre Dame".  This one is somewhat different and a tad smaller, but is still imposing.  The stained glass is incredible in all of the churches, but we discovered from Doug and Joan that Marc Chagall did a number of windows for cathedrals in France and Switzerland. You can see his windows on the right.

 We tried going to the Mumm Champagne caves, but the tour in English wasn't until late and it seemed a tad too pricey.  Our walk back to the vehicle brought a stop at a patisserie for eclairs and ice cream.  The drive back went better so we then went to dinner at the Creperie - a wonderful experience and the best meal in Port Marly so far.

Paris - Week 1 - 7/5 to 7/7, Doug & Joan, St Germain-en-Laye and Versailles

We tried to go into Paris somewhat early for Doug and Joan's arrival on the high speed train from Zurich (at 17:34 hrs), but found out there are problems with the parking here at our favorite Le Pecq train station.  Parking passes are non-existent unless someone wants t sell theirs and there are no pay places for anyone other than residents.  Oh goodie.  So we drove to Saint-Germain-en-Laye and drove around the station there.  We found underground parking, but the spots are really small. 

An hour or two after putzing with parking and buying an extra ticket for the trip between Le Pecq and Saint-Germain-en-Laye, we headed to Paris.  We stopped at Etoile and viewed the Arc de Triomphe and then headed for Rick Steve's #69 bus tour which started at the Eiffel Tower. 

We had trouble locating the bus stop, but we finally made it. It was hot and nothing is air conditioned - including the bus.  We got the lay of the land a bit then headed to Gare de L'Est (East Train station or Paris East) to wait for the train.  The station is always busy, but the train arrived on time and we all smashed into the crowded trains (rush hour) for the hour ride back to Saint-Germain-en-Laye.  

Part of Wednesday was spent in Saint-Germain-en-Laye where we had a gelato and went to the Anthropology Museum.  They have some interesting items... the fireplace was magnificent.

We wandered the town after that and shared a sandwich at a sidewalk cafe.

After we got back to the boat we walked Le Port-Marly and tried the Italian Bistro for dinner.  Had a couple of pizzas that were OK.


Thursday we drove to Versailles... after getting started on the wrong road and then having to return for the tickets, we made it to the Chateau and started to explore.  Chateau Versailles... C'est magnifique! No picture does it justice, but here are a few...

The gardens were endless - it seemed. So much to see and so much one cannot describe.

Paris - Week 1 - 7/3 to 7/5, Sights near Port Marly

Arrived in Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport - aka Roissy - early afternoon on 7/2/2011.  Met with Daniel who gave us directions and hints and the keys to the boat and car.  Daniel was off to Croatia.

Le Port-Marly is on the opposite side of Paris from Roissy so we started our trek across town - avoiding Paris Centre.  We had a couple of dipsy-doodles, but made it to the boat in about 1.5 hours.

The entrance to the "Ville" and the streets are bright.





The boat is interesting... and there are 2 outside kitties that demand attention and food twice per day.  Lee named the orange male Louis (of Louis XVI fame) and the grey female Marie (Marie Antoinette).

After a quick drive to the near by grocery store, we wandered this part of Port Marly on foot and found a number of great restaurants and decided on Le Bistrot du Port for dinner.  We had to wait about 30 minutes and were considering leaving, but we're glad we didn't.  They had a waiter who spoke English and we had a wonderful time and great food... Lee's dessert was fabulous.

Sunday we drove to Le Pecq to scope out the train station and try going into to Paris to get to the Gare de l'Est to meet Doug and Joan on Tuesday.  We walked about Le Pecq after finding a parking spot - more on that later - and thought the town quite pretty.

Buying the tickets was an adventure in itself.  One nice couple tried to help and we finally got our carnet (a book of 10 tickets) and got on the train.  We didn't get too lost, and actually discovered how to navigate the RER (regional trains) and the famous Paris metro (subway).

Monday, 7/4/2011, we found our way to the other grocery store  in Marly Le Roi and it was actually a small shopping center.  We wandered through the store with only frozen foods, checked out salons, wandered through the hardware store (fascinating!), and checked out the Carrefour grocery store.  We had lunch in Le Bistrot du Port - Marly le Roi.  The waiter spoke very little english, but we had a good time bantering back and forth about what the items were.  The Bistrot eateries are extremely good.

Iceland - Stop at Land of Fire & Ice

Arrival after midnight and the sun was just setting - with sunrise about 4 hours later.  It did not get 'dark'.  The temperature was in the high 40's (F) and that felt good.  Hotel Keflavik is about 10 minutes from the airport and was pretty comfortable.  Hotel clerk at 1 AM helped us set up the Golden Circle Tour for 7:45 in the morning.  Hoping to sleep on the bus.

First day, Golden Circle tour - we had looked at the forecast and today would be best for the tour and it was.  We had many stops - on and off the bus.  What a fascinating landscape.  They are trying to replant trees as the first settlers decimated the forests as in many countries, but there are very few trees here and they are small due to the wind (everyone, including the weather reporters, talk about having a good 'calm') and then there's the chill.  The average summer high temp is in the 50's, though it felt a tad higher in the sun.

The highlights of this tour was the Gullfoss waterfall...

                                                          and the old Church...












                                                                         The fresco and the sun thru the stained glass were wonderful.

Second day was the Blue Lagoon - Wow, was that incredible!

Di should have called ahead for an appointment for either a massage, facial, or whatever.  Many treatments are done in the lagoon. Huge lagoon where you can even buy a beer or sparkling wine from the 'swim up' bar.

What a hoot, eating in their restaurant in our robes so we could return to the lagoon after lunch!

The 'blue' is quite vivid in the waters right outside the facility... inside is not so blue.  This was a rainy day so the picture won't do it justice.  One guy told us that they had to change they way the facility took the water and used it as it could get too hot.

Then we got back to the hotel and took a cab to Cafe Duus- incredible food and personnel.

We got up early and went to the airport to head on to Paris.  Nice visit.

New York - Summer Adventure 2011 Start

After weeks of planning during the gray northwest winter months, we have finally began our summer adventure for 2011. The plan is Seattle to NY to Reykjavik to Paris to Crest to Basil to Vienna. As usual, we will document our travels in excruciating detail over to coming months.

We left Seattle on Sunday, June 26 for Long Island, NY for for 3 nights at Lee's sister's in North Babylon. Sister Mary Anne and brother-in-law Wayne were as gracious host as ever.

Highlights of the NY stay were a day trip for Di to Fire Island's Sunken Forrest (with a walk by the ocean) and the Monday Night Magic Show in Greenwich Village.

Tuesday, dinner at Peter Luger's Steak House (for Lee's birthday) in Brooklyn. The four of us had a fabulous time.

 As you can see, Lee loved Peter Luger's only appetizer...  BACON:

 

 The steak was pretty darned good, too.

Wednesday, we got to the airport and spent the pre-flight wait time in the British Airways Lounge... WOW!  You pour your own booze, wine, or beer - as much as you want.  Their sandwiches and other tidbits were very tasty and all were free.  Comfort Class, Business Class, or First Class passengers are allowed here.

 

After this we were off to Iceland...

Jan 3 - Last Day

On the high recommendation of Susan and Joan, we selected Hanauma Bay for our last day. The bay was created by a volcanic caldera whose wall collapsed and allowed the sea to rush in. We are somewhat alarmed when we arrive (at 8:30) and see a semi-full parking lot (they close the entrance when the lot is full). We waited in line to view the nine minute video on how to respect a coral reef. Video wise we head down the hill to the beach where we rent a locker and snorkeling equipment. Lee LOVES the prescription lens diving masks.  The  fish were magnificent! We must have seen thirty different species all with wild colors and shapes. We both agree that we want to snorkel again. We spent about an hour and a half swimming in water never over ten feet deep.

Next is Costco to look for "aloha" shirts. Wide selection for under $20, indeed a good tip.

Back to Kialua for lunch at the Big City Diner, Lee has to have one more Loco Moco. Then back to Susan's to pack and get ready for dinner at Buzz's Steak House.  Buzz's steaks were flavorful and cooked perfectly and their salad bar was excellent. Set the clock for a 0600 with a 0630 departure for the airport.

This has been the best vacation!  To New Zealand and Hawaii, Kia Ora (be well!) and Aloha (goodbye), we will be back... there's too much left to do.

Jan 2 - Pearl Harbor Memorial & Hawaiian Melodies

Jan 2 USA - Susan's friend, Joan, was visiting from San Diego and she suggested we do the USS Arizona  Memorial, the Bowfin Museum, and the USS Missouri today.  We needed to get there before 8 to get in the early tours of the Arizona - they fill up fast.

We got into the 8:30 tour and spent time before the tour walking the beautiful grounds.  One striking memorial was the submarine Remembrance Circle - a stone for every submarine lost in the war and a description of what happened or what was thought to have happened.  Tears well up now just thinking about them all. 

Memorial entrance

Our tour started with the movie which explained in some detail what led up to the attack - some surprising stuff there, too.  Then we boarded a boat that carried us out to where the Arizona and her crew still lay.

It was very eerie and incredibly sad.  There was a list of the 1177 crew members on the back, interior wall of the memorial and Lee found it fitting to look at / read each name. 

Back at the park we wound our way over to the Bowfin Museum.  We took the tour of the submarine itself and then went in the museum.  Joan said to look for her dad's memorabilia.

Her dad was 'Red' Ramage, Commander of the USS Parche. He won the Medal of Honor while he was still alive for an AMAZING attack that I cannot describe here - I could not do it justice.  Suffice it to say that he and his crew used the submarine within an enemy convoy and loaded/fired torpedoes in such rapid succession that hearing about it takes your breath away!    When he was asked about that fight, he said "I just got mad!"  We are so glad we met Joan and wish we could have met her dad!

Mighty MO

One Thick Hatch

We caught a shuttle over to the "Mighty MO", the USS Missouri.  What an historic ship; WWII through Vietnam to being recommissioned (I believe) for Desert Shield!  

The audio tour allowed us to wander all over and discover so much on our own.

We stopped and visited with Cam and Rita on our way home.  It was great seeing them again. 

We got back to the house with a few minutes to change before we went out to a nearby golf course lounge to listen to Eddie Kamae and members of his band, Sons of Hawaii, jam.  The music was varied and wonderful.  There were a number of ladies and a few young girls who got up to hula for some of the songs.  Eddie signed the albums Joan had purchased - and she was thrilled as you can see from her smile.

The band was winding down so we headed off to Buona Sera Italian Restaurant for a fabulous dinner with Susan and Joan. 

This was a very emotional day!