Saturday, January 27, 2007
Paris
I had two days in Paris. After day one I decided I hated it. After day two I decided that it was, as a matter of fact, quite lovely. On day three, far away from it nestled in wonderful Strasbourg, France en route to Colmar, France I am not sure what to say...
Day one was possibly minus 30 with the wind chill and we checked into a hotel that did not have heat. And when I say it did not have heat I mean that if you were anywhere outside the hot water in the bathtub you needed to keep your touque and gloves on. Then we attempted the Louvre which meant dealing with another totally confusing metro line and arctic conditions. I saw the Mona Lisa and stood there and wondered...what the hell is the big deal about this painting? In fact, my favorite part of the Louvre was a ridiculously funny comment Leanne made about the excessive slaying and reaching and 'head-off' in all the art. I laughed until I almost wet myself. The happiness ended when we walked outside.
After about a block and a half we were frozen and miserable and jumped on a bus without caring where it took us. We got thoroughly lost and then went home to our god awful cold hotel. Leanne took a hot bath and I talked to Jax on the phone under 45 blankets and that night we hit a French Safeway and did what good ol' grumpy Saskatchewan women do when they are hating life...we ate. The bed picnic was the hightlight of the day.
The next day was less cold and I was determined to make a better go at it. There was an attempt to shop for new boots for me (my original boots from Value Village have long since bitten the dust...maybe what they meant when they said take quality footwear to Europe...oops) and the Musee D'orcy which was much less 'head-off'...we started to conquer the metro (well, maybe not CONQUER) and took a much needed walk up Les Champs-Elysees stopping to cartwheel in front of the Arc de Triomphe. Then we hit a North American movie which was delightful and finished off the night by going to the Eifel Tower and observing a man propose at the very top. Not to us, of course, but it was lovely to see none the less. Yes, yesterday was much more impressive even if I can't necessarily say that I will miss it.
Our next leg was decided on yesterday all thanks to Rick Steves (thank you Sean for that Guide Book Christmas gift...it is saving our asses). We have chosen to experience the Alsace Region on the boarder of Germany which will give us the feeling of Germany as well as France and get us once more into a more sleepy, rural setting. We have booked a B and B owned by vineyard owners that looks idyllic. Tonight we have also been lucky, stumbling upon the Disneyland of Hostels...clean, bright, fun and even affordable. Even my internet time is less expensive. We give thumbs up to Strasbourg and cross our fingers for Colmar.
As much as I will never forget this trip for as long as I live, I said to an exhausted Leanne today on the train ... you don't call this a vacation, you call this an adventure ... and you make sure to give yourself about two weeks(and maybe even a good therapist) to recover upon your return.
Jax, start my bath.
Day one was possibly minus 30 with the wind chill and we checked into a hotel that did not have heat. And when I say it did not have heat I mean that if you were anywhere outside the hot water in the bathtub you needed to keep your touque and gloves on. Then we attempted the Louvre which meant dealing with another totally confusing metro line and arctic conditions. I saw the Mona Lisa and stood there and wondered...what the hell is the big deal about this painting? In fact, my favorite part of the Louvre was a ridiculously funny comment Leanne made about the excessive slaying and reaching and 'head-off' in all the art. I laughed until I almost wet myself. The happiness ended when we walked outside.
After about a block and a half we were frozen and miserable and jumped on a bus without caring where it took us. We got thoroughly lost and then went home to our god awful cold hotel. Leanne took a hot bath and I talked to Jax on the phone under 45 blankets and that night we hit a French Safeway and did what good ol' grumpy Saskatchewan women do when they are hating life...we ate. The bed picnic was the hightlight of the day.
The next day was less cold and I was determined to make a better go at it. There was an attempt to shop for new boots for me (my original boots from Value Village have long since bitten the dust...maybe what they meant when they said take quality footwear to Europe...oops) and the Musee D'orcy which was much less 'head-off'...we started to conquer the metro (well, maybe not CONQUER) and took a much needed walk up Les Champs-Elysees stopping to cartwheel in front of the Arc de Triomphe. Then we hit a North American movie which was delightful and finished off the night by going to the Eifel Tower and observing a man propose at the very top. Not to us, of course, but it was lovely to see none the less. Yes, yesterday was much more impressive even if I can't necessarily say that I will miss it.
Our next leg was decided on yesterday all thanks to Rick Steves (thank you Sean for that Guide Book Christmas gift...it is saving our asses). We have chosen to experience the Alsace Region on the boarder of Germany which will give us the feeling of Germany as well as France and get us once more into a more sleepy, rural setting. We have booked a B and B owned by vineyard owners that looks idyllic. Tonight we have also been lucky, stumbling upon the Disneyland of Hostels...clean, bright, fun and even affordable. Even my internet time is less expensive. We give thumbs up to Strasbourg and cross our fingers for Colmar.
As much as I will never forget this trip for as long as I live, I said to an exhausted Leanne today on the train ... you don't call this a vacation, you call this an adventure ... and you make sure to give yourself about two weeks(and maybe even a good therapist) to recover upon your return.
Jax, start my bath.
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