Home again. We are so lucky to live in a place that is equal in beauty to anything we saw in our travels. Tomorrow my teaching life begins in earnest,; we are assessing entering kindergarteners. I doubt that I will have time to continue my blog. It took me a major part of today to add these pictures to my blog. It helped me to put closure on my vacation and say "good bye" to summer. I have noticed recently that most of the comments on my blog are from people selling everything from low carb drinks to gaming sites, wedding favors, and online personals. It is insulting to my time to have such parasites attach themselves to my blog. That gives me another reason to discontinue posting.
If you are a truly interested blogger or relative with nothing to sell me, I welcome your comments and thank you for reading.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Anna Rae and Gil
We had the pleasure of meeting Anna Rae's friend Gil on her second to the last day in France. He spent '03-'04 in Belfair, WA as an exchange student. His English is flawless and he is a great conversationalist. This coming year he will be going to the Sorbonne in Paris.
Hopefully he will be able to visit Seattle in summer '06 and we can once again enjoy his company.
Hopefully he will be able to visit Seattle in summer '06 and we can once again enjoy his company.
Sausage Vendor; Annecy, FR
I could not believe all the varieties of hard sausages. Anna Rae's favorite had hazelnuts in it.
Water Skiing on Lac Annecy
Thanks to the generosity of Phillipe and Anne, Anna Rae learned to water ski on Lac 'd Annecy this summer. It continued to be very hot when we returned to Annecy. I can't begin to tell you how refreshing it felt to be on the lake on this day.
Mt. Veyrier Hike
Back in Annecy, Gerard took me and some of his friends on a spectacular 3 hour hike.
Staging Truck for Le Tour
This was taken on July 12th. It is the closest we came to seeing Lance and his last 'Tour'. I think they were headed to Courcheval.
With Friends in Gap, FR
From Nice we rented a car and drove up to Gap, France where we were treated to the generous hospitality of our friends Meg and Marc. Meg and I both taught at Bailey Gatzert in Seattle in the early 1990s. I think she taught 2nd or 3rd grade and I as always, taught kindergarten. Well, Meg left Seattle to teach in the Gambia, Africa where she met Marc, who is French (but NOT a teacher). She married Marc, moved to France, and now they have 2 charming little boys, Ben and Luc, and they live in Gap, France. There is a lot more to the story but that is it in a nutshell. We were so fortunate to stay in the guest room of their lovely home. And the food and wine....tres bien!
One Potato, Two Potato
We went to Nice on a Sunday, market day. It had rained HARD in the morning so we did not roller blade along the promanade as planned. But we did stroll the market which was incredible. Potatoes, olives, tomatoes, marzipan, spices, cactus plants, and of course olives and much more in artistic display. Nice had one of the best markets we experienced in all of Europe.
Rothschild Villa Ephrussi
What can I say?! This 'beauty' stepping out from her bath is at the Rothschild Villa Ephrussi Gardens. These gardens and the first floor of the mansion are well worth a visit to Cap Ferrat. The gardens each have a theme ie; Japanese, the Alhambra, Exotic (more cactus), rose, stonegarden, etc.
Eze-le-Village, FR
This is a village high above the sea. It is very touristy but worth the visit for the breathtaking views. The steps leading up to the gardens where I took this picture are lined with tourist shops (overpriced, I thought). We bought ice cream but did not stay for dinner although I must say the smells from the restaurants were SO enticing! The gardens have a huge selection of cactuses and succulents. The plants are VERY big, obviously thriving. The statues, all named after women and with a bit of prose equating women with flowers and beauty, are a bit kitchy. I would've appreciated about a dozen fewer
statues!
statues!
Villefranche sur Mer
Lots of sun, reading and relaxing. Great food too; try the Moules Frites. We stayed at a one star hotel for 56 euros a night. We found it totally agreeable although when we awoke to a summer storm complete with hail on 7-10 at least one room had some flooding and the Australian owners were in a bit of a tizzy trying to keep everybody happy. The name of the hotel:
Hotel Patricia. The beach is about a 5 minute walk away.
Hotel Patricia. The beach is about a 5 minute walk away.
Villefranche Sur Mer, FR
Back to France and more relaxing on the French Riviera. In a nutshell; Italian trains were noisy, chaotic and dirty, French trains were cleaner quiter and on time!
Grapes in Vernazza
We took the hike between Vernazza and Montessorro, spent the day at the beach and then hiked back. The hike wound up and up between vineyards before the steep descent to the shoreline.
Vernazza, Italy
This is where the relaxing part of our vacation began. This town is part of the
Cinque Terre; 5 towns that cling to the cliffs above the Ligurian Sea. There are no cars allowed into the Cinque Terre but all 5 towns are connected by hiking paths (not for the faint hearted day tripper) and a train runs a constant schedule along the coast.
Cinque Terre; 5 towns that cling to the cliffs above the Ligurian Sea. There are no cars allowed into the Cinque Terre but all 5 towns are connected by hiking paths (not for the faint hearted day tripper) and a train runs a constant schedule along the coast.
Our Courtyard in Florence
Aside from mosquitos which bother only Chris (such a sweet guy), our apartment was perfect. I reccommend it; Affittacamere Freda Lucia on Via S. Zanobi.
The Last Judgement (1572-74)
Climbed up the duomo and got a close up view of the frescoes by Vasari (completed by Zuccari). The dome was built by Brunelleschi; finished in 1463. I thought this dome was more beautiful than St. Peter's.
Florence, Italy
Ponte Vecchio bridge built in 1345 has been lined with fine jewelry shops since 1593 when duke Ferdinand I replaced the blacksmiths, tanners and butchers who had dominated the bridge shops; using the river to dump their waste and refuse. Jewelers paid higher rent and didn't make the stench of the former occupants.
The Backs of the Apostles
These apostles, saints, or some such holy guys, look down from the above the basillica into the Piazza San Pietro.
July 2, 2005
On my birthday I climbed the 537 steps of the staircase in the Basillica of St. Peter's. It was early in the morning before any crowds and there was absolutely no waiting in lines. It was a peaceful and
totally perfect start to 'My Day'.
totally perfect start to 'My Day'.
Our Longest Line
This was the line we waited in to get into the Vatican Museum. We arrived about a half hour after it openned. It actually moved pretty fast. I don't think it took more than 45 minutes to get inside but the line was about a quarter of a mile long and it was a very hot day. We had a good time visiting with a couple from Mexico City who were driving around Europe for 5 weeks.
Shakespeare and Company Bookstore
Located on the Left Bank, a haunt of famous and aspiring authors and poets for decades. Liberated by Hemmingway at the end of the War. It has the best stock of books in English print in Paris.
Sainte-Chappelle
A very gorgeous Gothic cathedral built between 1242 and 1248 for Louis IX. Worth the visit to see the sun light up the vast amount of lovely stained glass.
Van Gogh's Room at Arles
At the Orsay we saw countless works by Van Gogh and other Impressionists. I took way too many 'pictures of pictures' as AR and Chris informed me more than once. I realize I could just buy a book or postcards of all this incredible art work but it just wouldn't have been as satisfying. Taking the pictures was kind of like pinching myself to be sure I was really there, looking at the originals.
Musee d 'Orsay
This is by far, my favorite museum to have had the pleasure to visit while in Europe. From this picture it is easy to imagine what it must've looked like as a train station from 1900 to 1940. If you have seen the movie The Long Engagement, this IS the train station, reborn through the magic of digital effects.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Tanya and I (on my deck)
Thank you Tanya and all my other readers out there for encouraging me to keep on posting. I will try to add more
trip photos but right now I am at school busy setting up my classroom
(student in Yakima; pay attention!). Also looking forward to a visit from my parents. They arrive on the train from Wisconsin tomorrow and the forecast is rain. Since their weather has been darn hot I doubt that they will mind. Well,
back to pushing desks around and writing names on crayon boxes etc.
trip photos but right now I am at school busy setting up my classroom
(student in Yakima; pay attention!). Also looking forward to a visit from my parents. They arrive on the train from Wisconsin tomorrow and the forecast is rain. Since their weather has been darn hot I doubt that they will mind. Well,
back to pushing desks around and writing names on crayon boxes etc.
Friday, August 12, 2005
Anna Rae and Friends
This is Colombe and Hugo with Anna Rae in the middle. They are 2 of Anna Raes' classmates from Saint Michel's in Annecy.
Hugo is Anna Rae's host brother too.
Hugo is Anna Rae's host brother too.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Way Behind!
O.K. I still need to post pictures of Rome, Florence, Vernazza, Ville Franche Sur Mer, Nice, Monacco, Gap, more of Annecy, as well as many photos of friends. But it is hard to compete with the computer needs of a 17 year old, also FLICKR has been giving me impossible problems when I try to upload and our AOL account is no peach either. Add a weedy, water needy garden, visiting relatives, and day to day life to the mix, and well, that's what I have been up to. I have LOVED the company of visiting relatives (it is always a delight to 'show off' Seattle), bemoan my inability to catch up with the needs of my yard/garden, and grit my teeth and growl when I face technology glitches.
So, people have asked, "Is Anna Rae different?" and I must say "Yes, and No." She still is unapproachable in the first 2 hours of the morning, she still leaves lots of 'stuff' on the floor in her bedroom where it doesn't belong, she still talks ALOT, she has HUGE computer time needs, she watches MTV and TV in general, WAY too much, she lives here but she spends alot of time away from the house. She has been doing a lot of childcare for families; actually raking in quite a bit of income in these last weeks of summer. So how is she diffferent... well more than one person has described her as "Worldly." I do agree with that adjective yet I cringe a little too because when I was growing up if my parents described a teenager as "worldly" their eyebrows would go up as they talked meaning that the
teenager being discussed had morals that were 'suspect'. That is NOT the case with Anna Rae. Her worldliness is a genuine, first hand knowledge that there are cultures with customs, beliefs, and economic realities that should be more understood and respected by Americans. For example, when friends and relatives start talking about the high price of gas (currently $2.63/gal.) she informs us that gas has been well over $5.00 a gallon since December in Europe (she did the math to convert Euros to Dollars and Liters to Gallons). If possible, she is more confident; a quality that she has always had in abundance. She is driving here, there, and everywhere in West Seattle and Burien; oftentimes toting along the kids in her charge. Although she did not drive at all in France, I am more comfortable with her driving skills now than I was a year ago. She is taking an advanced class in French conversation at Highline Community College and while it is not for credit, I am happy she is doing something to keep up her language skills.
So that is a little slice of our life right now. Does anyone read this? I am thinking of giving up on posting pictures unless I get a comment or two. That is not asking much, folks.
So, people have asked, "Is Anna Rae different?" and I must say "Yes, and No." She still is unapproachable in the first 2 hours of the morning, she still leaves lots of 'stuff' on the floor in her bedroom where it doesn't belong, she still talks ALOT, she has HUGE computer time needs, she watches MTV and TV in general, WAY too much, she lives here but she spends alot of time away from the house. She has been doing a lot of childcare for families; actually raking in quite a bit of income in these last weeks of summer. So how is she diffferent... well more than one person has described her as "Worldly." I do agree with that adjective yet I cringe a little too because when I was growing up if my parents described a teenager as "worldly" their eyebrows would go up as they talked meaning that the
teenager being discussed had morals that were 'suspect'. That is NOT the case with Anna Rae. Her worldliness is a genuine, first hand knowledge that there are cultures with customs, beliefs, and economic realities that should be more understood and respected by Americans. For example, when friends and relatives start talking about the high price of gas (currently $2.63/gal.) she informs us that gas has been well over $5.00 a gallon since December in Europe (she did the math to convert Euros to Dollars and Liters to Gallons). If possible, she is more confident; a quality that she has always had in abundance. She is driving here, there, and everywhere in West Seattle and Burien; oftentimes toting along the kids in her charge. Although she did not drive at all in France, I am more comfortable with her driving skills now than I was a year ago. She is taking an advanced class in French conversation at Highline Community College and while it is not for credit, I am happy she is doing something to keep up her language skills.
So that is a little slice of our life right now. Does anyone read this? I am thinking of giving up on posting pictures unless I get a comment or two. That is not asking much, folks.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Victoire de Samothrace
One last photo from the Louvre. To get an idea of the size of this winged woman, look at the heads of the people on the left.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
