tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44263212839239857072024-03-19T15:58:43.554-04:00just past middaySherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-19850032220120637952011-11-15T23:07:00.000-05:002011-11-15T23:07:42.166-05:002 weeks of November Art JournallingWeek 1 -- this week coincided with the start of Julie's 30 Days in your Journal online class, so I used some of the same tools and techniques we used in the first set of pages. Watercoloured and spattered the background. SU Halloween stamp in black and french script BG in copper. Added part of a new Starbucks coffee sleeve and a subway ticket that Marc brought home from Shanghai. Sharpie for journaling, as I was having trouble getting other pens to work on this surface. It happens from time to time. Pitt marker doodles around the coffee sleeve, dabs of green acrylic with Julie's punchinella stencil, circles and copper with the chicken wire shape.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7N_mYWR_vLPNpCPhyphenhyphenEqr98kUdc6Dbv9v9uc2d5Qll0DLPqYXXntYTmpsMZbbqgjaBB8YxQu6DvUtruID72wCUMZn9b1adWiD2ht01a6i7Z3kthYuTFbAGAY4aspsvDEyp2snrqO50hwkX/s1600/November+week+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7N_mYWR_vLPNpCPhyphenhyphenEqr98kUdc6Dbv9v9uc2d5Qll0DLPqYXXntYTmpsMZbbqgjaBB8YxQu6DvUtruID72wCUMZn9b1adWiD2ht01a6i7Z3kthYuTFbAGAY4aspsvDEyp2snrqO50hwkX/s400/November+week+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Week 2 - Started with a background technique by Cuchy, featured on Julie's blog a couple of weeks ago. Misted colours, sprinkled with salt while still wet. Fun! As I wrote, my husband surprised me with a new, and much needed and appreciated, laptop. A protective fabric like piece was inside, between the screen and keyboard, and those two triangle shapes were in it. A ready made stencil! I sprayed with a dark brown walnut ink, dried my new stencil and added it to my stash. The cardboard sun was packagin material from a mug, brushed with yellow acrylic, then sponged with brown distress ink. Added some bits of paper from the week, wrote the big letters in black acrylic, journalled with a black Pitt marker, and coloured inside the heart with a pink chalk pen.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrGROxsc4k9oBN7ZOYO3sRbLwCyyfhbt_p0JTGYdHBi0idBtDUU8CFeH1sfsXJhIOt74C3zEMumhEkLoMVyUm1r_oKrkJ9unMthyyUg42vsYsG0TzZi2rbdebi5aKwY5lAKmp5qQsgpUN/s1600/November+week+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrGROxsc4k9oBN7ZOYO3sRbLwCyyfhbt_p0JTGYdHBi0idBtDUU8CFeH1sfsXJhIOt74C3zEMumhEkLoMVyUm1r_oKrkJ9unMthyyUg42vsYsG0TzZi2rbdebi5aKwY5lAKmp5qQsgpUN/s400/November+week+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-63081151010336906172011-11-15T22:59:00.000-05:002011-11-15T22:59:55.435-05:00The Rest of October -- Art JournallingWeek 3 - I knew I wanted to use this stencil, but didn't want to start with my plain gessoed pages. So I used gel medium to apply strips of newpaper. Then the orange. Then then stenciled image. Then . . . I didn't want to cover it! I added a few die cut shapes and stalled again. Pulled out Julie's words stamps, chose 5 randomly, and using those as my starting point for this week's journaling. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPeGJz63tf27IGV3MRr4Hob1sBxYr6mbGz3HwuUZurG63rS-QHxDVh57aAxo1orkmCza5j_nT3-aNq8bDaBVFFpu0NyLgDiOYdK2Lvx0ctmGfR15mWcV4crCDkdlgz21Yi0j_NAteDdJZ/s1600/October+week+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPeGJz63tf27IGV3MRr4Hob1sBxYr6mbGz3HwuUZurG63rS-QHxDVh57aAxo1orkmCza5j_nT3-aNq8bDaBVFFpu0NyLgDiOYdK2Lvx0ctmGfR15mWcV4crCDkdlgz21Yi0j_NAteDdJZ/s400/October+week+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Week 4 - black gesso, Julie's circle stamps with orange acrylic, a white spider die cut, and more acrylic paint.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqqM2MVg7onHxMtg7kksgMjNvlisfV_PLqKhmx8FML39rudpwcT2c25EfiB81jEgCy3UXdEw59yS9aoue5BdTBJOPtWMnxXyjdLZPyDKhToCt1FOEWu_BvSnlgsBLxU6MDBlnJMP5tPBJ/s1600/October+week+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqqM2MVg7onHxMtg7kksgMjNvlisfV_PLqKhmx8FML39rudpwcT2c25EfiB81jEgCy3UXdEw59yS9aoue5BdTBJOPtWMnxXyjdLZPyDKhToCt1FOEWu_BvSnlgsBLxU6MDBlnJMP5tPBJ/s400/October+week+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-8550235636206003032011-10-23T23:49:00.000-04:002011-10-23T23:49:54.646-04:00October Art Journaling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">October Week 1</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeu5EVyfWKMF52EP_6yunbwafqPPCasO1gxYRtF0mo7bmDsTD_mTTAwlEh2OwN1e6Qs6tSZZ8lUD46Veg_CuJPhs25u29_Eq0WRCVm-o5b-U70vMiBsHxmYq72siBiyOigbqTBZdVRPND/s1600/October+week+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeu5EVyfWKMF52EP_6yunbwafqPPCasO1gxYRtF0mo7bmDsTD_mTTAwlEh2OwN1e6Qs6tSZZ8lUD46Veg_CuJPhs25u29_Eq0WRCVm-o5b-U70vMiBsHxmYq72siBiyOigbqTBZdVRPND/s400/October+week+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another one of those pages that started with leftover paint from the week before. I added the light blue with the intention of using black and the skyline stencil. The results weren't very crisp. I added a TH stamped image of a bug, and a couple of white rub ons. And our fortunes from Saturday's PF Chang dinner. Some Sakura pens for a bit more doodling, and the FC Pitt markers for most of the journaling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">October Week 2</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was an especially pink week in this pink month. I knew I wanted these pages to be pink. I used pink acrylic on gessoed pages, before the gesso was completely dry. I like how it turned out. I had picked up a pink chalk pen at Michael's -- it was among all of their BC Awareness stuff. I used it for all of my journaling. The white is a Sharpey paint pen. </div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-10781300981925544502011-10-23T00:37:00.003-04:002011-10-23T07:39:16.867-04:00Our October ColoursAt this time of year, the predominant colours around here are the colours of fall: orange, yellow, a blazing red. But in the Pelletier house, our colours fall outside of the typical autumn colour range.<br />
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Green. Nick picked up a green suit to wear, possibly for Halloween, but first, for an experiment for his Abnormal Psych class. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Off he went in his green suit, for a day at school. The experiment was to create a situation out of the norm, and study the reactions. And there were reactions!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkH6qLN_ZhYGo_h0-yyRlDRhyphenhyphenadd5CUm0_TMjdjytygSOSiRDpjRBtJwjIK1VNQmbXNUrEOJoxkkmXcQ0ZbY9IUDIYHYYsd8ft93uTlhK9eyaita6j57HqwvBffh3wH2__qRVghlgHaxrq/s1600/colours2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkH6qLN_ZhYGo_h0-yyRlDRhyphenhyphenadd5CUm0_TMjdjytygSOSiRDpjRBtJwjIK1VNQmbXNUrEOJoxkkmXcQ0ZbY9IUDIYHYYsd8ft93uTlhK9eyaita6j57HqwvBffh3wH2__qRVghlgHaxrq/s400/colours2.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Orange. Marking the start of Flyers season. Nick dresses for school in his game day attire, on most game days.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Red: UD Lightning, Gaby's soccer team. She's #25.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFliKJ5NowGlafBOs1C2zzHLhScW_LviNPCZZwxZulkSgNhy41ZIxhIQ68bTAJ3dnufbbMU6B4lZxTuCAP1WWe1Eg8HeC9RVZ8_X5WbNaW0lVF_MYC2zoOj8aUyA5WO_wV3gDqVHfE_bJq/s1600/colours4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFliKJ5NowGlafBOs1C2zzHLhScW_LviNPCZZwxZulkSgNhy41ZIxhIQ68bTAJ3dnufbbMU6B4lZxTuCAP1WWe1Eg8HeC9RVZ8_X5WbNaW0lVF_MYC2zoOj8aUyA5WO_wV3gDqVHfE_bJq/s400/colours4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Camo: not technically a colour, but in abundance in October. Archery season begins for Marc. Last year, he started hunting locally, on a co-worker's property.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfrnuMfoqr3wuPgGyyeFSKytrpEZ4Vuqf3KjaGGIV3226F5n-CRks7tNTXTJUo-vffX6VQwON9xPk1zwisAbQTDG450Tb9ftK20nnMWs0AbWb6xd0dXG8twtHYUtE17J442bbh7bYI463/s1600/colours5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfrnuMfoqr3wuPgGyyeFSKytrpEZ4Vuqf3KjaGGIV3226F5n-CRks7tNTXTJUo-vffX6VQwON9xPk1zwisAbQTDG450Tb9ftK20nnMWs0AbWb6xd0dXG8twtHYUtE17J442bbh7bYI463/s400/colours5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For the first time in my life, for the first time in all of our years together, I went with him. Five hours to get a 15 minute glimpse of a doe that, thankfully, Marc couldn't shoot, since his license was for a buck. Best part - the 45 minute drive together, each way. Worst part - tied. Not being able to talk for over 2 hours, losing feeling in my extremities while trying to sit still, or the bugs, especially deer ticks and skeeters.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIkrFAgtTAn-I9EYtd2NFBJDSdVOARYq5YKYkpiX87celYINOMoQ7wFfJ0JSLIVAQj9Mt4ooWEQ6vPB721FSuINTqDTwmanitrHAzP0P_pvwAQaRe_YGlzvHOZ92FFDKP5EVmtspEnxxw/s1600/colours6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIkrFAgtTAn-I9EYtd2NFBJDSdVOARYq5YKYkpiX87celYINOMoQ7wFfJ0JSLIVAQj9Mt4ooWEQ6vPB721FSuINTqDTwmanitrHAzP0P_pvwAQaRe_YGlzvHOZ92FFDKP5EVmtspEnxxw/s400/colours6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blue: the Philadelphia Union came out to our high school. Three players, one of whom is a junior at our school. They signed autographs for over an hour, graciously signing shirts, balls, photos, cards, whatever was presented. They were awesome!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwu1UHnElOS49yPIXp_PmOWifIp7IsE2i-uIzr5Wr6KIkINJvePJrVNBVyW8rg9q1z-q5XXmC61SsBU2S3YyUETRqXfcQPeQTkew5yXx0EhSEGqIUChvcGRD1pNApwmWXVwNjQjJq3O4X9/s1600/colours7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwu1UHnElOS49yPIXp_PmOWifIp7IsE2i-uIzr5Wr6KIkINJvePJrVNBVyW8rg9q1z-q5XXmC61SsBU2S3YyUETRqXfcQPeQTkew5yXx0EhSEGqIUChvcGRD1pNApwmWXVwNjQjJq3O4X9/s400/colours7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More blue: Team Maryellen, formerly Team Buststop, participating in their 3rd 3Day walk for the Cure. They first walked two years ago in celebration of the end of treatment for Maryellen, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer the year before. Last year they walked without Maryellen as the cancer had returned. This year, with heavy hearts but heads held high, they walked in her honour and in her memory. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gaby and I got up early to catch the 7:00 opening ceremonies and start, at WG Mall.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gaby caught the bus in time for school, and I joined the crowd at Rosario's to wait for Team Maryellen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qXuBegtVJdUC4O6Dez2GML48bK44mdfgPPhiNafIzSbf8Rzn3_7XcFD-SkNDBvCLEWkf3lF4UVGhpreIbhz2wPxrW4KTHHfxaRdZnfS8PLRvGsyzrNLEKg6OtwL0SsYNTTwtFiI_cFza/s1600/colours9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qXuBegtVJdUC4O6Dez2GML48bK44mdfgPPhiNafIzSbf8Rzn3_7XcFD-SkNDBvCLEWkf3lF4UVGhpreIbhz2wPxrW4KTHHfxaRdZnfS8PLRvGsyzrNLEKg6OtwL0SsYNTTwtFiI_cFza/s400/colours9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once again, it was amazing to see all of these walkers, and even more emotional when Team Maryellen arrived.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_vllV_CxQPptDIhkhxxJ8RfvuidNt9lkNJDJjTCuL62WwJ-msgco-kydqaZBuQoClWf3kejFjl2jjokGpJyCFSTCRDyB_bQPUuDmvDG3TRpbSg_pkrJDkIysB-Ej4XnEZNBl8F-QxzWV/s1600/colours10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_vllV_CxQPptDIhkhxxJ8RfvuidNt9lkNJDJjTCuL62WwJ-msgco-kydqaZBuQoClWf3kejFjl2jjokGpJyCFSTCRDyB_bQPUuDmvDG3TRpbSg_pkrJDkIysB-Ej4XnEZNBl8F-QxzWV/s400/colours10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course there was plenty of pink, the colour for Breast Cancer Awareness month.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_MV4CIi4PIhQf8ok4Qmc-2oQTOfpaAFhqVhWa9AhU0Ig-f-b5IxCPqy8loSVTxfsK8W5_eVVI-UZ9jf5he1NSwhKALLdu8XOzKGeCU-7mR4Bkorpb_6zTHGgWowxYuqDHVff9cl8EF-k/s1600/colours11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_MV4CIi4PIhQf8ok4Qmc-2oQTOfpaAFhqVhWa9AhU0Ig-f-b5IxCPqy8loSVTxfsK8W5_eVVI-UZ9jf5he1NSwhKALLdu8XOzKGeCU-7mR4Bkorpb_6zTHGgWowxYuqDHVff9cl8EF-k/s400/colours11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We wore pink most of the weekend in honour of the walkers. Carole and Mike gave me, and Gaby, pink Union scarves that were distributed at the game the evening before. Lucky us!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRBReXvKnHlR6DI-0shovSQXuV3u9Fhbrsf9jqhrWI6lGOIXEKwFhTI7MNQgmTt9MFjwKXwfIEqhPOtXX_zXUtkjGyorrP5DTpdGERBpG2u-M0XWNBF1_fcdhTHsjS9FmX1cTbS8u2FgN/s1600/colours12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRBReXvKnHlR6DI-0shovSQXuV3u9Fhbrsf9jqhrWI6lGOIXEKwFhTI7MNQgmTt9MFjwKXwfIEqhPOtXX_zXUtkjGyorrP5DTpdGERBpG2u-M0XWNBF1_fcdhTHsjS9FmX1cTbS8u2FgN/s400/colours12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Red, white & blue: the colour of headgear at Gaby's school's Fall Festival. The kids receive tickets when playing games, and can redeem them for a variety of prizes. These hats were one of the popular choices.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCV8uQ9ye_xecDu6ZQoTBmBENKyOZq81ObqzQRAoeSuUP3w3crEZB1_2QpfavLj6Qlm6cSnNBi7tedj7dsijQQRPD2DHREK3NEknPRRpSuAeQhwau5-VJoYHR4r_7nml7MR7FLmUpPJ2v/s1600/colours13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCV8uQ9ye_xecDu6ZQoTBmBENKyOZq81ObqzQRAoeSuUP3w3crEZB1_2QpfavLj6Qlm6cSnNBi7tedj7dsijQQRPD2DHREK3NEknPRRpSuAeQhwau5-VJoYHR4r_7nml7MR7FLmUpPJ2v/s400/colours13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And we cannot forget Gaby's favourite colour during soccer season: dirt!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsr0XeDGf-mqA19gtYVCQ95twy9zUuJxICALpbvHPWfGOvih8Ray60iwIOjk665M9tmKKZ6gedwJPPFaV8logi5_1wVS8b52P4PlcSZCbKn-egnk3zsOZVaJOspqszK7JM-kcBYHh2Q68p/s1600/colours14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsr0XeDGf-mqA19gtYVCQ95twy9zUuJxICALpbvHPWfGOvih8Ray60iwIOjk665M9tmKKZ6gedwJPPFaV8logi5_1wVS8b52P4PlcSZCbKn-egnk3zsOZVaJOspqszK7JM-kcBYHh2Q68p/s400/colours14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In this state, these don't make it past the front door.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5L95sWd9ztYsieTMfA79M7oFu7zdN_JVaGoKZSJ8m7Yvcm17_21bouzYNbXuMFeUUBt-7yimYoEdDr0q7jYqMopX5gqLeBjxIqV3XV8_mQeqwoCWOTmNnujCIHTLs7U5vQHbzI4J-gMG/s1600/colours15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5L95sWd9ztYsieTMfA79M7oFu7zdN_JVaGoKZSJ8m7Yvcm17_21bouzYNbXuMFeUUBt-7yimYoEdDr0q7jYqMopX5gqLeBjxIqV3XV8_mQeqwoCWOTmNnujCIHTLs7U5vQHbzI4J-gMG/s400/colours15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-48825536617150485732011-10-07T22:21:00.002-04:002011-10-07T22:24:02.713-04:00Last Week's AJED<div style="text-align: center;">September Week Four and One Half</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YH3GY-etBQerFaO7qej1_NgUj-iQLUz4nKr06wjf5sE4NaevP7Kmc6JL1fQiDpxbNyrtZBbo8oVv1DYEL2MezsQmqSYL1nflxVGwMCqAV9A8kaYFsEjdxZe1yhXI2o9QyRug6a-raDL1/s1600/Sept+week+4+and+a+half.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YH3GY-etBQerFaO7qej1_NgUj-iQLUz4nKr06wjf5sE4NaevP7Kmc6JL1fQiDpxbNyrtZBbo8oVv1DYEL2MezsQmqSYL1nflxVGwMCqAV9A8kaYFsEjdxZe1yhXI2o9QyRug6a-raDL1/s400/Sept+week+4+and+a+half.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last week, while I was working on these pages, Julie blogged about participating in a Sizzix blog hop, and shared the book she made for it. See it <a href="http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/2011/09/sizzix-blog-hop-painted-photo-album.html">here</a>. I love love love the colours she used, and that was my starting point for this week. I blended acrylics to get this bright red orange. The black on the left is actually the result of a sloppy stencil job, so I covered it up. Once it was dry, I used Julie's leaf frame stencil and I love the result. Her punchinella stencil was used on the right, I added some journaling lines with the edge of an old gift card, and a piece of 7Gypsies tape filled the space on the left. Getting close to the end of the book, the left hand pages are tougher to work on away from the edges, cuz the left side is fat and lumpty. I did my journaling with a black sharpy this time. The paint finish is quite smooth, but it still seems to suck the life out of most of my pens. A sharpy is easier and cheaper to replace.</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-84388530220227530792011-09-28T18:21:00.000-04:002011-09-28T18:21:01.819-04:00Art Journaling - September in September<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Typos in paint -- I can't even be bothered trying to fix them. But I do know how to spell practice, just not how to paint it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what I did last week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuq0ephUq79VjYwc1XxaLyL-6j1bEe13-kQnNzsIlR3XGt2NFjc96XGhDmfuxBgM2C_8vDFqtqDqpzWocs2bFW9gPMsDFV6qHCyDtwjc9fJn7D91_h-q2VqHkTURvVpkospWzblhJK2FNz/s1600/September+week+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuq0ephUq79VjYwc1XxaLyL-6j1bEe13-kQnNzsIlR3XGt2NFjc96XGhDmfuxBgM2C_8vDFqtqDqpzWocs2bFW9gPMsDFV6qHCyDtwjc9fJn7D91_h-q2VqHkTURvVpkospWzblhJK2FNz/s400/September+week+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These pages got their start with leftover paint from the week before. I squeezed out waay too much green for the stencil I was using, and didn't want to see it go to waste, so I turned the page and glopped on that green. Then I added bits of red and black that were also on the palette. I also flipped the stencil from the previous page and pressed it on these pages. Then I propped the book open, or so I thought. Not well enough, cuz the pages stuck a bit. Hence the white shmears. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once dry, I stenciled across the top with some stencils I got in a book awhile ago. Black acrylic paint, of which I again squeezed out too much. That made my journaling decision for me. A small round brush and a bit of water. I want to work on script more with a brush. Printing is fairly easy but I need more practice writing with a brush in hand. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Those lovely green rhinestone flowers are Kaisercraft, and the cheese label is just something from my stash. It's delicious cheese!</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-6992359428888029882011-09-26T00:02:00.000-04:002011-09-26T00:02:41.209-04:00September Art JournalingThe idea is to blog about life, but life keeps getting in the way of blogging! I blame it on the rain. Its been a big time suck in so many ways and continued this weekend, wreaking havoc on soccer schedules and yardwork. Always something.<br />
So once again, I'm playing catch up with my art journaling. October will be here in less than a week, and I'm finally sharing some September pages.<br />
One of the problems with not sharing weekly, is that I can't quite remember how I did some of these. <br />
<br />
September Week 1<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIixNDjUD7IghuLrywldnefUiGlg-qKulSj_Xr4T7CXlNqjlqEuf-oFq74vMxIilw1M5KwYMcRTeWcLScjM4cv_TGSj-Nhs05HH6SsHYiQC7umUJjp8S0hE5SNv1tKhbj4CkVVdXpbuo0/s1600/September+week+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIixNDjUD7IghuLrywldnefUiGlg-qKulSj_Xr4T7CXlNqjlqEuf-oFq74vMxIilw1M5KwYMcRTeWcLScjM4cv_TGSj-Nhs05HH6SsHYiQC7umUJjp8S0hE5SNv1tKhbj4CkVVdXpbuo0/s400/September+week+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Awaiting my Julie stencil order, I pulled out some CWS stencils that I already had, and played with a couple, using Adirondack wash, Perfect Pearls Mist and Glimmer Mist. Maya Road Things To Do list, AC Date sticker, and some decorative paper tape by Cavallini & Co.I didn't spend much time on these pages. This was our first full week back home and we had a lot to do as a result of being away for so long.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">September Week 2</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguielyZlWsf7bFk1KFVS90mSCV64bxilYn6xyHcA7vNsMfXgNm9xjhcl0X6dwfyAdEcnXQpn07LwEr9QXWJyQbxy7NbWHiVe3UWRwYeX1w1PoJey1wgK6vdZuiliXwTdoGqkQCdqE2JT_M/s1600/September+week+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguielyZlWsf7bFk1KFVS90mSCV64bxilYn6xyHcA7vNsMfXgNm9xjhcl0X6dwfyAdEcnXQpn07LwEr9QXWJyQbxy7NbWHiVe3UWRwYeX1w1PoJey1wgK6vdZuiliXwTdoGqkQCdqE2JT_M/s400/September+week+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This background really evolved. I started out spraying some Adirondack wash and Perfect Pearls. I then sprayed water to create the drips. That also muted the colours. I gessoed the raindrops through my brand new JFFB stencil. Love these!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now this is a place to play and learn and I learned that a sponge brush isn't the best applicator for my purpose. Between that and the curve in the pages, some of my raindrops lost their shape. Oh well! I used the stencil to trace the raindrop shapes from some of the week's photos, and included them. Journaled in the remaining teardrops using FC Pitt markers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Forgot to mention that both of these were built on gessoed pages.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">September Week 3</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hVGKXpVPwoUWo0x0IpplSRJn9kIjsbLHRsTMic0CCEVD8-LtvHZghCgsw5p9y68RoRGJWBSvQecUgV1FokSHoNnhPi3evEHLv0572_L41lvLSZp6kd7QCBuKhJv2Hxqez3cb99Lw72uH/s1600/September+week+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hVGKXpVPwoUWo0x0IpplSRJn9kIjsbLHRsTMic0CCEVD8-LtvHZghCgsw5p9y68RoRGJWBSvQecUgV1FokSHoNnhPi3evEHLv0572_L41lvLSZp6kd7QCBuKhJv2Hxqez3cb99Lw72uH/s400/September+week+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With all of the France business mostly behind us, I was able to spend a little more time on these pages. While the gessoed base was still wet, I added strips of a polka dotted fabricky paper that was in the box with sneakers I purchased a couple of months ago. I tore them, so there's no consistency. I used gel medium to make them stick. The gesso alone wasn't quite cutting it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I signed up for Julie's Stenciling 101 and this page made me realize I need to visit it and learn how to build more brilliant and defined layers. I also need to develop patience. The background might look better had I let it dry, rather than dabbing at it with a paper towel. Couldn't help myself!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used Julie's chevron stencil on the right, with a heavy bodied acrylic. Same with the punchinella dots on the left, but there I went over it again with a different color and ultimately covered it with jockey stamps! I also used a home made stencil -- the packaging from a 6 pack of Trader Joe's yogurt. With my fingers, I applied a white acrylic to those 6 holes in the yogurt pack. I patiently waited before adding any journaling and doodles. I added the 3 Australian stamps, layering one of them on a blank Lisa Leonard tag that I had been hanging on to. A little distress ink around the edges of that tag and those stamps. Done.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-50021093564889756652011-09-24T08:56:00.001-04:002011-09-24T08:57:34.863-04:00Guatemala SundayThe Sunday on which our mission trip team offers a presentation of their trip to the congregation. This year is Guatemala Sunday. They went to Guatemala. Last year was West Virginia Sunday. They went to West Virginia. You get the idea! <br />
Guatemala was Nick's third mission trip. According to him, it was the best yet, and the most fulfilling. Our mission trip leader Elise laughs about this, as she has returned from each trip declaring it to be the best. South Dakota, Costa Rica, Vermont, Alaska, with Guatemala now topping the list.<br />
The mission trip is usually late June or July, and the team comes together in September to share their adventures with our church. A special service with shared photos and recollections, followed by a coffee hour. I've always made a point of try to attend these mission trip Sundays. I remember how moving it was to hear the kids talk about their time with the children of the Rose Bud Indian reservation in South Dakota. Beautiful photos to go along with their life changing stories. Every year I marveled at this amazing opportunity offered by our church and looked forward to the day when my children could participate.<br />
This year, when Elise was organizing the presentation, Nick offered to be an usher, and play guitar. No mention of speaking. She always asks that 3 or 4 of the kids offer their reflections on the trip. He didn't offer. And then, a couple of weeks before Guatemala Sunday, Nick told me that Mrs. S (Elise) had asked him if he could be one of those 3 or 4 kids, and he agreed.<br />
The next surprise came when Elise was asking the kids to forward their intended reflections, so that she could make sure there would be no repetition. Nick advised me that he had nothing written, nor was he planning to. He was just going to get up and speak. From the heart. Noteless. Wow.<br />
And wow us he did! Twice. Nick spoke at both the 8:00 and 10:30 services. Equally composed, thoughtful and hilarious both times.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1QsdGRHF3z7oIb_TfMG1G4oTXAywrjWpByJno7IRwITlqyO5J6dtxKTt3z8JqwADpUhk32mZF5a9iaL8c3c1VKDu96IofB3Z_5ruHpJ8KdKyDIsLNYjB-40KHHvRzDaGjNb4_UDoIOtm/s1600/GS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1QsdGRHF3z7oIb_TfMG1G4oTXAywrjWpByJno7IRwITlqyO5J6dtxKTt3z8JqwADpUhk32mZF5a9iaL8c3c1VKDu96IofB3Z_5ruHpJ8KdKyDIsLNYjB-40KHHvRzDaGjNb4_UDoIOtm/s400/GS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The team, both students and adult leaders, donned their Guatemala t-shirts. Some wore jackets they had picked up in Antigua, where the group spent their last day before returning home. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTFy5kvL8l9aTYf9XTGwudFVEALtZYMNZ4TBCutZNOkewTHusFgkS9SnWFmO536H47miByhhOCOuAjiu9qvgKz9XUX-v0tC3itEPClmYrQo2fCLaDE9arGG8WVfdGr-KQ0LjZ7Ke4QLSi/s1600/GS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTFy5kvL8l9aTYf9XTGwudFVEALtZYMNZ4TBCutZNOkewTHusFgkS9SnWFmO536H47miByhhOCOuAjiu9qvgKz9XUX-v0tC3itEPClmYrQo2fCLaDE9arGG8WVfdGr-KQ0LjZ7Ke4QLSi/s400/GS1.jpg" width="271" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nick spoke. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFrz77WN9XDpW4llgEPAYjBjMoWrLCFwrR06p9sJVFKJHW26zvA2rpW_G0AkFNkOD3dqfBcO2OPniqkqI9bnDtbq_1d-criOnVUe-tyfHCCKjH8jfTU0xj4gxiuanKKleE_oyqF637UqB/s1600/GS2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFrz77WN9XDpW4llgEPAYjBjMoWrLCFwrR06p9sJVFKJHW26zvA2rpW_G0AkFNkOD3dqfBcO2OPniqkqI9bnDtbq_1d-criOnVUe-tyfHCCKjH8jfTU0xj4gxiuanKKleE_oyqF637UqB/s400/GS2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He played guitar.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEq5YOvn5HK_0EfYEiEOgdB88nO_gRF9dRBuzYJU67gsMqea-VJh0kSuNAxoB9AWI5eLBcP8OQsA9QLCtv5ew3XBMU3HLSdr4OnuHC2oG2Jv5-KpoYtxKwdIPYBekN7yTAqTvp3fm4TAcJ/s1600/GS3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEq5YOvn5HK_0EfYEiEOgdB88nO_gRF9dRBuzYJU67gsMqea-VJh0kSuNAxoB9AWI5eLBcP8OQsA9QLCtv5ew3XBMU3HLSdr4OnuHC2oG2Jv5-KpoYtxKwdIPYBekN7yTAqTvp3fm4TAcJ/s400/GS3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And he made them smile. And laugh! Take a look at the others in the picture. All smiles! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was funny, thoughtful, eloquent and composed. As someone who is not fond of public speaking, I marvelled at the ease at which he relayed his thoughts and feelings about Guatemala. He compared one week of Guatemala to six weeks in France, which is how his summer played out. How he enjoyed Guatemala so much more, for that one short week. The hard work, and very humble meals and housing more appealing than being a tourist, eating rich French food, showering daily and sleeping in a comfy bed. How much more welcomed he felt by the Guatemalans, as opposed to the French. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nick might stand out in a crowd because of his choice of hairstyle. It's longer than most at his school, our neighborhood and our church. While I can't speak for what he's like at school, around here, he's pretty quiet. He surprised and impressed a lot of people last Sunday. In addition to the many accolades he received, a lot of people were surprised and impressed by his wit and sense of humour. Me, I was proud. Very proud. Way to go Nick!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-86843895577132193112011-09-23T20:45:00.000-04:002011-09-23T20:45:32.511-04:00A September WeekendNot typical, but I've come to realize that most aren't. There's always something. This time, the excessive rain we've been experiencing since August finally caught up with us. Everyone was in a panic for Hurricane Irene, which we were thankfully home for. Damp basement, yes. But with the power flowing throughout the storm, our sump pump ran almost nonstop and prevented anything more than a few puddles from forming in the basement. Different story the Wednesday after school started. The rain didn't let up all night. We received a 5 a.m. call from the school district that there was a 2 hour delayed start due to the weather. After shutting everyone's alarm, I went back to sleep. We were still hearing the pump running, and there was no evidence of a power failure so we were shocked to find signs of a greater volume of water in our basement. It was gone by the time we looked, at 8:30 or so. But the damage was done. Clothing in the dryer was soaked, stuff was moved and tipped over and rubbermaid containers that had always been 'tall' enough, weren't. I was heartbroken to come across a container of fully submerged cook books. Cook books dating back to the early 80's. Cook books that were there because I wasn't using them, but couldn't bear to part with them. Thirteen cook books, into the recycling bin. And then Marc discovered another rubbermaid container full of cook books, also saturated. These brought the grand total to over thirty. Again, I hadn't been using these recently, but there were several that I would have kept forever. Cook books from my days at MTS -- recipes submitted by employees. I enjoyed looking at them. Remembering people I no longer saw. A Martha Stewart cook book, her first, that I purchased in 1982. It soon made me realize I had no desire to be like her, but I enjoyed looking at the pictures! And several cook books that were gifts. Gone. A part of the high recycling points rewarded to us that week. (we're part of a program that gives points for recycling based on weight, and that bin was especially heavy that Friday!) <br />
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But the effects of the rain didn't end in our basement. Nick's School of Rock Funk and Reggae show was this weekend. Rehearsal Thursday evening, shows Friday and Saturday. But our Ft. Washington School of Rock flooded for the second, or was it the third, time this summer, which necessitated traveling to the not-so-nearby Main Line School of Rock location. For the rehearsal Thursday. For the show Friday. And for the show Saturday. It's a great venue, but the last minute change of plans kept us hopping all weekend. I had to remind myself that our inconvenience paled in comparison to what Steve at the SOR was going through. Again. <br />
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The show was fabulous, despite the last minute changes. We loved the show. It was quite possibly my favourite! I loved the music and loved that people were dancing instead of moshing. Yeah, I'm old!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePdXVw4gss-XtHvClW182B7ZvRvk9akOS1Gv1aefM8WPmwqMdnOSFavQnFm5GBJ0-yudCjjrrHybvz0_MOJxdabPXwHYQBl54MRXulfdzi397SxeFRdQdejZLsxTxeuLyGezfcJvsBav7/s1600/F%2526R4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePdXVw4gss-XtHvClW182B7ZvRvk9akOS1Gv1aefM8WPmwqMdnOSFavQnFm5GBJ0-yudCjjrrHybvz0_MOJxdabPXwHYQBl54MRXulfdzi397SxeFRdQdejZLsxTxeuLyGezfcJvsBav7/s400/F%2526R4.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And one of my favourite of the night:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNneDLDTj4OqFnXb4IyzfFm25x8BMJ1ePQPmC2g2vi4ElzcA6r93z5s9Kk9LTYRVjl4SHhfKQJSMM6fqRubCYvgJA2MhvVSWLgOvU4Q2lX96LcZcu9zKgiMmP_aWSam_LCitsAibBhP-Z/s1600/F%2526R5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNneDLDTj4OqFnXb4IyzfFm25x8BMJ1ePQPmC2g2vi4ElzcA6r93z5s9Kk9LTYRVjl4SHhfKQJSMM6fqRubCYvgJA2MhvVSWLgOvU4Q2lX96LcZcu9zKgiMmP_aWSam_LCitsAibBhP-Z/s400/F%2526R5.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dancing sibs. Adorable!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Normally, we like to attend both of Nick's shows. But we had other plans for Saturday night and Nick's blessing. Gaby had the opportunity to be a player escort for our MLS team, the Philadelphia Union, at Saturday night's game. The way Nick put it, if he had the opportunity, he would miss Gaby's concert for it. So with our 3 tickets instead of 4, we headed to the Union game.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were advised to be there at 6:15, to give the kids sufficient time to get changed and briefed. Our soccer club had held a random drawing of interested kids, eleven and under, and sent a group of eleven. We were thrilled to see our neighbor Abbey was one of the group. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The kids and three parent chaperones, of which I was one, were escorted into a locker room just for them. And the kids escorting the opposing team from Portland. And the ball kids. The player escorts were all provided with full uniforms -- shirts, shorts and socks -- which were hanging under their name. Very cool! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We continued the hurry up and wait game, with the kids donning their uniforms, and then waiting around til it was time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUgdRF9sEDxmJMdWP9GGK1VXfyWS0S5zdJRyZOt5rYzrqB7y-SKhw7TineeTKvGkt6mEL3A0TKRBLymFNB-_54rxkrVWTd1Y8UBZD2Ld-236twJRMZ6tvQDBbnKy2NS53Db4s0DY5aTHo/s1600/Union1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUgdRF9sEDxmJMdWP9GGK1VXfyWS0S5zdJRyZOt5rYzrqB7y-SKhw7TineeTKvGkt6mEL3A0TKRBLymFNB-_54rxkrVWTd1Y8UBZD2Ld-236twJRMZ6tvQDBbnKy2NS53Db4s0DY5aTHo/s400/Union1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check out her name!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzwpU3ZE1K7pL2cU5KYZCKfUXFn6FOZossBYWThNMedCU48bvaoNehcJXSCF4OGANvuw0Gf-erwCHAjrcG7cUsMgZ90nv9Wp6U7a715qPBeCNPdbflGCgD_PjQA-iwPB82t1ZsTrnRExw/s1600/Union2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzwpU3ZE1K7pL2cU5KYZCKfUXFn6FOZossBYWThNMedCU48bvaoNehcJXSCF4OGANvuw0Gf-erwCHAjrcG7cUsMgZ90nv9Wp6U7a715qPBeCNPdbflGCgD_PjQA-iwPB82t1ZsTrnRExw/s400/Union2.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gaby and Abbey.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAm-X3kpWFtVxKsujYy8KFZKgE3bW8TgLR1TO-qpYZDX14KWO0v6GoIzr4q5tlkJBJZoIR6LgfSuQn14gBzeRyw1rse31FX2xWF7MAxfhi7SqVuPRG_ptm4BOxHdTxB6hD9uyi63V4j2O/s1600/Union3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAm-X3kpWFtVxKsujYy8KFZKgE3bW8TgLR1TO-qpYZDX14KWO0v6GoIzr4q5tlkJBJZoIR6LgfSuQn14gBzeRyw1rse31FX2xWF7MAxfhi7SqVuPRG_ptm4BOxHdTxB6hD9uyi63V4j2O/s400/Union3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Marc caught the action on video, and we parent escorts were allowed to hang at field level while the kids were out there.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjcHNKUQHssyWpXtcjNa4dVMiCBkriLlG3g7BJ6ii8zUP3xrIw6L3EqXODLAhHzyBhfEbcuZ_ccy-Fs8um-ALbefGfijJXL8jWDr9TZ1X90XqJl_UOWeRLyC-59l_KD7uQqHUtrKa-xnE/s1600/Union4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjcHNKUQHssyWpXtcjNa4dVMiCBkriLlG3g7BJ6ii8zUP3xrIw6L3EqXODLAhHzyBhfEbcuZ_ccy-Fs8um-ALbefGfijJXL8jWDr9TZ1X90XqJl_UOWeRLyC-59l_KD7uQqHUtrKa-xnE/s400/Union4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gaby with her player, #8, Torres.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqqJvwhgQPZuLN8TX4Jr0CigEtdGSt4Z7wOHTgh1Bwj0qNSekcOFl92nLEguG6ye0XCpUuZxiHq3Z-KNUX37mFlphq445F1QHuVp9O74rff57mIWOBAcm35x97jyCeO9F_F_wm7TJN21W/s1600/Union5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqqJvwhgQPZuLN8TX4Jr0CigEtdGSt4Z7wOHTgh1Bwj0qNSekcOFl92nLEguG6ye0XCpUuZxiHq3Z-KNUX37mFlphq445F1QHuVp9O74rff57mIWOBAcm35x97jyCeO9F_F_wm7TJN21W/s400/Union5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwhXuCb9kgpDhtPX-cbwUnuuKeQJflxe6cit1lCRgnuhKJVy8MfECkemSFVVwmpvw217z4yAiYnKj-51itDN_iqw3A3Bsak4z8whnS_uEODQrrcG73EnJfpjAo_0Q4GUpbvcQbFR6Cq6g/s1600/Union6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwhXuCb9kgpDhtPX-cbwUnuuKeQJflxe6cit1lCRgnuhKJVy8MfECkemSFVVwmpvw217z4yAiYnKj-51itDN_iqw3A3Bsak4z8whnS_uEODQrrcG73EnJfpjAo_0Q4GUpbvcQbFR6Cq6g/s400/Union6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the national anthem, the kids ran off the field, back to the locker room, and we packed up and returned to our seats. To watch our Union hold Portland scoreless. Zero zero.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For our soccer crazy girl, it was an amazing experience -- one she'll remember for a long time. She's planning to be back at PPL Park in three years, when she'll be old enough to be a ball girl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Being September 10th, there was a special tribute before the game, recognizing the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Earlier on Facebook, a friend had shared a post suggesting a way to mark the date would be to bake something to share with local police or firefighters. Gaby was on board, of course. So on Sunday morning, she baked brownies, I baked pumpkin bread, we packaged both, and took them to our local police department.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsn8pb5SJSJMhDKcXORM1NqNL7bGeWDEXRYsAB3MlhSTwM5z3GGygdUS0JO-H5bfBXkd1uKHvIFP7RZT52bcfeT9SDFNvfIxLKdaTl1ydGZlvV90QrKdpnbMdjOPIUlmCy-EJL0reDrgz/s1600/Sept11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsn8pb5SJSJMhDKcXORM1NqNL7bGeWDEXRYsAB3MlhSTwM5z3GGygdUS0JO-H5bfBXkd1uKHvIFP7RZT52bcfeT9SDFNvfIxLKdaTl1ydGZlvV90QrKdpnbMdjOPIUlmCy-EJL0reDrgz/s400/Sept11.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They were happy to receive it, and the next week I came home to the empty container between the front doors, with a lovely note of thanks attached. Nice of them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-67926465970073611502011-09-07T23:32:00.000-04:002011-09-07T23:32:16.035-04:00First Day of SchoolWas yesterday. Gaby in her first day outfit, and Nick in his boxers cuz he goes in later, obliged by stepping out front, even in the rain.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsEgwy9b_O7YHMb64vUiY5bMCwNiQcOOVtP-iRKYORJor4OJc9MvfNdz8xYtcFx7RqrxRjAgVDyOW53fVtl5ZQPv3LvnfeGi-MXZ4Nf2Md-uMf68VRBuIeU8-OH1PPYTChQe2iEiM2k1M/s1600/first+day+of+school+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsEgwy9b_O7YHMb64vUiY5bMCwNiQcOOVtP-iRKYORJor4OJc9MvfNdz8xYtcFx7RqrxRjAgVDyOW53fVtl5ZQPv3LvnfeGi-MXZ4Nf2Md-uMf68VRBuIeU8-OH1PPYTChQe2iEiM2k1M/s640/first+day+of+school+2011.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will remember this as the year we had a paper house number on the front door, from the time Nick painted the trim, in April, til, uh, who knows!</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-86530801343085221442011-09-07T23:20:00.001-04:002011-09-07T23:28:52.861-04:00My Hurricane BirthdayAll summer, I had believed I would be celebrating my 49th birthday in Paris. And right up until 4 days before my birthday, that was the plan. But because we came home early due to the unplanned occurences in our last week in France, the celebration would be in Oreland. The day Hurricane Irene was scheduled to settle into our area. My how plans have a way of changing!<br />
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Marc and I went out for breakfast, just the two of us. He was craving a steak, egg and cheese bagel, and I figured I could have an egg mcmuffin. On the way home we grabbed Starbucks coffees, something that we had enjoyed very little of over the summer. Neither of us are fans of French coffee.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC34wpxXQajwIRkruCL5_u8GSlldZIsO4Wx6vOXIbkrOwm4KM0OMK7iRPluTpWxWXun4WYIRN0bveVfkmFDEofSwPFLRrsKbacnjX-T_TtvxeYB5FX2X_caDE_G9jfuffmnEfwsa49_Qg/s1600/birthday+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC34wpxXQajwIRkruCL5_u8GSlldZIsO4Wx6vOXIbkrOwm4KM0OMK7iRPluTpWxWXun4WYIRN0bveVfkmFDEofSwPFLRrsKbacnjX-T_TtvxeYB5FX2X_caDE_G9jfuffmnEfwsa49_Qg/s400/birthday+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gaby baked and frosted red velvet cupcakes on Friday. I wasn't allowed in the kitchen at all!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c2WlZ8UO7ACU7nm8VLC59L7rSD9Bruju5_G4PAjXtjFFCdItIzuRfQyUxrFzARds0x8S6HjuKA52ReFMTiHv_2fX8il4Wp4UCT-nETSSBU7C1YxS_ikifK3dNviePhRcSuKMiX4TDZWW/s1600/birthday+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c2WlZ8UO7ACU7nm8VLC59L7rSD9Bruju5_G4PAjXtjFFCdItIzuRfQyUxrFzARds0x8S6HjuKA52ReFMTiHv_2fX8il4Wp4UCT-nETSSBU7C1YxS_ikifK3dNviePhRcSuKMiX4TDZWW/s400/birthday+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And she made sure I blew out my candles while Claire was over.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBH84SQxRJTTli_2rVToIUnuZyNqo-sZiN91K_ML4Tuqnsi3KhcBzBN-2lt0XbmqkhyUaUwwKVcWFUSR4wySERAqhfWQdFZhb8qu-Rsw0KDCmRRAdMFpSm3Pas70-Uu7auoSyj_lasAoA/s1600/birthday+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBH84SQxRJTTli_2rVToIUnuZyNqo-sZiN91K_ML4Tuqnsi3KhcBzBN-2lt0XbmqkhyUaUwwKVcWFUSR4wySERAqhfWQdFZhb8qu-Rsw0KDCmRRAdMFpSm3Pas70-Uu7auoSyj_lasAoA/s400/birthday+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then the focus shifted from celebrating me, to celebrating the weather, once the rain started.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltDoOJm7qtglUVkkUwwSZ7m6gfnt_-WCE4tWAd61nOBCIkRbK2EN303Sq971DWSQmnLaOlETfemWmbY3Wx_eADWI7IODu5m7Gm9Bcd2Ipze3q6hcf3MGbblUHhNwZvkd_Q5pgRd63ACIV/s1600/birthday+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltDoOJm7qtglUVkkUwwSZ7m6gfnt_-WCE4tWAd61nOBCIkRbK2EN303Sq971DWSQmnLaOlETfemWmbY3Wx_eADWI7IODu5m7Gm9Bcd2Ipze3q6hcf3MGbblUHhNwZvkd_Q5pgRd63ACIV/s400/birthday+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQf7bWh2kIZkiAySAXHcxQVjZ0mgixS9Jb2VnkNMsGNzN-DmgCLLrBoBzeIcHptE-BFjAIuoxBpvdNtjApzZS07hniPb73bXU29Oc3u7EgjGCElJtSPVJPzTCUprnxhvGzHNm5Z3cRe2uC/s1600/birthday+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQf7bWh2kIZkiAySAXHcxQVjZ0mgixS9Jb2VnkNMsGNzN-DmgCLLrBoBzeIcHptE-BFjAIuoxBpvdNtjApzZS07hniPb73bXU29Oc3u7EgjGCElJtSPVJPzTCUprnxhvGzHNm5Z3cRe2uC/s400/birthday+5.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After six weeks of dining out, I was so thrilled to be back home and cooking in my own kitchen. Even on my birthday. But I let Marc do the honours on the grill. Besides, the rain was well underway by dinnertime!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTZYBTsLTGst5oUd4FaFGYFVxtJGGOK3o9Iva5x9P09qFFNom9UGkP6_FhY4DZNjs1KK5nuPMRBagHhTSFk6PgQHpFVNxmzgausXk5pzEGEYz66edUTZr8E3gjEUu_Mh3DvSGlUrfUrYm/s1600/birthday+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTZYBTsLTGst5oUd4FaFGYFVxtJGGOK3o9Iva5x9P09qFFNom9UGkP6_FhY4DZNjs1KK5nuPMRBagHhTSFk6PgQHpFVNxmzgausXk5pzEGEYz66edUTZr8E3gjEUu_Mh3DvSGlUrfUrYm/s400/birthday+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yummy food and a toast. No, we didn't get enough of the champagne in France. (It was much better there too!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMOpLWiYH2pxnZIPsMCzsvox5JGzYkqSMntABOuUXLKNPuRfVD_tEiPL4tX4CNy3-eqMQqx74ekS16meWDf0FZNyjzsh1wEQVBBlSTrlmZtvUYcW5LrswtlEPEDcOVVya2cI_JZ2HJP64/s1600/birthday+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMOpLWiYH2pxnZIPsMCzsvox5JGzYkqSMntABOuUXLKNPuRfVD_tEiPL4tX4CNy3-eqMQqx74ekS16meWDf0FZNyjzsh1wEQVBBlSTrlmZtvUYcW5LrswtlEPEDcOVVya2cI_JZ2HJP64/s400/birthday+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My focus shifted to the weather. The rain just kept coming. and thankfully, the sump pump just kept running in the basement. When high winds are a part of the forecast, I never mind the kids falling asleep downstairs. We have a lot of big trees in our yard, and well, I'm not the only person I who does this. I have several friends and acquaintances who keep their kids on the main floor during high winds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were also a couple of tornado warnings just after 11 p.m. And the power went out for , oh, perhaps 10 seconds. But that was enough for me to make sure there were tealights lit in most of the rooms in the house.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFU6D9z-3Mm7C9PtrifvaZ09p4mlKCCDENudEiLfIiRj9JgOmDlw4BKkOmzd54lcn3DV-yR6D04Fz5z_YM-5HI1esJXgwJX7uzgmu0nPhgFz-U5qVl-P8uEp7fCwmZOssUIk-pw1NL_WNg/s1600/birthday+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFU6D9z-3Mm7C9PtrifvaZ09p4mlKCCDENudEiLfIiRj9JgOmDlw4BKkOmzd54lcn3DV-yR6D04Fz5z_YM-5HI1esJXgwJX7uzgmu0nPhgFz-U5qVl-P8uEp7fCwmZOssUIk-pw1NL_WNg/s400/birthday+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVzf4WVDx5cxtlQQwhJIuwLQqFMu5hE86eHXlbxseFrqZ5JSZqk_FyKUhj__VovcxF_PxzMEwZL8DhNViQUWz0sWd26FX_K_UfZk9F1QgKYKOmmvBRIxpI-HLd6eK-ov6c2XCtzgZ2ABn/s1600/birthday+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVzf4WVDx5cxtlQQwhJIuwLQqFMu5hE86eHXlbxseFrqZ5JSZqk_FyKUhj__VovcxF_PxzMEwZL8DhNViQUWz0sWd26FX_K_UfZk9F1QgKYKOmmvBRIxpI-HLd6eK-ov6c2XCtzgZ2ABn/s400/birthday+9.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(See Marc sleeping on the couch -- not a care!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdUWJjTiRWatkZylqgk1JiJ5hvWF6QtlgDGuvvEljbT7ScWJ-jUJiKGqfgJKg9Qo_A3WXvt6YByCyJSx8ij6xUvZU36CpSV_8KIH9dhK3I74kCJSn81NHl9msy5gak0tT0PYp9wl42z1A/s1600/birthday+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdUWJjTiRWatkZylqgk1JiJ5hvWF6QtlgDGuvvEljbT7ScWJ-jUJiKGqfgJKg9Qo_A3WXvt6YByCyJSx8ij6xUvZU36CpSV_8KIH9dhK3I74kCJSn81NHl9msy5gak0tT0PYp9wl42z1A/s400/birthday+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Nick.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEypwIrmHxIoB7OmBucHC1f8ZSZucWe8On5BMYb6Nd1jipYO3NWfDwOnozm5IvC1qhzL1q8UvTQW88Mqfe2PIiZy4u0u7p5lTGsd1JRYEJYGkvcbNuKkIcaCfqQ-k8UgZQMdcDTjFCOVPi/s1600/birthday+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEypwIrmHxIoB7OmBucHC1f8ZSZucWe8On5BMYb6Nd1jipYO3NWfDwOnozm5IvC1qhzL1q8UvTQW88Mqfe2PIiZy4u0u7p5lTGsd1JRYEJYGkvcbNuKkIcaCfqQ-k8UgZQMdcDTjFCOVPi/s400/birthday+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gab.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It appears I was the only one concerned about the rain, possibility of flooding, high winds and tornados. No one else lost any sleep over it!</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-74701047616907227382011-09-07T20:57:00.000-04:002011-09-07T20:57:46.253-04:00Six Weeks of Art Journaling on the Road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had taken the time to prepare to continue my art journaling on the road. I packed a travel kit with watercolours, scissors, adhesives, tape, markers, gel medium, among other things. I gessoed six sets of pages, one for each week we were scheduled to be away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I saved all sorts of ephemera from our travels - brochures, ticket stubs, newspapers, napkins, menus, business cards. The gel medium was perfect for adhering these items to my pages. The first few weeks, my pages looked pretty similar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">July Week 3:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQnsX7BMdY3X5s6fWGz3fMsTS7EZmF3_epT7bgvADmKSJPTPl6lhFgm0bq_LHIsHtNsXTRj7OBFuAVkGraPssJRuVLxxb_6VdbWlG0GeT_FioS6fspnEaMM2raauutukPmkk6ZteK1kbG/s1600/July+week+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQnsX7BMdY3X5s6fWGz3fMsTS7EZmF3_epT7bgvADmKSJPTPl6lhFgm0bq_LHIsHtNsXTRj7OBFuAVkGraPssJRuVLxxb_6VdbWlG0GeT_FioS6fspnEaMM2raauutukPmkk6ZteK1kbG/s400/July+week+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This week was a day in Paris, 2 days in Reims, 2 days in Paris, a day in Reims and then back to Paris for the weekend. Included bits of a Paris map, train ticket, napkin from a restaurant, newspaper, Reims map, Louvre brochure. And doodles with markers and watercolours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">July Week 4:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLvL87VES_lyTHXzQiCXsXLBh_E1Y8s1h5Uea_V51wFrYvOL0vluN5FHUIAQgsnctbk77JEwuScsTB4yNHtU3iQr36sC8WlRCOVZEGCWEmDHrSU2tN04NFPWR0XnLT8U1hOhCTdMztfrM/s1600/July+week+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLvL87VES_lyTHXzQiCXsXLBh_E1Y8s1h5Uea_V51wFrYvOL0vluN5FHUIAQgsnctbk77JEwuScsTB4yNHtU3iQr36sC8WlRCOVZEGCWEmDHrSU2tN04NFPWR0XnLT8U1hOhCTdMztfrM/s400/July+week+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were on the road, waking up in Germany Monday morning, spending Monday night in Munich, Tuesday in some Italian town just inside the border, Wedneday in Florence (delightful!) Thursday in the Cinque Terre coastal region of Italy, ending up in Monaco on Friday, for several days. These pages were more of the same: maps, business cards, menus, newspaper and brochure bits. Doodles and bits of journaling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">August Week 1:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGKA6INKfKfwvLkHevG1gFoyhuARJD8WOrC63gntTggZtgibQj-1Ch50Ef-bDkp-eJHLS2vL-LwQX2h6wZvp0n5QPQPYUCAR-ZuP2-zAlZ86EnWfZG1Tzvm08x-zgXthq_r8cUiJSsBh0/s1600/August+week+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGKA6INKfKfwvLkHevG1gFoyhuARJD8WOrC63gntTggZtgibQj-1Ch50Ef-bDkp-eJHLS2vL-LwQX2h6wZvp0n5QPQPYUCAR-ZuP2-zAlZ86EnWfZG1Tzvm08x-zgXthq_r8cUiJSsBh0/s400/August+week+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We started the week with a couple more days in Monaco, then hit the road Wednesday for a leisurely drive through France. Nice, Aix en Provence, Lyon, Dijon, Troyes, and back in the Reims area for the weekend. More stuff from our travels. Menu, parking vouchers, cool foil packaging from a Monaco chocolate coin. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">August Week 2:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RCOj00rBmxBBRJYqyycznuosQS3rc0BlElZMTX6h0l4DgUEROfmSPBoBxd-fj39ATOvzKNYtCihVs0tWvNjhPCHEAbcI0M8sMbHQRW4DuxYt2h8561CzhyNydOkqwx7Avj_jMERfYwdc/s1600/August+week+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RCOj00rBmxBBRJYqyycznuosQS3rc0BlElZMTX6h0l4DgUEROfmSPBoBxd-fj39ATOvzKNYtCihVs0tWvNjhPCHEAbcI0M8sMbHQRW4DuxYt2h8561CzhyNydOkqwx7Avj_jMERfYwdc/s400/August+week+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Most of this stuff was odds and ends from a quiet week in Reims, and a quick weekend trip to Belgium - Brussels and Brugge. A cool business card from a not so delicious crepe restaurant, more maps, wrappers from the free chocolates in our Brussels hotel. Journaling. Doodles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">August Week 5:</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An entire week in one place is reflected in these more simple pages. We stayed put. Played soccer. Walked. Fed the ducks at the park. Did laundry once. Visited the hospital once. (Nick's hand -- cut that wasn't healing well) and of course the Police Station, in Reims, called the Hotel de Police. We did discover that fabulous bakery with the crispy baguettes and yummy meat pies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the last week of journaling on the road, my August Week 4:</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This one, start to finish, was completed at home. I didn't even look at these pages that last week, til we got home. I had it in my head to use clouds, and perhaps rain, to document the crap. But I realized that being my birthday week, it wasn't all bleakness and clouds. So I cut out cardboard clouds for the left side, and a cardboard sun and rays for the right side. After a quick wash of yellow watercolour, with the sun in place over top and the clouds on the other side, I spritzed the pages with a few different blues. Journaled the 'bad' stuff in the clouds and the good, on the sunny side. Along with my age. It's just a number, right!?</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-35787975996518132742011-09-07T20:32:00.001-04:002011-09-07T20:33:28.767-04:00How to Ruin a VacationBlogging, picture taking, photo editing, and journaling came to a screeching halt the day after I wrote my last post. On Friday August 19, overnight, our rental car was broken into. We discovered it Saturday morning. The broken glass and empty trunk were our first clues. Marc's golf bag, clubs, and extensive assortment of golf gadgets, gone. Golf attire, gone. Two pairs of roller blades belonging to Marc and Nick, gone. After a trip to the police and change of rental car, we tried to salvage the weekend. And we were doing pretty good til Tuesday night. The 23rd of August. <br />
<br />
Marc and I had decided to take the train to Paris that evening, for a quick dinner, and to pick up a bigger rental car that we could return to Paris when we went home. After the car break in, Marc had moved up his return flight and was coming home with us. The new rental car we had picked up in Reims was too small and would have to be left in Reims. We thought we had found the perfect solution: combine a quick date night with picking up a new car. All good, right? Well, it didn't turn out that way.<br />
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We arrived in Paris at 6:00 after a 45 minute train ride. We walked from Paris Est to Paris Nord, where we would pick up the train to the airport, for our car pick up. We made a fateful decision to have dinner at a restaurant just outside the train station, before continuing on to the airport. <br />
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In retrospect, we did a lot of things differently. We sat outside, which we hadn't been doing too often, since smoking was allowed. But it wasn't too busy because it was still early, around 6:30. The waiter seated us at the end of a section of empty tables, beside a lone diner. We should have asked to sit in the middle of those empty tables. But we didn't.<br />
<br />
What ended up happening, less than 15 minutes after we had sat down, was that the man next to us left, and walked off with Marc's backpack. And we didn't notice. Even after Marc's backpack had mysteriously found its way to that man's feet. Marc was a bit suspicious, but apologized, and returned the bag to it's place under his feet. But he didn't wrap the straps around his legs, as my seasoned traveler often does. <br />
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A few minutes later, the waiter asked Marc if he had his bag. We looked down and it was gone. What a horrible horrible feeling that is. The waiter said he saw the man cross the street and head for the train station. He and Marc made chase. Marc said he thought it was strange that the man wouldn't have entered the Metro station on our side of the street, rather than opting for the train station that was crawling with police and soldiers. <br />
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In retrospect, and we find ourselves saying that alot, we think the waiter was in on it. He seated us and continued to serve in between our tables, rather than from the empty side. That man, seated by himself, neither ate nor drank. While I believe I would recognize him, I remained focused on his unattractive hands and strange white phone, not his face. And obviously not focusing on him when I should have been.<br />
<br />
That horrible horrible sick feeling was justified. In Marc's haste to take care of everything that busy Tuesday, he had traveled to Paris with his laptop, iPad, video camera, 2 external hard drives which he normally doesn't carry and which were his computer back up and waaaay too many of our photos, headphones, bluetooths, fancy computerized pens, you name it. The GPS we thought had been stolen from the car, which we later found in the hotel room, lost for real this time. Because Marc had met a colleague at the mechanic's that morning to give him a lift to work. The hard drives, normally in the hotel safe, were with him because he directly transferred data to someone who couldn't open the emailed version Marc had sent. And because the first colleague needed a ride again after work, Marc was rushing to make the 5:15 train. The thought of trying to leave his backpack behind had crossed his mind, but with an upcoming meeting in Ireland, he figured he might get some prep work done for that, during the train ride.<br />
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All things we should have done differently, but didn't. I was carrying a new purse that we had bought on the weekend, an early birthday gift for me. The zipper was all wonky, wouldn't close properly. So upon arrival in Paris, I gave Marc our passports. Thankfully, those, along with his wallet and cell phone, were in his pants pockets. Not so, my camera. <br />
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It was loose in my purse, and somewhat awkward, so when we were sitting down for dinner, I asked Marc to put it in his backpack. He obliged. So that too, was gone.<br />
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But having had a computer crash on me, and loosing a mere 3 weeks of photos several years ago, I now religiously back up photos before deleting them from memory cards, and I carry 6 CF cards for my camera, so that I can change them out every day or two. So I really lost nothing but the camera itself. I told Marc it would have been SO much better to lose my computer. Photos backed up on CD's and CF cards, both of which were in the hotel room safe. And not much else of importance. Yeah, it would have been an inconvenience, but I've backed up my computer before, so the recipes, files, contacts, are somewhere safe at home. Perhaps not completely up to date, but also not completely loss. With that hard drive gone, Marc lost templates, files, years and years of work. And between that and the computer, the three months of work that he'd done in Reims was lost. Not completely. But probably close to half.<br />
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The police in Paris were little help, advising us we'd have to wait for at least an hour to file a report, and explaining that it was not allowed, in France, to view security camera footage. Now we realize that there's a good chance our thief was not on the train station footage, but we didn't know that then.<br />
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We still had to take the train to Charles de Gaulle airport, pick up our car, and drive the hour back to Reims. <br />
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We were so done. Defeated. Deflated. Discouraged. Wanting so desperately to JUST GO HOME. This was Tuesday night and we had busy plans for the rest of the week. Drive 5 hours to Amsterdam on Wednesday. Marc was jetting off to Ireland from there Thursday, for his meeting, while the kids and I toured. He'd return Friday morning, we'd get back to France for Friday night, celebrate my birthday in Paris Saturday and fly home Sunday.<br />
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But we wanted none of that. We just wanted home.<br />
<br />
Marc notified employers and colleagues and the short version is that we did make the decision to return home Thursday. Ireland was out of the question as Marc had nothing for that meeting, what with his computer being gone. We certainly didn't feel like a road trip. We were anxious to get home, more than a little concerned about our financial security being breeched with this theft. While Marc didn't use this computer for most of our financial stuff, when he was on the road, he would pay bills, view our accounts, that sort of thing, from this computer. We wanted to get home, notify the bank, credit card companies, credit reporting bureaus, and of course, our insurance company. So we paid a $1000. change fee to come home three days early.<br />
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But in all bad things there are always silver linings. As the immigration officer pointed out upon our arrival in Philly, we were all there, intact, no broken bones, physically unharmed. He said he'd seen a lot worse. Many times. This fellow was actually hilarious and lightened our mood significantly.<br />
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We caught the early train home. Our wonderful neighbors were able to have our car waiting for us at the train station, and because we were home so early, I managed to pick up accumulated mail before the post office closed.<br />
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Our house was still standing, the cars all there, and most importantly, the basement was dry! We were so anxious, with the excessive rain that made August an all time record month for our area. Certain that we would come home to a musty soggy basement. Damp yes, but never full of water. Again, our neighbors had checked everytime it rained, redirected downspouts, and all remained dry. They moved our cars around to make it look like we were around, and our home was just as we left it.<br />
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We got home two days before Hurricane Irene was scheduled to hit. In time to hunker down and defend our home! To celebrate my birthday by candlelight, as the lights waivered, but the power remained, enabling our pump to keep running and our basement to stay relatively dry. Our original return flight on the 28th was cancelled due to the hurricane. The airport was closed. The trains stopped running. So we would never have made it home that Sunday. Coming home early was a good thing.<br />
<br />
We're knee deep in insurance claims right now. I really should be doing that instead of writing this. But I'm tired today, after a somewhat sleepless rainy night. The rain makes me nervous. I'm always afraid that the power will go out and the sump pump will stop running and our basement will fill. It's happened before; its not just my wild imagination! So I figured I could more easily write with a tired brain, than try to properly document everything required by the insurance company. That's tomorrow's job.<br />
<br />
Small victories and good things happening, reminding us that all we've lost are things. The hard drives are actually the worst, especially for Marc. But he's rebounding. School's started, Nick has his Funk and Reggae show at the School of Rock this week, Gaby's soccer season starts Saturday, and her name was chosen to be one of eleven UD kids to walk our pro soccer team, the Union, onto the field for this Saturday's game.<br />
<br />
And we got our $1000 back from US Air. The day after we returned home, US Air announced they were waiving change fees for folks trying to reschedule their travel around the hurricane. So we sent them an email, asking if they would consider reversing the charges, given the situation. It took them over a week to get back to us, but it was worth the wait. That money will cover one of the deductibles for our two insurance claims!Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-18916469799720089722011-08-22T12:36:00.002-04:002011-08-22T13:21:38.220-04:00MonacoWe were so excited to arrive in Monaco on Friday, the 29th of July, as we had booked a hotel for 5 nights. We were going to be in one place for 5 nights! After 2 weeks of, at the most, 2 consecutive days anywhere, we were excited to leave our bags unpacked for awhile. <br />
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Of course it was also perfect weather, the best since we'd arrived in France almost 2 weeks ago. Out came the shorts and swimsuits. We hit the beach:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beautiful and quiet, but more rocky than we're used to. We remedied that with some water shoes. We also picked up goggles. And bikinis for the girls.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xaeIgZ2OU7vAKOrkFNc5B-BYmz1-hPkHAFrOWI3jieuXNX5exjsMPNNg1hKA5JXoC3acppUm1Ujk2O54nxseM9wpaT1wXKRCdSAZidMvs_vKK_p8E30K3vPL3I6IrAcoc_wt95KVuW0w/s1600/2+monaco+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xaeIgZ2OU7vAKOrkFNc5B-BYmz1-hPkHAFrOWI3jieuXNX5exjsMPNNg1hKA5JXoC3acppUm1Ujk2O54nxseM9wpaT1wXKRCdSAZidMvs_vKK_p8E30K3vPL3I6IrAcoc_wt95KVuW0w/s400/2+monaco+beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gaby and I had the same goggles, same water shoes, and same bikinis. Except that mine took considerably more fabric! I had brought a tankini, but actually felt more conspicious as the only women wearing some sort of one piece were probably over 70. It's been many years since my tummy has seen sunlight -- it felt good!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We swam in the hotel pool. That's Gaby, who was in there swimming laps every day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD16jUfjpF0MoPuHYCKohSOBVbV3HDuHSXLnx8smhjN4dHmHgkMbZ0eKj3G9sy68OraNctCPZnRGtwK73x_hUwgPqXx1rZ-TiXyxNcagBQavMx76lmX_yYADEMHkhHu1G1ZH57SKgq0rgM/s1600/9+monaco+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD16jUfjpF0MoPuHYCKohSOBVbV3HDuHSXLnx8smhjN4dHmHgkMbZ0eKj3G9sy68OraNctCPZnRGtwK73x_hUwgPqXx1rZ-TiXyxNcagBQavMx76lmX_yYADEMHkhHu1G1ZH57SKgq0rgM/s400/9+monaco+pool.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The view from our room:</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we had done in Reims before we left, we shopped for our lunch at the local grocery store. And as in Reims, we were able to find delicious cheeses and pates to enjoy with fresh baguettes. Restaurants here have been expensive but the groceries are quite reasonable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsluyKLRVknFrv1Xenpj_C2-yMpqBWRmaVXEenH3Boo1-JcQ73esg0zMypWrN0w08TeZdrfdPZtq88ulH610jYsAzRI2UAI1S5zSY-fpXDyJTPJnWRJ3KJFUbYdrIafjdP8ohyphenhyphenwPNhzN6N/s1600/13+monaco+grocery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsluyKLRVknFrv1Xenpj_C2-yMpqBWRmaVXEenH3Boo1-JcQ73esg0zMypWrN0w08TeZdrfdPZtq88ulH610jYsAzRI2UAI1S5zSY-fpXDyJTPJnWRJ3KJFUbYdrIafjdP8ohyphenhyphenwPNhzN6N/s400/13+monaco+grocery.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Picnic on the balcony.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Marc and I did some sightseeing. Lots of walking. The kids were content to stay at the hotel and we were fine with that. Every old church, every old building was starting to look the same to them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-70VzdCm-5asbozB1QiIuslt8gLZTPxbxInRH__OiDApWoAl2hXfVzuTVxABh9_nKdJO5DTSbSuPKPzlActY2r_o1Vu3UhVH5zEhSSqfUJJXhV8hMrvtdgGEn1nDdx_J6o4jmi4IxrGz/s1600/15+monaco+ss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-70VzdCm-5asbozB1QiIuslt8gLZTPxbxInRH__OiDApWoAl2hXfVzuTVxABh9_nKdJO5DTSbSuPKPzlActY2r_o1Vu3UhVH5zEhSSqfUJJXhV8hMrvtdgGEn1nDdx_J6o4jmi4IxrGz/s400/15+monaco+ss.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But not to us. After shorter walks around our hotel, we took the hotel shuttle to the casino area, and walked around there. First stop was the Hotel de Paris. I had to photograph this for Gaby, as she and I had recently seen the Selena Gomez movie Monte Carlo, and many of the scenes took place in this hotel. The grand lobby:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHs2amnW-wzdpFluwHdUEVqEko53EsnoxWrBe6z30hNEJzGfTm4Ano32KmP0qMu3bd1GeNEa7aAHyaFGEv55FYt492CS3GYlQWsKzxWj7ABMVSuLEA6v36vqacn8RH8aS_fY8n55OEfygQ/s1600/16+monaco+ss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHs2amnW-wzdpFluwHdUEVqEko53EsnoxWrBe6z30hNEJzGfTm4Ano32KmP0qMu3bd1GeNEa7aAHyaFGEv55FYt492CS3GYlQWsKzxWj7ABMVSuLEA6v36vqacn8RH8aS_fY8n55OEfygQ/s400/16+monaco+ss.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the no less grand exterior.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We saw a lot, and changed elevations frequently. There are so many levels. This is how the locals stay in shape! </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Changing of the guard at the palace.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99x0s6L4C9tdV-XkVql2_KFsKCSXlrbvFU45YAjI0qt-QYjGZivpYxMjCf4unxp8_gWdifqY3K3jBwc6EpBDm_CgoG6W5fDNVmav7OSejWR4u63x3EysoEcGQqwHptg72z9GHcod-AZQv/s1600/20+monaco+ss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99x0s6L4C9tdV-XkVql2_KFsKCSXlrbvFU45YAjI0qt-QYjGZivpYxMjCf4unxp8_gWdifqY3K3jBwc6EpBDm_CgoG6W5fDNVmav7OSejWR4u63x3EysoEcGQqwHptg72z9GHcod-AZQv/s400/20+monaco+ss.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ojNxzp0VgLKyPtFbNWzYRJcJboJiUEmgr8HzCIokuYxDQayI3XjHeWFEQHxIIKb5u2unO2hNqBfDrPCgPFiLsdZIBpQJAewhx179a2qlSsUtYzb5Bcy_ZqUxzkxp5-kvG_Afpq_XWuzy/s1600/24+half+monaco+ss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ojNxzp0VgLKyPtFbNWzYRJcJboJiUEmgr8HzCIokuYxDQayI3XjHeWFEQHxIIKb5u2unO2hNqBfDrPCgPFiLsdZIBpQJAewhx179a2qlSsUtYzb5Bcy_ZqUxzkxp5-kvG_Afpq_XWuzy/s400/24+half+monaco+ss.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's fascinating to tour Monaco, and imagine what it must have been like to build these roads, tunnels and exquisite structures. And without the modern conveniences and tools we have now. It all seems like part of the landscape, like it was always here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We wrapped up our five days in Monaco with a football game. And found out about it quite by chance. Our hotel was right beside the stadium, and we had seen big posters advertising a Monaco football game on the Monday. We inquired about it on Sunday at our hotel, and besides information about Monday's match, the concierge told us that Marseilles was playing a friendly against Manchester United, THE Manchester United, on Tuesday. That's when we started noticing the posters everywhere for that match. They did mention that Rooney would be playing -- it was right on the poster. So we got three tickets - Marc stayed behind and caught up on work - and the kids and I set out, across the road, for the football match.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pizza first, at the stadium's pizza restaurant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA89onmV9Hq_-kXuBfMIHJlRtTOtDO9l1xYZjGsaeGCic_ndDEDIxDu7owmzFJmD8FQiIuN51XbcqWJyPRthsPnl2vJzKoUdtn4z37LuY41UiVIUJi418LcTwp3Q6DVnen9OWIhp-T18Lq/s1600/25+monaco+fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA89onmV9Hq_-kXuBfMIHJlRtTOtDO9l1xYZjGsaeGCic_ndDEDIxDu7owmzFJmD8FQiIuN51XbcqWJyPRthsPnl2vJzKoUdtn4z37LuY41UiVIUJi418LcTwp3Q6DVnen9OWIhp-T18Lq/s400/25+monaco+fb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The match didn't start til 8:45. We had decided to go for pizza at 6:30, but discovered it was closed til 7, and that we would need a reservation. They were able to guarantee us a table when we came back at 7. The fun part was, when we left our hotel, we had to get through throngs of people at the main entrance. We found out that the Marseilles team was staying at our hotel, so fans were waiting to catch a glimpse of them. We spent our 1/2 hour til 7 doing the same. The number of people increased, but the team didn't show up by the time we had to return to the pizza place. Not that we would have recognized any of them anyway. But it would have been fun to see them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We could hear when they were departing the hotel though. The roar of the crowd was audible over at the pizza restaurant. We didn't miss them by much, but we missed them. But we'd see them on the field.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Without asking, we were sold tickets in the visitor's section, which is why it looks a bit empty.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Marseilles supporters section. They've got nothing on Philly's Sons of Ben. Perhaps because it was a friendly, rather than a regular season match. But they were sparse and quiet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTj0_uC-8f7q29FaSNERO23zPxI-wS6_bmk0ROnI6cRmgSwkVKqUi9u0Xn2wYI0dpiowje3XF4nK4taGUUySzq9ePQSMcVlyZJCLqaBx-zPWnUALdoadAdqckNY_fMrbjyI0DEfudqXaP/s1600/28+monaco+fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTj0_uC-8f7q29FaSNERO23zPxI-wS6_bmk0ROnI6cRmgSwkVKqUi9u0Xn2wYI0dpiowje3XF4nK4taGUUySzq9ePQSMcVlyZJCLqaBx-zPWnUALdoadAdqckNY_fMrbjyI0DEfudqXaP/s400/28+monaco+fb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">During warm up, I'd been snap happy, getting photos of who I thought was Wayne Rooney. Turns out, he didn't play. Someone else was wearing his number. Well that just took the wind out of our sails. We were very disappointed.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyDE5CTczIVYVnlNiYGsAtyyKVZW34ufBHBKsVd3aFLvG5x_b5cdZuiyqkRVD5_ZRvuhZGvCKY0BDXUNbEbjJGJuPe2ytdyC24aAmUtwiYCTyQj2CU3QGT-XAn8sZfffeU7wBfnJ9fpnn/s1600/29+monaco+fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyDE5CTczIVYVnlNiYGsAtyyKVZW34ufBHBKsVd3aFLvG5x_b5cdZuiyqkRVD5_ZRvuhZGvCKY0BDXUNbEbjJGJuPe2ytdyC24aAmUtwiYCTyQj2CU3QGT-XAn8sZfffeU7wBfnJ9fpnn/s400/29+monaco+fb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But we thought we'd sit back, make the best of it and enjoy the match.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLsgvUnPj28izcEVORw_GfR7zkGc45jUtYKmqrFaokQ5cR1cM6DJoSGKjeM6QaN0MnGV8NbjHXGS8MObZ6aLvROxjGrKBrepFOVITdQf3u7Jo5dznG-nHtqdyIheSLgS5cxqxLQ0Myuw9/s1600/30+monaco+fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLsgvUnPj28izcEVORw_GfR7zkGc45jUtYKmqrFaokQ5cR1cM6DJoSGKjeM6QaN0MnGV8NbjHXGS8MObZ6aLvROxjGrKBrepFOVITdQf3u7Jo5dznG-nHtqdyIheSLgS5cxqxLQ0Myuw9/s400/30+monaco+fb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQFlo7LH3mmQgksg1HHxjmfH-uIkwDp2XVcxmvEesFsznnDIgeR0EVrjvIDaJJfQJbmWt7f8wr9fe882W7nCsKwcR335YfPMN7qSW86gJZDvF06eA2CwoKhLemUrGiEPJgt7BAAGVLca_/s1600/31+monaco+fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQFlo7LH3mmQgksg1HHxjmfH-uIkwDp2XVcxmvEesFsznnDIgeR0EVrjvIDaJJfQJbmWt7f8wr9fe882W7nCsKwcR335YfPMN7qSW86gJZDvF06eA2CwoKhLemUrGiEPJgt7BAAGVLca_/s400/31+monaco+fb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5L7jCW9jx8iUPQkM9OUMUcKqQGxeDGRVakSMxkRZEuJ4gm7PdIm459tFGSoebGZoazgR_KBOQ3r_GZXt9EzvZ9IB9lixXJgubDyT6tniZJM3zQvYVRJv160QRRAfgV70RkyOs3ThBfMp/s1600/32+monaco+fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5L7jCW9jx8iUPQkM9OUMUcKqQGxeDGRVakSMxkRZEuJ4gm7PdIm459tFGSoebGZoazgR_KBOQ3r_GZXt9EzvZ9IB9lixXJgubDyT6tniZJM3zQvYVRJv160QRRAfgV70RkyOs3ThBfMp/s400/32+monaco+fb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the half, the score was tied 2-2. But Man U fell apart during the second half. With 5 minutes remaining and Marseilles up 7-2, yes 7-2, we left. As we were walking out, we heard Marseilles score another goal. The final score was 8-2. The half time show, with these kids juggling, might have been the best part!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxxi66YbCgHHyUjtTS3LYRHBi6H3HCd_qzs0nbgbkLsQCOZSRHoooPWOJGi4MIQVIK3SQzYSFUbwfHl-Dz8HPHh-_NReYEmMVphEa6ik_3jhHL47gYg4USa3KubZ5GvWaYiSy0_KNPo6m/s1600/33+monaco+fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxxi66YbCgHHyUjtTS3LYRHBi6H3HCd_qzs0nbgbkLsQCOZSRHoooPWOJGi4MIQVIK3SQzYSFUbwfHl-Dz8HPHh-_NReYEmMVphEa6ik_3jhHL47gYg4USa3KubZ5GvWaYiSy0_KNPo6m/s400/33+monaco+fb.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Truthfully, even with the high scoring and absence of names, it was a fun evening. And certainly no trouble getting there!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-78570174822811938912011-08-22T09:00:00.002-04:002011-08-22T09:28:38.401-04:00More ItalyLeaving Firenze, we still had 24 hours in Italy before our next destination Monaco. We just HAD to see the leaning tower of Pisa!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkSUc8mZDS0L-TVRFXxBXDoRu894IafSTu4-lFC0fV7NrjX36MUnUiZIInIcJ8bQjBp1uPtgLp2CxPHfSBsGl027FBE3Y7lzu1ko9uSTYpwxMFyr42YLcUccpo1SvstgJKKl-vlajmjbK/s1600/1+pisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkSUc8mZDS0L-TVRFXxBXDoRu894IafSTu4-lFC0fV7NrjX36MUnUiZIInIcJ8bQjBp1uPtgLp2CxPHfSBsGl027FBE3Y7lzu1ko9uSTYpwxMFyr42YLcUccpo1SvstgJKKl-vlajmjbK/s400/1+pisa.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So we did!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdGqCEVMiciOCYt6iUc4DCLyOBMDpquBatD7V-k84Z0CGNL13VahJNb3QdFX6MXkQhwb42NJOKzICJxOwaC0tWcxHjSdPsQ4U2fjtN1ng2SxN08dGNX_CDNsRcyJfpB7hMMXlpTRb6sGp/s1600/2+pisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdGqCEVMiciOCYt6iUc4DCLyOBMDpquBatD7V-k84Z0CGNL13VahJNb3QdFX6MXkQhwb42NJOKzICJxOwaC0tWcxHjSdPsQ4U2fjtN1ng2SxN08dGNX_CDNsRcyJfpB7hMMXlpTRb6sGp/s400/2+pisa.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And so did Elmo!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNW8eFLYfA_k_O1plP7a2RzSDsnNOvjAMTHOBtTDekCzBluvjFQcc_WyCxv3dAjtTRQeCd_m7rwpIMWt6_tZNPBK4r5DMWwIRypG5JINqpjlrBcQ0JaiDXy5m64wozBa_VvxaWcGEah_n9/s1600/3+pisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNW8eFLYfA_k_O1plP7a2RzSDsnNOvjAMTHOBtTDekCzBluvjFQcc_WyCxv3dAjtTRQeCd_m7rwpIMWt6_tZNPBK4r5DMWwIRypG5JINqpjlrBcQ0JaiDXy5m64wozBa_VvxaWcGEah_n9/s400/3+pisa.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1i8DLJ_N2OgkqM2wbophyphenhyphenAdUIYy6EeA1nKnqthfcgGhNXbEJWsBWqmFPW5H3HtLXKW5k7EwuNvytqit9JVxz5p7eCyEReAcZv0xxTxsMsvMXVNE4y0KeT-OusF3P28wqpcl2E29z54RFn/s1600/4+pisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1i8DLJ_N2OgkqM2wbophyphenhyphenAdUIYy6EeA1nKnqthfcgGhNXbEJWsBWqmFPW5H3HtLXKW5k7EwuNvytqit9JVxz5p7eCyEReAcZv0xxTxsMsvMXVNE4y0KeT-OusF3P28wqpcl2E29z54RFn/s400/4+pisa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More gelati, of course.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mep2r8hQnbzIIVCa2O3HM1Ja8OW2Px1mwvdMxrnFw2eUVCDJMTBQOM9cEFfds3gduvlE7J_T8ZRsTVW1r3gk8LFoVs996srzKi3ls_XNIHWaqrv3p0QpcKBiFlUD-YG4xkknep8kAd4g/s1600/5+pisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mep2r8hQnbzIIVCa2O3HM1Ja8OW2Px1mwvdMxrnFw2eUVCDJMTBQOM9cEFfds3gduvlE7J_T8ZRsTVW1r3gk8LFoVs996srzKi3ls_XNIHWaqrv3p0QpcKBiFlUD-YG4xkknep8kAd4g/s400/5+pisa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just love how these famous landmarks are just part of the scenery. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8t1zY0LFTY3RqxF5p9dMwT4FNivRawTAjqx2xZxpsdDiaRP24uKsNemI8RqmuN5w4W-smXkMr51VndMxnM1lbOTyaSPh1bacPC7TsVBrKWUv0ztQ0MnB_ABRAwK3lfjMdW-2p4De4YL2/s1600/6+pisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8t1zY0LFTY3RqxF5p9dMwT4FNivRawTAjqx2xZxpsdDiaRP24uKsNemI8RqmuN5w4W-smXkMr51VndMxnM1lbOTyaSPh1bacPC7TsVBrKWUv0ztQ0MnB_ABRAwK3lfjMdW-2p4De4YL2/s400/6+pisa.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think we paid for an hour of parking in Pisa, and we gave our ticket to someone to use the balance, so we were there less than an hour. Lucca was our next desination.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwdDOnL7oAeeQfVQ5zVTptO3RPCon6LPUuJyfX5rvxvhp5Jy34zoK4FePuZer3iIL5EzDr3DwmkxDClOQQBnN1efsajpzRMeW3u35C2UM-lTT3ngGORjh-jipDHLNlTSQTe7oNFYmyl_2/s1600/7+lucca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwdDOnL7oAeeQfVQ5zVTptO3RPCon6LPUuJyfX5rvxvhp5Jy34zoK4FePuZer3iIL5EzDr3DwmkxDClOQQBnN1efsajpzRMeW3u35C2UM-lTT3ngGORjh-jipDHLNlTSQTe7oNFYmyl_2/s400/7+lucca.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A pizza lunch.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7rNR_Barn1YfYc-zwIoG2I6XA6FPdMvMrp4ctatYDAzX1R589-uV0M0TUQditxtD1Woazk-cD3sAPxuIrLaK9j40f2umO1HbW-hOpPWc46GXAMtCvtHp-YrAWCtWi285eMfqXRPH1KGz/s1600/8+lucca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7rNR_Barn1YfYc-zwIoG2I6XA6FPdMvMrp4ctatYDAzX1R589-uV0M0TUQditxtD1Woazk-cD3sAPxuIrLaK9j40f2umO1HbW-hOpPWc46GXAMtCvtHp-YrAWCtWi285eMfqXRPH1KGz/s400/8+lucca.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A quick tour around this walled city, and then we walked on part of the wall. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1XXMplFwGVvIQ73Lmhh_czVpXtycobe1l-S3rxnQW-FC1sOE3bNvtCvkRg1rBwziZV92RsiFhHVqw9yReWTRxBr2RqdMx5K6Vf4Qz1d58wJYbJ10IQDApfGRK-5tlROzSgATo0UejvWv/s1600/9+lucca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1XXMplFwGVvIQ73Lmhh_czVpXtycobe1l-S3rxnQW-FC1sOE3bNvtCvkRg1rBwziZV92RsiFhHVqw9yReWTRxBr2RqdMx5K6Vf4Qz1d58wJYbJ10IQDApfGRK-5tlROzSgATo0UejvWv/s400/9+lucca.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They say you can walk on the wall 'round the city, but I'm not sure this is what they have in mind.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIuFvDFsrMerdjUvkEBGGSoHoy9MsSayXrRmLl6epjRWc2BgJ97UoG_kwbTsL9hEZjlqE7zBbgHAHd4iow2QcngHL5nYf8KN9T_eH0OIQo8k_iqyoVULyU1bymbhUTZeskSovhl_9ANiq/s1600/10+lucca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIuFvDFsrMerdjUvkEBGGSoHoy9MsSayXrRmLl6epjRWc2BgJ97UoG_kwbTsL9hEZjlqE7zBbgHAHd4iow2QcngHL5nYf8KN9T_eH0OIQo8k_iqyoVULyU1bymbhUTZeskSovhl_9ANiq/s400/10+lucca.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8nLH78an_cB20J_bo3Q5u_NqKfixwKx9gIiywjIS8XWD5WqTDbW398KNUfc-X4x_tZz_vern42Fx0jO8GR-UMn0zLfzTfp5c_KffLqtPkMMcNG8Ao3aduNDVmJKmyYIhJBl4sxOZQH6V/s1600/11+lucca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8nLH78an_cB20J_bo3Q5u_NqKfixwKx9gIiywjIS8XWD5WqTDbW398KNUfc-X4x_tZz_vern42Fx0jO8GR-UMn0zLfzTfp5c_KffLqtPkMMcNG8Ao3aduNDVmJKmyYIhJBl4sxOZQH6V/s400/11+lucca.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was glad when we got to the end!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back on the road, we had no destination in mind. We had been told by friend's of Marc's in Reims that the Cinque Terre coastal region of Italy was a must see, so we thought we would find out for ourselves. We had to be in Monaco the next day, Friday, the 29th of July, and it wasn't much farther, if we overnighted in Cinque Terre.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZE45yFveQiINfUvnYi7x7CphmCbje4at4bAKptYQu6c3aMLDpI7pGhQfjpXisoF74CGVHkFuXNnAPRrcXjgq4SNB0MvBN5ecVO-BGVxDeved6vb28SP2padF7iNAJ3S4TLPfRpvAxL7_/s1600/12+on+the+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZE45yFveQiINfUvnYi7x7CphmCbje4at4bAKptYQu6c3aMLDpI7pGhQfjpXisoF74CGVHkFuXNnAPRrcXjgq4SNB0MvBN5ecVO-BGVxDeved6vb28SP2padF7iNAJ3S4TLPfRpvAxL7_/s400/12+on+the+road.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The mountains were spectacular and we marveled at how they used the steep hillside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also marveled at all of the tunnels. I'm sure in these two weeks on the road we've easily drive through more tunnels than our entire lives. Even combining all four of us. There's just not many tunnels where we come from.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_4cogd6-3hEN1p6plmfH95IURIt3cp4Zf6RpsEKdDfDjMwwRVpGyQUSWjKTg2iCE2t1yj701JV4pX_zk5paz28VXFHK3z1RPfcR9EdMMhpTTLNNN0Y0f06laLG3fAleJL5yeJfo-0F40/s1600/13+on+the+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_4cogd6-3hEN1p6plmfH95IURIt3cp4Zf6RpsEKdDfDjMwwRVpGyQUSWjKTg2iCE2t1yj701JV4pX_zk5paz28VXFHK3z1RPfcR9EdMMhpTTLNNN0Y0f06laLG3fAleJL5yeJfo-0F40/s400/13+on+the+road.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We finally reached the coast.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCyUtyA8E_4Tvj5ORd7MaOHKJqwGyAzVB9PW9vHV9O-4VL_ym-yh8QNjMEDQbsfsnLkaDUemAsLkEu6FvELLrGyHkSjfL4G48xvweAcBAsqP0QzbESPhMGxIUBCllvXttrfXzJj6mGYrt/s1600/14+on+the+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCyUtyA8E_4Tvj5ORd7MaOHKJqwGyAzVB9PW9vHV9O-4VL_ym-yh8QNjMEDQbsfsnLkaDUemAsLkEu6FvELLrGyHkSjfL4G48xvweAcBAsqP0QzbESPhMGxIUBCllvXttrfXzJj6mGYrt/s400/14+on+the+road.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No, Nick didn't take this picture. He had a headache since leaving Lucca, and had stayed in the car. Some kind fellow tourists snapped this for us.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGW_uNUwIF_xlLTp8ekRNcHNnxsHiySt6Ry-mBSrzNPVVcBRO3HWMI7qEOas6kqx5zfBwW-wQpd7mR1D0MxGc29xoQbBomfnUpgCkIxxnJPEqfeDXZAMBbNfbHY-edRpBC05bDStvk34eX/s1600/15+on+the+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGW_uNUwIF_xlLTp8ekRNcHNnxsHiySt6Ry-mBSrzNPVVcBRO3HWMI7qEOas6kqx5zfBwW-wQpd7mR1D0MxGc29xoQbBomfnUpgCkIxxnJPEqfeDXZAMBbNfbHY-edRpBC05bDStvk34eX/s400/15+on+the+road.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By the time we arrived in the Cinque Terre region, we stopped at the town of Monterosso. After trying 2 hotels, the third try was a charm, and we found ourselves in a room at the Hotel Adrianna for the night. Everyone was already heading back from the beach. We took a quick stroll before looking for dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qrRKpQEsXKpaDEotU_hvt7yP4OKAScFv7-8ULJxQoK0mlENd_ifqtIqCGB6Te_LVmeGth208FoGzwb-iICouIQshJtlSfXVQPB5xGB7EY57joI6SiovL9sDV-H9i81Ddut3gCyz0toPl/s1600/17+cinque+terre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qrRKpQEsXKpaDEotU_hvt7yP4OKAScFv7-8ULJxQoK0mlENd_ifqtIqCGB6Te_LVmeGth208FoGzwb-iICouIQshJtlSfXVQPB5xGB7EY57joI6SiovL9sDV-H9i81Ddut3gCyz0toPl/s400/17+cinque+terre.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the first time Nick has mussels on this trip, even though its one thing that Reims is known for.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2EPgCgCzmNyFl8B5Ew13W0p8IdMnSxUSX5xnzt-Xnnn2-H4anezUwakGKBMSHnKmln0xtcFQfZl90sgZnCpfF60ycKZOqq4sz-SnDzYGiicnx3u3wwlsspYeoGugcdyq7hpATxLeInTU/s1600/18+cinque+terre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2EPgCgCzmNyFl8B5Ew13W0p8IdMnSxUSX5xnzt-Xnnn2-H4anezUwakGKBMSHnKmln0xtcFQfZl90sgZnCpfF60ycKZOqq4sz-SnDzYGiicnx3u3wwlsspYeoGugcdyq7hpATxLeInTU/s400/18+cinque+terre.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After dinner, walking around, we came upon a football match, so we watched for awhile.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjSo5FqaKhacJkkDWGCIWnA04piSOCpApYqZkyBbg6DbZE0aHNxcvxUuqPnSjCB1ihA8vO98XxNmgSAhWJC85GegTm-Vik2tXNtyMixyAP19fxsXVi-X-sAn0WVrj4WSaG_q-u4GWf-4p/s1600/19+cinque+terre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjSo5FqaKhacJkkDWGCIWnA04piSOCpApYqZkyBbg6DbZE0aHNxcvxUuqPnSjCB1ihA8vO98XxNmgSAhWJC85GegTm-Vik2tXNtyMixyAP19fxsXVi-X-sAn0WVrj4WSaG_q-u4GWf-4p/s400/19+cinque+terre.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was an enclosed field on the beach. They played 4 on 4 with a keeper. Looked like fun!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSsWah8yLIeWjO9FujuMEL6kPi1PVuUIM_zsaEmfXee0rkQTt01O1Cm7uXkfyV31cfBI7QHlCb9otIuNl5QAHFE0WVf9LQZ_HRDvqmkl1lW4HeACS3sX5Gzm4nsH1QI1BguWB4h1s2Xz_/s1600/21+cinque+terre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSsWah8yLIeWjO9FujuMEL6kPi1PVuUIM_zsaEmfXee0rkQTt01O1Cm7uXkfyV31cfBI7QHlCb9otIuNl5QAHFE0WVf9LQZ_HRDvqmkl1lW4HeACS3sX5Gzm4nsH1QI1BguWB4h1s2Xz_/s400/21+cinque+terre.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The morning view from our hotel room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetX7DXTANLxKWOEqz1Vop0vKc_aAlTShJ_cnuDKinUHpA_ODXNs9SvM8FCe2qPAVDt-azKvlwWLhHUuMO1h2BAYE_i3tBCx9Z_CI0jZs8xavm3kDJOdrVaiXECaUXQ9gh6m5O0bgLj7eP/s1600/22+cinque+terre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetX7DXTANLxKWOEqz1Vop0vKc_aAlTShJ_cnuDKinUHpA_ODXNs9SvM8FCe2qPAVDt-azKvlwWLhHUuMO1h2BAYE_i3tBCx9Z_CI0jZs8xavm3kDJOdrVaiXECaUXQ9gh6m5O0bgLj7eP/s400/22+cinque+terre.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The morning view into our very green bathroom. And it had a bidet!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicijhtcF6tD6lLT0LPvd_zduH8PXDQnyujZDBcT6LAacMrJ0WqRyS8NOC1j78yabQeAHryYzn4iBiSMucaRRxxp8jjw1e6CuCh7WDczDNkxrw84ijUF6sXLDcFWB7SMZfx_fQbcTJE0_Zc/s1600/23+cinque+terre+hotel+bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicijhtcF6tD6lLT0LPvd_zduH8PXDQnyujZDBcT6LAacMrJ0WqRyS8NOC1j78yabQeAHryYzn4iBiSMucaRRxxp8jjw1e6CuCh7WDczDNkxrw84ijUF6sXLDcFWB7SMZfx_fQbcTJE0_Zc/s400/23+cinque+terre+hotel+bathroom.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some morning beach time.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuwI2QxfhsaJ77bSOE7TuzEJqeaqoPrzCWMW1pDfsunO4uSA9K4R16krzTjLC2xxRU60OvM44xqgZAUvQbStyziMDKYwCc8UKZq_sktv1839II4U2VDftm7giElpYFJthEF-zw-JcqCgZ/s1600/24+cinque+terre+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuwI2QxfhsaJ77bSOE7TuzEJqeaqoPrzCWMW1pDfsunO4uSA9K4R16krzTjLC2xxRU60OvM44xqgZAUvQbStyziMDKYwCc8UKZq_sktv1839II4U2VDftm7giElpYFJthEF-zw-JcqCgZ/s400/24+cinque+terre+beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF8IMRW3qieKUKaMQq9Y18OMlB6JuxWEVFsNRbGEdsS8GDuyZYueh5lVFg90JmxSCd7XtivgwqrnYqecfwunjyfQLjxJQC_WK3VckXutPk1PVa6Q1pTqZ-CceTljArNk4D6t4IGfXIfsY/s1600/25+cinque+terre+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF8IMRW3qieKUKaMQq9Y18OMlB6JuxWEVFsNRbGEdsS8GDuyZYueh5lVFg90JmxSCd7XtivgwqrnYqecfwunjyfQLjxJQC_WK3VckXutPk1PVa6Q1pTqZ-CceTljArNk4D6t4IGfXIfsY/s400/25+cinque+terre+beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just love this picture. This cute Italian couple were readying for a day on the beach, and he was helping her with her swimcap. Are they not adorable?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVep_OXZN7j4GpdFPbPIvMrfy6dFxiSkuwKd4cLIHs0q0Bp0d1BEn4oyg5bDxvUvv6uRPLncX_QTVbWt57Y5vQZd3sboA0JoFHK3K7Ty-8gul_UIrRebt_a7NXRsCuKsJorSs5V6cFyXSl/s1600/26+cinque+terre+cute+couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVep_OXZN7j4GpdFPbPIvMrfy6dFxiSkuwKd4cLIHs0q0Bp0d1BEn4oyg5bDxvUvv6uRPLncX_QTVbWt57Y5vQZd3sboA0JoFHK3K7Ty-8gul_UIrRebt_a7NXRsCuKsJorSs5V6cFyXSl/s400/26+cinque+terre+cute+couple.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-48531829404310372312011-08-19T23:42:00.001-04:002011-08-22T09:27:07.361-04:00ItalyAfter our cable car adventure, we continued south, picking up a permit sticker to drive through Austria. And that's about all we did in Austria, was pass through. It didn't take long to reach Italy, and we started thinking about our destination for the night.<br />
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Marc had a conference call he was required to be on, so we wanted to be settling in around 6, for him to make his 7:00 call. We could have covered more distance had he not let me navigate. To my defense, he did ask me to look for a non-toll road that was a bit off of the beaten track. We ended up driving up and down a mountain, a slow and winding journey that reminded us of a mountain drive we took in Maui with Pier, Nathan, Manon and Nathan a few Christmases ago. Many of us ended up with upset stomaches. We were pretty close to that again this time. But again, it was beautiful. And we got to see some local livestock.<br />
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I can see how cowbells are necessary up in the mountains.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1sSdb1YtTrXsQMZk6LKkpLOt7zcFyzqAowUd8PnHtBq0vkbil12D_sF4C2u-ecMmKr4pWglul7G7ZilQZzsl6X6o5kGRE1vWWkQoI1-dxIbl832-VLV6vopMmE9c6n4kq7fqSRL1SkNM/s1600/1+Italy+the+drive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1sSdb1YtTrXsQMZk6LKkpLOt7zcFyzqAowUd8PnHtBq0vkbil12D_sF4C2u-ecMmKr4pWglul7G7ZilQZzsl6X6o5kGRE1vWWkQoI1-dxIbl832-VLV6vopMmE9c6n4kq7fqSRL1SkNM/s400/1+Italy+the+drive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our first gelato in Italy.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjf5HCbZ-aJrEccM-r7v8IU6cKcZQglhdgFEUT3Xhy7deCSQUNiHby_2zMc323QbHQbmc7ghWNJoTLYwZ14vW-6rcQb8qyJE9bt4tbYHJQ3-ppbicom4elhkb_cQlgurrn-V9Xczq23aV/s1600/2+Italy+first+gelato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjf5HCbZ-aJrEccM-r7v8IU6cKcZQglhdgFEUT3Xhy7deCSQUNiHby_2zMc323QbHQbmc7ghWNJoTLYwZ14vW-6rcQb8qyJE9bt4tbYHJQ3-ppbicom4elhkb_cQlgurrn-V9Xczq23aV/s400/2+Italy+first+gelato.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Elefant Hotel, in Auer, where we spent Tuesday night.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIRR30PzaqoMR1vbnGcBh4AD54pa-uVPpIB4Jh5TkvR-SywsSuy17ssR-2-RIEVHVsU_j9fuS6WJXuse_UC5E9qDdQP7sG9SF1Ht-tHKfgNZmWnkd9o8eNR8jM_zm7-ibewOVSRC13mB-/s1600/3+Italy+Elefant+hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIRR30PzaqoMR1vbnGcBh4AD54pa-uVPpIB4Jh5TkvR-SywsSuy17ssR-2-RIEVHVsU_j9fuS6WJXuse_UC5E9qDdQP7sG9SF1Ht-tHKfgNZmWnkd9o8eNR8jM_zm7-ibewOVSRC13mB-/s400/3+Italy+Elefant+hotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We don't see these on the highways back home.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wVIKdeIE7qUGnZN4p00z0UFf0wQO_DzRwW1hnMQpiipJdTELzYoGFxRs6CfdxJ4b5D8Gvs2SSRHLsXaVWOS6yyuPtTTRb0_wwiWY6ArMmCAxU0JxynLFqb7bjOAgQK6UJ-QgfugN_rvH/s1600/4+Italy+on+the+road+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wVIKdeIE7qUGnZN4p00z0UFf0wQO_DzRwW1hnMQpiipJdTELzYoGFxRs6CfdxJ4b5D8Gvs2SSRHLsXaVWOS6yyuPtTTRb0_wwiWY6ArMmCAxU0JxynLFqb7bjOAgQK6UJ-QgfugN_rvH/s400/4+Italy+on+the+road+again.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We arrived in Firenze late Wednesday afternoon. Despite the drizzle, the kids, and Marc, couldn't wait to try out the new soccer ball at the park around the corner.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeMYEYYEupb6qnDjws3E7U31JQOGMpNgBTlI1qL9wkNrZgsJgmWFivGdnEEYvKQa84zk-b1tEdv4Wvg1QuxnafrHIEUomE6fjiKRqjme7GSJ0USXUCt9DmAoEIHwXJ2kChbxtWrTpy1Cd/s1600/5+soccer+in+Firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeMYEYYEupb6qnDjws3E7U31JQOGMpNgBTlI1qL9wkNrZgsJgmWFivGdnEEYvKQa84zk-b1tEdv4Wvg1QuxnafrHIEUomE6fjiKRqjme7GSJ0USXUCt9DmAoEIHwXJ2kChbxtWrTpy1Cd/s400/5+soccer+in+Firenze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm amazed at how, in so many places in Europe, there's little fanfare when it comes to statues, monuments and landmarks. You just round the corner and come across something fabulous.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNZu-T0ZF8ml9gh_2zVKYXFbRhI4aRrpYswB0sK_iqSt7dK9weNKDBakW2-53b0XLjWa_LbrKlo9Uzn-mcUXSbxtC704AnpeD544dvXbZiCmIPIwVGfex9Rw8C76G2X3NZgh7KmZoxEbn/s1600/6+1+half+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNZu-T0ZF8ml9gh_2zVKYXFbRhI4aRrpYswB0sK_iqSt7dK9weNKDBakW2-53b0XLjWa_LbrKlo9Uzn-mcUXSbxtC704AnpeD544dvXbZiCmIPIwVGfex9Rw8C76G2X3NZgh7KmZoxEbn/s400/6+1+half+firenze.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJflJgGlTwMdu81Zogc2JVV8bnUEm18uAvgGRlzF0ne2e05IoIqpnt_gE8Zl2ZsdGUry-SM9kWQJtkzgRzDONYNZd4cH5ABp_tHBRVLwLJTOP0yG39XZQvXW83_vChaDmAl5kbZp9p9N_f/s1600/7+Firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJflJgGlTwMdu81Zogc2JVV8bnUEm18uAvgGRlzF0ne2e05IoIqpnt_gE8Zl2ZsdGUry-SM9kWQJtkzgRzDONYNZd4cH5ABp_tHBRVLwLJTOP0yG39XZQvXW83_vChaDmAl5kbZp9p9N_f/s400/7+Firenze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our first pizza in Italy.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqG4l2RC-2F7EHH9RPltdUaw5IMtuwMDBI1ZsqrBSIxdwLFCpJymQ9cNHaswxV32pryfVwUTDb6WqCSWT5X3t6WdCuJb3s__Yib08bnllggrmOhQCs_kTu3vmVgoQ0lniZ7QC3kz2QgdfS/s1600/8+pizza+in+Italy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqG4l2RC-2F7EHH9RPltdUaw5IMtuwMDBI1ZsqrBSIxdwLFCpJymQ9cNHaswxV32pryfVwUTDb6WqCSWT5X3t6WdCuJb3s__Yib08bnllggrmOhQCs_kTu3vmVgoQ0lniZ7QC3kz2QgdfS/s400/8+pizza+in+Italy.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Desserts were yummy too.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_HWhl7YGjxudoOzm813hs-0BCUXLUo7MHoohZRTgIhoaKHd-CMW5T0YAiO7h_vvUkoPgKISfH2aKrL4BppHnTS5M2ajC0OndbbOv7w31wwoO7Y-UGuZqrqznz1TK7M8xEQaen-EqlrDp/s1600/9+dessert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_HWhl7YGjxudoOzm813hs-0BCUXLUo7MHoohZRTgIhoaKHd-CMW5T0YAiO7h_vvUkoPgKISfH2aKrL4BppHnTS5M2ajC0OndbbOv7w31wwoO7Y-UGuZqrqznz1TK7M8xEQaen-EqlrDp/s400/9+dessert.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGpaXqDZXQQ5zQwE5fEtXnmHu6x5wLCncXDvnaoLQu_09lFZZussOga-Mti_pA7Pyc2ThSpCMmKG-UqjaRFIZQYKBK_wsOUjLReHTwfv_KgPjOlL3yIsekYZI9Z0p9OgTjwrlOLBVIJM8/s1600/10+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGpaXqDZXQQ5zQwE5fEtXnmHu6x5wLCncXDvnaoLQu_09lFZZussOga-Mti_pA7Pyc2ThSpCMmKG-UqjaRFIZQYKBK_wsOUjLReHTwfv_KgPjOlL3yIsekYZI9Z0p9OgTjwrlOLBVIJM8/s400/10+firenze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check out the ceiling in our Arizona Hotel room.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieh6KiS8YB1oziGrmKVhYvtBEFliT21PZbiaYfjkqK3VPzJsIqKEzdhgndSb2LW2t7ofHCxF02A1thKNaF-eqDrcAhnW9z78wSmNLtKND4NjoZOOqiAMW2o1_F9vws-dGoEXdQvblVtLNH/s1600/11+hotel+arizona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieh6KiS8YB1oziGrmKVhYvtBEFliT21PZbiaYfjkqK3VPzJsIqKEzdhgndSb2LW2t7ofHCxF02A1thKNaF-eqDrcAhnW9z78wSmNLtKND4NjoZOOqiAMW2o1_F9vws-dGoEXdQvblVtLNH/s400/11+hotel+arizona.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next morning we took another stroll.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZ2ZOqBa8ZDY1c8ziTujti1SA8UorVvgsB8r8saNcpYkR_-Qyx-CEYj2e7XxvU7A81zz8cyzu2XkEDBR2tVEizjM3T-TBSmx8KWti9rgDVXo6Hd8dP4GPgdVPMZ8h2kjgneRSzuecrK7i/s1600/12+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZ2ZOqBa8ZDY1c8ziTujti1SA8UorVvgsB8r8saNcpYkR_-Qyx-CEYj2e7XxvU7A81zz8cyzu2XkEDBR2tVEizjM3T-TBSmx8KWti9rgDVXo6Hd8dP4GPgdVPMZ8h2kjgneRSzuecrK7i/s400/12+firenze.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaIs8bGzt2YPtN74VIqD547cMwxwgajnSJeeY3-RGuOxRDzmDONX-Od2W27XUNCSh-BqMBYZmq615-JDOGihdJsQKi9IYrsmyW3mnS-QXBbzJI49cDI2zMqFnHmeFOt3HiveHN6pORK_B/s1600/13+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaIs8bGzt2YPtN74VIqD547cMwxwgajnSJeeY3-RGuOxRDzmDONX-Od2W27XUNCSh-BqMBYZmq615-JDOGihdJsQKi9IYrsmyW3mnS-QXBbzJI49cDI2zMqFnHmeFOt3HiveHN6pORK_B/s400/13+firenze.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Motorcycles seem to outnumber cars.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsEErKpOJ6HJvrY42ntP7ZWG_urRWW8UBVVgWCFMPBV_rnQFVX4c3_TtK6VEPaLOcfii-2b8vw9nV1Kz2GnUQXXI1lHYlRQQlh-VYfSWVowYeIHQRiwV8fS0Nmo9PtvPB9MfYxBCMD0xH/s1600/14+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsEErKpOJ6HJvrY42ntP7ZWG_urRWW8UBVVgWCFMPBV_rnQFVX4c3_TtK6VEPaLOcfii-2b8vw9nV1Kz2GnUQXXI1lHYlRQQlh-VYfSWVowYeIHQRiwV8fS0Nmo9PtvPB9MfYxBCMD0xH/s400/14+firenze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0s4w5OEphX2tITIttVA-WegZdwgpWzuBAI0B8ra-o0JD8GHa3n6Na3ub-WRd9T7R1Cip2yrYGrnw-atpA9vo1yJHZDkAX2y-SbZzUI4FFECU0G1q56CxGYeZfUiAswzZ50slmxOhzu66/s1600/15+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0s4w5OEphX2tITIttVA-WegZdwgpWzuBAI0B8ra-o0JD8GHa3n6Na3ub-WRd9T7R1Cip2yrYGrnw-atpA9vo1yJHZDkAX2y-SbZzUI4FFECU0G1q56CxGYeZfUiAswzZ50slmxOhzu66/s400/15+firenze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgda_sHiz-JT7N3rYypJ4D7r-fBN__DGuXjqkjsToP9zPgWP0y0C4ly56_c71kWomk1qwf2O_Gmw-WFNg_xMWO1MXRgCF1StUBVAOXuItHIONxLEPfLt_0TPayWtb7cEkjCczAaaZZd-mq/s1600/16+and+a+half+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgda_sHiz-JT7N3rYypJ4D7r-fBN__DGuXjqkjsToP9zPgWP0y0C4ly56_c71kWomk1qwf2O_Gmw-WFNg_xMWO1MXRgCF1StUBVAOXuItHIONxLEPfLt_0TPayWtb7cEkjCczAaaZZd-mq/s400/16+and+a+half+firenze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lFKT56Cogsh-VGyHrC_mouy8WPVXTMU6QEe_CpECS-7WKOFYVpipI-Idxuq_xO06jikF4ZRrWSWIGA-HfNgle-gyAuXGSWf6YnfLKfdU5JA1Y9GnO6BUy9ouJls7cq91SRqWugHnMFV4/s1600/16+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lFKT56Cogsh-VGyHrC_mouy8WPVXTMU6QEe_CpECS-7WKOFYVpipI-Idxuq_xO06jikF4ZRrWSWIGA-HfNgle-gyAuXGSWf6YnfLKfdU5JA1Y9GnO6BUy9ouJls7cq91SRqWugHnMFV4/s400/16+firenze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This bridge had buildings on it that housed a variety of shops. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjAJHQw-oVC2_iw-Phkbl4KBHX8wlSTYI2xK4y4DgtWCyFsRIM6PR8sqIKqr7aGdChV5hH2u6gpRMLYT2u7C4Gs-Pi1gdCUM2zjc0DHXW3KmgH0hgv8YQ5FqpX6f_wItT43CSjuyliGul/s1600/17+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjAJHQw-oVC2_iw-Phkbl4KBHX8wlSTYI2xK4y4DgtWCyFsRIM6PR8sqIKqr7aGdChV5hH2u6gpRMLYT2u7C4Gs-Pi1gdCUM2zjc0DHXW3KmgH0hgv8YQ5FqpX6f_wItT43CSjuyliGul/s400/17+firenze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YoU0phGiIuS0uUUehQ0_Sg3gE_jrjdzgFLRTfLGlrzkX75t86d8DlLm3TaRGnGFU3_0tDG-SatHcjB1FbwyLnloxHerC2swNH5RhPF2y6lffmlLPdNWMJmgKshtQWvMAq_bejvA01wNy/s1600/18+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YoU0phGiIuS0uUUehQ0_Sg3gE_jrjdzgFLRTfLGlrzkX75t86d8DlLm3TaRGnGFU3_0tDG-SatHcjB1FbwyLnloxHerC2swNH5RhPF2y6lffmlLPdNWMJmgKshtQWvMAq_bejvA01wNy/s400/18+firenze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fabulous new art too. How could you not be inspired here?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJL7w7Mf20-6U4tIWErx99wK4w1mGUUhyi-pSVMBOVlPeFrB8N_ARWnTzOCdbkz0Y66FYu2igVP_cnTTcj9apyXie_o9SmPY7-Rsm3KHJruCCFVtZNzvYt8HdJze-HNEMQsjYy84IiXLS/s1600/20+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJL7w7Mf20-6U4tIWErx99wK4w1mGUUhyi-pSVMBOVlPeFrB8N_ARWnTzOCdbkz0Y66FYu2igVP_cnTTcj9apyXie_o9SmPY7-Rsm3KHJruCCFVtZNzvYt8HdJze-HNEMQsjYy84IiXLS/s400/20+firenze.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHxjIFBUwm8XUCfJNhBCHrhn6cO16meXuYLrnOyFwtoeldWqk_T8MsF4oZnmc8Hd9y62hBUrJde5EABbvuNqZ0wjnFoBaapikx05tUqLPo9jVk2ei7IFABNOJsp_ZMOtXWmAJUs94W8Fp/s1600/21+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHxjIFBUwm8XUCfJNhBCHrhn6cO16meXuYLrnOyFwtoeldWqk_T8MsF4oZnmc8Hd9y62hBUrJde5EABbvuNqZ0wjnFoBaapikx05tUqLPo9jVk2ei7IFABNOJsp_ZMOtXWmAJUs94W8Fp/s400/21+firenze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5OJMU7r2Icpsg-GerM0skhATdSY05oxfA43bM1QtnqaOLIW82vNqLKair_jVtoIulGwYWQ4_U9ryJnFa-PkSvUHWyc0lumbEXRdaxGPwvwrI2KtQA-2Fm_n-utSVj7eBjA3a9s1sA8w6/s1600/22+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5OJMU7r2Icpsg-GerM0skhATdSY05oxfA43bM1QtnqaOLIW82vNqLKair_jVtoIulGwYWQ4_U9ryJnFa-PkSvUHWyc0lumbEXRdaxGPwvwrI2KtQA-2Fm_n-utSVj7eBjA3a9s1sA8w6/s400/22+firenze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUXHAxINi5JBs0QHR_45S3jkD4x0Qibprl_UN7ygyAQsP1g9g6hRCgcaoUXng_2O7tHXF4xnDakrBHPVhG94_uQuwG2cx4RazPhlJPsmbxZyDRE9l4A3Zx_oH8xcRhEuKCQgxu5SYyBhn/s1600/23+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUXHAxINi5JBs0QHR_45S3jkD4x0Qibprl_UN7ygyAQsP1g9g6hRCgcaoUXng_2O7tHXF4xnDakrBHPVhG94_uQuwG2cx4RazPhlJPsmbxZyDRE9l4A3Zx_oH8xcRhEuKCQgxu5SYyBhn/s400/23+firenze.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another statue busker.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdMpLx47WpwvQbYH-luBhR0MsspARTIC1yQ-uyr7XWDeQROtRatCbs0AarafFOY9f_yioIAOq00LI9WDim5S4eJDScX93BFVbVfAdNgH4F20_Mxj-ZqSu3Fo3VlrZ9iOs4Fy9MIKuMcCj/s1600/24+firenze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdMpLx47WpwvQbYH-luBhR0MsspARTIC1yQ-uyr7XWDeQROtRatCbs0AarafFOY9f_yioIAOq00LI9WDim5S4eJDScX93BFVbVfAdNgH4F20_Mxj-ZqSu3Fo3VlrZ9iOs4Fy9MIKuMcCj/s400/24+firenze.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-59472544424029226352011-08-19T08:20:00.000-04:002011-08-19T08:20:26.835-04:00An Unexpected Trip Up a Mountain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We left Munich heading south, with no final destination other than Italy in mind. Before long, we were in the mountains. When you grow up in the prairies of Manitoba and live in the relatively flat, though nicely rolling hills of Pennsylvania, mountains take your breath away. At least they do mine. I go snap happy, not caring about the dirty windshield I'm shooting through. These images, these memories, are for me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoZsGEsftjCbR20NsFCsm4JTlZ1ZQXX1tLLUVSn4VaKi4Znc2nr2na03lFkNj6L3R32m_LlQpga8XcHTp76gqkFWruAu0g1s-FL8sOcKj0gFMUxEeymUdi_UzEY6itB55_Ay689m88Gb0/s1600/1+Germany+drive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoZsGEsftjCbR20NsFCsm4JTlZ1ZQXX1tLLUVSn4VaKi4Znc2nr2na03lFkNj6L3R32m_LlQpga8XcHTp76gqkFWruAu0g1s-FL8sOcKj0gFMUxEeymUdi_UzEY6itB55_Ay689m88Gb0/s400/1+Germany+drive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gorgeous, isn't it? We saw many of these shacks in one area, with big woodpiles nearby. Not sure what they're for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhC7VgMBiVgrEzyyPG5I_PiXQJFWyAo-DW8xBJfxu7im58p8DBykP8o5WdrTr33KuzVERypmoWhwuI3GrIIBAQaQQzPhvvS_YRFKOZs8ZRoNhCiW-Uf6pEarHXMhZniG_hOSMW6qqVfCK/s1600/2+Germany+drive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhC7VgMBiVgrEzyyPG5I_PiXQJFWyAo-DW8xBJfxu7im58p8DBykP8o5WdrTr33KuzVERypmoWhwuI3GrIIBAQaQQzPhvvS_YRFKOZs8ZRoNhCiW-Uf6pEarHXMhZniG_hOSMW6qqVfCK/s400/2+Germany+drive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Paraglider, hanglider, whatever you call it.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xyUTSRjqK8MEoO8qAKaUEvMhHBjkIK_ubS4U_F50MTtWU4JPJhFSQhljwBEECgJqHXPfjTOkTWqsgB6DNnhiQ-bu-UbtQhGiGK6VWpiCAPxDxaF5gvL0p4EQ1eL6nzj6LhRARhn683kW/s1600/3+Germany+drive+paraglider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xyUTSRjqK8MEoO8qAKaUEvMhHBjkIK_ubS4U_F50MTtWU4JPJhFSQhljwBEECgJqHXPfjTOkTWqsgB6DNnhiQ-bu-UbtQhGiGK6VWpiCAPxDxaF5gvL0p4EQ1eL6nzj6LhRARhn683kW/s400/3+Germany+drive+paraglider.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our decision to stop for lunch was cuz we saw a cable car heading up a mountain and wanted to check it out. One of those spontaneous decisions that paid off. It was the Karwendal cable car that took us up 2244 metres. All for the family rate of 44 euro. Not bad!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkvNFBAWAatDb7Tc2Xv2hOsB0wVItb6hCvFnzvBeS-71-T4bqk2f-77I3yhmVoPpcZaBdm6kczINFT4TaOCGoXYO8wj8Z30GXcsY0x1Ey6XEfIu-f3fcSYNsXx8aGNLI0guAczJl3DNEU/s1600/4+cable+car+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkvNFBAWAatDb7Tc2Xv2hOsB0wVItb6hCvFnzvBeS-71-T4bqk2f-77I3yhmVoPpcZaBdm6kczINFT4TaOCGoXYO8wj8Z30GXcsY0x1Ey6XEfIu-f3fcSYNsXx8aGNLI0guAczJl3DNEU/s400/4+cable+car+lunch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniW58VQ7ftkh2E9aMhMk4nKIch9gR2Zzukhr0BoYLKt4VSTv2Cxxb8Pavp066Fn31R3HRwxMVxmkC8SEIHPXb-l5GoX_ZQyMM79TwFYdd3f9aBLBPLUrJgAqHtF807xi2CBKloAcBzjDu/s1600/5+cable+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniW58VQ7ftkh2E9aMhMk4nKIch9gR2Zzukhr0BoYLKt4VSTv2Cxxb8Pavp066Fn31R3HRwxMVxmkC8SEIHPXb-l5GoX_ZQyMM79TwFYdd3f9aBLBPLUrJgAqHtF807xi2CBKloAcBzjDu/s400/5+cable+car.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZxmkIO6-4LO3r6NMRjHR__V_znl59pCx3WQ4HC9h4rS9hyMDpknlQ89-K_GdqTTLp6EOmOU3297b6tgr7i5RL3f0A4GCmPzhRD2WPBajLTYPplYSlegsEv6OI-t-aQwuEnSL7Kjh_XDz/s1600/6+cable+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZxmkIO6-4LO3r6NMRjHR__V_znl59pCx3WQ4HC9h4rS9hyMDpknlQ89-K_GdqTTLp6EOmOU3297b6tgr7i5RL3f0A4GCmPzhRD2WPBajLTYPplYSlegsEv6OI-t-aQwuEnSL7Kjh_XDz/s400/6+cable+car.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another photo for Nick to share with Flyers fans.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6JMqu8lsWfppQd2xoRl8um1o2dVaoHAmyaT4NU1OyVJw229A9t9BSdRmo8cBVhtCofxCMYL0eXKe0HwSs7AF8xFUKOGeoZjhuMai8pNnsqNjlf2HlASM386_jp7UJ_g6jxXl3Finwmtt/s1600/7+cable+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6JMqu8lsWfppQd2xoRl8um1o2dVaoHAmyaT4NU1OyVJw229A9t9BSdRmo8cBVhtCofxCMYL0eXKe0HwSs7AF8xFUKOGeoZjhuMai8pNnsqNjlf2HlASM386_jp7UJ_g6jxXl3Finwmtt/s400/7+cable+car.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ0PtYESaXdlyHTzxfv3WbqcCqQ2MyXgTeKmyXTr0VVDpg6dIkOHnYHIDsin_nV4QWfJbY4Vxg_gJ4I9SOUVM2C_VmEcSrWG67Scb4BG-_us8LJOZC6L1x7H-1vuP-3Oi02IAWOSivcTx/s1600/8+cable+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ0PtYESaXdlyHTzxfv3WbqcCqQ2MyXgTeKmyXTr0VVDpg6dIkOHnYHIDsin_nV4QWfJbY4Vxg_gJ4I9SOUVM2C_VmEcSrWG67Scb4BG-_us8LJOZC6L1x7H-1vuP-3Oi02IAWOSivcTx/s400/8+cable+car.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check it out. There's even an oom pa pa band at the top.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiZ-fJe3JUPsUXuTDqcw1qHwHtDERUK2OH-673YLVRlwXnlMu0JCh6c2KaqnbFgXaBjYE0RJSZoUNlwDHZCiPiH40eA8_PH-cewrcbKycclUjlOFI1xnrrQRjD50KLcdeYQ2bcTwgAq2b/s1600/9+cable+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiZ-fJe3JUPsUXuTDqcw1qHwHtDERUK2OH-673YLVRlwXnlMu0JCh6c2KaqnbFgXaBjYE0RJSZoUNlwDHZCiPiH40eA8_PH-cewrcbKycclUjlOFI1xnrrQRjD50KLcdeYQ2bcTwgAq2b/s400/9+cable+car.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My handsome mountain man.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSMIJNDLA0YTdPWHmRYojlwDCg7y_ZJr-VycAQ4NrMO4cVYdVzMH2QbiF-jUhoZikQPMsATOuvmyb-sfjzyQ3i4DnIpacZOi3COPSim1PQSFYC7QlxWBU-V21klw_nzVbRflML7txTEhO/s1600/10+cable+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSMIJNDLA0YTdPWHmRYojlwDCg7y_ZJr-VycAQ4NrMO4cVYdVzMH2QbiF-jUhoZikQPMsATOuvmyb-sfjzyQ3i4DnIpacZOi3COPSim1PQSFYC7QlxWBU-V21klw_nzVbRflML7txTEhO/s400/10+cable+car.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nick had to prove it wasn't cold at the top. But it was cold at the top! We certainly weren't dressed for it. The downside of spontenaity.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTL3Ijog758lvXI7MnTXWAmS5ibXTfsZwxpMhEkAZ_B4ZUZlcGxJs70nxf0e4fNc-ZlDhWnZZKB7FAcjwsVzX3OGP87Q6EcAOdewj_yO5I421RV_AyxTSMBLeJtUOA9os9tORQ8HJAezzS/s1600/11+cable+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTL3Ijog758lvXI7MnTXWAmS5ibXTfsZwxpMhEkAZ_B4ZUZlcGxJs70nxf0e4fNc-ZlDhWnZZKB7FAcjwsVzX3OGP87Q6EcAOdewj_yO5I421RV_AyxTSMBLeJtUOA9os9tORQ8HJAezzS/s400/11+cable+car.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We hiked along this trail, a bit treacherous for the 3 of 4 of us in flip flops!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCxkuxeo6rzc6tYcJ1faf0bYr52XaGcze_D4glT6wk2myP41Emomwz2PiNVDyM6-SuiKSvjG_FDMccEL6EKOTdyflhqdNpWK7sGaug44VT9vdw0VbXl5GaMJXewXtxZqJEfO1bDQZjrxB/s1600/12+cable+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCxkuxeo6rzc6tYcJ1faf0bYr52XaGcze_D4glT6wk2myP41Emomwz2PiNVDyM6-SuiKSvjG_FDMccEL6EKOTdyflhqdNpWK7sGaug44VT9vdw0VbXl5GaMJXewXtxZqJEfO1bDQZjrxB/s400/12+cable+car.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was worth it for the view.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2XDk_sW9X6GTtLDM1Dv5xQcZv7AC47lU33xbpA-UVtWyHd6Nsp5TMJ7krYqbDjTWUb6PsOdSDgSfSEA4FsX77S5RnEJMl1Ue5J0B8mHq_Cqm-QYvdiAPfrq56-eeeqHevXCDG4jNKf4k/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2XDk_sW9X6GTtLDM1Dv5xQcZv7AC47lU33xbpA-UVtWyHd6Nsp5TMJ7krYqbDjTWUb6PsOdSDgSfSEA4FsX77S5RnEJMl1Ue5J0B8mHq_Cqm-QYvdiAPfrq56-eeeqHevXCDG4jNKf4k/s400/13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While achtung means respect, that's the only translation I could get.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvLp-ku99Fcu8ihXrNzKxStVrU15RRLKawZ5i0c3nPx7YM_TRJJ3o8gmE9KjXsjYquQ6Bq89uUjXdq28Y7tk1Ai9A-FQbhXnmHUD7NIxtAcyN0GTI5FJ2hB-eUi_rh3-cXYS-7SREDMDx/s1600/14+cable+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvLp-ku99Fcu8ihXrNzKxStVrU15RRLKawZ5i0c3nPx7YM_TRJJ3o8gmE9KjXsjYquQ6Bq89uUjXdq28Y7tk1Ai9A-FQbhXnmHUD7NIxtAcyN0GTI5FJ2hB-eUi_rh3-cXYS-7SREDMDx/s400/14+cable+car.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJih8lEwdTbv9xyh-o1UwY4co7Z6qSpIJJktGQNuoAXc1f9WhYb7igDK-FTvVkuq-3wyMgPicRRaOGMhEzNECIJHQmRvTTKrp1TD5VCb_5cufLvtZVO1PzXd7GkxAzPIG8JLod_ZWeabL4/s1600/15+cable+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJih8lEwdTbv9xyh-o1UwY4co7Z6qSpIJJktGQNuoAXc1f9WhYb7igDK-FTvVkuq-3wyMgPicRRaOGMhEzNECIJHQmRvTTKrp1TD5VCb_5cufLvtZVO1PzXd7GkxAzPIG8JLod_ZWeabL4/s400/15+cable+car.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our chilly toes. This is why people were smiling and staring. Obviously they had all planned this trip, in their long pants, hiking footwear, and some of them even had walking sticks. To them, we looked ridiculous!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIl1A7Br_nOn3ZmMZgX9J8puPrVhbGUiuxHq8lBNXm0rBCPhHly5_jfeOx-rzr715QXGNCICxQ9MTl-jl9uuoPlriF5W8r8UGVcxNwT-DrB1ea31Ur3cOzOjOyUwzRYArLk37xbmOjJrI/s1600/16+cable+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIl1A7Br_nOn3ZmMZgX9J8puPrVhbGUiuxHq8lBNXm0rBCPhHly5_jfeOx-rzr715QXGNCICxQ9MTl-jl9uuoPlriF5W8r8UGVcxNwT-DrB1ea31Ur3cOzOjOyUwzRYArLk37xbmOjJrI/s400/16+cable+car.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A quick ride back down the mountain and our toes quickly thawed.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkb0T8hfhZaP8tKku6vPrWqxpBI4IGeD_KV6S9PI8TeZHNWS8FL-yZfpGwX-pXcPTGP1WQm2TgmW8KbEz7ieQISmmmLqj81HFvuAMppJ84c6DCh7slecn3m7sgKpZZKQ2cAzpuBJx7q2XL/s1600/17+cable+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkb0T8hfhZaP8tKku6vPrWqxpBI4IGeD_KV6S9PI8TeZHNWS8FL-yZfpGwX-pXcPTGP1WQm2TgmW8KbEz7ieQISmmmLqj81HFvuAMppJ84c6DCh7slecn3m7sgKpZZKQ2cAzpuBJx7q2XL/s400/17+cable+car.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now that was fun!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-3598313244891439432011-08-19T06:22:00.000-04:002011-08-19T06:22:03.075-04:00Germany We left Paris the evening of Sunday, July 24th, still on a high from the Tour de France. Our destination was Karlsruhe, Germany, a town just inside the border. We chose it for the distance that we felt we could cover that evening, and because it had a Marriott/Renaissance hotel with available rooms. With Marc traveling so much for work, he tries to stay with the same hotel chain whenever possible. Just like air miles programs, hotels have programs for loyal customers. Discounts, upgrades, free internet, and free breakfast are just a few of the benefits he receives, and with the cost of everything here being more than what we're used to, it's worth it to stick with Marriott whenever possible. This played a big part in the planning of our two weeks on the road.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We arrived in Karlsruhe after 11, so our only thought was sleep. We found the hotel fairly easily and settled into our two rooms. Yes, another hotel requiring us to take two rooms. But these were just down the hall from each other, and this hotel, unlike the last one in Paris, provided breakfast also. And free drinks in the mini bar. Gotta love that!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">These pretty flowers were in our room.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolpHGzsb9olhTmLHHIhTkCnt1NY2w2wW1N6FdcjtAINWGdyK9i-6RupE0OtnrQ01q6S3wGy_H63rVMDVE5VApkS10YHmCxB9BnIUGiPCBROMHAb2yX6qyN336FqNpQZ53_YnDlwIKjrRL/s1600/1+Karlsruhe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolpHGzsb9olhTmLHHIhTkCnt1NY2w2wW1N6FdcjtAINWGdyK9i-6RupE0OtnrQ01q6S3wGy_H63rVMDVE5VApkS10YHmCxB9BnIUGiPCBROMHAb2yX6qyN336FqNpQZ53_YnDlwIKjrRL/s400/1+Karlsruhe.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKhH2RApb2JPJtDTFYJENx0sXUvHAPHf3Bh92R_Uhp1olf9e6h0JeVq8kmMqrurkbC4ldjQa4oQHI9_foY00OiiUCBW5IGBaB4nBAJP_ivl_EJ4hhWP0Kq9YCrHA6vazEnEQmhO-rWI9G/s1600/2+Karlsruhe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKhH2RApb2JPJtDTFYJENx0sXUvHAPHf3Bh92R_Uhp1olf9e6h0JeVq8kmMqrurkbC4ldjQa4oQHI9_foY00OiiUCBW5IGBaB4nBAJP_ivl_EJ4hhWP0Kq9YCrHA6vazEnEQmhO-rWI9G/s400/2+Karlsruhe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">After breakfast we packed up and were back on the road. There are stretches of highway in Germany with no posted speed limits. We were just keeping up with everyone else!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDGHAMKC9PdZQbAmZ4lGm3G5arf2cLyLESby_Q0JLqpAUSJiyR530HRKA7WC76T7PzwGGfE5ULI-SGUfWgA0VyjY00k2sawh8YrftI1ykEEi4AvkAkKCkG6ytTx1usROcrMmVC8T5vVWe/s1600/3+Germany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDGHAMKC9PdZQbAmZ4lGm3G5arf2cLyLESby_Q0JLqpAUSJiyR530HRKA7WC76T7PzwGGfE5ULI-SGUfWgA0VyjY00k2sawh8YrftI1ykEEi4AvkAkKCkG6ytTx1usROcrMmVC8T5vVWe/s400/3+Germany.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">When you don't speak the language, signs like these are amusing.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrSRIEM0rGDDH6mFWPpIfZv2lpfqXOBBVWb9cpicEvRZ3503fPEMrTcyovmFutMCfvsvAyiI3Qxb1tCgLjU22FHXz9_Pjk4q_VI_OrK96bdCxlpVDckKg4yNWd2kRinJ2TR-yA9kmxL1f/s1600/4+Germany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrSRIEM0rGDDH6mFWPpIfZv2lpfqXOBBVWb9cpicEvRZ3503fPEMrTcyovmFutMCfvsvAyiI3Qxb1tCgLjU22FHXz9_Pjk4q_VI_OrK96bdCxlpVDckKg4yNWd2kRinJ2TR-yA9kmxL1f/s400/4+Germany.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">A few more hours on the road and we were in Munich. One of those situations where we could see our hotel but couldn't reach our hotel. One wrong turn and you're 15 minutes away again. But we eventually found our way and were settled in to a lovely room, one this time, in a fabulous hotel.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyog-XrxwFTquz0WigNZCFfEZxTFhf08BPumV2pMjyBlimtUqjmwJ0eJ__OT0ubqRlrZhDXjEkDNZUOfs1-nPCr0g9ypRhPBknQEE0kuA7-O10vWqHgOI5ABiE51v1XY0gf89USQNPXmhT/s1600/5+Munich+hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyog-XrxwFTquz0WigNZCFfEZxTFhf08BPumV2pMjyBlimtUqjmwJ0eJ__OT0ubqRlrZhDXjEkDNZUOfs1-nPCr0g9ypRhPBknQEE0kuA7-O10vWqHgOI5ABiE51v1XY0gf89USQNPXmhT/s400/5+Munich+hotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This photo doesn't really do the room justice. We loved the decor, and there was a large sitting area off to the side, from where the photo was taken. Plenty of room for the 4 of us.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NP7i_1i7d8qZR1fIRc2EukqZ_drpNGnF2MMi_eJz0dYung4fJ9PBhWcpLwzAltjQKD9ic8DjhHHTqdJea17aH1XN9q6Qip2U50qyRTteTzSy-R-VKXlkcYGClVymH_FN5Esb1q2fpYoO/s1600/6+Munich+hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NP7i_1i7d8qZR1fIRc2EukqZ_drpNGnF2MMi_eJz0dYung4fJ9PBhWcpLwzAltjQKD9ic8DjhHHTqdJea17aH1XN9q6Qip2U50qyRTteTzSy-R-VKXlkcYGClVymH_FN5Esb1q2fpYoO/s400/6+Munich+hotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Had to share this photo. The hotel had a fabulous pool, spa and workout area, and Arnold photos and murals were everywhere. Apparently they still like him over here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a light lunch of yummy cheeses and bread, we drove to the edge of the Englischer Garten, a large public park in Munich. Its actually the largest city park in Europe. After just a few minutes walking, this is what we came upon:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m5si9bim-YnnPVuHH3-jUCtmF5SlLPB5s65knZN7XTJUxUB8ZajO-mARG_28wJKYY47DQ2fgkDyFyWRyYZkXp09g2ah9-Bt3_Pz5qvhWI1bp82IzB-gJ-d8sEz21TTwbbwkUtQoOX63B/s1600/7+Munich+Englischer+Garten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m5si9bim-YnnPVuHH3-jUCtmF5SlLPB5s65knZN7XTJUxUB8ZajO-mARG_28wJKYY47DQ2fgkDyFyWRyYZkXp09g2ah9-Bt3_Pz5qvhWI1bp82IzB-gJ-d8sEz21TTwbbwkUtQoOX63B/s400/7+Munich+Englischer+Garten.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Surfers. In the middle of Munich! How cool is that?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_x2LiNah9AkncR1DplHirE3ZXBciDdvbsk9cd5Yw8-qu2k8kzCvbtD9Nz2mwKv9MZgtGUjYV-KBC9E6CG8P0wMszb-QTCXuSbf4FRN6aiw6RacGqDNR6L4sCkzvSATJgBajLXjwUCNet/s1600/8+Munich+Englischer+Garten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_x2LiNah9AkncR1DplHirE3ZXBciDdvbsk9cd5Yw8-qu2k8kzCvbtD9Nz2mwKv9MZgtGUjYV-KBC9E6CG8P0wMszb-QTCXuSbf4FRN6aiw6RacGqDNR6L4sCkzvSATJgBajLXjwUCNet/s400/8+Munich+Englischer+Garten.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We watched for awhile as 5 or 6 surfers took turns riding the waves. Still unseasonably cold for summer, they all wore wetsuits. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FPtTcuNtAz2-aX6HSXWyW_DKRr7e2bfZlyFRdKxqnWw1ggEKRBbuw8hhOZGGezZumCra15YUW-VIFzrIXlN0kyf7SuCMed0m3oIDUE30E74Cz0Wl8PRGfphBsqXcuvo2J8PeoW4vuj1N/s1600/9++Munich+Englischer+Garten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FPtTcuNtAz2-aX6HSXWyW_DKRr7e2bfZlyFRdKxqnWw1ggEKRBbuw8hhOZGGezZumCra15YUW-VIFzrIXlN0kyf7SuCMed0m3oIDUE30E74Cz0Wl8PRGfphBsqXcuvo2J8PeoW4vuj1N/s400/9++Munich+Englischer+Garten.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6FIlaS_a3RarhccROwgbhGfYFtaYM9rwRwVb2rLCLX_Eq9vhfpMqW7HS4Ds8LGZcKyKCpG5kRPFuDi9LbXQVBNeD2B8FfFAfeDN7W2LfKhktdt9hSfR79G5VxRy-0CjkxtWOEfd59tyM/s1600/10+Munich+Englischer+Garten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6FIlaS_a3RarhccROwgbhGfYFtaYM9rwRwVb2rLCLX_Eq9vhfpMqW7HS4Ds8LGZcKyKCpG5kRPFuDi9LbXQVBNeD2B8FfFAfeDN7W2LfKhktdt9hSfR79G5VxRy-0CjkxtWOEfd59tyM/s400/10+Munich+Englischer+Garten.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love all of the bicycles, motorbikes and scooters.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJxZ9SUpsnh8tnkdKanF7mHoVXN4YI4gxTZazq5j_813MrV_kGRpC5TLzNTamT0UwFzbi-1yGWNlF_8PsFR0LFqe9e__z2Bq1469GFNIqoDeR2_HxgsosNpYuqfUO0spNZ1Wd1zpw3Sy_/s1600/11+Munich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJxZ9SUpsnh8tnkdKanF7mHoVXN4YI4gxTZazq5j_813MrV_kGRpC5TLzNTamT0UwFzbi-1yGWNlF_8PsFR0LFqe9e__z2Bq1469GFNIqoDeR2_HxgsosNpYuqfUO0spNZ1Wd1zpw3Sy_/s400/11+Munich.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The first of several statue buskers, for lack of a better term. This guy was good!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNyGBqT5AQRr0TiWKgKbdqU8a6OQHrpeUUzD8bZ0Txwk90Fix3TAVQp8dIuIFQD1uh5J7QRko0jnYxg7-Vx0uV6gRT9M-VVaL4I701prz0Mf4oxhwroS-s2kweYJWe7mOY-8m7Q47RADC/s1600/12+Munich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNyGBqT5AQRr0TiWKgKbdqU8a6OQHrpeUUzD8bZ0Txwk90Fix3TAVQp8dIuIFQD1uh5J7QRko0jnYxg7-Vx0uV6gRT9M-VVaL4I701prz0Mf4oxhwroS-s2kweYJWe7mOY-8m7Q47RADC/s400/12+Munich.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Without maps handy, I can't recall the name of this area where we walked. It was crowded and spectacular. Besides enjoying the sights, we found a sporting goods stores where the kids picked up soccer balls. Gaby got a mini FC Barcelona ball and Nick picked up a UEFA Champions ball, replica of course. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9_q0870YvLkEQI5ZOOOagNELxGRmH4yxXmM3LrbtSZhdRiXzd8trXzTyJHUhRrscjjPgcJwtFX1jsY87cY94PtjHoPHWL_nBEH17fDgdZO9InVBWsekdGm0Ib9JbJDY-qNUM_T9wpTem/s1600/13+Munich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9_q0870YvLkEQI5ZOOOagNELxGRmH4yxXmM3LrbtSZhdRiXzd8trXzTyJHUhRrscjjPgcJwtFX1jsY87cY94PtjHoPHWL_nBEH17fDgdZO9InVBWsekdGm0Ib9JbJDY-qNUM_T9wpTem/s400/13+Munich.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We found a restaurant called The Hackerhaus for some authentic German fare. Nick and I had wienerschnitzel, which was fabulous, Marc had sauerbraten and Gaby, spaetzle. It was the best meal!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some planking in Munich.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLRviXknu-wilSkNuqmDpvSIMMiov5Syx63ZRoJe_1q84ZiMr8BCQ4UX3zV72RPGSUo8gV3UN5uDC5qFjvqd-Xd1FI481y-J4UOCRycOza0ukGncRe8eQk4Nd6K3GprbwULvzGqm_TWDz/s1600/15+Munich+planking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLRviXknu-wilSkNuqmDpvSIMMiov5Syx63ZRoJe_1q84ZiMr8BCQ4UX3zV72RPGSUo8gV3UN5uDC5qFjvqd-Xd1FI481y-J4UOCRycOza0ukGncRe8eQk4Nd6K3GprbwULvzGqm_TWDz/s400/15+Munich+planking.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6kUms6tagMgU0d6rDS2RajIkDv5XaQXm9ImqC5fqSRH8pxfLc6l45r185KneKNCBN1ao4kJCWzPjcReWhKzP_CYkigW9Kh85OzuUo9dvGz6nRwV3n9C-nRO0Z_ikgOt-kyT2znCJMfZz/s1600/17+Munich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6kUms6tagMgU0d6rDS2RajIkDv5XaQXm9ImqC5fqSRH8pxfLc6l45r185KneKNCBN1ao4kJCWzPjcReWhKzP_CYkigW9Kh85OzuUo9dvGz6nRwV3n9C-nRO0Z_ikgOt-kyT2znCJMfZz/s400/17+Munich.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every morning we got an earlier start than the last. We enjoyed another fabulous breakfast, and really good coffee, at our hotel. There's also a breakfast dish that Marc says he's had at German hotels, that was on the buffet Monday and Tuesday mornings. It's like a yogurt, but not as tangy, with grainy cereals and fruits mixed in. It's really really good, but I forgot to ask what it's called. And since this was our last night in Germany, this was the last time I had it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we were leaving Tuesday morning, we saw the signs for the Olympic Park, and remembered we had wanted to check it out. So we did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Besides the easily recognizable structures, there was an amusement park of sorts, a swimming pool, and this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9dHGysIEuCutyHqblnoFwcwlPwAxMjADt27J5fwJvKGQSosbaEb8mWVc4Cy4EihGU5ciVKfVzTCQA6MKishyphenhyphensne9_8n4i1zndCxoQJ4FlcoPiS2t5b6GniN3hhzeOxhheANibSup4bJc/s1600/18+Munich+O+P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9dHGysIEuCutyHqblnoFwcwlPwAxMjADt27J5fwJvKGQSosbaEb8mWVc4Cy4EihGU5ciVKfVzTCQA6MKishyphenhyphensne9_8n4i1zndCxoQJ4FlcoPiS2t5b6GniN3hhzeOxhheANibSup4bJc/s400/18+Munich+O+P.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL580apI1JUw46mk435FOyRk6Q7JhluNoeCHI6M8pp9y5fDX18FS0vDAWfnco2qOZhfQ4edohb32aE0LVpjPBD0wFoRCTZj9JoiYC9mwgYrnnMMJsyZi7ZZhjL_7XO1EHvpeUZ7TgCRoeg/s1600/20+Munich+O+P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL580apI1JUw46mk435FOyRk6Q7JhluNoeCHI6M8pp9y5fDX18FS0vDAWfnco2qOZhfQ4edohb32aE0LVpjPBD0wFoRCTZj9JoiYC9mwgYrnnMMJsyZi7ZZhjL_7XO1EHvpeUZ7TgCRoeg/s400/20+Munich+O+P.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was 7 euro for Gaby and 10 for Nick and so worth it. They had a blast and it was just as much fun to watch!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPH_pPCtzI5bQPkPtWhvain9RJL9UOk1WukbiO51tJb-_k7g76XBjOegGAR4UZC8PB-LtLimxsZ1PTRrFDSHj5CLhl9Vn32WIIKFQIjiL22v3AS9ZdYnPvQFsotBp6zgj5HGkZe9dvajxp/s1600/23+Munich+O+P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPH_pPCtzI5bQPkPtWhvain9RJL9UOk1WukbiO51tJb-_k7g76XBjOegGAR4UZC8PB-LtLimxsZ1PTRrFDSHj5CLhl9Vn32WIIKFQIjiL22v3AS9ZdYnPvQFsotBp6zgj5HGkZe9dvajxp/s400/23+Munich+O+P.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I snapped this photo for Nick to share on the Flyers website, where fans share photos of themselves, in their Flyer wear, in locations all over the world.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-61459323274977697632011-08-17T16:33:00.000-04:002011-08-17T16:33:00.466-04:00Weekend in ParisSaturday July 23rd marked the first day of two weeks vacation for Marc, and 2 weeks of travel for us. The facility he's working at here in Reims shuts down during that time, so we're off! <br />
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We decided to start out in Paris, with the hopes of catching the finale of the Tour de France, Sunday. Marc chose a hotel near the Palace de Versailles, our plan for the rainy Saturday.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDw54D_Kht9Rcp9QANHnKXQyXjrL0tcPwLcCUj0i99eMGCrveGNbzVJrZ8EP8KPNZDQuTHLlPbeoAlzJWmLoK4jq25C2ulBWVBblEPnF1N56i3UJcEI85VvRw8Jpx1gcsBSKidspWU-V5S/s1600/1+Versailles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDw54D_Kht9Rcp9QANHnKXQyXjrL0tcPwLcCUj0i99eMGCrveGNbzVJrZ8EP8KPNZDQuTHLlPbeoAlzJWmLoK4jq25C2ulBWVBblEPnF1N56i3UJcEI85VvRw8Jpx1gcsBSKidspWU-V5S/s400/1+Versailles.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The golden gates at the palace, on yet another rainy day.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL8PNnf11FQdDYglgY_wtEy-JG-iCkIU58J8cbUh1mIWZN1vxJwSczjxrJ9NA9iyyIkV_zLK-6d_SWDH_Kut7Z3tFLF21nz586OOgFxmi-n0J8TqTM48eAosXlZaOLy27NJSoQyKvbdgw/s1600/2+Versailles+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL8PNnf11FQdDYglgY_wtEy-JG-iCkIU58J8cbUh1mIWZN1vxJwSczjxrJ9NA9iyyIkV_zLK-6d_SWDH_Kut7Z3tFLF21nz586OOgFxmi-n0J8TqTM48eAosXlZaOLy27NJSoQyKvbdgw/s400/2+Versailles+lunch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A picnic lunch in the car turned out to be a good idea, rather than looking for restaurants in the rain.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03sQaxO_563RkWR54iUFvno98ggtLQQnpW1VZEx4F6LyszNHu63sOm3tu7qL9Hjlod66KVlX3IBMM6FJLTqEsWR9O6o5e5YgBPFMxXcV403AV2439iBPG-ETZCu7PRPci7ApbUW84aRC-/s1600/4+Versailles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03sQaxO_563RkWR54iUFvno98ggtLQQnpW1VZEx4F6LyszNHu63sOm3tu7qL9Hjlod66KVlX3IBMM6FJLTqEsWR9O6o5e5YgBPFMxXcV403AV2439iBPG-ETZCu7PRPci7ApbUW84aRC-/s400/4+Versailles.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the most grand of the pipe organs in the palace.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-AkFnaF6Jf7GcRPqN01U7A_D-EFWwaJLhhf__-G6rb1_j-NSQJW6xkWcgq3EtP8E8KoX9Gq6Uy4h1GKdScI8Ja1bJ1Fz6dYLJJUkOt9VBHffjybRMtQVEBWft-YUMy5CT1cMaqAKQzpF/s1600/5+Versailles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-AkFnaF6Jf7GcRPqN01U7A_D-EFWwaJLhhf__-G6rb1_j-NSQJW6xkWcgq3EtP8E8KoX9Gq6Uy4h1GKdScI8Ja1bJ1Fz6dYLJJUkOt9VBHffjybRMtQVEBWft-YUMy5CT1cMaqAKQzpF/s400/5+Versailles.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bigger than my dining room.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmG-ralcqYSavdEtH9MNBybAjCKEjfLVPW0oxFf_iy7RPxJMEsKnZqVPVm4yxnG8PqTX7zp5HYcysB-Bb75qEqmjmg3nnunVfE1w6NidqtXjLqiqeIFLv3gb0LTgOqNNiIgUbtzS-tabl/s1600/7+Versailles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmG-ralcqYSavdEtH9MNBybAjCKEjfLVPW0oxFf_iy7RPxJMEsKnZqVPVm4yxnG8PqTX7zp5HYcysB-Bb75qEqmjmg3nnunVfE1w6NidqtXjLqiqeIFLv3gb0LTgOqNNiIgUbtzS-tabl/s400/7+Versailles.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I should have had someone stand by this fireplace for scale. Those aren't logs laid out -- they're trees!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course Elmo came along.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguD13HCPBaKu5R0GqPhHwWdMlMKumwZ08ia98pbdWu0QuIW6RYc1GMIy0cPL1ZBdEKPmrPBkXABx_N6Jei-pspBolBQmgziQK06Crp-bbWJGSX1-x7YK1xZ_A6k9SM5VtcnOyUbzPP1lkk/s1600/8+Versailles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguD13HCPBaKu5R0GqPhHwWdMlMKumwZ08ia98pbdWu0QuIW6RYc1GMIy0cPL1ZBdEKPmrPBkXABx_N6Jei-pspBolBQmgziQK06Crp-bbWJGSX1-x7YK1xZ_A6k9SM5VtcnOyUbzPP1lkk/s400/8+Versailles.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The gardens looked exquisite. We didn't go through them. There was an additional admission for that.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXpJpqNa1r6hAz861Ietvrd8cp-0OUKpBiW9hmpJG98FwZx68PsGVVdU3poVWbD4TX2u548T0oH3JrLvZTwnu1F2-u4cVjF44tqVcng9sH6PmziJpaYAtGMTVufwmYObY_BklvqgL4VAu/s1600/9+Versailles+gardens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXpJpqNa1r6hAz861Ietvrd8cp-0OUKpBiW9hmpJG98FwZx68PsGVVdU3poVWbD4TX2u548T0oH3JrLvZTwnu1F2-u4cVjF44tqVcng9sH6PmziJpaYAtGMTVufwmYObY_BklvqgL4VAu/s400/9+Versailles+gardens.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our Paris hotel had these cool chairs in the lobby. This was the first of several hotels that would not give one room for the four of us. The kids were thrilled to have their own room. Mama wasn't so thrilled, especially being on different floors. But no one else was bothered.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT5N_wepcXxXApvsSbGwK1aFdDAPdPdfoYE3-D_EKMtLlavbRuR7VVdzHgWzHhi-q-5vm79I5q-4hqQLG-vemH_I9zxW7daCkv3pRy-GupR4ASgGWbXwdOPKZqnoUomLF7SO9_eGkPvGz/s1600/10+Paris+hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT5N_wepcXxXApvsSbGwK1aFdDAPdPdfoYE3-D_EKMtLlavbRuR7VVdzHgWzHhi-q-5vm79I5q-4hqQLG-vemH_I9zxW7daCkv3pRy-GupR4ASgGWbXwdOPKZqnoUomLF7SO9_eGkPvGz/s400/10+Paris+hotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunday morning sunset from our hotel room window.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4boQ_tyqkDUBk0RtxNS4KHUySFHDD6F0USFgCXc_piAH21pvFR1gMLRxsqVLN3vGvmh4j-Gexn5QHS1MzuVdoYKo0pexW0HcHmEFoK0vC3dS2WBA_ggZ34hrYcsw5hLveTEvBVmCrNmAx/s1600/11+sunrise+in+Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4boQ_tyqkDUBk0RtxNS4KHUySFHDD6F0USFgCXc_piAH21pvFR1gMLRxsqVLN3vGvmh4j-Gexn5QHS1MzuVdoYKo0pexW0HcHmEFoK0vC3dS2WBA_ggZ34hrYcsw5hLveTEvBVmCrNmAx/s400/11+sunrise+in+Paris.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That sunrise was the perfect start to a perfect day for the final leg of the Tour de France. Marc studied the route inside Paris and found a spot near a park, but away from the chaos that would be the finish. We were just thrilled to have the opportunity to see the cyclists.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Marc also found out that prior to the bikes coming through, there's like a parade of sorts. All sorts of sponsors come through, tossing goodies to the waiting onlookers. Kind of like our annual 4th of July parade in Oreland, but much faster paced. We could not believe the speed at which vehicles came by. This first one we saw, from a distance, as we arrived.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPE8VifDy9vJ53IIm2vmkCFIdB1VERBo2vRuwE9146Qh-k5Oq6-JIY-Fz3FsHrqke25zX0ZuQSwgfkirWeYupCgPy3ifvd4Tx3-ImCoCUrjroneJf01AzJqfoUOWMSdzln9G_0hbXti12/s1600/12+tdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPE8VifDy9vJ53IIm2vmkCFIdB1VERBo2vRuwE9146Qh-k5Oq6-JIY-Fz3FsHrqke25zX0ZuQSwgfkirWeYupCgPy3ifvd4Tx3-ImCoCUrjroneJf01AzJqfoUOWMSdzln9G_0hbXti12/s400/12+tdf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We found our spot and settled in for the show.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lLXhM9_powoex3pAyYPMQwz5tweWbgmfHmiLIxULU044_v_oe-1v07MJvo2nbcBJYLhahf4gAeZYqemcjSqI4DjhVTNJghooNfdhRM2UmieIWZ_0eUIyq7qU188YeA4WHOh0dQmjoCYh/s1600/13+tdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lLXhM9_powoex3pAyYPMQwz5tweWbgmfHmiLIxULU044_v_oe-1v07MJvo2nbcBJYLhahf4gAeZYqemcjSqI4DjhVTNJghooNfdhRM2UmieIWZ_0eUIyq7qU188YeA4WHOh0dQmjoCYh/s400/13+tdf.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And what a show it was.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TJZrOaHZKdf79CADIfzJhKddeePCcHN-vQ-GZy38A0f3S1kdCaDpel9UAQZWF45K-sFdwj04wxLzOSgNKL_83cbik-WX9eMaVJ9Tq2PoMEPoHz6Ui_HqVurVewVPycU7wlunLGZtTBae/s1600/14+tdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TJZrOaHZKdf79CADIfzJhKddeePCcHN-vQ-GZy38A0f3S1kdCaDpel9UAQZWF45K-sFdwj04wxLzOSgNKL_83cbik-WX9eMaVJ9Tq2PoMEPoHz6Ui_HqVurVewVPycU7wlunLGZtTBae/s400/14+tdf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got this nifty brella hat.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTb-oHVtgQ2Lp56q1QT27cwhhxL-Rqe3ZrvObb-u89PSKeh6n-TfLKdlIRwQTZD7yfNbvVyw87PHX0LkbZTw7laYkc88l_6-2K76C2wNCr9mj0BKt2qlYOoWkgHxb1Wv9jN5sOqlPXl7S/s1600/15+tdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTb-oHVtgQ2Lp56q1QT27cwhhxL-Rqe3ZrvObb-u89PSKeh6n-TfLKdlIRwQTZD7yfNbvVyw87PHX0LkbZTw7laYkc88l_6-2K76C2wNCr9mj0BKt2qlYOoWkgHxb1Wv9jN5sOqlPXl7S/s400/15+tdf.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These folks tossed another type of chapeau that I ended up wearing. It was welcome on this, the first sunny day since we had arrived.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnCmN2Vxdt-R-RSnKWMiXMXmRGZvvFOJR70JbYl7LZS3AKalVngHcd02OJFu3Vj-q_e5L0GxodYE4ZP2vdHTypdHk4JCBY1OhY3izdwXP_5wWXvWYaHhxcR-BD6aclOZU5eRMIaGLRhh4/s1600/16+tdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnCmN2Vxdt-R-RSnKWMiXMXmRGZvvFOJR70JbYl7LZS3AKalVngHcd02OJFu3Vj-q_e5L0GxodYE4ZP2vdHTypdHk4JCBY1OhY3izdwXP_5wWXvWYaHhxcR-BD6aclOZU5eRMIaGLRhh4/s400/16+tdf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dancers too!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL5ibhv6OjS5uPcvWGEEcwSoSAhRvTE82nT68zvlA-UWeoQy5K6Gf99L1sl9Fb17GrT-675WIdXHer6M_OFBHMNq1v4zCipbAyhBcaPD5QFCzD6R6zuWyzljOxNkHYayHXKi-qKS7bnXj/s1600/17+tdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL5ibhv6OjS5uPcvWGEEcwSoSAhRvTE82nT68zvlA-UWeoQy5K6Gf99L1sl9Fb17GrT-675WIdXHer6M_OFBHMNq1v4zCipbAyhBcaPD5QFCzD6R6zuWyzljOxNkHYayHXKi-qKS7bnXj/s400/17+tdf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Friendly gendarme, happy to pose with the tourists.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkbC42TMNYHPysmQxq3NDQ9mCyEfzlMeOhYWgDDDCQWc5c8p74csWNVztT7MGLms2k7euVA0KOQgMcJ_jsDI3tJP9IbqTfp2p2uzwa0RQ6GG8fz-TMvAtFfTl1nyBKrtlnnAQ1NB000Cn/s1600/18+tdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkbC42TMNYHPysmQxq3NDQ9mCyEfzlMeOhYWgDDDCQWc5c8p74csWNVztT7MGLms2k7euVA0KOQgMcJ_jsDI3tJP9IbqTfp2p2uzwa0RQ6GG8fz-TMvAtFfTl1nyBKrtlnnAQ1NB000Cn/s400/18+tdf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These were tossed our way too, and when inflated and banged together, they got everyone's attention.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvT85g-pFh71tn8uD5z6ZV4t_zVg58sQQI6SSTS8aR8o3Ccv2RntzO5F1uj4ZVn-50s74qy2pDIfq_SA5YvGKLiuY9cnuk5qXCgVR7MbrmTxS4OUZ3s9fPu2TkuBs3GAibwzhj5QAP_uCO/s1600/19+tdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvT85g-pFh71tn8uD5z6ZV4t_zVg58sQQI6SSTS8aR8o3Ccv2RntzO5F1uj4ZVn-50s74qy2pDIfq_SA5YvGKLiuY9cnuk5qXCgVR7MbrmTxS4OUZ3s9fPu2TkuBs3GAibwzhj5QAP_uCO/s400/19+tdf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was probably almost an hour of this steady stream of vehicles tossing goods our way. We also got some bic pens and a lanyard. Not bad for just standing around. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had to wait another hour and a half before the cyclists came through and we weren't about to give up our front row seats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdmmIe75ZKOvICI-GWltJfPiaImUN99lMNBn_272yeVh6VtxifBIRkOSSohF0DSxdFvEhzyrxO7QbkhD15w6eMYpdKCVhgdZP5pANxqIXo_BuimRgCNqPutKl0F-rXm7W0rFIZ1w9A7d0/s1600/20+tdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdmmIe75ZKOvICI-GWltJfPiaImUN99lMNBn_272yeVh6VtxifBIRkOSSohF0DSxdFvEhzyrxO7QbkhD15w6eMYpdKCVhgdZP5pANxqIXo_BuimRgCNqPutKl0F-rXm7W0rFIZ1w9A7d0/s400/20+tdf.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally, about 15 minutes later than scheduled, the cyclists. Still riding in a pack.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLgGMNXKk57_doFuPOQngDZKMsmn1xXGXjAiJufP5QSWP7W6CS9ffkSZK9HmXMYYtgf-oQpeozltLtw3ggrpwUHhAz2vqBbomfcD7RuNA_jpg3OC6O33YJMDjac3aVU8ZxKNEBizgBxu2/s1600/21+tdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLgGMNXKk57_doFuPOQngDZKMsmn1xXGXjAiJufP5QSWP7W6CS9ffkSZK9HmXMYYtgf-oQpeozltLtw3ggrpwUHhAz2vqBbomfcD7RuNA_jpg3OC6O33YJMDjac3aVU8ZxKNEBizgBxu2/s400/21+tdf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What a sight!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNupSsl7TxcVxLLCI3pd7Hkae6PBevzcNPT-8qrcYx-C4ikHlYNJoWSKxg2MJRYM1CMcd-KQaOYXb3mRnbpv1jIOOXqJE07YWnQw6tQZeo2TELW9ZttGC3Kpw0VGc6t5lQk94-DERFZVV/s1600/22+tdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNupSsl7TxcVxLLCI3pd7Hkae6PBevzcNPT-8qrcYx-C4ikHlYNJoWSKxg2MJRYM1CMcd-KQaOYXb3mRnbpv1jIOOXqJE07YWnQw6tQZeo2TELW9ZttGC3Kpw0VGc6t5lQk94-DERFZVV/s400/22+tdf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGN5DkfHmPfurNuNLjO6p7P6bSnbUiPrdwg1qie-4Jh9wqHaLgciM7GKvIvplBxiGbDRU2OzL1aNu2oKmcPdSbHIgQUos3rl0eGmTN9_O89QtxPYYxfwfv-oMczreAMr1eXxRLzQv7kNkN/s1600/23+tdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGN5DkfHmPfurNuNLjO6p7P6bSnbUiPrdwg1qie-4Jh9wqHaLgciM7GKvIvplBxiGbDRU2OzL1aNu2oKmcPdSbHIgQUos3rl0eGmTN9_O89QtxPYYxfwfv-oMczreAMr1eXxRLzQv7kNkN/s400/23+tdf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you look closely, I did get one shot of yellow jersey guy, this year's first time Australian winner, Cadel Evans. When I realized he wasn't out front, I forgot to keep looking for him and almost missed him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNxtLDbhFT2b86ojXYK1H3uEnzC4WoZtfagr3rw53Vr_3WF_TM0YbH9d_tI9lzO6OoFyZoZ2qps06jbDia4TvGn2l0E1sHMxxQGCzOLxyEV1SOKrgIZ0xfN2RpUStrda5lwwfAqx3YR_w/s1600/24+tdf+yellow+jersey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNxtLDbhFT2b86ojXYK1H3uEnzC4WoZtfagr3rw53Vr_3WF_TM0YbH9d_tI9lzO6OoFyZoZ2qps06jbDia4TvGn2l0E1sHMxxQGCzOLxyEV1SOKrgIZ0xfN2RpUStrda5lwwfAqx3YR_w/s400/24+tdf+yellow+jersey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Big thrill for him. Big thrill for Australia. And a big thrill for us too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-6873161461578859832011-08-17T08:35:00.000-04:002011-08-17T08:35:37.382-04:00Cathedrale Notre-Dame de ReimsMay through to October, there is a fabulous light show on the front facade of the Cathedrale, Thursday through Sunday. Friday, the 22nd, we were able to catch it. Starting at 11, it repeats twice. We were able to catch the second show of the evening. These pictures don't really do it justice. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">About 20 minutes to half an hour long, set to music, its something that must be seen. I hope to catch it again before we return home.</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-23034763557386185022011-08-17T08:01:00.002-04:002011-08-17T08:06:27.189-04:00Two Days in ParisWe decided to make an overnight trip to Paris Wednesday the 20th of July. Two reasons: 1. Nick's friend Lane arrived in Paris Tuesday and was going to be there for a couple of days. 2. Marc could golf guilt free!<br />
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Picked up the train tickets on Tuesday, and found out that, despite me calling the credit card companies to advise of this trip, two of my credit cards were rejected. Thankfully, I had a third, for which I had also provided notification, and it worked. And thank goodness for skype. I was able to call the credit card companies, again, to confirm my travel. We've since had occasional problems with both mine and Marc's credit cards, but it's just due to the way some merchants are set up. Most credit cards in Europe have a microchip, and most credit cards in N.A. do not. Some merchants, and toll booths, are only able to process the chipped cards. And so it goes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBowXOu5TVNw0KCHyuKZvrEt5jxFp5ECz3dv0zXPYQCqLyE-1MS0aVMbAaZCjdZnBpNwgNfwMkcy_vAGOL_quOFfUt7xt3qvHqgdKpDYryVnrR-wSi9BRwXdUtQUZgr00fxOP_a3SmaWQd/s1600/1+train+to+Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBowXOu5TVNw0KCHyuKZvrEt5jxFp5ECz3dv0zXPYQCqLyE-1MS0aVMbAaZCjdZnBpNwgNfwMkcy_vAGOL_quOFfUt7xt3qvHqgdKpDYryVnrR-wSi9BRwXdUtQUZgr00fxOP_a3SmaWQd/s400/1+train+to+Paris.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The ride from Reims to Paris Est is 45 minutes. Enough time for a few rounds of a card game the kids called Egyptian Rat something or other. They didn't play that when I was a kid.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think our favourite thing about strolling the Champ Elysees was the fountains en route to the Louvre. They're encircled with chairs, and over the lunch hours they're full of people enjoying their long midday break. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmOb20iZULCYODQi5YJ-tU9KHV-DMJCJA84-D2fVZ8E3wHJ6skUb-tXDs8arLaLZkT68W4AxoM93s0rxEDvVsnM38SjGF66l2znjv43w2AfMiOV3RB6xpNA1UTwEJ_B6Gi1s6DmdZ_THR/s1600/3+Elmo+in+Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmOb20iZULCYODQi5YJ-tU9KHV-DMJCJA84-D2fVZ8E3wHJ6skUb-tXDs8arLaLZkT68W4AxoM93s0rxEDvVsnM38SjGF66l2znjv43w2AfMiOV3RB6xpNA1UTwEJ_B6Gi1s6DmdZ_THR/s400/3+Elmo+in+Paris.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Elmo came along, of course.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRw215bGxp6sMSO9BsxPmB_ElSmCYDqBG8ls4XBtrzeJPQ2HwEyLZAcla1OQ2oDaOdI-4gaJUfUqE_WCcT2E6YzNb4nz9i8swtmzumUlkFxNvqwb_TrdlJijwLR21tgI4drCpt6eQU3i2L/s1600/4+at+the+Louvre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRw215bGxp6sMSO9BsxPmB_ElSmCYDqBG8ls4XBtrzeJPQ2HwEyLZAcla1OQ2oDaOdI-4gaJUfUqE_WCcT2E6YzNb4nz9i8swtmzumUlkFxNvqwb_TrdlJijwLR21tgI4drCpt6eQU3i2L/s400/4+at+the+Louvre.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We decided to visit the Louvre Thursday, as there was rain in the forecast. But I made Nick pose for a picture with me, very similar to the last and only time that I've been here. When I was pregnant with Nick. I'll have to get the photo from Marc and see them side by side. We ARE in both photos!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoDoDKXiFez6JsuK9JMNrHoO0wg90rzpiad-Dt9_87EK3m9vYcA4J4lmuwQO8Ulh4yp2YqUk3_a83yYyQE61EG9I-4L7EhawbLkV1eBjdG_YZEoly6h5YjXUMhR7hKF1Ld-gKdHW61L0C/s1600/5+at+the+hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoDoDKXiFez6JsuK9JMNrHoO0wg90rzpiad-Dt9_87EK3m9vYcA4J4lmuwQO8Ulh4yp2YqUk3_a83yYyQE61EG9I-4L7EhawbLkV1eBjdG_YZEoly6h5YjXUMhR7hKF1Ld-gKdHW61L0C/s400/5+at+the+hotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Marc booked us a lovely room, right on the Champ Elysees, and this lovely cheese plate was waiting for us. There are definitely some benefits to the traveling Marc endures.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitne8L5bMIYkf9yo7N2mUjGlxg7G-qcFSJm4CgbfxVheWThhSBnn7d3i6b9xe4NtIfVWsMUOoy3d1c1hhYI9PTQU-wZj1hIVuHMxX00FmcsCtxjdwiuPGBqSMe0LauGTOx7ltrCJaH5EyV/s1600/6+French+keyboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitne8L5bMIYkf9yo7N2mUjGlxg7G-qcFSJm4CgbfxVheWThhSBnn7d3i6b9xe4NtIfVWsMUOoy3d1c1hhYI9PTQU-wZj1hIVuHMxX00FmcsCtxjdwiuPGBqSMe0LauGTOx7ltrCJaH5EyV/s400/6+French+keyboard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before we could get in our room, we used the computer in the business centre to contact Lane. Gaby was intrigued by the difference in the keyboard. A French keyboard is difficult to use, when you're not used to it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thursday, we set out for the Louvre.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-3qjXu3WLjTYU8LNItXLTcYj1hUH_ZzSzb7jKJbazKvxYz9c5IYMwg2nAS7z55zPvMAC8uBIflO2H8qlvziZu3cmx9ZylFVUIhA4Fun5-Ui52GygVhl_TYQz3yj8aIs38yFtgwJMFfli/s1600/7+Champs+Elysees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-3qjXu3WLjTYU8LNItXLTcYj1hUH_ZzSzb7jKJbazKvxYz9c5IYMwg2nAS7z55zPvMAC8uBIflO2H8qlvziZu3cmx9ZylFVUIhA4Fun5-Ui52GygVhl_TYQz3yj8aIs38yFtgwJMFfli/s400/7+Champs+Elysees.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ov4hnvViOuBUHnh20798SErx2OycEO9P8VeYSYxOYfx8-J5oqd_zeDEp_rSyVBmD62LNz0Z_WaPxfEsV4y5EXZ9TqbwjyQOxCyFl1z5HTQcoaajoV5gJDmcwRJDuNJJQnT7awJVn4vYP/s1600/8+on+the+way+to+the+louvre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ov4hnvViOuBUHnh20798SErx2OycEO9P8VeYSYxOYfx8-J5oqd_zeDEp_rSyVBmD62LNz0Z_WaPxfEsV4y5EXZ9TqbwjyQOxCyFl1z5HTQcoaajoV5gJDmcwRJDuNJJQnT7awJVn4vYP/s400/8+on+the+way+to+the+louvre.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And so did hundreds of others, perhaps also escaping the rain. Not the best plan I suppose. It was so crowded, but we put up with the crowds to get close to the Mona Lisa. We were there, so we had to see her.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREHe4rZlV7_XmCOgYo68HAdbBhLLzrLWJ8dIBboN_kF-cqtA7Y1oZV_DPNFbdtGoe4YaT5PuEow7A91l5BSdX-2_4pl-D5km8s-8_hDOJV2hLgJH_j2zQehv5cB8eaJr7UJkqQGxuzt0s/s1600/10+Mona+Lisa+crowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREHe4rZlV7_XmCOgYo68HAdbBhLLzrLWJ8dIBboN_kF-cqtA7Y1oZV_DPNFbdtGoe4YaT5PuEow7A91l5BSdX-2_4pl-D5km8s-8_hDOJV2hLgJH_j2zQehv5cB8eaJr7UJkqQGxuzt0s/s400/10+Mona+Lisa+crowd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Packed in so tight, I could probably have lifted my feet and stayed upright. Insane! And all for this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV-mfT34xVKAv83hyqoDF9Rdbr1q8gZ3HCIEUCirEm4NyGvLQSve35trScXX-Vxk91pX-v221vXoWQ5yxAWLyMSqOZXCz9F_2BPpSx6XtgILDo5OCHkrBr4-u2osjHfQW6XBTWT3mA-ga/s1600/11+Mona+Lisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV-mfT34xVKAv83hyqoDF9Rdbr1q8gZ3HCIEUCirEm4NyGvLQSve35trScXX-Vxk91pX-v221vXoWQ5yxAWLyMSqOZXCz9F_2BPpSx6XtgILDo5OCHkrBr4-u2osjHfQW6XBTWT3mA-ga/s400/11+Mona+Lisa.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We saw her!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVTKevvqnaSVXP6lOWFFuN8b_wYBdXzygcVr6QQgS4gGhoKWXDC8N63pcV7HeLyvlFQr0liq-s2sCDdtH19LFPikh3Km4_PLJsqsfRnp_TlD3yS8psiyGlPmo7fbPxmXVOLMKiRCj2mwK/s1600/12+Elmo+and+Mona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVTKevvqnaSVXP6lOWFFuN8b_wYBdXzygcVr6QQgS4gGhoKWXDC8N63pcV7HeLyvlFQr0liq-s2sCDdtH19LFPikh3Km4_PLJsqsfRnp_TlD3yS8psiyGlPmo7fbPxmXVOLMKiRCj2mwK/s400/12+Elmo+and+Mona.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And so did Elmo.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Louvre was fabulous. Overwhelming. And so crowded that we probably only saw half of what was there. But it was enough for that day. One more stop at the fountains after lunch, and we were on our way back to Reims.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlPifoGiapPukNz0UWyUT9QgcwDunln_ex4-10l7qKmqRcvNGni8HUasN_rk2YQtzXe9fMMQJgw3QrwvRYXkFe_EN6btHn2fp5dpbQYsLjnynkvbZfBdUxOB7O36rAOJLMKVICwM4_r3R/s1600/15+le+metro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlPifoGiapPukNz0UWyUT9QgcwDunln_ex4-10l7qKmqRcvNGni8HUasN_rk2YQtzXe9fMMQJgw3QrwvRYXkFe_EN6btHn2fp5dpbQYsLjnynkvbZfBdUxOB7O36rAOJLMKVICwM4_r3R/s400/15+le+metro.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By Metro.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And of course, the train. We were entertained by more pigeons at Paris Est, while we waited. We had fun, but were never able to meet up with Lane. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thursday evening we had another dinner invitation. This was at the home of Catherine and Patrick, friends of Marc's from the golf course. Catherine is a fabulous cook. I should have photographed the appetizer, which was a sardine mousse served in individual sardine cans. It was light and delicious. The beef and carrot stew, the main course, was perfect for the fall-like weather. And also SO good! Dessert was mascarpone cheese and berries served in individual jars. Beautiful and yummy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkrZYRCb4U0_lhMDYojNAgxvUBZBbzG2UXRkqfiQmdoLjwyWDKt1EnUJW1qA5pyqFeG51xmpF88BwcQ-k99xse0KNkFgeaxuzqJLBECIIRLZfyjZqfHI-LLcLMgJ6I_Ab1ZO4XIninyFH/s1600/17+dinner+a+la+Catherine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkrZYRCb4U0_lhMDYojNAgxvUBZBbzG2UXRkqfiQmdoLjwyWDKt1EnUJW1qA5pyqFeG51xmpF88BwcQ-k99xse0KNkFgeaxuzqJLBECIIRLZfyjZqfHI-LLcLMgJ6I_Ab1ZO4XIninyFH/s400/17+dinner+a+la+Catherine.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I meant to get both of them -- Patrick was in the kitchen when I snapped this.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKvsVzbJomCiqQyYs8t6yCgp7JHIJ3vV1a4RQbsK_MnMIOdtEvVL5LnK255qQ9-V1S7zmmB0iiyHL7ek4_AJarTHoEUNil6AAOF1yFlUKgSvTiO19xm7WITqj28NnZjccK2ogX4SiOIm_/s1600/18+dinner+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKvsVzbJomCiqQyYs8t6yCgp7JHIJ3vV1a4RQbsK_MnMIOdtEvVL5LnK255qQ9-V1S7zmmB0iiyHL7ek4_AJarTHoEUNil6AAOF1yFlUKgSvTiO19xm7WITqj28NnZjccK2ogX4SiOIm_/s400/18+dinner+table.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A couple of their friends also joined us. No English this evening, which was fun and enlightening. I realize that Nick's 4 years of French have given him better comprehension than I have, though he's not comfortable speaking. I was impressed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course by the time we finished dinner it was past 10:30. We're in France, remember?</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-26262013850507500272011-08-17T05:47:00.001-04:002011-08-17T05:49:03.555-04:00Two Days in ReimsWhen packing, one should take seriously the weather forecast of the destination. The weather at home had been so unseasonably hot, for so long, that I packed with that in mind. I could not bring myself to pack jeans, long sleeves, warm jackets, anything like that. The best I did was one pair of light weight pants, one long sleeve tee, and a long sleeve sheer shirt, which is not that warm. I brought a heavier weight hoody mostly for the plane. Of course we did all bring rain jackets, thankfully. Cuz the first week in Reims was unseasonably cool, around 18 C, overcast, and rain at some point every day.<br />
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That didn't stop us from setting out on our first day, a Monday. We slept late, Marc met us for lunch, and we continued on to do a bit of sightseeing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5ybIYXvpzjJ-hGexJ2iJjR4hy6HTG8xxy0Kc_8-2X7vNZDy9ip8RC63T6k9ZSgQRN0y-WMsQcwh31ikR_xZJU7MPfK1pTaexqXpjOtaW6fyUqdSzS3sTcrga8_8xdtSjRqiRT07qVf0g/s1600/7+planking+in+Reims.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5ybIYXvpzjJ-hGexJ2iJjR4hy6HTG8xxy0Kc_8-2X7vNZDy9ip8RC63T6k9ZSgQRN0y-WMsQcwh31ikR_xZJU7MPfK1pTaexqXpjOtaW6fyUqdSzS3sTcrga8_8xdtSjRqiRT07qVf0g/s400/7+planking+in+Reims.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Planking in Reims.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bcriFEpSPF-uEBOluuHzC54cVgVBrYqOWHkuJbFjQTwWaeqjXDToYRtwbaMUNb5K02caqF6ISzQkJnVk7NIidK_Ih3vSPrNlKZ3otboUxPFjHOOjqLiUBRFelX1oz3mJXAsx1IJDPshY/s1600/8+chagall+windows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bcriFEpSPF-uEBOluuHzC54cVgVBrYqOWHkuJbFjQTwWaeqjXDToYRtwbaMUNb5K02caqF6ISzQkJnVk7NIidK_Ih3vSPrNlKZ3otboUxPFjHOOjqLiUBRFelX1oz3mJXAsx1IJDPshY/s400/8+chagall+windows.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Chagall windows at the Cathedrale de Notre Dame. Many French cities have a Cathedrale de Notre Dame, but I think this is one of the most spectacular. It was repaired to its original magificence after sustaining heavy damage during World War II, and is celebrating it's 800th year this year. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxHzVrqRUd7rMyjrPRKhaGeBmPRDFPEhOhKFlNzIYufXxLEP5Wb-9erupuv06gAW-LyPtK_Qvqg9S58pXb1unQKxWw4rr7GrCI1ZDD0-CYH-j1P8nVyjOjDYzRZk9lym05SsAR-moz8m4/s1600/9+cathedrale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxHzVrqRUd7rMyjrPRKhaGeBmPRDFPEhOhKFlNzIYufXxLEP5Wb-9erupuv06gAW-LyPtK_Qvqg9S58pXb1unQKxWw4rr7GrCI1ZDD0-CYH-j1P8nVyjOjDYzRZk9lym05SsAR-moz8m4/s400/9+cathedrale.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVxG6dKdzN0nXVwLMKGpMiGIIR3Jv-mqDZzlIadu7g9Ne0FPoM6i2V0k5LrEKLi5vflzK0B73qdetnJmGW1uMkdyCKgdIp54ePQoUrUjTKZba1JW3rSntCjjGbZe38QH4jn9s0CDrPnPe/s1600/10+cathedrale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVxG6dKdzN0nXVwLMKGpMiGIIR3Jv-mqDZzlIadu7g9Ne0FPoM6i2V0k5LrEKLi5vflzK0B73qdetnJmGW1uMkdyCKgdIp54ePQoUrUjTKZba1JW3rSntCjjGbZe38QH4jn9s0CDrPnPe/s400/10+cathedrale.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0_KKmQLp1iCc-N_RsuXHkG71SJsJbGRlslf1moDZweEaNqAYPCGED0L57GBSVwt8nxkk2uNwcgrCm4XvWdhkrbNJDPE1E6cu49BkoF-8OOoXgnMR2UKecAxSm9fkXO3OSiUpxLbRnLae/s1600/11+cathedrale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0_KKmQLp1iCc-N_RsuXHkG71SJsJbGRlslf1moDZweEaNqAYPCGED0L57GBSVwt8nxkk2uNwcgrCm4XvWdhkrbNJDPE1E6cu49BkoF-8OOoXgnMR2UKecAxSm9fkXO3OSiUpxLbRnLae/s400/11+cathedrale.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Words just cannot describe.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Monday evening we were invited to dine at the home of Patrick and Claire.Patrick is a work colleague of Marc's. Stefan was also invited, and so were about 20 other people. Their home was beautiful, their family and the company, delightful, and the food was fabulous! We were invited to arrive after 7:30 and the meal was put out around 9. We did enjoy some snacks and plenty of champagne, of course. Tastes much better here than at home!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1zX95WUOSlHGXDHEGgXKtWLPFDmWTykBx63rg2fVKiyRZ6V9tZI33VhbHLiQpBq80bnz7oC4Gkpwu-esgKfhWHYyES33VmEsAG26MYD5PNjTFb1F8nionS_IbnztFwgzYD77fIxSeVyY/s1600/14+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1zX95WUOSlHGXDHEGgXKtWLPFDmWTykBx63rg2fVKiyRZ6V9tZI33VhbHLiQpBq80bnz7oC4Gkpwu-esgKfhWHYyES33VmEsAG26MYD5PNjTFb1F8nionS_IbnztFwgzYD77fIxSeVyY/s400/14+dinner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A trampoline and ping pong table kept the kids entertained. The adults joined in for some sort of round the table ping pong game. Fast and fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4ABmWb1JwNEo8vQ3DQv8YdwLPmUfsD3OpP4L5KcqsupRQONjZ7FMFkZhqlWiRTKZysGcV_rwWVYHJZQz4BlCuVa2hAr0Zaptx8ocDlNL9Un4aPfMfCg13NIIFIcI2xu5k3Lf7Cz2w07E/s1600/14+dinner+and+ping+pong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4ABmWb1JwNEo8vQ3DQv8YdwLPmUfsD3OpP4L5KcqsupRQONjZ7FMFkZhqlWiRTKZysGcV_rwWVYHJZQz4BlCuVa2hAr0Zaptx8ocDlNL9Un4aPfMfCg13NIIFIcI2xu5k3Lf7Cz2w07E/s400/14+dinner+and+ping+pong.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Claire, Guimette and Gaby</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3hClgQT4Z9HSINw5bfHTycp7CtRQk-B5e8bo8F-e6I36HTycRs3Ut078YcVy20NiOMGnOSiV4HeNL2Qqa1sldqK8Keg3Tw2tAyaHRFDPMfOgrT6Lrb1jTarn6GC3Rx0Q8mW1wKK17113/s1600/15+dinner+the+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3hClgQT4Z9HSINw5bfHTycp7CtRQk-B5e8bo8F-e6I36HTycRs3Ut078YcVy20NiOMGnOSiV4HeNL2Qqa1sldqK8Keg3Tw2tAyaHRFDPMfOgrT6Lrb1jTarn6GC3Rx0Q8mW1wKK17113/s320/15+dinner+the+kids.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Marc & Guimette, Patrick and Claire's children, Nick and Gaby.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZJhguCTde2KRdN6H8vXeFf6np2jZSYsyV2JJ7fRfHVJG0spq5yJ6xVpHoMpvwnDI62z5vInjmAeJHcwGvdqhvipJKegfoS2HN3IByCm791cj2Vn6fi8Yb4sHxJ51BPEghVkbZbOFmT6X/s1600/16+tuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZJhguCTde2KRdN6H8vXeFf6np2jZSYsyV2JJ7fRfHVJG0spq5yJ6xVpHoMpvwnDI62z5vInjmAeJHcwGvdqhvipJKegfoS2HN3IByCm791cj2Vn6fi8Yb4sHxJ51BPEghVkbZbOFmT6X/s400/16+tuesday.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rainy Tuesday and a late start, again.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2Cclsn5qA_dhzCNR-Vqf4l457pa6elUTpFf2KHnb5FrUxnVT9r1k5JvXef1RDYAK2rzccEGUk2__-tW0HsZIkyeKc3ws_1FPqzcAUiBGVOn2Uu96Y9X3KTY2S6_t756rAfcYHQj1GKOh/s1600/17+tuesday+choc+cereals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2Cclsn5qA_dhzCNR-Vqf4l457pa6elUTpFf2KHnb5FrUxnVT9r1k5JvXef1RDYAK2rzccEGUk2__-tW0HsZIkyeKc3ws_1FPqzcAUiBGVOn2Uu96Y9X3KTY2S6_t756rAfcYHQj1GKOh/s400/17+tuesday+choc+cereals.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The French do love their chocolate cereal!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VG70kQ9SGuMEzsdRg0kBlU9mWCtWvTi30-hxJTuP8YXcaV6vzs8lE49LDwMz9arDQjJl0E79kntoNcwTdFt-F-CqghaYNwPCL70xyytWhyR7xdfPptPXbVnOdhyphenhyphen1r7CcIBVM7Hbhq1RS/s1600/18+tuesday+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VG70kQ9SGuMEzsdRg0kBlU9mWCtWvTi30-hxJTuP8YXcaV6vzs8lE49LDwMz9arDQjJl0E79kntoNcwTdFt-F-CqghaYNwPCL70xyytWhyR7xdfPptPXbVnOdhyphenhyphen1r7CcIBVM7Hbhq1RS/s400/18+tuesday+lunch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lunch. Groceries are quite reasonable, so most of our lunches here in Reims will be at 'home'. Baguette, a variety of cheeses, pate, and some mushroom filled crepes hit the spot.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11-tBhZ0yRXiqliFoKn8iQ8_6O_wgkSJdKqgogTHMaHFoWVcSyT4-qVdQaNPmRFSYHB7GAyBR23g89Rr5BlcXNGhqqNvzFsLQoW3hPnRlCUIAhs7LAbTXsI8NMAOVD1kNPdr9QRgBbT5U/s1600/19+tuesday+massage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11-tBhZ0yRXiqliFoKn8iQ8_6O_wgkSJdKqgogTHMaHFoWVcSyT4-qVdQaNPmRFSYHB7GAyBR23g89Rr5BlcXNGhqqNvzFsLQoW3hPnRlCUIAhs7LAbTXsI8NMAOVD1kNPdr9QRgBbT5U/s400/19+tuesday+massage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They call this a Chinese massage. My kids, that is. Apparently, when Nick's back is sore, Gaby walking on it provides relief. Here, or at home!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-37511531964081026342011-08-17T03:52:00.000-04:002011-08-17T03:52:14.450-04:00Arriving in ParisWe arrived the morning of Sunday July 17th, weary, loaded down with waaaay too much luggage (I overpacked, as usual!) and lucky to have Marc's smiling face waiting for us on the other side of the glass at baggage claim. He'd arrived 2 weeks earlier. Since Reims, where he stays/works, is almost an hour's drive, he took an airport hotel room Saturday night and took the hotel shuttle to the airport to meet and assist us. Back to his hotel, we regrouped, showered, some of us slept, and then set out for a quicky tour of Paris in the afternoon.<br />
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First stop: Le Tour Eiffel, of course!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwa8DfRW9m0tsSMigTppXnMkRUX-RgKb8hyzbay1DuTjbF_L8iH2ZBtlLGPhqu_PtjemPf_LfEdzY0LBwEAthZH7vs3a_9uUJVR2-EPmMAiJh3zho071ufvDbYAH5CFJhU5RmIzHseAVT9/s1600/1+Gaby+%2526+Elmo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwa8DfRW9m0tsSMigTppXnMkRUX-RgKb8hyzbay1DuTjbF_L8iH2ZBtlLGPhqu_PtjemPf_LfEdzY0LBwEAthZH7vs3a_9uUJVR2-EPmMAiJh3zho071ufvDbYAH5CFJhU5RmIzHseAVT9/s400/1+Gaby+%2526+Elmo.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gaby brought a little Elmo along to share in her adventures. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1b6VfKARCFOORG-gT-nQvRgGg92E9WA3XolW2Yswo7F6QlAkWPf-W8lV1_si-u7V1UWOjQCGjnaJFkQ2P1GYbXT8iXXlOEK_lX3KaSUwN29IbPPKllwaBdae-wvvT5AlqPjVnpLb7kXF2/s1600/2+Eiffel+Tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1b6VfKARCFOORG-gT-nQvRgGg92E9WA3XolW2Yswo7F6QlAkWPf-W8lV1_si-u7V1UWOjQCGjnaJFkQ2P1GYbXT8iXXlOEK_lX3KaSUwN29IbPPKllwaBdae-wvvT5AlqPjVnpLb7kXF2/s400/2+Eiffel+Tower.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54LK6SEmGEDQV1Tm1jdY_VrbCRoaM6kkoqXzQo-PmyjKSQmI7bpVD690as-RKd5DW5IWiCVMNGW3TsZKMNDO3KiMSSrsg7L1uqn4bOJ8Xo3QwFqlKwmlmd7_e_yDO6CkTy9NAlBauL5Ew/s1600/3+tower+souvenirs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54LK6SEmGEDQV1Tm1jdY_VrbCRoaM6kkoqXzQo-PmyjKSQmI7bpVD690as-RKd5DW5IWiCVMNGW3TsZKMNDO3KiMSSrsg7L1uqn4bOJ8Xo3QwFqlKwmlmd7_e_yDO6CkTy9NAlBauL5Ew/s400/3+tower+souvenirs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can't escape the souvenir sellers!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckHnxYecRJGkbeqy9Y7D0ud8TpFm28fsuAtJoUXl6taRpajS75EXszNyj2efi1a0PDB9qwOduZRyYXnHlRjZga91XLQBPAapr7sfieMVhkFwsnpU7HyP2JT5xB1TxzSdXVuwJrNDZ1CVH/s1600/4+Planking+in+Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckHnxYecRJGkbeqy9Y7D0ud8TpFm28fsuAtJoUXl6taRpajS75EXszNyj2efi1a0PDB9qwOduZRyYXnHlRjZga91XLQBPAapr7sfieMVhkFwsnpU7HyP2JT5xB1TxzSdXVuwJrNDZ1CVH/s400/4+Planking+in+Paris.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Planking in Paris!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYCmMxD1nk6vPw8CxBlHKxL-OL4ky0TWKY5mjDphhasylGPVNcWILRQ7GiTfoGaQ3nglqHt9K90QUb4bKblC7SM4w_r1Cnw0MO-lnRQbEl0mw_90KMsKYzRosBHk6UrSbNXz_RC5QVlaZ/s1600/5+family+photo+Paris+day+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYCmMxD1nk6vPw8CxBlHKxL-OL4ky0TWKY5mjDphhasylGPVNcWILRQ7GiTfoGaQ3nglqHt9K90QUb4bKblC7SM4w_r1Cnw0MO-lnRQbEl0mw_90KMsKYzRosBHk6UrSbNXz_RC5QVlaZ/s400/5+family+photo+Paris+day+1.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A rare photo of the 4 of us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEaPhchMYBOAHeIJwYpgShSZju-n2I8o4UjFTEUqzGQGcdTkyXdZQII54bry-Ps2fEtj2yWzHMDS6tfO1AepKjpZiK0hddR-5w97k2mk3l2js2LsWPywPfZWoEGgiM6GqognqK9c4DcTo/s1600/6+womens+world+cup+game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEaPhchMYBOAHeIJwYpgShSZju-n2I8o4UjFTEUqzGQGcdTkyXdZQII54bry-Ps2fEtj2yWzHMDS6tfO1AepKjpZiK0hddR-5w97k2mk3l2js2LsWPywPfZWoEGgiM6GqognqK9c4DcTo/s400/6+womens+world+cup+game.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We drove to Reims in time for dinner (which is so unbelievably late here -- just can't get used to finishing by 10!) and to catch the Women's World Cup final game, the US and Japan. Marc had looked into getting us tickets, as the game was in Frankfurt. We decided against it because of the late start time of the game, 8:45 local time. The roughly 6 hour drive home would have been ridiculous. So we watched Japan defeat the US while dining at the James Joyce Pub, with Marc's colleague Stefan, who had just arrived himself, from Quebec.</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-45579764131284178102011-08-15T05:48:00.001-04:002011-08-15T05:51:17.116-04:00Back in Business!I'm baaaaccckkk! And hopefuly, to stay! Not back home. Yet. But back online. We've been fortunate to be in France, where Marc is working. What hasn't been working is my computer. Specifically, my power cord. The connection to my computer is loose, so the battery drains and then I can't use it. Even with all of the gadgets we're traveling with, I really can't get any blogging done if MY computer is down. Marc needs his computer for work, so I can't muck around on it. My Nook, an e reader, has a web browser, but its function is limited and I can't download photos to it with my camera's big CF cards. It doesn't have a usb port either. Then there's the ipods. Embarassingly, three, in our family. Everyone but me, and that's just fine. The kids have theirs as a result of Marc's upgrading his. And Marc also has an ipad, but that's his too.<br />
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We're actually traveling with our own router and a big power bar. The router works in locations where the free internet is hardwired, or the wifi doesn't work well, and the power bar is great for plugging in everything that needs charging -- all of these devices plus cell phones, cameras/batteries, you name it. We haven't camped for a couple of years and it would be fun to see how we would manage without electricity!<br />
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For now, my computer seems to be connecting to the power source properly. I'm handling it like an explosives expert attempting to detonate a bomb, and driving everyone else crazy with it! They know to steer clear of the cord and to not touch my computer. We're in one spot for a few days, so I'm hoping to catch up and share some photos soon. Marc was off the second and third weeks that we were here, so we travelled to Germany, Austria, Italy and the south of France. Back in Reims now, where he's working, we're still able to take small side trips. We just returned from a weekend in Belgium. <br />
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And I have been art journaling, though not 10 minutes a day. Just minutes, here and there, when I can find the time. I'll have to get those pages photographed, so I can share them. <br />
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Here are the last pages photographed, started back home and finished in Reims. My week 2 for July:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYq7xFIkT3_feH4Og2t4-BG-7JwOLtvTj9PYgcd0TphM8B-Lp9LHfyhZPm4q9c9aDXMpnVYivgnwcW2B7giwQxN1S8JoQ4AlFdenaxUH6y6XdKi6IFaaM5HxXV5RP-XvkQPCxSmOyTreIB/s1600/July+week+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYq7xFIkT3_feH4Og2t4-BG-7JwOLtvTj9PYgcd0TphM8B-Lp9LHfyhZPm4q9c9aDXMpnVYivgnwcW2B7giwQxN1S8JoQ4AlFdenaxUH6y6XdKi6IFaaM5HxXV5RP-XvkQPCxSmOyTreIB/s400/July+week+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I picked up these stamps at my LSS, which sadly, is now closed. They were clearing out stock so I got a great deal, but I'd rather they were still open. On gessoed pages, I stamped, using Palette Noir ink. I watercoloured the background, coloured the stamped images with FC fine Pitt markers, which I also used to add colour elsewhere. I finished up the journaling with black Pitt markers, and some of the colours that I'm traveling with. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I prepped 6 sets of pages with gesso before we left, so that I could keep up with my art journaling. Its been more collaging than anything else, as I've been saving a lot of ephemera from our travels. I'll get those photographed soon.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz06XarSofwHVygsfscgdJdvsqbO8P0MLyuVnvoYde9C4OuDjJNl6Q1Yv4P66runu_xhs1k50PqA3mhL2cP8az5jezS4aruSRo7UinrXq-GDUUVt0JozzKd2i3bV768FZpIDfs5aP02mkJ/s1600/July+page+prep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz06XarSofwHVygsfscgdJdvsqbO8P0MLyuVnvoYde9C4OuDjJNl6Q1Yv4P66runu_xhs1k50PqA3mhL2cP8az5jezS4aruSRo7UinrXq-GDUUVt0JozzKd2i3bV768FZpIDfs5aP02mkJ/s400/July+page+prep.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ready for the road!</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426321283923985707.post-5543721074569923642011-07-12T20:28:00.000-04:002011-07-12T20:28:43.230-04:00Finishing Up June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I call this - June week 4 and a half.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2i85ihtJ7toP61DUSTNpaNU6kkI8Go18donSiWR9TsAsLsAQkr6nB1Lc26lvz4c4rAHd11JlW66klCiys4G9jd9fto8X5KlrWE4SNpUMlb63G75j6qnRoHL8rj40W_c4WJU_vS2AWY5r/s1600/June+week+4+and+a+half.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2i85ihtJ7toP61DUSTNpaNU6kkI8Go18donSiWR9TsAsLsAQkr6nB1Lc26lvz4c4rAHd11JlW66klCiys4G9jd9fto8X5KlrWE4SNpUMlb63G75j6qnRoHL8rj40W_c4WJU_vS2AWY5r/s400/June+week+4+and+a+half.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I first glued a few bits of the week's ephemera to the pages: a tag from a bag Gaby purchased, the tag from Nick's hiking boots for Guatemala, and the menu from Five Guys, where we had a delicious lunch of freshly made burgers and Cajun fries. Mmmmmmm. Gessoed the pages, lightly in some spots so the stuff underneath would show through. I stamped around the edges with Julie's ticket stamps. Love these too -- her freehand style translates so well to stamps.I tried out some new FC pens that I got -- the combo packs that come with the fat marker, gelato, watercolour pencil and marker. Went over them with a wet brush. Used watercolour crayons on the tickets themselves. Journalled with the Pitt markers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">July week 1.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkteYPmx5C_SNM3H13b27rhw5w02CzH3wjlEJKBIgFnhEesHUfJgKb2WlY7026XycOrZsfFUGJkb8Ojw_uJYiId71JJqJEWGehZMXVpI9j9h1PyWJqf0nwXw0Zp2IgpqpW0qif03FTYwL/s1600/July+week+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkteYPmx5C_SNM3H13b27rhw5w02CzH3wjlEJKBIgFnhEesHUfJgKb2WlY7026XycOrZsfFUGJkb8Ojw_uJYiId71JJqJEWGehZMXVpI9j9h1PyWJqf0nwXw0Zp2IgpqpW0qif03FTYwL/s400/July+week+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Inspired by TH. He created a card on his blog for the 4th, and I used his stamps and duplicated his design. I used the FC fat markers on both stamps. I like the effect on these gessoed pages -- watercoloury. I used grey on the stars, where TH used white. The red and blue stripes are FC Aquarelle watercolour pencils. Like these too! The 4th stamp is SU, inked up with the same fat markers. Journaling is the pitt markers too.</div>Sherri P ehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14615826972935808595noreply@blogger.com3