The last day in Paris was one with a bang. Most of the group headed out for Disney and had a magical day. Ms. Satterwhite will update the blog with news from Disney and post dinner fun with the students. Some adults and their student travelers opted out of Disney and headed to the streets o their own for last minute experiences such as negotiating a big outdoor flea market, trying to get on the Eiffel tower again to get to the top (no luck. Still closed.) and navigating the metro solo. We all met for our Bon voyage dinner which was a delicious salad but topped with fried garlic potato slices, baked chicken and ham. Interesting combo that most enjoyed to the fullest.
A small group of non-student travelers headed out for the moulin rouge show after dinner and will be doing the can-can in our minds, the whole way home tomorrow. The student group headed out to the Eiffel tower area for clear sky photo ops and crepes/cocoa near the tower.
It is 1am in Paris and this is my final post from the hotel. We wake at 5am, dress, pack and hop a bus by 6:15 for the airport. at present time, air France shows our flight still on time, departing here at 10:30. Please be on time at the airport tommorow to pick up your precious cargo. 4pm is a good time to shoot for so that you are waiting on us a few minutes and not the other way around. We are completely wiped out and ready to get home, despite the wonderful journey we have had in Paris.
Bonsoir, Mme Savage
Thursday, March 14, 2013
A word about your blogger
Your blogger, ms. Savage, has unfortunately been sick this trip. I have typed a little faster and a little less cleverly than blogs in the past, so I can get to bed. There are errors in spelling and grammar that are a result of this rushing. Please overlook them as I have some form of bronchitis and now an ear infection that is keeping me from caring about the minor errors. I have slept all day while the rest are at disney, hoping this might help turn some of this around. I have very much enjoyed the visit, regardless but will be happy to get to the Alvin affinity clinic, some southern ice tea and my own bed, in that order.
Flight status check
Please be sure to begin watching our flight status. The snow here is all the news as it's unusual to have snow this late in their season and the even bigger news is how much we are having. There was a good six inches, plus, on Wednesday. Thursday during the day, none, but the ground is frozen still with slush everywhere. There is another strong possibility of snow tonight and it will sit easily on the frozen ground.
You can check flight statuses by simply googling "air France flight status" or tr this link
http://www.airfrance.us/cgi-bin/AF/US/en/local/resainfovol/infovols/actualiteDesVols.do;jsessionid=0000oVGBN0vH-13VHLGTHpdKsUV:140ufuf79
You can check flight statuses by simply googling "air France flight status" or tr this link
http://www.airfrance.us/cgi-bin/AF/US/en/local/resainfovol/infovols/actualiteDesVols.do;jsessionid=0000oVGBN0vH-13VHLGTHpdKsUV:140ufuf79
Then enter our flight number "AF636" this was originally set to depart at 10:30am from Charles de Gaulle, non stop to intercontinental in Houston, arriving at 3:20. It is still showing these times and arrival destination without any additional stops. However, that could change and we need all parents picking up, to be aware of the changes.
If you have questions, pleae reply in the "comments" section.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
When snow melts...
Today, all of Paris was a dirt slushie. Gross but glad the snow, sleet and rain (in reverse order) have come to an end and we were able to enjoy a day filled with crisp 30 degree weather and sunshine. We set out on foot for the catacombs, for those who are brave, while the rest of us went shopping along a working class area near the catacombs area.
Catacombs are an interesting arrangement of dead folks bones, in artistic formation well below the city. Of course this experience comes with some fright and screams when being scared by others while walking along for already being tested by fear. It's 45 minutes and dank darkness, surrounded by thousands of dead people while the city above bustles with life. How ironic.
The rest of us got to see the "grocery store" for the people of Paris. We walked a quaint street ith a fromaggerie, boulangerie, Boucharie, patisseries, etc. (cheese, breads, butchers, pastries, etc). It was fun to window shop and imagine what it might be like to live this way and to see the interesting cultural differences. Oh yeah, and all of us in this group will now be signing autographs as we are famous for walking through a movie shoot/set.
We split into smaller groups to enjoy lunch. Some chose to have a "le royale with cheese" at McDonald's, some enojoyed a little pricier cafe and others enjoyed a take away from a boulangerie where you can get sandwiches, quiches and the most beautiful desserts.
Off we went to the Orsay museum to see the largest collection of impressionist (and surrounding movements) works in the world. Dedgas, Monet, Seurat, Courbet, Renoir, Sisley, Cassatt and so many more. This museum is especially wonderful thanks to the new found fame with Americans, thanks to the movie "Hugo" as it was set in this building when it was still the train station during the worlds fair. It was very neat for the kids to get to see the building now, as a museum, and its
ridiculously, famous works of art.
We are pros at all things subway at this point. Ms. Satterwhite also became a pro at navigating the u.s. embassy, today to get a new passport for a student who lost his/hers. A nervous day of problem
solving turned fruitful and by dinner, a new passport was in hand. (thank goodness for the copies ms.
Anderson has been carrying around the whole trip!)
We had a crazy good dinner, completely unexpected as it was not Parisian in any way, but Israeli. We had cous cous served family style, with a hearty vegetable soup ladeled over it and served with roasted chicken. It was so delicious and big servings. It tasted like something all of our grandmother would make...if she were Israeli.
We divided into three groups after dinner, one heading out to the Bresson museum with Satterwhite, for the photography exhibit, another heading with ms. Anderson to the top of the tower of montparnasse to see all of Paris on a clear evening. The rest of us elected to go back to the hotel early for packing up and a good nights sleep, but not before hitting the "monoprix." this is not much larger than a convenient store in Texas but is very much the modern grocery story for the neighborhood we were in. We all filed up on funny snacks and drinks and then headed out again for the hotel, via subway, with mr. Savage as our navigator and ms. Savage as the caboose to the group.
Its hard top believe that tomorrow will be our last full day in Paris. We are fortunate that Disney will allow us to return again for the fun we should have had on Tuesday, but could not get there due to the snow. It should be a fun farewell activity, spending time with Mickey Mouse and friends.
Stay tuned....
Catacombs are an interesting arrangement of dead folks bones, in artistic formation well below the city. Of course this experience comes with some fright and screams when being scared by others while walking along for already being tested by fear. It's 45 minutes and dank darkness, surrounded by thousands of dead people while the city above bustles with life. How ironic.
The rest of us got to see the "grocery store" for the people of Paris. We walked a quaint street ith a fromaggerie, boulangerie, Boucharie, patisseries, etc. (cheese, breads, butchers, pastries, etc). It was fun to window shop and imagine what it might be like to live this way and to see the interesting cultural differences. Oh yeah, and all of us in this group will now be signing autographs as we are famous for walking through a movie shoot/set.
We split into smaller groups to enjoy lunch. Some chose to have a "le royale with cheese" at McDonald's, some enojoyed a little pricier cafe and others enjoyed a take away from a boulangerie where you can get sandwiches, quiches and the most beautiful desserts.
Off we went to the Orsay museum to see the largest collection of impressionist (and surrounding movements) works in the world. Dedgas, Monet, Seurat, Courbet, Renoir, Sisley, Cassatt and so many more. This museum is especially wonderful thanks to the new found fame with Americans, thanks to the movie "Hugo" as it was set in this building when it was still the train station during the worlds fair. It was very neat for the kids to get to see the building now, as a museum, and its
ridiculously, famous works of art.
We are pros at all things subway at this point. Ms. Satterwhite also became a pro at navigating the u.s. embassy, today to get a new passport for a student who lost his/hers. A nervous day of problem
solving turned fruitful and by dinner, a new passport was in hand. (thank goodness for the copies ms.
Anderson has been carrying around the whole trip!)
We had a crazy good dinner, completely unexpected as it was not Parisian in any way, but Israeli. We had cous cous served family style, with a hearty vegetable soup ladeled over it and served with roasted chicken. It was so delicious and big servings. It tasted like something all of our grandmother would make...if she were Israeli.
We divided into three groups after dinner, one heading out to the Bresson museum with Satterwhite, for the photography exhibit, another heading with ms. Anderson to the top of the tower of montparnasse to see all of Paris on a clear evening. The rest of us elected to go back to the hotel early for packing up and a good nights sleep, but not before hitting the "monoprix." this is not much larger than a convenient store in Texas but is very much the modern grocery story for the neighborhood we were in. We all filed up on funny snacks and drinks and then headed out again for the hotel, via subway, with mr. Savage as our navigator and ms. Savage as the caboose to the group.
Its hard top believe that tomorrow will be our last full day in Paris. We are fortunate that Disney will allow us to return again for the fun we should have had on Tuesday, but could not get there due to the snow. It should be a fun farewell activity, spending time with Mickey Mouse and friends.
Stay tuned....
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Raise your hand if you love snowy landscapes!!!
Today was supposed to be Disneyland day, but thanks to the blanket of snow burying the city and not stopping all day and late in to the night (as I type), Disney is now on hold until Thursday. The trains we not running out of the city. We should have clear skies our next two days, the sunniest on Thursday, but highs still in the upper thirties and no doubt, slush on the ground.
We walked holding hands, watching every step we made, like walking on glass. I am proud to say we suffered no major injuries and no spills to even speak of. Our guide, Guylaine, was wonderful to help us change directions completely. We split up in to smaller walking groups of 10-12, adults in every group, and made our way to the house of Victor Hugo ((hunchback of Notre dame, les miserables, etc.) as its indoors and free. Kids played in snow, threw snowballs, made snowmen, etc across the city landscape. Unfortunately the folks at Hugo's pad are not so fond of groups. They didt mind twenty people in the house at once, but not if we all knew each other. Odd. As much as we tried not to appear as if we knew each other, unfortunately, not all of the group got to go in, but most. At a point, they just said "Non!" I am pretty sure that Hugo would be appalled at their rudeness. Alas, we took off in our smaller walking groups for Montmartre.
There are few things more beautiful than Paris, but Paris covered in snow from the steps of the Sacre Couer is beyond postcard pretty. We all got to see this today as we ascended and descended (very carefully) the steps of the basillica, and visiting the inside in between. It made an already charming area of town, and infamous "wedding cake" basillica, only that much more charming. I think it is safe to say that we all got our long awaited shopping done while winding the streets of this bohemian village, complete with hot chocolate and crepes rest stops. Our last stop was the restaurant for the night, where we all formed our large group again and enjoyed a frommage tarte, pork chop with cream sauce and mushroom, potatoes au gratin that would make your eyes roll back in your head and a finale of chocolate eclairs. Yum!
Our journey back to the hotel included much more snowing, laugher, music and dancing on the subway and some snowballs flying, past snow angels, before we bid adieu to the winter wonderland that we got to experience today.
Tomorrow we head out a little later than usual, which we all welcome, to the Orday museum to visit the most wonderful collection of impressionist works, along the banks of the Siene, in the old train station of the 1900's worlds fair that the movie "Hugo" was filmed. We will have many more adventures to share tomorrow evening so stay tuned!
Bonsoir.
We walked holding hands, watching every step we made, like walking on glass. I am proud to say we suffered no major injuries and no spills to even speak of. Our guide, Guylaine, was wonderful to help us change directions completely. We split up in to smaller walking groups of 10-12, adults in every group, and made our way to the house of Victor Hugo ((hunchback of Notre dame, les miserables, etc.) as its indoors and free. Kids played in snow, threw snowballs, made snowmen, etc across the city landscape. Unfortunately the folks at Hugo's pad are not so fond of groups. They didt mind twenty people in the house at once, but not if we all knew each other. Odd. As much as we tried not to appear as if we knew each other, unfortunately, not all of the group got to go in, but most. At a point, they just said "Non!" I am pretty sure that Hugo would be appalled at their rudeness. Alas, we took off in our smaller walking groups for Montmartre.
There are few things more beautiful than Paris, but Paris covered in snow from the steps of the Sacre Couer is beyond postcard pretty. We all got to see this today as we ascended and descended (very carefully) the steps of the basillica, and visiting the inside in between. It made an already charming area of town, and infamous "wedding cake" basillica, only that much more charming. I think it is safe to say that we all got our long awaited shopping done while winding the streets of this bohemian village, complete with hot chocolate and crepes rest stops. Our last stop was the restaurant for the night, where we all formed our large group again and enjoyed a frommage tarte, pork chop with cream sauce and mushroom, potatoes au gratin that would make your eyes roll back in your head and a finale of chocolate eclairs. Yum!
Our journey back to the hotel included much more snowing, laugher, music and dancing on the subway and some snowballs flying, past snow angels, before we bid adieu to the winter wonderland that we got to experience today.
Tomorrow we head out a little later than usual, which we all welcome, to the Orday museum to visit the most wonderful collection of impressionist works, along the banks of the Siene, in the old train station of the 1900's worlds fair that the movie "Hugo" was filmed. We will have many more adventures to share tomorrow evening so stay tuned!
Bonsoir.
Monday, March 11, 2013
"Remember the time in Paris when....?"
You know it's a good day when know you will have a story that starts this way, well off in to your future... So today was a big day. We spent time at the Louvre, criss crossing the historic palace to be sure we at least saw the Mona Lisa, the winged somathrace, perhaps napolean's apartment, the raft of medusa, Venus de milo and so much more.
Our group is making big memories but also have feet that hurt as bad as our experiences are awesome. After walking the Louvre and up and down the metro station and walking on the street, Guylaine made sure we had a true Parisian experience by experiencing European sipping hot chocolate at the Angelina, which is as upscale as it looked $$$, but worth it. This is the place that royals and the jet set come with their families to have pastries that look like sculptures and no doubt the amazing hot chocolate. Each cup was $10 each but oh so worth it as we truly got an experience, in addition to our amazing hot chocolate.
The weather is 33-39 the rest of this week and today it was also rainy. We walked through Paris to go to the Fragonard perfumery to see what this French perfume business is all about. As it turns out, we learned a lot about what you are paying for in a perfume bottle and of course, this is why and how the French are still cornerning the market on fine perfumes. I am sure that some of us will need a part time job to pay off our perfume debts.
After the perfume museum we navigated Paris again, through the nasty weather and had dinner. It was good, even though some of the kids didt like it.
Steak, French fries salad and chocolate tarte! Yum!
Our last stop for the day was the Eiffel tower. It was sleeting really steady by the time we got there and stress/fatigue and the elements were setting in. Good news! The eiffel is still open but not the top floor as its frozen, per the guide. So off to the second platform. Its freezing, sleeting, miserably cold and most of us have wet feet. This is where the "so remember the time we got to the eiffel and it was still open but it was crazy, freezing, sleeting? Comes in. It was all of that and more, especially but the time we came down. We had just enough adults to get just enough cabs to get us all back, kids with adults, top the hotel without walking a single minute after hopping off the monument. Thank goodness!! Tomorrow is the "house of Mickey mouse" as Guylaine calls it. Here is the bummer..lt is a 90% chance of snow...stay tuned!!
Our group is making big memories but also have feet that hurt as bad as our experiences are awesome. After walking the Louvre and up and down the metro station and walking on the street, Guylaine made sure we had a true Parisian experience by experiencing European sipping hot chocolate at the Angelina, which is as upscale as it looked $$$, but worth it. This is the place that royals and the jet set come with their families to have pastries that look like sculptures and no doubt the amazing hot chocolate. Each cup was $10 each but oh so worth it as we truly got an experience, in addition to our amazing hot chocolate.
The weather is 33-39 the rest of this week and today it was also rainy. We walked through Paris to go to the Fragonard perfumery to see what this French perfume business is all about. As it turns out, we learned a lot about what you are paying for in a perfume bottle and of course, this is why and how the French are still cornerning the market on fine perfumes. I am sure that some of us will need a part time job to pay off our perfume debts.
After the perfume museum we navigated Paris again, through the nasty weather and had dinner. It was good, even though some of the kids didt like it.
Steak, French fries salad and chocolate tarte! Yum!
Our last stop for the day was the Eiffel tower. It was sleeting really steady by the time we got there and stress/fatigue and the elements were setting in. Good news! The eiffel is still open but not the top floor as its frozen, per the guide. So off to the second platform. Its freezing, sleeting, miserably cold and most of us have wet feet. This is where the "so remember the time we got to the eiffel and it was still open but it was crazy, freezing, sleeting? Comes in. It was all of that and more, especially but the time we came down. We had just enough adults to get just enough cabs to get us all back, kids with adults, top the hotel without walking a single minute after hopping off the monument. Thank goodness!! Tomorrow is the "house of Mickey mouse" as Guylaine calls it. Here is the bummer..lt is a 90% chance of snow...stay tuned!!
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Ooo la la what a tre bien kind of day!
If yesterday we were the "Fumble Bumbles"then today was we were like buttah!! We had a wonderful breakfast at our hotel. Buffet of croissants, crepes, nutella, jams, ham, cheeses, yogurts, homemade applesauce, coffee, chocolate, juices and much more.
We hopped aboard our chariot (okay, it was really just a big bus) and got a nice ride through some of the best parts of the city, along the Siene river, down the Champs Élysées, and more, on our way to Versailles.
Versailles is a bit out of town so it was nice to have a leisurely sit, looking out the window top the countryside of Paris, en route. We arrived at noon and our appt to enter began at 1pm, so this gave us time to grab a bit of lunch at a local brasserie that included escargot, soups, sandwiches, savory crepes, croque Monsieur (this is what a grilled cheese sandwich wishes it would be. Two pieces of bread with ham in the middle, along with bechamel sauce as a condiment and anotqher layer onq top, with some light cheese and then toasted. )
We split in to two groups to navigate the interior of Versailles and the miles and miles of gardens. Oh wonderful local guide, Alain, took both groups through the hot spots in the palace, including the hall of mirrors, king and the queens bedrooms, the second story of the chapel where kind louis and Marie Antoinette were married, the various meeting rooms and much more. After trading with the other group, it was of to the gardens. Some of us paid the bucks to rent a golf cart to see a lot of gardens a little quicker and others chose to walk and see less but more in depth. So much to see and try to imagine being a child growing up in such a place.
When we left Versailles, we headed back to town and got off of the bus on the Champs for some fun window shopping chocolatiers, climb to the top of the arc de triumphe, before meeting all together n a square with some street performers, doing some break dancing.
After navigating the metro like pros today, we hopped back on to get to the area of town where dinner is served! dinner tonight was at Chez Papas and was a much improved version of "student friendly food" from previous tours. We had a frommage tarte, followed by a plate of backed, boneless chicken with alight gravy and mushrooms, French green eans and rice we followed that withi a slice of apple tarte. There were a lot of "happy a plates" tonight!
We braved the crisp, cold, night air to ride the river tour along the Siene. Tis was the perfect way to end the long day, sitting and laughing its friends and enjoying the new perspective of this bustling city.
We are all tucked soundly in to bed, with visions of grandeur dancing in our heads. It was a remarkable day and end for the others to live up to. W are off to the Louvre tomorrow and eventually the Eiffel tower tour! The big excitement for tonight is heading out tomorrow in the correct attire because it is supposed to snow!!
With a month of Sundays packed in to one day, it's adios for now!!
Alas, we work our way, back to the metro for some quick moving throughout town, imcluding the oooohhs and ahhhhs on our way past the eiffel for the first time and certainly the first tie that the griuo has seen itstart to sparkle as it does every hour at night. on our way to the Siene river boat tour, before a really stress free walk home.
We hopped aboard our chariot (okay, it was really just a big bus) and got a nice ride through some of the best parts of the city, along the Siene river, down the Champs Élysées, and more, on our way to Versailles.
Versailles is a bit out of town so it was nice to have a leisurely sit, looking out the window top the countryside of Paris, en route. We arrived at noon and our appt to enter began at 1pm, so this gave us time to grab a bit of lunch at a local brasserie that included escargot, soups, sandwiches, savory crepes, croque Monsieur (this is what a grilled cheese sandwich wishes it would be. Two pieces of bread with ham in the middle, along with bechamel sauce as a condiment and anotqher layer onq top, with some light cheese and then toasted. )
We split in to two groups to navigate the interior of Versailles and the miles and miles of gardens. Oh wonderful local guide, Alain, took both groups through the hot spots in the palace, including the hall of mirrors, king and the queens bedrooms, the second story of the chapel where kind louis and Marie Antoinette were married, the various meeting rooms and much more. After trading with the other group, it was of to the gardens. Some of us paid the bucks to rent a golf cart to see a lot of gardens a little quicker and others chose to walk and see less but more in depth. So much to see and try to imagine being a child growing up in such a place.
When we left Versailles, we headed back to town and got off of the bus on the Champs for some fun window shopping chocolatiers, climb to the top of the arc de triumphe, before meeting all together n a square with some street performers, doing some break dancing.
After navigating the metro like pros today, we hopped back on to get to the area of town where dinner is served! dinner tonight was at Chez Papas and was a much improved version of "student friendly food" from previous tours. We had a frommage tarte, followed by a plate of backed, boneless chicken with alight gravy and mushrooms, French green eans and rice we followed that withi a slice of apple tarte. There were a lot of "happy a plates" tonight!
We braved the crisp, cold, night air to ride the river tour along the Siene. Tis was the perfect way to end the long day, sitting and laughing its friends and enjoying the new perspective of this bustling city.
We are all tucked soundly in to bed, with visions of grandeur dancing in our heads. It was a remarkable day and end for the others to live up to. W are off to the Louvre tomorrow and eventually the Eiffel tower tour! The big excitement for tonight is heading out tomorrow in the correct attire because it is supposed to snow!!
With a month of Sundays packed in to one day, it's adios for now!!
Alas, we work our way, back to the metro for some quick moving throughout town, imcluding the oooohhs and ahhhhs on our way past the eiffel for the first time and certainly the first tie that the griuo has seen itstart to sparkle as it does every hour at night. on our way to the Siene river boat tour, before a really stress free walk home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)