Hard to believe that just a week ago, we were in Paris and all of its beauty. We had a huge speed bump initially. The apartment company that we had rented from gave us non-working contact numbers and didn't answer our emails so we ended up staying at a Holiday Inn (which ate a huge amount of our budget) for two nights until we finally got everything straightened out. After that, it was smooth sailing.
We arrived Sunday evening, had the apartment fiasco, and finally checked in about 10pm. It was raining and chilly, but we had expected that. Monday morning the sun was shining and since we had no email from the company yet, we started our first day by going to the Eiffel Tower. First, pictures do not do this landmark justice. It really does watch over the entire city, and apparently on clear days, you can see 50 miles. Secondly, this is one of those things that you really need to put on your "I've done that" list. The views are amazing! One side however, overlooks a 56 story building, Montparsse (I believe) that was described as "the box that the Eiffel came in". And that is exactly what it looks like-all by itself in the middle of the 18th century style architecture. It is very odd.
Afterwards, we found a little "deli", grabbed some lunch and ate in the park in front of the Dome Church, which is covered in gold. This is where Napolean's tomb is located. The man himself is in eight coffins-I guess to make sure he won't go anywhere! We chose not to go in, but to go to the Rodin museum instead-especially since it started raining. Finally found Rodin, closed since it was Monday. Right, gotta read the guide book! Most everything else is closed on Mondays too, it turns out. Oh well, it is a beautiful enough city that just walking is a delight.
Tuesday morning we finally made it into our apartment! Word of warning to all of our tall (meaning over 5'11") family and friends...ceilings in the older buildings are very short. Patrick barely made the clearance! But it was warm, dry, cozy, and paid for! We got going shortly thereafter and got to the Louvre before the crowds do. We got there early enough that there was absolutley no line whatsoever! Because its closed on Tuesdays. Heavy sigh. Decide instead to walk down the Seine and see what is there. Turns out, garden shops and pet stores. We went in to a few of them (the pet stores that is), just so that the kids could see animals that were healthy and taken care of (Naples issues). Not only did the stores have your usual pups and kittens (one had a Persian and a Chihuahua rooming and cuddling together-very cute), but also doves, a variety of chickens (!), and some amazing birds! One store even had chipmunks there. We had to convince the kids that chipmunks were not really made to be pets, but they're not totally convinced. The answer is still "NO". We had a nice, leisurely lunch at a cafe that turned out to be a favorite of locals-it was all delicious. I saw a website for the Museum of Hunting (yeah I know) and Nature. Looked pretty interesting...like a natural museum set in a house, things like stags locked in a fight in an elegant dining room, swan in the parlor, etc. Nope. Well, sort of...but it was all...very French. In the trophy room, there was an albino wart hog head that would periodically start reciting (what we thought) bad French poetry. Its mouth moved, it snorted, and you couldn't understand the soundtrack. Very, very odd. We then stopped by Notre Dame (another must do on the list). Gorgeous! Unfortunately the line for Sainte-Chapelle, famous for its stained glass "walls" was much too long for tired kiddos. Oh, and we finally heard from the apartment people at 9pm that night.
Wednesday morning we all slept in a bit, and I grabbed breakfast for everyone from the bakery across the street. Pure heaven! The apartment is very close to the Pompideau (the modern art museum) so we chose that for the morning activity. Well, modern art IS modern art and some of the exhibits were so modern, we just didn't get it...like the three extra large canvases hanging on the wall that were blank. Not painted with a color, or white, just blank. Another showed a running loop video of a man slowly bringing his hand to his head and groaning three times (as if he had a headache)-this became our running joke. There were some pieces we all liked as well, but by the time that we got to the "old" modern masters (Picasso, Matisse, etc) the kids had had enough-so they just got quick glances unfortunately.
Thursday was the Louvre finally! And, more importantly-it was open. We got there early, made a bee line for the Mona Lisa and were able to see her without to many people. Check! Not really in my top 25 paintings that I've seen, but that's just me. Many of the galleries that I wanted to see were closed, but it was just as well since the kids were tired and Patrick's knee was giving him trouble with all the rain and walking. We went to the Musee d'Orsay after lunch to see the Impressionists...this was my favorite museum. Showed Michael how their technique worked-he liked that. And I was able to see some Rodin sculpture! This museum is a must do, too!
Friday was our last full day in Paris and we took it easy in the morning by going to what we thought was a children's sea museum and turtle orphanage. The orphanage isn't there anymore, but the kids liked the few exhibits that were. Came back for a good rest in the afternoon and in the evening went out to the Arc de Triumph shortly after the rain had stopped, the sun was out, and we stumbled upon a veteran's ceremony at the Arc. We walked the Champs-Elysees and had a marvelous final dinner. Michael was so tired he fell asleep at the table!
All in all, it was marvelous and we want to go back. So if anyone needs a tour guide of Paris, I would be happy to help!
I'll post some pictures later today...I promise!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Ahh....Venice!
Well, to escape the problems of living in Naples, we try to make a big trip every other month. This past weekend, we took a USO tour to Venice for Carnevale. It was cold, wet, exhausting (due to being cold and wet) and wonderful!
We went in the Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs-so named because it was the last bridge you took on your way to prison, rode a gondola, picked our lunch restaurant by what looked like a warm place with a table available, and Emily and I wore our Carnevale masks. Hopefully, we can go back when it is warm and sunny, but until then, enjoy some pictures.
And then...another post since I used my capacity for pictures on this one!
We went in the Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs-so named because it was the last bridge you took on your way to prison, rode a gondola, picked our lunch restaurant by what looked like a warm place with a table available, and Emily and I wore our Carnevale masks. Hopefully, we can go back when it is warm and sunny, but until then, enjoy some pictures.
And then...another post since I used my capacity for pictures on this one!
procastenators unite...sometime tomorrow okay?
Its been a while I know. I got a bit bogged down with the holiday schedule, and then trying to get back into the swing of things, so here is a basic rundown.
We went to Garmisch, Germany in the beginning of December. The 1936 Winter Olympics were held here and it is a charming little town. There is a military "resort" where we stayed, and we were hoping to go skiing. Alas, the snow storm warning for the town was two days before we got there, had all melted when we were there, and snowed again the day after we left! Oh well....just an excuse to go back! Michael ended up with a little 24 hour bug on our last day, so Emily and I found the ice rink and had some fun there. We caught our train back to Naples out of Innsbrook, so the afternoon was spent in Austria. Another beautiful city. And as sad as it is, we were all mesmerized by the lack of trash on the streets and the drivers that obeyed common street laws.
These two are of Innsbrook since I can hardly see the little thumbnail pictures that blogger brings up for me-you get the idea though.
That's Mt. Vesuvius in the middle background with snow on the summit. It didn't last for long though! Better than an eruption!
As most of you have heard by now, Naples is in a serious trash crisis. Trash stopped being picked up on Decemeber 21, and only this past weekend did the trash get picked up in front of our road. I think the only reason for this was that on Thursday night, the protesters used the trash as a blockade on the main road. But on the whole, the trash is still everywhere. It makes a person a little down after a while.
We went to Garmisch, Germany in the beginning of December. The 1936 Winter Olympics were held here and it is a charming little town. There is a military "resort" where we stayed, and we were hoping to go skiing. Alas, the snow storm warning for the town was two days before we got there, had all melted when we were there, and snowed again the day after we left! Oh well....just an excuse to go back! Michael ended up with a little 24 hour bug on our last day, so Emily and I found the ice rink and had some fun there. We caught our train back to Naples out of Innsbrook, so the afternoon was spent in Austria. Another beautiful city. And as sad as it is, we were all mesmerized by the lack of trash on the streets and the drivers that obeyed common street laws.
These two are of Innsbrook since I can hardly see the little thumbnail pictures that blogger brings up for me-you get the idea though.
That's Mt. Vesuvius in the middle background with snow on the summit. It didn't last for long though! Better than an eruption!As most of you have heard by now, Naples is in a serious trash crisis. Trash stopped being picked up on Decemeber 21, and only this past weekend did the trash get picked up in front of our road. I think the only reason for this was that on Thursday night, the protesters used the trash as a blockade on the main road. But on the whole, the trash is still everywhere. It makes a person a little down after a while.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
How to Blend In...Part 2
Well, as you read earlier, it is important to the US government that we blend in. I think I've finally done it.
I went to IKEA yesterday to exchange some chairs and said this in my broken Italian to the guard at the front of the store. He looked at me, and then started talking to me in German! When I looked at him even more like a deer in the headlights, he switched to his broken English and told me that he was German and thought I was too. I guess I'm getting closer.....
Oh, and in line at IKEA, the woman behind me started talking to me in Italian. I told her I only speak poco italiano. She didn't care and just kept talking so I just kept smiling.
I went to IKEA yesterday to exchange some chairs and said this in my broken Italian to the guard at the front of the store. He looked at me, and then started talking to me in German! When I looked at him even more like a deer in the headlights, he switched to his broken English and told me that he was German and thought I was too. I guess I'm getting closer.....
Oh, and in line at IKEA, the woman behind me started talking to me in Italian. I told her I only speak poco italiano. She didn't care and just kept talking so I just kept smiling.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Playing Catch Up
Well, its been a while. We've been busy doing everything and nothing all at the same time. First and foremost, please keep the people of San Diego in your thoughts. We turned on CNN one night to hear them talking about evacuating Rancho Bernardo. Then, we started seeing the pictures of our neighborhood. The street that received the most damage was Aguamiel Road, and the house that we had lived in was one of a few remaining. All of our neighbors lost everything, as well as several good friends of ours. It sounds like the community pulled together, and I've been in contact with a few of those affected. Halloween in Italy is starting to catch on. I took the kids to the Navy Base to do their Trick-or-Treating while Patrick stayed home. He did have a couple of treaters, mainly our next door neighbors. Angela, next door, did find a pumpkin (not hollow like we are used to) and put it on her front step with a candle on top. Her son was impressed with Emily and Michael's jack-o-lanterns. 
We also thought it would be a good time to do the Napoli Sotterranea tour. This is a tour that takes you to the underground area of Naples. Its really just a large system of cisterns that are no longer used, and the last time they were used were as air raid shelters during WWII. Interestingly enough, Neapolitans used the wells to drop their trash in even in ancient times, so the trash issue is certainly not a new one. The part that we were walking on is just paved over 10 meters of trash piles. Part of the tour was also of the old amphitheater where Nero would perform. Archeologists knew that one existed, but in hundreds of years were unable to find it. For a while, it was assumed that the church had torn it down (being evil and all). Six (yes, only six) years ago, an archeologist managed to be inside of a typical, lower class, Neapolitan apartment. These apartments are really one long room, with very little furnishings. Ten people in the tour group made the apartment feel very small. He noticed the archways in the middle of the room and asked if they had been added. The owner replied that they had been there before, and gave permission for the wall to be chipped away. An ancient arch was found. Off to the cellar (having pushed the bed out of the way) that was small, and with a little more digging, found more archways. The amphitheater was found! It was really pretty amazing. Once the theater was closed, people just walled up the entrances/hallways and called it a house. Last Wednesday, Patrick was lucky enough to be at the other base to see one of the Italian RunningMilitary Bands. Pretty impressive-Em and I like the hats!
Today, I went on a tour of Naples cemeteries. Very interesting and some beautiful scupltures, but out of respect, cameras are not allowed. People don't "die" in Naples (well at least the ones in the Catholic cemeteries don't). Their families visit every week and talk to them as if they were still there in body form. Some of the "houses" even had a little cafe table set up as well as a coffee pot in the corner. Flowers are also brought to the older homes (and they are looked upon as homes) that no longer have family to take care of out of pity. One home showed a 1920's type roadcar (think about the Monopoly car piece) crashed into a tree, with its driver slumped over, but held up by an angel, while a skeleton lurked behind the tree. It was all really interesting. I won't get into the details here about how they actually bury their dead, but if you want to know, feel free to email me. Very ecologically sound I think.
We're have reservations for Germany in a couple of weeks. I'll post again after that. In the meantime, if you are wanting to head out this direction, let us know and we can play tourguide and bed & breakfast.
We also thought it would be a good time to do the Napoli Sotterranea tour. This is a tour that takes you to the underground area of Naples. Its really just a large system of cisterns that are no longer used, and the last time they were used were as air raid shelters during WWII. Interestingly enough, Neapolitans used the wells to drop their trash in even in ancient times, so the trash issue is certainly not a new one. The part that we were walking on is just paved over 10 meters of trash piles. Part of the tour was also of the old amphitheater where Nero would perform. Archeologists knew that one existed, but in hundreds of years were unable to find it. For a while, it was assumed that the church had torn it down (being evil and all). Six (yes, only six) years ago, an archeologist managed to be inside of a typical, lower class, Neapolitan apartment. These apartments are really one long room, with very little furnishings. Ten people in the tour group made the apartment feel very small. He noticed the archways in the middle of the room and asked if they had been added. The owner replied that they had been there before, and gave permission for the wall to be chipped away. An ancient arch was found. Off to the cellar (having pushed the bed out of the way) that was small, and with a little more digging, found more archways. The amphitheater was found! It was really pretty amazing. Once the theater was closed, people just walled up the entrances/hallways and called it a house. Last Wednesday, Patrick was lucky enough to be at the other base to see one of the Italian RunningMilitary Bands. Pretty impressive-Em and I like the hats!Today, I went on a tour of Naples cemeteries. Very interesting and some beautiful scupltures, but out of respect, cameras are not allowed. People don't "die" in Naples (well at least the ones in the Catholic cemeteries don't). Their families visit every week and talk to them as if they were still there in body form. Some of the "houses" even had a little cafe table set up as well as a coffee pot in the corner. Flowers are also brought to the older homes (and they are looked upon as homes) that no longer have family to take care of out of pity. One home showed a 1920's type roadcar (think about the Monopoly car piece) crashed into a tree, with its driver slumped over, but held up by an angel, while a skeleton lurked behind the tree. It was all really interesting. I won't get into the details here about how they actually bury their dead, but if you want to know, feel free to email me. Very ecologically sound I think.
We're have reservations for Germany in a couple of weeks. I'll post again after that. In the meantime, if you are wanting to head out this direction, let us know and we can play tourguide and bed & breakfast.
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