Hello from Italy! We could not get internet access from Beziers, and have no internet here in Italy. We are having beautiful weather and will tell you all about it when we get back.

Colleen, Marcia and the crew

Triumphal Arch!

As dusk set upon the city, we made our way to the Arch de Triumphe.........Napoleon's crowning glory. The boys marched up 284 steps to the top, while the mature regiment took in the sights from a lower level. One look down the Champs Elysees and you can picture grande parades of days gone by. Unfortunately we witnessed a Crime Horrible! (J'accuse!) Vincent Roy was discovered using an illegal tre-pied (tripod) by the gendarmerie, and was told to cease and desist such activities. Vince managed to free himself using his superior Inspector Clouseau accent to convince the officer that he should not be taken away in shackles. We went away with one thought.....we will not leave town using the traffic circle around the Arc. We ended the evening with a quick peep at the notorious Moulin Rouge, and then home to bed!

Museum Madness!

If only we had paid attention during history classes! Two world class museums, and 2 days of tortured feet and legs, and we are so much smarter now. The sheer magnitude of the galleries and the art, sculpture and artifacts that are collected here is awe inspiring. And awed we were. We come from a very young part of Canada, where 100 years seems like a long time. Paris took it's name in the year 360. To think of the people that trod these very cobblestones, and built these monuments in that time, it is hard to comprehend. We visited the Louvre and the Musee D'Orsay. Although both museums were filled to the brim with "must sees" we were not able to visit it all, and we had to say " Mai nous allons revenir !" (we will return)

La Tour Eiffel

Sunday evening! We climbed back on the metro and headed off to see the Eiffel Tower. It is the most amazing sight to behold, and we were all impressed. We came upon it through the park, looking at the beautiful trees and ducks in the pond, and there it was. We walked under the tower, cameras clicking away and then we headed to Trocadero to view it from the ultimate vantage point. After turning down many an opportunity to buy little plastic towers, and taking the requesite kissing shots we were about to leave when...the lights began to twinkle. What a sight!

Market Day In Paris

We're standing in the Fresh Food Market at Bastille and can't believe what we are seeing. Rows and rows of amazing edibles. The fruits,greens, herbs, fresh meat,vegetables and fresh fish are unbelievable. The Parisians are quite relaxed about it, as this is usual for them. We have markets in Edmonton, with good food, but this abundance is unbelievable! I got caught touching a bunch of radishes, and the stall owner told me "ne touche pas". I forgot that they pick and bag your items for you. He did smile though and was not uncivil about it. We walked through the market once and then went back and made our purchases. A magnificent pork roast, fresh herbs, cherie potatoes, a marvellous french melon, green beans.......we will have a feast tonight!

PARIS OMG!!!!!!!!

We are here! We are excited! We are tired... First thing first lets get into the check-in line and then find our luggage. No problems........the immigration officer checkin'us in was too busy checkin' out a young lady to worry about us...........France is amazing. We picked up our bags and on mass, headed to the RER, which is the train that will take us to our apartment.

We phoned our contact to let them know we had arrived, funny the phones in France are different than back home. All was set on the train and away we go!

We are on a train and heading to our stop at the Gare du Nord. We arrive and get off we are all OK and still together. We are greeted at our door by M Phillipe ( we actually have no idea what his name is we were all completely exhausted but determined to beat jet lag at its game!). The apartment was all that we thought and more.

We settled in and did some quick unpacking, time to get the sim cards. We need those so that we can reach each other if required. After that we split up and the young guns went exploring, while we went to find supplies. Did I mention we are all very tired, hour 18 of the trip, and we need to buy food...

We bought the essentials and headed home after the food was put away and the naps were done. Colleen and Vince made a beautiful pasta prima vera and Marcia made the vinaigrette and Greg bought the wine. The boys set the table and we had our first meal on our tour of 2009.

Night One SACRE-COEUR de MONTMARTE

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Edmonton Airport

After a flurry of packing, grumpiness and sometimes craziness, we flew off into the wild blue yonder. The planes were on time and flights uneventful. The Montreal to Edmonton leg was easy......The Montreal to Paris part was .......easy too. Just don't ask us about people flying with babies. It's funny when you are used to not getting fed on planes, how airplane food is such a great novelty now. The rubber chicken and instant mashed potatoes were quaint....and quickly devoured by all. After dinner was lights out. We're not sure if anyone really had any sleep at all. Next stop Paris.

Montreal between flights