southern France

Sept. 30, 2006 We arrived by high speed train (TGV) to Nimes. There we rented two cars and traveled off to Peter and Helga Beijs' summer home (more about that friendship later). Driving was a little difficult- no rights on red, along with signs , signals and markings that have different meanings, and a language we just don't understand- at driving speed. BUT, we got here safe and sound and look to do some exploring tomorrow.
I'm on Peter's pc right now, running on windows 98 and dialup. As you can see, I can get into blogspot, but the 98 won't get into my earthlink webmail- security encription something. I'll see tomorrow if I can load pictures, etc.
Hope all is well with you- Good night..........

personal tour of Paris

Sept. 29, 2006 Today we had our personal tour of Paris in a small van.
This was a promised tour after our orientation tour early in the week was canceled.
We went past the Arch de Triumphe while driving around. Lunch was at an Irish Pub, here in France, but it was owned by a Chinese guy.



More driving around and we ended up at the Eiffel Tower. Here is a view from the first level.

We had coffee and enjoyed the view on the first level.

Finally we took a cruise on the River Seine and saw so much, here is the river view of Notre Dame.

Paris

Sept. 28, 2006 Today we took the metro into Paris and here we are walking along the River Seine and looking at art dealers and old book dealers.








Carol and I were trying to find the trail to the Di Vinci Code- but no luck!

Here we are taking a tour of the Chateau de Versailles-

Our past Attorney General John Ashcroft would go crazy in this place- he wouldn't have enough drapes!!!??

We ended the day with a great Turkish meal at the local Brasserie.

We were really tired at the end of the day, but the Marriott has thought of everything- with all our walking, they even gave us a nice foot washer in our bathroom!!

ha

ha

Grain De Sel

Sept. 27,2006 Paul and I took the metro in Paris today and visited the grounds and gardens of the Louvre. Next we went over the River Siene to the Left Bank and looked at art work.
Deb- is that Jesse??













Upon returning, we all went to the creperie- "Grain De Sel" in Bailey-Romainvilliers and had an unbelieveable dinner- crepes for dinner and crepes for dessert!!

Judy has found many friends here in France, especially among the wrens, ducks, geese and "attack" swans.













Here is some info we gathered:
We've been in 8 countries
We've dealt with 7 languages (6 1/2!)
We've spent in 4 currencies

Do you know what they are??

France without Paris

Sept. 26, 2006 Today was another down day for us all, really great after all the running we've been doing. Actually Paul and I, then Paul and Judy, took the buses to the village and to Disneyland.

Our village is a replication of the Village of Giverny where Claude Monet lived and painted. The gardens that surround the village are also modeled after the gardens that Monet painted.
We enjoyed a little pinochle on the patio and feeding the ducks and swans.

in the village

Sept. 25, 2006 A nice down day for us that we really needed! We walked over to the local village to do a little grocery shopping and just bummed around the whole day. Actually we made arrangements for trains to Nimes and back, renting cars while there and reserving another night here- for our last night, prior to returning to the USA.
These pics are from our patio.

Paris bound

Sept. 24, 2006 This morning we bid our hosts "doei" !!).
Actually, someone is sending Angels to look over us.
Our original train tickets were from Rotterdam to Paris, then two difference metros (with all our luggage!!) to the station at Marne La Vallee where we would take a taxi to Marriott's Village d'lle de France.
With a little help from our friends, we traded in our tickets and got a train from Rotterdam (since there was construction outside the Hague) to Brussels. Then with some help from this nice little old man, we found the correct platform towards Marne La Valle- with 5 minutes to spare!!
On the train, we met a nice multi-generational family from Victoria, BC who were also going to the Marriott and we had a great chat. All this as we were speeding past the French countryside at 300 km./hr. on the high speed train Thalys.
When we arrived at the station in Marne La Vallee, we rushed to the shuttle bus area. There it said we had a 2 hour wait until the next shuttle to the Marriott.
The father of the Canadian family spoke Portugese and found out from a bus driver that it would only be one hour- so we waited. Now a French bus driver would usually never stoop so low as to speak English, but Portugese- OK.........
Well, 45 minutes later, the same bus driver returned and said he was wrong. It really had been a 2 hour wait. But he was at the end of his shift and with his bus (a big one!) he would drive all 10 of us with tons of luggage to the Marriott- so we won't have to wait.
So, here we are looking for French rudeness and pickpockets and what we get is helpful, caring people.

We are all settled in now and the picture is from our balcony window. The entire conplex is designed like a French village and chateau- really cool!!
Tomorrow- is a down day............... (I guess I'm a little wordy tonight)

Rain, rain, go away

Sept. 23, 2006 It rained in the morning today- only the second time for the whole trip- so far! But, Carol and I do seem to bring that So Cal weather with us- no matter where we go......
With the rain, I was off to the mall again, looking at everything from grocery stores to Pep Boys type shops!!
Then in the afternoon we all were off to see the dikes- specifically the huge one, to stop the storm flooding.
Finally its off to a nice thank you dinner at the seashore. What great friends we have here in Voorburg!!!!

corrections, please

Sept. 23, 2006 Here we have Vivienne correcting my Dutch--- as well as my English!!!!
I'm glad she didn't have a red pencil in her hand...........

High Tea

Sept. 22, 2006 What a whirlwind day. Carol and I started at the local mall for a little shopping and brunch overlooking a lake and park. We bought several packages of stroopwafels (are they ever heavy!!) from a small stand where they are made as you wait.
Next Paul and I went with Marjolein to Rotterdam to see an Educational Museum which has an interactive display on how dikes function. The Voorburg sister city workgroup would like me to make or help with a similar display from their group to the Temecula Children's Museum. It was a great interactive museum that had many activities like I've done with Temecula students in the class Exploring Technology at Margarita MS, Vail Ranch MS and Chaparral HS.
Following this we meet up with Carol, Kay and Vivienne at the Cube Houses- they speak for themselves..........

We then took a water taxi to the Hotel New York, where we met up with Mark Soesman for high tea. The hotel and restauant used to be a terminal for the Holland America Lines and was where many people left Europe for America after WWII- especially to Ellis Island. They say there were many tears left here, since most could not afford to return..........

These are some views from the waters edge by the Hotel New York.

Dalton

Sept. 21, 2006 We got back to the Dalton school today and were able to visit with many of the students who visited Temecula last fall. Carol and I organized their two week program for that visit and we wanted to debrief with them so we can keep improving the program. We are always receiving insight from these traveling teenagers!!
The picture with Carol and I includes Jorinde, a very charming and talented girl, who managed to get "stung" on her toe by a sting ray while in the Pacific Ocean at Oceanside, CA. We actually think she arranged this with the sting ray, so she could meet the handsome life guard who came to her assistance!!??

Following Dalton, we all met in "downtown"Voorburg for lunch. Here we were joined by Marianne and she was very gracious to show us around her art shop. Our many thanks to her for all she does with the sister city associations.




Following lunch, we traveled to their local wind mill, "De Vlieger" (the kite), where along with great explanations from the mill keeper, we went up inside the wind mill- three levels of very narrow, steep ladders/steps.
We finished the day with the Soesmans'- Mark, Vivienne and son, DJ (along with Noa, the Great Dane and their three cats). We had dinner in their charming, plant covered patio- it is always such a pleasant place to meet and relax.
The Soesmans are treating us like Royals!!

Good bye Fosters and the Concertgebouow

Sept. 20, 2006 Today we took Connie and Fred to the airport, since someone in this group has to WORK!!!???- but I won't say who (lawyer, hint, hint).....
After we saw the Fosters off (with an extra bag from us stuffed with souvenirs and gifts), we went back to the Amsterdam with Marjolein to the Concertgebouow (Concert Hall). Marjolein's brother, Jan Henk, is the facilities director there and he gave us a complete tour of the hall along with its history.
This picture shows us above the main concert hall in the working area above the lights and chandeliers.
We then went to our reserved seats, which were just three seats down from where the Queen sits, and we were treated to a practice concert by the orchestra. It was really special and the acoustics of the hall is one of the top three in the world. The individual sounds of each instrument really was incredible. After the concert we all had lunch with Jan Henk at a local cafe frequented by many people of the concert hall.
From here we walked to the Van Gogh and spent time with the impressionists. So many of these painting are just incredible.
After we returned to Mark and Vivienne''s home, Carol and I left for dinner with Peter and Helga Beij. They live very close to the Soesmans. I helped Peter and a group of his administrator friends during a tour of southern California last year. Peter has stayed with us both in our intown home as well as when we lived in the country. We had a wonderful meal with Peter and Helga at the restaurant "De Knip" just outside of Voorburg on a canal.
We will be staying at the Beijs' summer house in southern France (Nimes) for the last week of our trip. They are good friends and gracious hosts.

Queen Beatrix.....

Sept. 19, 2006 What a great we had today. First we went into the Hague with Maria and we visited the Peace Palace. I had forgotten what an impressive place it is and how important it is. The Hague is the seat of government for the country.

This day is called "Prinsjesdag, it is the day when Queen Beatrix rides her "Gilded Carriage" from her working Palace to the Parliament and gives her annual speech to the members of Parliament. There was a lot of pomp and she was preceeded by various military units both modern and past- dressed out in period design. I think she even looked and waved directly at us!!??


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Following this we took the tram back to Voorburg and I looked around old Voorburg as the ladies searched out a cross stitch shop. We next had drinks at Maria's patio and then went to our hosts' homes for dinner and an evening of stimulating conversation.

Voorburg workgroup potluck

Sept. 17, 2006- evening What a great group this Voorburg Sister City workgroup is!! As friends, we were invited to the beautiful home of Co and Marianne Rookmaaker for drinks and a great potluck dinner. We had stimulating conversation with Co and Marianne as well as with Remco Bleys, Marianne van Ruiten, Vivienne and Mark Soesman, Tove van der Linden, Maria Kramer and Marjolein van Weerd.
With such great people to work with, its little wonder why our exchange is so successful.