Paris!

Heather and mom






Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. It was restored and saved from destruction by Viollet-le-Duc, one of France's most famous architects. Notre Dame translates as "Our Lady" from French.


What better place to listen to Jango music than on the streets of Paris.
"BORSALINO" Place des Vosges. These guys were great. Maybe we could get them at the next Northwest django Fest!



The best part of this photo, when you look past the beauty of the fountain and surroundings and look at the people. Notice to the left of the fountain the guy with his shoes off on the grass having lunch and the benches filled with couples just enjoying each others conversation and to the right on the grass the lady reading her book with the man napping next to her or maybe she's reading to him. This is how the perisians live. Ejoying life and the little pleasures. Not rushing through like most of us do.





Cafe in the Musee d'Orsay which originally was a railway station on the left bank of the Seine. The museum opened in 1986 and is best known for it's collection of Impressionists work such as Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh.






We were told when in Paris you must have a Macaroon from Laduree. The flavors of the blackberry one and maybe the rose petal one is alone worth a trip to Paris, although they do have stores in London, Monaco and a few other locations in Europe. http://www.laduree.fr


Shopping although little was done for it's tres expensive and the dollar not so good over there.





After a day of walkin....feelin no pain!

Our last night in Paris

PARIS! We did it!

We did it! Paris! Recap of events will come in a day or so. Mom and I got in late last night after barely making our connecting flight in London.... our luggage however wasn't so lucky. That means laundry will just have to wait. Heather and her mom fly in Wednesday night. I'm not ready to end the pastry regiment quite yet so tomorrow(Thursday) I will be back at work with macaroons from Ravoli Ave.... straight from Paris as well as Italian coffee for whoever wants to stop by for a cafe and treats!



Views from up in the tower. Yes we did take the stairs... mind you it was on the way down.


Arc de Triumph is in the middle of this photo that is located at the west end of Champs-Elysees


When you enlarge this photo - to the right you will see a non descript, very long building just across the river. That is the Louvre. Puts it in perspective just how large the museum is.

Carless in Monte Carlo

Returned the car today...M&H had a little adventure trying to catch a bus back up the hill to Vence. Ran across the "Bus Arret" by accident and happened to get bus #94 up the hill. "Pas de Problem"! With time on our side we sat in a lovely cafe for lunch, listening to accordian music on the "place".
Miss M (alias Kati Lou) boldly went into a Coiffure spot and requested a new do en Francais. You should see her now.... Paris will NEVER be the same.
Patti was accosted after shooting film of original art.... the shop keeper was tres Enraged!! Walked to Matisse Chapel today.... non plussed to be exact (but it's Art n'est pas).
Lovely evening... thunder clouds and rain on the terrace....off to Monaco tomorrow
Thursday
There we were in Monte Carlo... Miss Kati Lou doubled her money and cast her eyes towards the Chanel Boutique, where $50 Euro bought half a tube of Paris Rouge lipstick (Jacki watch out you have nothin on us). We were denied entrance to the Hotel De Paris and one of the mothers (who shall remain nameless) was stopped at the door to the Casino (we wont say what for)! Looked everywhere for Prince Albert but alas only heard his voice echoing in the Palace halls.





Our cafe lunch by the Cathedral (on the rock of Monaco) was a delightful surprise especially when the bill came! (Quel Domage). The poisson was tres cher expensive. Since we were within spitting distance of Italy we also enjoyed the pasta. The pesto here is so fresh.

We ventured on a lovely city bus ~ 2 transfers from Vence to Monaco $1.30, very cheap transportaion, and we did not get lost!

Top 5 (too tired to write 10)

5. Amande Croissant warm at 7:00am in the morning (again)
4. The Castle of Monaco
3. Fresh apricots with soft cheese...oh delicious!
2. The Jardin Exotique...where Mynda (kati) would not go spelunking, being claustrophobic and all.
1. Winning BIG in Monte Carlo.... we've bought a villa and you're all invited for we're not comin home til Christmas!!!
Bon Journee
Kati Lou and Mercy Beauchamps (We have reinvented ourselves)

Beaches Discovered

Here we are in the bosom of humanity and what a bosom it is!! We've unearthed the bikinis and our smiles our as big as our arses. We have finally hit the beaches and they are beautiful. Motto of the week keep a swimsuit in the car at all times in case one needs to take a dip in the azure blue sea.... even though suits are definitely an option in this neck of the woods (YIKES).



Lots of dogs here in France, and in the town of Vence which means lots of poo. We've discovered the most amazing contraption. A man on a motorcycle sucking up poo with vacuum hoses then gives the spot a squirt with antiseptic spray. The sidewalks are once again clean, but I would not follow the 5 second rule here in France.
















Heather and Myndas top 10
10. A jar of Creme de Carmel a la fleur de sel kept on the night stand with a small silver spoon.
9. Laying in a chaise in your bikini at 8:00am with a good book.
8. Champagne cassis petitefores
7. Beach at St. Tropez with soft sand and stinging jelly fish.
6. A cafe (espresso) with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (AKA... Bills addiction)
5. Pesto alla Genoves on just about anything.
4. La petit train from Antibes to the beach with the funny high fiving French man driving it.
3. Eating a hamburger at the beach in an Irish Pub.
2. Young men with bouquets of flowers in hand with their mothers strolling along the waterfront.
1. Spending Mother's Day (again) with our moms on the French Riviera.

Writing the blog in bed. We sometimes got to laughing so hard...... Tomorrow we are heading by bus to the big city of Monaco. No more driving!! Paris on Saturday. We can't believe our time is almost up.

Ice is nice "Nice"

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Here we are on the French Riviera watching ice balls bounce off the terrace hoping to sometime unearth the bikinis hidden deep within the recesses of our backpacks. Darn that Rick Steves for telling us to pack light. The weather has turned from 90 to a chilly and gusty 60.
Mark is gone and Mynda is now driving. Keep praying for us Marla!! We hope the insurance is good on the rental car.
Our favorite phrase for the day "peut etre apres" which means maybe later for dessert (and it's always later). The time is always right for pastries in our book.... OH how many pastries we've discovered. Some places we've been..... Biot, Tourettes Sur Loup, Nice, and many hillside villages built high in the mountains.

As soon as the sun comes out, we're heading for St. Tropez and the beach. Our motto is more pastries and bigger bikinis. Tomorrow is Sunday and mothers day here in France. We'll have breakfast in bed and lunch on the terrace and think of you all fondly.

Heather and Myndas top 10 so far.....
10. Napoleons
9. The walk to Matisse Chapel
8. Citron Tarts
7. The hillside village of Gordon
6. Almond and Chocolate Croissant warm from the boulangerie
5. Having lunch in Biot with a English speaking waiter
4. Cassis gelato
3. Walking the promenade des anglais in Nice
2. Searching for the perfect Creme Brule
1. Evenings on the terrace with a bottle of vin de pays and dancing just for the fun of it!!!
Cest Bona