Tydzień w Paryżu (Week in Paris)

Our spontaneous vacation came about after checking prices for flights to France.  After adding hotel costs, it came out doable—flights and hotel package booked--cha-ching!   Our pre-trip planning included singing several French songs, and a rough outline of daily activities. 

David, our FTPE (family trip planner extraordinaire) relinquished his highly detail-oriented tendencies and gave Adrienne and I free reign in trip planning and decision making.  This new-found opportunity was not wasted on us as we implemented our spontaneous, flexible, tangential—anything but prescriptive—styles and wrote out a rough itinerary, which we left at home on this desk.  No worries though—Adrienne knew exactly which sites she wanted to see and with a bit of input from David and myself, the following sites and scenes were thoroughly enjoyed.  Bon voyage!   

With Adrienne’s two college level French classes under her belt, we sprinted from Charles De Gaulle Airport to our hotel (near the airport) to embark on a vacances parisiennes.




Lisa and Adrienne were both searching the skyline for the first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower.
As we walked through the beautiful park by the Seine River next to the Louvre Museum it suddenly appeared into view. 



On our first day, we wanted to get the "lay of the land," so we booked a double decker bus tour and got a great orientation of the city.  We spent the remaining time visiting the popular sites one at a time.. 

The Louvre inner Co

Statues and Paintings were everywhere.  The Louvre was perhaps one of the most facinating places to visit.  The size of it was impressive.  The building itself was a work of art.

 It would take a week to do it justice for the average Art fan.  We spent a day there and we were exhausted.




We of course made a bee-line for the most popular attraction in the Louvre, The Mona Lisa. You can't tell from looking at the serene woman, but it would seem she can't get a moment's peace, at least not while the museum is open. Is she smiling to tempt a lover?  I don't think so,  Nat King Cole, at least not if she were aware of the throngs of people staring at her.  But if she somehow had a deja vu  moment (only seeing her future, rather than past) that might explain her look of intregue.

To say that we drifted slower than teconic plates, is a bit of an exaggeration; but after standing on our feet for hours, it felt like eones before reaching the most popular painting in the world.    

 We also saw mobs surrounding the Venus di Milo. 


Lisa and Adrienne felt a special kinship to a number of paintings, matching poses for the camera and appreciated the patience of onlookers.  After this particular pose, several other sets of women were waiting for their turn.  

As we left, Adrienne remarked, "if you were to have a painter paint your portrait, who would you pick?" Rather than have a painting, why not a sculpture? "Why Michaelangelo, of course!"  He could do whichever he prefers.  On second thought, he didn't appreciate the female body as a work of art.  And he thought the sistine Chapel was painful!

We could hardly believe the beauty of the Chateaux de Versailles.  We took so many pictures we couldn't post them all.  Adrienne has a wider selection of pictures on her Facebook.

Beginning as a hunting lodge by Louis XIII, Louis XIV chose the site to build the palace we know today, "the symbol of royal absolutism and embodiment of classical French  art."   http://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover-estate


A tour through the Notre Dame cathedral was very interesting but perhaps a little of a let down after some of the other sites. 

We were surprised to learn that the cathedral was never well known or recognized until Victor Hugo wrote the story about the loveable Hunchback.  The architecture, however, was fascinating!  Loaded with gargoyles.  



We admired the tower, as did many others, flocking to it at dusk like a Fourth-of-July firework display; only to decide that we'd better head back to the metro and then to the train to catch a shuttle before the last one leaves the airport. 

 Note to those spontaneous travelers who want to see Paris on a whim--choosing a hotel near the airport may be cheaper, but the time spent traveling in and out of the city may limit site-seeing activities.   Not to whine (because we feel grateful for even the opportunity to see the tower in day-light) but we suggest choosing a location closer to the city.

Our last day in France was spent on the road.  We rented a car and headed over to the coast of Normandy.  We visited the American Cementary and Visitor Center on the bluff over Omaha Beach.  It was great to see that the beautiful beach was fully recovered and used by families for fun and recreation.  The terrible scars of war did not take away from the peace that these brave men and women fought for.  It was truly fitting that the beach was again made beautiful.

Returning to Poland and Our First Trip to Hel!

 Sopot is the Cannon Beach of Poland.  With locals and tourists drawn to Monte Casino, the pedestrian-only street that begins with the pier on the Baltic Sea.  Just west of Gdansk, Sopot is the central city in the tri-cities of Gdansk, Sopot and Gydia.

  

Though seemingly direct, lush and clean
on this road n'ry a soul could tell
over meadows of yellow and green


Hel a tourist getaway accross the bay from Gdansk

 actually takes one straight to Hel.

The Jan Sobieski Castle is a beautiful hotel on the route to Hel.   It would be a great place for a weekend getaway with a book and no agenda.  http://www.zameksobieski.pl/?l=en

The road to Hel is bordered with yellow fields of mustard or safflower or something.  It was pretty regardless.

The food was good in Hel, at least at this cafe we ate fish and salad which didn't seem sinful in the least.

We enjoyed our 10 days at the Haffner Hotel in Sopot. With a salt-water pool, a dry sauna and steam room, plus an exercise room that was nearly always empty, it was a great place to work up a sweat and unwind.

Several blocks from our hotel--Morza Bałtyckiego (Baltic Sea).   Fine white sand.  Who would of thunk !   Sun and beachcombing on the Baltic






The architechture of the area is strongly influenced by the Germany presence in Gdansk Sopot and Gydnia.  This area was part of Germany after the first Division of Poland in the early 1700s

The Sopot area has a long history as a seaside resort for Europeans throughout the last 250 years

The  Grand Hotel, which faces the Sea, is the most historic resort in the city.  It boasts a long list of famous and infamous leaders and celebrities from countries throughout the world.



Monte Casino Street in SOPOT



Lisa on Monte Casino Street



Our Study Abroad - To the USA

Oh how time flies when you’re having fun. The last 5 months have been jam-packed with several important events and tremendous memories with family and friends back in the USA.

What started as a trip home to Charlotte for the holidays--Christmas and Lindsay's wedding--ended up with a temporary assignment for David working in Longview, Washington. With an opportunity to visit family members on the West Coast, we were excited to accept this assignment while waiting for the Poland work to begin again.



Lindsay and Diego on their Wedding Day

 What a beautiful day December 29^th was for our families as Lindsay and Diego were married in the Columbia South Carolina Temple.   It was great to get to know Diego’s family during their short visit from Bogota Colombia.   It was also a treat to spend some time with our family as they came to support Lindsay at her wedding. 



Jack and Melba Married 65 years

 “While David labored tirelessly, Lisa took every opportunity possible to see family and friends.” That was a direct quote from David. I flew to Salt Lake City and roadtripped to Grand Junction with sister, Cecily. We surprised my parents by showing up the Friday after their 65th wedding anniversary. Later that day Evelyn and Chris arrived with Robbie, so all five of their daughters were there to celebrate and spend the weekend with them. 

 

Meanwhile, David drove to Rexburg and picked up Adrienne for her break between semesters and they arrived Sunday afternoon. We love Grand Junction and explored Arches National Park thoroughly. The three-mile scenic hike to Delicate Arch (the one on the Utah license plates) was worth the effort.




Lisa after the Big Hike


 Did you know that in an early brochure of the park they mixed up the names of Delicate and Landscape arches with the pictures, then just decided to keep it that way? True story, or so we were told by our mountain biking guides. Yes, we went mountain biking with Adrienne, but forgot the camera so no evidence.



Adrienne at Grand Junction Hike


                                                                         


White Pass Ski Trip



We spent a wonderful and rare sunny day in March skiing at White Pass by Mount Rainier.   Other adventures included celebrating a few family birthdays with family and friends.  We visited several of our old congregations and got reacquainted with a number of friends.  How we loved visiting the coast with Lindsay and Diego during their spring break,  vacationing with Adrienne and seeing lots of Nate, Lauren , Aaron and grandson Logan!



David's Big Fish story with Duane and Roberta



Wonderful Times with Aaron, Lauren and Little Logan David



So fun to be with Lauren on her birthday and her first Mother's Day

       



Logan at the Tulip Festival

 



"Lewis the Duck" on the Road Again



Wonderful Gatherings at Tom and Pam's



Logan with Uncle Nate



Now that we’ve returned to Poland the months seem like they flew by fast. We certainly feel like we were blessed to have been in the Northwest long enough to feel like we truly know our little grandson and grown children better. Also, it was so nice to connect with friends, some we haven’t seen in years.









Zakopane Get-a-way

Located in the mountains in the far south of Poland is the wonderful little Alpine city of Zakopane.  People from throughout the region visit the lakes and mountain trails in the summer and flock to the Ski Lodges in the winter.  It has breath taking views and plenty of man-made diversions to keep the active tourist happily occupied. 

Note from Lisa:  David wrote the above, in case you don't recognize his voice.  Have to laugh at his comment about keeping the activte tourist happily occupied.  We were happily occupied, but not so active--I read "A Thousand Splended Suns" by the author who wrote "The Kite Runner." (loved it but cried a bit as well) and David read a Clive Cussler train story (very fitting) The Chase.  He tried to read aloud to me today, but I rebelled, threatening to grow chin hairs if he exposes me to those man books of his.

We managed to make the trip between the big Summer and Winter Seasons, however, since it was a National Holiday we shared the streets and venues with thousands of other visitors.   It was an impulsive trip and we were lucky to find accomodations the day before we left.   

We took the train south to Krakow but due to delays we missed the only connecting train to Zakopone.  Oops -- Krakow hotels were most likely full as well. What to do???  Our next option- Pay a taxi driver for the drive (130 kilometers) to Zakopane.  What a pleasent trip.  We acctually beat the scheduled train by an hour. 

Lisa:  In case you're wondering that taxi drive cost us roughly $120 US dollars, but still not a bad deal!

We checked into a historic hotel right in the heart of the city.


The view from our Hotel Window



Keeping Dry





An historic Chapel  (1400s)




An Artsy City




Hello, do you like my hat? Needed a warmer one, but noticed several glaring looks from teenage girls--what, not age appropriate? Ok, there's a pom pom on it and I'll give it to Adrienne.




The Tatra Mountains and a View of Zakopane from above




More of the Tatra Mountains




Skyping Adrienne, she said this hat makes me look like a Newsie.  Could it be that she wants two new hats to wear in Rexburg?   



All Saints Day

 As my son-in -law suggested, it could be true what he said about my being obsessed with Chopin!  At least his music--tak, to jest prawda!


So naturally when earlier today we went strolling through a large cemetery in Warsaw and happened upon his parents' graves, we were very excited!  Rodzice means parents and Chopina is possesive (Chopin's)


We are learning some helpful things in our Polish classes and will be sorry to have them end next month. Thanks to Rosetta Stone, we'll continue to use some study tools on our own, but will miss our weekly Polish lessons.

From googling Day of the Dead, Poland I found this link and synopsis of the holiday: http://polandpoland.com/allsaintsday.html  It's a pretty big deal here.  Attendance was down in church because of people putting candles on graves on Sunday.  Briefly, from the link, "All Saints’ Day is a festival which has been celebrated in Poland and the rest of the Catholic world for many centuries.
All Saints’ Day (Wszystkich Świętych), Poland - 1st November

All Souls' Day (Dzien Zaduszny or Zaduszki), Poland - 2nd November"

These pictures were taken in the morning before 10:00 a.m.  As the day progressed there were more people flocking to the cemeteries.

The colors on the trees in these pictures look as much (or more) like Spring as they do Fall, which seems appropriate in an eternal scheme, doesn't it? 

What a fun experience to walk through the decorated cemetery with temperatures in the 50's and later 60's!  Like many Polish holidays, most stores were closed but trams, buses and the subway were filled with Poles, many carrying flowers and candles.

It was especially fun for David to take a break from driving and walk, take a bus, tram and metro through some parts of the city.  Plus having lots of relaxation time on his day off was nice.  Most of Centrum was closed, except a few fast-food restaurants and the movie theater. 

Same cemetery, but notice the lack of leaves on the trees in this picture also taken today.
  
Interesting that All Saints Day is on Nov. 1, and All Souls Day Nov 2.  If we were going by the pictures, it would seem that there are two different realms as the two holidays suggest.

Although Halloween and All Saints Day have little in common, both were acknowledged by some,  particularly young people.  Halloween parties are increasingly popular and this year we saw a  large selection of costumes in the super grocery store, Carrefour. 

This is a picture of some of our Halloween dinner guests last night.  Not in costume, but it was a treat to have them over for dinner and pumpkin trifle.  It wouldn't seem like Halloween without cooking something with fresh pumpkin and giving "kids" some candy! We had them as well as three other "trick-or-treaters" who had to leave before we thought about taking a picture.