August 30, 2008 at 4:47 am (my life in france)
Tags: drive, river
Our trip home took us through the back roads crossing the Loire River and passing thru quaint old towns and visiting pre Roman Empire theatres. We stopped in Ponce, France to visit the glass blowing, pottery and leather shops and even purchased a sugar and creamer at a reasonable price at the pottery mill.
The drive home was again beautiful.
August 29, 2008 at 5:27 am (my life in france)
Tags: camping, cold, golf
Rick’s birthday. The week has been a relatively normal one – cold days, rain, some sunshine. Bible Study on Thursday was the best ever.
David played golf in the AM with Ray Beard and then we departed for camping in the Lorie Valley. Unusually cold night. 30 degrees F. We were cozy and warm throughout the night but as we broke ice off the tent the next morning we decided this wasn’t the ideal camping weather.
August 28, 2008 at 3:53 am (my life in france)
Tags: church, drive, paris
Drove back to Paris. Again, along back roads. We visited an old, old cathedral and abbey in the town of Verneuil Sur Aire, France, arriving home about 4PM. We attended the Living Word Church in Le Pecq that evening but decided it wasn’t the church for us.
August 25, 2008 at 6:09 am (my life in france)
Tags: camping, memorial, normandy
After a great breakfast we had to the Normandy area, Western Coast of France, to visit the U.S. Military cemetery at St. James, France. Approximately 4,000 are buried in this one from World War II – a beautiful memorial.
Farther toward the coast we go on lovely back roads. France being a very Catholic country, about every 5 miles on the side of the road we saw numerous crosses – sometimes with Christ on them and some very, very old. In the distance we see Mont St. Michel – a huge old, old monastery built on a tremendous mass of rock into the sea and high into the sky.
As we approach – it is just breathtaking! Again, so many pictures, we’re taking. It just stands out so beautifully. The tide comes in twice a day and surrounds it. Today the interior has 4 or 5 hotels – lots of shops, restaurants, an abbey, a cemetery – just a city in itself.
We drive up the coast to Cancale, France – a port city with seafood restaurants everywhere along the shoreline. Beautiful city. Back to the campground – cooked and ate before the rain came. Very hard rain in the night.
August 20, 2008 at 6:07 am (my life in france)
Tags: camping
Sun is shining and off we go. I even drove. An interesting practice here on “All Souls Day” – Nov. 2 – Chrysanthemums of all colors are brought by truck loads and placed on the graves everywhere, making for very colorful graveyards.
We find our campground at Fougeres, France. Very nice. The rain is coming though. We hurriedly set up our tent and eat dinner as the rain comes and goes.
August 19, 2008 at 5:58 am (my life in france)
Tags: drive, holiday, travel
David leaves early A.M. for London returning late night.
No Bible Study today as tomorrow is a holiday in France – “All Saints Day”. Today is Halloween but you wouldn’t know it here. The practice of Trick or Treating is not done here. There are no candy bags for sale, nor any costumes.
We have only seen one small specialty shop with a few decorations in the window. We had wondered how children would be able to trick or treat if it were a tradition here, as the access to apartment buildings and houses is only with a key thru common front doors, gates, etc.
Well, the car is packed. It’s 5PM. David was to leave the office at 1PM???. He didn’t make it. We’re driving to the Brittany area for this 3 day weekend. guess we’ll leave tomorrow as it’s getting dark.
August 18, 2008 at 5:24 am (my life in france)
Tags: church, driving, walking
David drove to Church for a second time. More cars on the road now but David did good. In the afternoon we walked the tails in the Forest of St. Germain in the midst of beautiful trees turning to their fall shades.
August 16, 2008 at 5:53 am (my life in france)
Tags: birthday, bryan, phone, rer, train
(Oct. 25) – Bryan’s birthday. We waited as late as we could to call, but about 10:30PM (4:30PM USA) we spoke to Bryan with lots of birthday wishes. We could have talked forever.
My first time at the wheel of our car. We decided to go and wash the car and I decided I could drive it. I’m not an expert yet but feel more comfortable about it. we attended a Halloween party with the Young Couples Group in downtown Paris.
We took the RER and Metro in full costume, managing to get looks, gestures and comments from several.
I tried my best to find a photo of the two of them on the train in their costumes but never found one. I will keep looking, can’t imaging what that looked like.
August 15, 2008 at 5:47 am (my life in france)
Tags: london, strike, train
David is off to London and I’m off to Bible Study – only one problem – giant rail strike. We leave early and David drives me to my study. A normal 10 minute drive took one hour and 10 minutes as everyone is driving today. The city is paralyzed, and as San Antonio is with an ice storm.
Some people just don’t even bother to go to work. David parks the car at the airport and boards the bus to the airport terminal. Suddenly the bus just stops along with all cars approaching the airport. The road is blocked by strikers and no one is getting thru. He has to walk about 2 miles carrying his heavy luggage but does make the flight in time.
August 14, 2008 at 5:21 am (my life in france)
Tags: friends, paris, work
David leaves the hotel for an early meeting at IBM and I enjoy a quick breakfast and proceed to catch the 8AM bus for the IBM facility to meet him. Only, it’s 7:50AM and the bus left at 7:45 AM. So, its taxi time and off I go with 3 other people from Israel who also intended to catch the 8AM bus.
During our 30 minute taxi ride, all three of them knew David, etc., etc. Small world. We drove back and arrived Paris about noon after yet another very enjoyable trip.
