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Honeymoon 1
Cairo Pyramids
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Notre Dame (again), A Bike Tour, The Eiffel Tower and Dinner
Our day started once more at Notre Dame. We were there to meet our bike tour group, but arrived early and walked through the gardens.
I have to say, our tours while in Paris were pretty great, this one included. It's cool to be able to hear stories that you wouldn't have otherwise. Also, it's a really great way to see the city, on bike. It's a pretty flat ride so it's easy and it totally saves your feet some walking (which was great for me because I had a huge blister on my toe from a sock incident the day before). Our guide's name was Pamela, she was a student from Chile and had been in Paris for a little over a year, I think. She was warm and laid back and Darin and I liked her instantly.
We wound our way through Paris looking at forgotten churches, memorials and anecdotal historical points. Did you know there is a cannon ball stuck in the side of a building from the french revolution. The only reason this building (which used to house aristocracy) was not torn down during the revolution was because the family had abandoned it years earlier and students had moved in. We also went to a place called Place des Vosges and I saw a restaurant that was so exclusive it only had topiaries to mark it's entrance. We chased down space invaders and learned that locks on a bridge are a symbol of undying love. We rode our bikes in the courtyard of the Louvre and saw an exterminator's shop made famous by the movie Ratatouille. It was a varied and interesting history of Paris.
After this amazing bike voyage, we decided that we could do this ourselves and take a ride down to the Eiffel Tower. In theory, this should have been very easy. Paris has a program where you can rent a bike for 1 Euro a day! Caveat to all Americans who also think this is an awesome idea. You have to have a chip on your credit card - which is apparently standard practice in Europe, but not here. So after much wailing and gnashing of teeth, we abandoned that idea.
We took a leisurely stroll to the tower, stopping on our way to see the prison where Marie Antoinette was held until her demise.
Did you know the Eiffel Tower is not silver? I don't know why I had this idea in my head, maybe it's because I had a lamp shaped like the tower as a kid and it was silver, but anyway - it's kind of brown. This really blew my mind. We got there too late to climb the steps and so bought an elevator ticket. It was pretty cool. Lots of great views. We met a Aussie while in line who was nice enough to take a photo of us together.
Another great day.
I have to say, our tours while in Paris were pretty great, this one included. It's cool to be able to hear stories that you wouldn't have otherwise. Also, it's a really great way to see the city, on bike. It's a pretty flat ride so it's easy and it totally saves your feet some walking (which was great for me because I had a huge blister on my toe from a sock incident the day before). Our guide's name was Pamela, she was a student from Chile and had been in Paris for a little over a year, I think. She was warm and laid back and Darin and I liked her instantly.
We wound our way through Paris looking at forgotten churches, memorials and anecdotal historical points. Did you know there is a cannon ball stuck in the side of a building from the french revolution. The only reason this building (which used to house aristocracy) was not torn down during the revolution was because the family had abandoned it years earlier and students had moved in. We also went to a place called Place des Vosges and I saw a restaurant that was so exclusive it only had topiaries to mark it's entrance. We chased down space invaders and learned that locks on a bridge are a symbol of undying love. We rode our bikes in the courtyard of the Louvre and saw an exterminator's shop made famous by the movie Ratatouille. It was a varied and interesting history of Paris.
After this amazing bike voyage, we decided that we could do this ourselves and take a ride down to the Eiffel Tower. In theory, this should have been very easy. Paris has a program where you can rent a bike for 1 Euro a day! Caveat to all Americans who also think this is an awesome idea. You have to have a chip on your credit card - which is apparently standard practice in Europe, but not here. So after much wailing and gnashing of teeth, we abandoned that idea.
We took a leisurely stroll to the tower, stopping on our way to see the prison where Marie Antoinette was held until her demise.
Did you know the Eiffel Tower is not silver? I don't know why I had this idea in my head, maybe it's because I had a lamp shaped like the tower as a kid and it was silver, but anyway - it's kind of brown. This really blew my mind. We got there too late to climb the steps and so bought an elevator ticket. It was pretty cool. Lots of great views. We met a Aussie while in line who was nice enough to take a photo of us together.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Notre Dame
We are always so excited to start our trips, we planned and packed for weeks. (Okay, Darin planned and I packed). This was my first trip to the city, Darin has been there before but of course not with best travel buddy so I think we both saw it with fresh eyes. We hit the ground running as soon as we landed. After a short nap we were off to Notre Dame. Little did we know Notre Dame would become a recurring theme in our trip. We just couldn't seem to get away from it! Look kids - Big Ben, Parliament.
On entering the sanctuary I was immediately impressed with the size and it was HUGE! The windows were beautiful. I think it would be really cool to go to a service there and hear how the prayers and music must echo off the walls. Of course we had to go to the top (Darin and I have a real penchant for tall buildings.)
As we climbed to the top the bells were ringing, giving a real sense of adventure to the whole thing. Once I stepped out onto the ledge and looked out over the city I got my first view of the Eiffel Tower. We were able to go even higher into the bell towers. I couldn't help but imagine what it must have been like for the people who used to run up those crickety little steps to ring those bells when it was first built.
Did you know that Notre Dame was saved during the French Revolution because of the story of the Hunch Back? At least that's what we were told and I choose to believe it.
Later that night we went on a dinner cruise and saw the city at night. Darin got some really cool pictures of the Eiffel Tower.
We ended the night tired and happy with a long walk back to the metro.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Sabotage
Last year Mal, my neighbor and I participated in a triathlon - only my neighbor did it this year.
Looking back, I should have never stopped the routine. I felt great. I felt like I was on top of the world. I felt like I was in a body that wasn't my own! I had tone, definition and a lovely flat tummy. I felt the exhilaration of runner's highs. Those days are gone ...
How I lament the excuses I have used in the past year, but I have felt the pain of buying new (larger) pants out of pity for my new un-lovely, un-flat tummy.
I have a goal to get back to tip-top shape by Christmas.
This is all the wonderful reasoning that I have used in the past couple of weeks. And then, I got hungry for a Culver's burger -it was delicious :)
Back on the wagon tomorrow!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
In the beginning ...
Our FIRST post. Thought we might start with a little background. My name is Steph, I'm married to Darin. If you ever expect to see him post anything on here, you might want to re-evaluate how well you actually know him. Although he is technically savvy he has a distinct aversion to any networking sites and/or blog sites.
Darin and I have been married for almost one year. So far, so good. It has been anything but a calm year, but we'll probably cover that in future posts.
In the beginning ... We met online. Yep, we are a product of Match.com. Correct, my networking site/blog site avoiding husband met his wife on a networking site. We will happily do an advertisement for them if asked. We went on a couple of dates before Darin decided I was a "player" and mysteriously disappeared. I'm a girl that knows what she wants and called after a couple of weeks to ask him on our third date.
Five years later, the rest is history ...
Darin and I have been married for almost one year. So far, so good. It has been anything but a calm year, but we'll probably cover that in future posts.
In the beginning ... We met online. Yep, we are a product of Match.com. Correct, my networking site/blog site avoiding husband met his wife on a networking site. We will happily do an advertisement for them if asked. We went on a couple of dates before Darin decided I was a "player" and mysteriously disappeared. I'm a girl that knows what she wants and called after a couple of weeks to ask him on our third date.
Five years later, the rest is history ...
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