Time in Paris

I have to start by saying that I have learned that even when you are willing to walk for hours every day, a week is not enough to see everything you want to in Paris. My brother spent two years in this area and provided me with an impressive list of must see attractions and and must try delicacies, sadly neither of which I was able to get through. Thanks to the impressive train system though we did manage to explore much of the city and were able to cross many items off our list.

Day one we spent learning to use the rail lines, visiting cathedrals, and seeing the city on foot. We found Sainte Chapelle quickly as it is right outside a metro station but were unable to get inside to see it, obviously under repair of some sort as the tower was embraced by scaffolding.

From here we set off in the direction of Notre Dame, sort of, and found ourselves walking along La Seine. The river walkway was lined with picnicking couples and groups enjoying wine on a sunny day. Admittedly we passed some clearly urine soaked underpasses but once back in the fresh air it would be hard not to enjoy people watching, passing boats and the surrounding view. As we came up from the waters edge we found the chain link fences covered in 'lovers locks'. Romantics come with marked locks and attach them to a vacant spot along the wall and hook theirs on and toss the key over into the river below symbolizing their undying connection. 

Still heading somewhat in the direction of the famous cathedral we found ourselves enjoying this area of the city. I was surprised to find that parking here was even tighter than in England with several instances of bumpers actually touching. I was tempted to sit and wait for someone to return to their car so I could witness first hand how one would get out of such a spot. We enjoyed some amazing architecture and the kids marvelled at the two story carousel.

Finally we made it to Notre Dame, difficult to get a good picture of but easy to stand in awe of. Outside the chapel is a set of permanent bleachers where hundreds of people can sit and observe the great building and listen to the bells when they ring. Out of respect for the religious nature of the interior and in some cases the services in progress you are asked to avoid taking photos inside. It is a shame though as the interiors are even more moving than outsides. It was hard not to think of the workman with their limited tools creating the massive structure.

Our last stop of the day was at Sacre Coeur, another beautiful cathedral right in Paris. I will say that I thought this was probably the most amazing building I saw, possibly on my whole trip. Set on hill, which we walked up many many sets of stairs to get to, it stands as a beacon that you can see for miles. Inside you can enjoy some of the most spectacular stain glass and woodwork, smaller than Notre Dame it still leaves a haunting memory that we all agreed was our favourite of the day.

 

The next day we headed to the Louvre, which was on my husbands must see list, however somewhat daunted by the immense line we opted to tour the inside another day. This left us wandering down the street, through an art filled park that eventually spit us out on the Champs-Elysees. We wandered down this famous street taking it all in before stopping for lunch.

After lunch, because we were so close we continued over to the Arc de Triumph. We braved the many stairs to get to the top and enjoyed a view of the city that was well worth the climb. We stopped and tried in our small way to honour the Grave of the Unknown Soldier while we were there and used this time to force a little history and learning on our kids.

From here we hopped back on the train and made a quick visit at La Defense, which truthfully I can't tell you anything about except that it's impressive to look at and on the list my brother gave me. Then our last stop of the day was at Palais Garnier, which I am told is the opera house that the Phantom is based on. I am also informed that it is a must see at Christmas when they show the Nutcracker but as I am unlikely to be back at that time of year I will have to be content for now with walking around the outside. We did a very inadequate tour of the Galeries Lafayette, which is like a very high end department store on crack. It has every insanely overpriced brand you can think of, with price points to match. Already well on it's way to being completely decked out for Christmas with the crowds to match it was a place I wish I hadn't been too tired to enjoy.

A relatively quite day in comparison, we spent the next day getting to the top of the Eiffel Tower where we enjoyed the most breathtaking view of the city and the most bracing winds. Once back on the ground and lunched we headed over to the Rodin Museum so that my son could see the famous 'Thinker', which he had been asking about since arriving in Paris. Due to the long lines and the time spent at each place we were surprised to find the whole day had passed just visiting these two landmarks.

Our last day actually spent exploring Paris we finally faced the crowds and visited the Lourve. Which although is filled with room after room of amazing talent was actually a bit overwhelming. We did manage to find the Mona Lisa and Venus De Milo, both which were impressive in their own way. I got elbowed and shoved and generally manhandled more in the few minutes I was near these art pieces than any other place I have visited likely. We couldn't leave Paris without tracking down a Grec as directed by both my brother and my bother in law so much of this afternoon was spent on the hunt for one that lived up to the hype. Not a meat eater myself I did not sample the famed sandwich but my husband practically purred when he finally found one.

Our last couple of days were spent shopping at the outlet centre near our hotel and taking the kids to Disneyland Paris. We spent Halloween night at the 'party' the park puts on for the holiday and we enjoyed the decorations, the costumes, and the Halloween themed parades. Friday was to be our full day in the parks and we woke to find it pouring rain and wind whipping around in a frenzy. Already paid for though, we faced the weather and spent most of the day trying to find rides and shows that would take us inside, but I think I have only now properly warmed up and dried out.

   

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

When I was living in Canada I often caught myself looking up the planes as they passed overhead. I would imagine where they were going or where they were coming from and dream about travelling to that place. When I was in Edmonton we lived very near an airport and so this tradition could occur several times a day depending on my schedule. The other night my husband and I were travelling home from Bicester (which deserves a blog all of it's own. Ladies the Best shopping area there is) I noticed in the dark night skies the familiar lights of a plane flying over us and speculated that it was likely heading into the Bristol airport which was the closest to where we were. As I watched it until it left my line of sight I realized that I had not thought about where it might of been nor had I got the somewhat wistful ache of wishing I had been there. More surprising still was the fact that I hadn't done that even once since we landed in this country. Now that could simply be because any airport is nearly an hour drive away from us and so planes just don't fly over me as much, but maybe this hopeless wanderer has met her match. Perhaps I have gone an adventure big enough that, at least for the time being, I don't need another one. What I truly hope is that I was learned to love the sky I'm under, which I think would show a great deal of maturity.

On the other hand, maybe the medium of travel is in fact the only thing that has really changed. True I no longer look to the skies but if I am going to be totally honest every time I see one of the many trains they have here racing across the country side I mentally run through all the places I know that they can take me. It is not uncommon in those moments for me to think to myself 'I should run into Bath tomorrow' or 'If I leave right after I get the kids off to school I could spend the day in London' and 'I think it takes less time on the train to get to Cardiff than to drive'. So maybe I haven't learned total maturity yet, but at least these adventures are far more cost effective, that's something right?

Actually, probably not, because we all know that the cheapest mode of travel would likely be by car. Sadly I still have yet to drive here. I know that at this point I have simply built it up in my head to a deranged phobia but I find it terrifying to get behind the wheel and drive on the wrong side of the car on the wrong side of the road. Even more than driving on the foolishly narrow roads with strangely high speed limits is parking on those same roads. What you need to understand is that this county holds more population than Canada and could fit into that great country something like forty times. That is a lot of cars to park in not very much space. So I have not really matured, I still dream of the places I have yet to explore, or want to explore again, and I will probably not do said exploring in the cheapest way possible, but I don't wonder where those planes are headed.

Doctor Who?

I live with two, well three really, intense Doctor Who fans, I mean they are proper Whovians. Based off the title of any given episode they will very likely be able to give you a thorough run down of the entire hour in minute detail. My daughter is anxious to visit any venue where dressing like a companion or gender swap doctor would be totally appropriate. My son can't walk by any Doctor Who paraphernalia without stopping to check out the offering and every time one of their new magazines reaches stands he points out he hasn't got that one. Although my husband may be slightly more tame in his enthusiasm he also has favourite episodes and is often trying to put them on to help me see the true genius behind the show. As unconvinced as I have so far been I too am beginning to learn the lingo and know the actors who have played the Doctors and even most of the companions names. Despite not jumping on board this particular train I had no doubt that the perfect gift to give my son for his birthday was a trip to a museum focused solely on this British program.

His response to getting tickets to the 'Doctor Who Experience' was exactly what I had hoped for, and I am not convinced that my daughter and husband weren't equally excited. I admit that if someone hadn't mentioned to me long ago that such a place existed I am not sure I would have believed it. How could there be enough fans of this show to justify an entire museum dedicated to it?  

Once you enter the doors however you realize very quickly to subdue any derogatory comments you may have been inclined to express. Inside these walls he is a hero, he is beloved, he is an icon. Interestingly enough The Doctor also seems to appeal to the widest range of individuals you can imagine, from small children who are in terror of Daleks, to teenagers who come fully decked out in costume, to a much older crowd who may have been watching since it's original air date. Yes here, I was the outsider.

I can say that I couldn't help but be impressed by the immense detail that goes into creating all the sets and costumes, many of the actual props and clothing being stored in this Experience. If the presence of staff hadn't been so obvious I may have been tempted to pick them up for closer inspection or try on some of the fine garments that hung around the place.

With insights into how things were built and filmed, and characters in the show placed all around you it was hard not to get caught up a little in the mania that this program seems to instil in people.

If we are going to be totally honest I did not leave the museum a changed women, I did not rush home to watch Doctor Who. I have had moments of regret at taking them when I have to listen to the entire experience retold in a detail that would imply that I hadn't been there myself. I can say though that I learned to respect the show runners, I stand in new awe of the foresight that goes into constructing their sets and the craftsmanship that goes into every detail on the show. Is it cheesy, absolutely, but it has become beloved by millions through several generations so who am I to say anything. It was a cool place to see, I may even be willing to go again, enough said. 

Autumn

I love summer time, I love the heat and playing in the water, long walks on the beach, days in the park, I just love it all. I could quite comfortably say that summer is my favourite time of year, I dread cold and live for when it starts to heat up again. I can also state emphatically that winter is my least favourite and it is only the hope of the warmer months that gets me through those cold dreary months. Having said that, there is something about autumn that makes the dip in temperature worth it.

I do love reaching into the closet and pulling out the knit sweaters, the array of colours the trees show off during the season and the sound of crunching leaves under your feet. I felt for the last several years that fall was far too short, certainly disproportionate to the unfair length of winter. In fact I had started to feel like we only enjoyed a couple of days of leaf changing fall time before they were all on the ground, and the day after that covered in snow. Perhaps an unjust description but I desired far more autumn than I got, so I was happy to arrive in a place where I am told that it can last weeks and weeks. Helped I suppose by the fact that they don't really get winter, at least not the way I am used to.

I have been marvelling at the changing season for a couple weeks now, continuing my daily walks despite the locals insisting that it is so chilly out. I have happily watched as the leaves have slowly converted to vibrant yellow, orange and red shades and then hang onto to the trees long enough to be enjoyed in their splendour. 

Hoping that the kids would revel in a little fall learning we went back to Coate Water Park on Saturday to play in the outdoors. I felt that walking with a nip on our cheeks, the sound of rustling turning leaves, and crunching beneath our feet couldn't help but lift our spirits and  remind us how lucky we are to live here. Admittedly I probably should have ended the adventure before I did but for the most part they were good sports even allowing me to take pictures of them playing with the foliage.

So I might be a convert, still not a winter person, of this I am sure, but maybe, just maybe autumn is in fact my favourite season, and as there are still many leaves of all different colours hanging onto the trees I am hopeful I still have much more to enjoy.

A word about Priorities

As you know we went on a couple very exciting holidays this summer. These trips required preparation in many ways, cleaning, laundering, and packing. In the final moments of getting ready for our  journey to Scotland, after checking the weather for the last time and deciding that we needed to be brisk weather ready, I collected the necessary items from the kids rooms. Imagine my surprise when I reached into my daughters drawer and pulled out three pairs of socks, that's it, three pairs was the entirety of her sock ownership. As we were going away for much more than three days, you can appreciate my annoyance at the lack of mention of the sock situation. She has had no problem asking for plenty of  "needs" since being here, including, I might mention, at least three pairs of boots. One would wonder in retrospect what she planned to wear in all these new pairs of footwear. Clearly it was time for me to give a lecture about priorities.

Of course this led to me organizing my thoughts on the subject and taking a good hard look at my priorities right at the moment. Admittedly I acknowledge that priorities can change, circumstances will affect what we value as the most important, and that's probably healthy. I will be honest though, as I evaluated my own "needs" currently some of the steam went out of my teaching opportunity with my daughter. We moved into the most woefully furnished flat I could imagine, so many of my past couldn't live with outs absent. These missing items are even more obvious as we now prepare to move into an unfurnished place. The list of furnishings and appliances grows longer and longer everyday and yet the few times we have entered a store that could help with this I have left empty handed or worse with decorative items that in a few weeks I may be without a surface to put them on.

My kitchen is lacking in so many things that I have been used to having, aprons, tupperware, cheese cutters, and a rolling pins to name just a few and yet what I feel most sad not to have is fresh flowers sitting on the small window ledge in the kitchen.

Before we can move into the new place we need a microwave, vacuum, beds and as this is my computer desk. my husband certainly argues that we could count that as a must have.

Despite this my latest purchase was not something for the house it was to book another trip. So okay daughter I have not been setting the best example. Perhaps somewhere between Canada and England something happened to my own priorities but I stand behind this, no more new boots until you have socks to wear in them.

Cirencester

Last weekend we finally made the trip to Cirencester, a small town set in the English Cotswolds. It was apparently once second only to London in importance to Roman Britain. Admittedly we had been told many times that it was a place that we should visit, full of charm and beauty, and surprisingly only about twenty five minutes from our home in Swindon. Knowing that it was so close and therefore within reach of almost any day to go and see is perhaps the very reason why it took us so long to visit. However just a few short minutes walking it's streets almost convinced me that I could live in a much smaller city happily, and even the kids briefly considered switching schools again to take up abode there.

It is called the Capital of the Cotswolds however most people will describe it as a Roman built city down the road. It is full of Roman architecture and wonderful amounts of history. Right in the middle of town centre is a beautiful church that stands above the other buildings and always gives you a marker as a directional guide.

Located just on the edge of the shopping core of the town is a large park with what appears to be miles of paved tree lined walking paths. I find with these types of trails I am guilty of always wanting to make it to the next crest and then the next just in case the most amazing discovery is just past it. Sometimes you find treasures you would have missed if you had turned back sooner and sometimes you find more path stretching on in front of you. Although we found one or two hidden gems mostly what we found was the latter and sadly my children lost interest in the quest long before I might have. Perhaps I will have to return on my own one day so I can explore the trail until it's conclusion and find all that the park has to offer.

When visiting the tourist information page for Cirencester it boasts of an amazing shopping district with all the major department stores, which as a Canadian are still not familiar, along with a range of funky unique shops that one should stop in at. Truthfully I would say honestly this is not the city I would visit to do my shopping at, not with London, Bath, Bristol so close and offering so much larger selection. However we did find winding streets oozing with charm, and one or two stores that were quite easy to fall in love with. Notably, my son found a cosy toy shop filled with enough lego to satisfy even his desire, my daughter gazed dreamily in the window of the chocolate store, appropriately named Lick the Spoon, and I found one filled with ocean inspired house wares that gave me the wish to move into. 

Despite the fact that common sense caught up with us all and we realized in reality we wouldn't really want to live there I will say that I am sorry that it took us so long to enjoy what Cirencester has to give. It being such a convenient distance does mean we will likely haunt it's streets and parks again and by so doing find more that is noteworthy. Even if there is nothing left to uncover the things we already found are enough  for me to enjoy more than one visit there and to tell others to do the same.

  

Metropolitian Holiday

This past Monday was a bank holiday here in the UK and we decided to spend it in London. Opting to get a hotel, and theatre tickets we spent our time not exploring the history of the city but instead feeding our more trivial side. We arrived by train Friday afternoon and found our way to our hotel. Dinner at an Indian restaurant across the street and then Wicked at the Apollo. My Husband and I had seen this one before but this was the first time for our children and we were anxious for them to experience it. Watching my son perched on the edge of his seat and my daughter hanging on every word made every cent worth it.

The next day we spent most of shopping and learning the London underground in an effort to avoid using taxis, which we learned pretty quickly is not the cheap way to get around the city and certainly not the fastest. We each got some new items to bring home and loaded ourselves with bags from many stores not found in Canada. However the highlight of that day for me was definitely the play my husband took me to that night. Ditching the kids in the hotel with dinner, snacks and movie we headed off to watch Les Mis. Those who know me will appreciate how exciting this was. I loved Wicked, Phantom is amazing, really I am sure I would enjoy any theatre experience I have but Les Mis is something more. The curtain rising and the first few bars of music will quite literally bring me to tears, however I know that I was not the only one there in that state which helped ease any embarrassment I may have felt. Every minute of it was moving and profound for me, I anticipate I will attend this particular musical when ever the opportunity arises. 

The remainder of our time in the city was spent checking out landmarks of a sort. The kind that made us happy even if we weren't moved or educated. Our hotel was within a ten minute walk of the famous Abbey Road Recording studio and for a Beatles fan this was a pretty thrilling place to stop outside of. The walls and gate outside the studio are covered in messages from thousands of like minded fans leaving their thoughts on the iconic band. We saw the cross walk where the well known album cover was shot and witnessed the near hitting of several devoted people attempting to duplicate it by locals who are perhaps over the fetish. I couldn't help feel that the lack of enthusiasm  displayed by my own children reflected badly on the musical education I have contributed to their life.

It seemed only fair that after visiting a place that seem to impress only myself and my husband that we search out some that would get the kids excited. Happily that lead us straight to 221B Baker street to visit Sherlock Holmes. Believe it or not both my kids excitedly danced about and patiently waited to have a photo taken with his well know cap and pipe.

One of my sons requested stops was at Big Ben, I think on his radar because it showed up on Doctor Who of which he is a huge fan. Not one to quench a desire to see the more informative sites, we hopped on the train and headed over there. By way of information of those not familiar with London that is also the stop for the London Eye and Westminster Abbey. The London Eye looks as cool in person as it looks in all the movies and television shows that it shows up in. I am sure that the low point of my daughters trip was when told her we just didn't have time to wait in line for the trip around it. 

In order to lift her broken spirits we took her to the one place bound to put a smile back on her face, platform 9 3/4 of Kings Cross train station. In a true marketing genius kind of way they have built a trolley right into the wall and marked it clearly as the correct platform where they have photographers waiting to take your picture pushing the luggage through the wall. Once again more than willing to wait in the line to have their turn to sport a house scarf and have a run a the wall, my kids waited patiently in line while I waited somewhat less patiently in the crush of parents with their own cameras ready. Once your photo is taken they send you around a slight corner to the Harry Potter store to pick up your picture, a new wand and a back to school house jumper.

While out shopping my son begged and begged to visit the M&M store that is located in London, and after a few mis-turns and many minutes walk in the rain we finally found it. Having visited the one in Vegas also I should have already known this, but managed to forget until bombarded with it again, I do not like the M&M store. Floor after floor of all things M&M leaves me less than impressed. Despite my sons love of every ounce of M&M paraphernalia I feel confident in saying I don't need any of that in my house. In fact other the candy itself I can see no draw to fighting the massive crowds and confusion to go in there. I have been told that there is a store in Paris also and as the suggestion to visit it has already been uttered I imagine that despite my protestations I will find myself in another one of these stores again.

 I fell more and more in love with London the longer we spent there. The list of places we want to see doesn't seem to be shrinking, in fact I think we add new ones each time we talk to a local. It is full of historical treasures and more modern entertainment and all of it is captivating and beautiful to me.