After a quiet night in Sacramento on Saturday, I caught a plane to LA the next day. I spent a pleasant afternoon in Santa Monica. I went to a seafood restaurant for dinner and the first item on the specials board was barramundi from Queensland. Needless to say, I chose something else. The next morning I found a cafe that sold real food and had a very nice omelette that was made from real eggs and mushrooms and spinach that I could recognise and taste. I pottered along the pier, walked along the waterfront etc. Quite relaxing.
The 2 flights to get home were unremarkable. Noel delivered me to my lovely sunny apartment. Now to washing, paying bills etc etc.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Road trip 3. 4 states in 1 morning.
On Wednesday the troops arrived back in the evening tired but happy after walking through the river up a canyon for a long way. For some of the return they apparently floated down the river.
On Thur we breakfasted ( I use the term ' breakfast ' loosely. It seems impossible in Holiday Inns to get anything real that has no gluten or sugar. There are lots of pastry things, sometimes some scrambled egg stuff that tastes funny. Wendy says it's made from powdered eggs. There is sometimes little omelette things with a few bits of what maybe vegetables. Filling enough for me. For a change from their normal healthy regime the kids are allowed free rein , so they are happy.) Back to where I was, in SW Utah in a little corner of the USA where several states meet. We drove through the NW corner of Arizona into the SW corner of Nevada and then into California. In the car we had salad stuff for lunch ( a normal practise, bought from Walmart at a reasonable price) but the 2 roadside rest areas we passed were both closed so we stopped at a funny little town. We could not find a park for thE kids to run in. Outside the temperature was a searing 116 degrees F, 45 C. So we had to resort to a peculiar Greek restaurant. Salad for dinner in Visalia.
On Friday we drove into the Sequoia National Park to see the giant sequoias. We went on several short walks, wandered through pine forests with these huge trees, and through lovely meadows. We saw the tree which is reputed to be the biggest tree in the world by volume.
We drove from there to Fresno where we had a very late lunch / early dinner. It was Tahli's 7th birthday . She chose a Japanese Tepanyaki place which was very good. The chef put on an excellent show . One of Tahlis sisters told him it was Tahlis birthday and he made a big fuss of her. The food was excellent. We spent the night in Marioposa, one of the gateway towns to Yosemite. We decided on the way to give Yosemite a miss- too crowded and we had seen some wonderful places and didnot want to rush, wait in a long queue to get in etc etc. The drive to Mariposa was quiet, rural, very pleasant landforms similar to Australia, but with different trees. Mariposa was a nice little town, busy when we arrived in the evening, but completely dead at 9.30 when wendy and I went for a look in a few shops. Only 1 was open. EveryOne else was in the queues in Yosemite.
Saturday we drove to Sacramento and had lunch in an interetsing old warehouse area which looks like it is regenerating. Wendy and Co dropped me at a hotel near the airport and drove onto Lake Tahoe where they were meeting Lachs sister and her family for another 2 weeks of road trip.
On Thur we breakfasted ( I use the term ' breakfast ' loosely. It seems impossible in Holiday Inns to get anything real that has no gluten or sugar. There are lots of pastry things, sometimes some scrambled egg stuff that tastes funny. Wendy says it's made from powdered eggs. There is sometimes little omelette things with a few bits of what maybe vegetables. Filling enough for me. For a change from their normal healthy regime the kids are allowed free rein , so they are happy.) Back to where I was, in SW Utah in a little corner of the USA where several states meet. We drove through the NW corner of Arizona into the SW corner of Nevada and then into California. In the car we had salad stuff for lunch ( a normal practise, bought from Walmart at a reasonable price) but the 2 roadside rest areas we passed were both closed so we stopped at a funny little town. We could not find a park for thE kids to run in. Outside the temperature was a searing 116 degrees F, 45 C. So we had to resort to a peculiar Greek restaurant. Salad for dinner in Visalia.
On Friday we drove into the Sequoia National Park to see the giant sequoias. We went on several short walks, wandered through pine forests with these huge trees, and through lovely meadows. We saw the tree which is reputed to be the biggest tree in the world by volume.
We drove from there to Fresno where we had a very late lunch / early dinner. It was Tahli's 7th birthday . She chose a Japanese Tepanyaki place which was very good. The chef put on an excellent show . One of Tahlis sisters told him it was Tahlis birthday and he made a big fuss of her. The food was excellent. We spent the night in Marioposa, one of the gateway towns to Yosemite. We decided on the way to give Yosemite a miss- too crowded and we had seen some wonderful places and didnot want to rush, wait in a long queue to get in etc etc. The drive to Mariposa was quiet, rural, very pleasant landforms similar to Australia, but with different trees. Mariposa was a nice little town, busy when we arrived in the evening, but completely dead at 9.30 when wendy and I went for a look in a few shops. Only 1 was open. EveryOne else was in the queues in Yosemite.
Saturday we drove to Sacramento and had lunch in an interetsing old warehouse area which looks like it is regenerating. Wendy and Co dropped me at a hotel near the airport and drove onto Lake Tahoe where they were meeting Lachs sister and her family for another 2 weeks of road trip.
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Road trip 2. 4 states in 4 days
On Sunday, after breakfast in the NW of Texas we drove into New Mexico, kept going through New Mexico and stopped for the night in Gallup in the west. On Monday morning we passed into Arizona and spent some time in the interesting Petrified forest and painted desert national park. Weird moonscape sort of landscapes. More driving and we got to Tusayan, the nearest town to the Grand Canyon for the night.
Tuesday morning we spent wandering around the southern rim looking down into the amazing Canyon. So many amazing views of different colours and shapes. Late lunch in the car, more driving and we got here, Springdale, Utah, the nearest town to Zion National Park in the evening.
This morning, Wednesday, after a late start ( what a suprise, everyone was quite tired) we went for a walk in the Canyon in the SE of the Zion NationalPark. Again, amazing but in a far more personal way. We walked along the edge of the small river that runs through the Canyon with high high walls either side. I left the others to continue on the walk up the river and came back to the hotel to catch up on a few things. So, maybe more details later on the wonderful places I have seen. Maybe not.
Tuesday morning we spent wandering around the southern rim looking down into the amazing Canyon. So many amazing views of different colours and shapes. Late lunch in the car, more driving and we got here, Springdale, Utah, the nearest town to Zion National Park in the evening.
This morning, Wednesday, after a late start ( what a suprise, everyone was quite tired) we went for a walk in the Canyon in the SE of the Zion NationalPark. Again, amazing but in a far more personal way. We walked along the edge of the small river that runs through the Canyon with high high walls either side. I left the others to continue on the walk up the river and came back to the hotel to catch up on a few things. So, maybe more details later on the wonderful places I have seen. Maybe not.
Sunday, July 2, 2017
Road trip. Mostly Oklahoma
On Friday I spent the day pottering with Wendy as she raced around doing jobs.
On Saturday morning we all left their home to travel West. They have a 7 seater car . At first , while we were still in the Orzarks, it was a bit hilly and very dense scrub, but then it was flat for the rest of the day. Miles and miles of crops, some black Angus. We went through Oklahoma, had dinner in a little town just East of the border with Texas , and soon we will set off again after spending the night just in Texas. Wendy and Lach share the driving, I sit, look and relax.
On Saturday morning we all left their home to travel West. They have a 7 seater car . At first , while we were still in the Orzarks, it was a bit hilly and very dense scrub, but then it was flat for the rest of the day. Miles and miles of crops, some black Angus. We went through Oklahoma, had dinner in a little town just East of the border with Texas , and soon we will set off again after spending the night just in Texas. Wendy and Lach share the driving, I sit, look and relax.
Friday, June 30, 2017
Thursday. Chicago to Fort Leonard Wood
Wendy seems to have mastered driving on the wrong side of the road, driving in big cities with much visual 'noise', driving on big crowded freeways with huge trucks and drivers who seem to change lanes much more suddenly than I am used to, and all this with 4 kids in the back who are not always quietly sitting still. We left at 10 am and arrived here at 7.30pm. Lots of driving. Stops limited to essential ones.
The countryside was interesting. Lots of very flat farmland, advertising signs that I had no idea what they were advertising, many many shops selling farm machinery with all the wares lined up neatly . Every few miles there was a big motel or 3 , making you realise what a large population there is.
The countryside was interesting. Lots of very flat farmland, advertising signs that I had no idea what they were advertising, many many shops selling farm machinery with all the wares lined up neatly . Every few miles there was a big motel or 3 , making you realise what a large population there is.
Chicago on Wed
On holidays Wendy's kids seem to go to bed late, get up late and then walk miles and miles in the day. Yesterday we had brunch at some diner that has been a Chicago institution for a long time. Then an interesting day at the art Institute. There is a kids area where they use an interactive program to answer some questions and they end up with a list of 5 art works to view. The 3 eldest did this and then we set off backwards and forwards looking for the 15 different things. Wendy tagged along with Estelle.
Then to some iconic popcorn place. We sat eating popcorn on a wall looking at 'Chagall's Four Seasons, a large mosaic mural on another wall.
In the evening we went to a pizza place for some Chicago style pizza. Looks more the shape of quiche but the pastry is pizza dough and the filling is pizza filling not egg.
Then to some iconic popcorn place. We sat eating popcorn on a wall looking at 'Chagall's Four Seasons, a large mosaic mural on another wall.
In the evening we went to a pizza place for some Chicago style pizza. Looks more the shape of quiche but the pastry is pizza dough and the filling is pizza filling not egg.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Chicago and grandaughters
Tuesday was a lovely day. After a slowish start that included wendy sorting out parking and me trying to sort out transport tickets on a machine that needed a US zip code to use a credit card and would not give change of notes, we set off for a place to eat at called Little Goat. This involved lots of walking. For quite a while I was walking with the older 3 playing a game called 'opposites'. Everything you did and said had to be opposite to the truth. I discovered it is very difficult to march along the street saying ' left, left, left , right, left' using the opposite foot. They seemed amused. Later in the day we pretended to ride out trusty steeds as we galloped along the pathway.
Little Goat was like a modern diner in style with modern diner food. Very interesting, very crowded with all sorts of people, very noisy. I had a modern version of a reuben sandwich with a huge amount of corned beef and lots of fermented veg on gluten free bread. The kids all got crayons and an activity sheet. Twice now I have seen the younger 3 get brought a plastic kids cup of water and Isla, who is almost as tall as me, gets the same as me and wendy.
Next we went on a 90 minute boat trip of the Chicago river. The commentary was excellent. All about the different architectural styles, history and assorted titbits.
Navy pier was next. A sort of amusement park. We wandered around, had a ride on a huge ferris wheel, then sat down for an early dinner of frozen margaritas for me and wendy, and nachos and salad for everyone.
Little Goat was like a modern diner in style with modern diner food. Very interesting, very crowded with all sorts of people, very noisy. I had a modern version of a reuben sandwich with a huge amount of corned beef and lots of fermented veg on gluten free bread. The kids all got crayons and an activity sheet. Twice now I have seen the younger 3 get brought a plastic kids cup of water and Isla, who is almost as tall as me, gets the same as me and wendy.
Next we went on a 90 minute boat trip of the Chicago river. The commentary was excellent. All about the different architectural styles, history and assorted titbits.
Navy pier was next. A sort of amusement park. We wandered around, had a ride on a huge ferris wheel, then sat down for an early dinner of frozen margaritas for me and wendy, and nachos and salad for everyone.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Monday in chicago
Several hours at Art Institute looking at a small part of a very very large collection on display.
I moved from my hotel to a different one and Wendy, I, L, T and E arrived safely soon after. Lots of delight.
We had dinner and wandered till everyone was exhausted. Good sleep. Off to see more shortly.
I moved from my hotel to a different one and Wendy, I, L, T and E arrived safely soon after. Lots of delight.
We had dinner and wandered till everyone was exhausted. Good sleep. Off to see more shortly.
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Pottering in Chicago
Firstly, I forgot a couple of odd things about this room. Above the bathroom sink ther are mirrors on 3 sides of the walls. I can see lots and lots of me, about 12 if I turn my head left and 12 to the right. The place of the toilet roll holder was decided by a contortionist.
I found a nearby place to have an omelette this morning. I pottered around the streets. A real mix of utilitarian old buildings, fancy old buildings and modern buildings. Chicago is a windy city and the wind was certainly whistling down the roads between the skyscrapers this morning. There are some overground railway lines that are a bit off putting. Well, it put me off, walking under a metal contraption not far overhead and a train comes along. It sounds like it is 2 inches above my head. They was also another very loud continuous noise. I appeared to be the only who thought a huge spaceship was landing or something. Turns out it was a hovering helicopter shifting a large steel beam in a building site. The noise was amplified in the wind tunnels.
Chicago is also known for its street art / statues and I wandered around finding some of them. I spent quite some time this afternoon catching up on photos and emails, but not as many as I would have liked. I found a place in the afternoon that had decent coffee.
Tomorrow afternoon Wendy and her 4 arrive. I am looking forward to seeing them .
I found a nearby place to have an omelette this morning. I pottered around the streets. A real mix of utilitarian old buildings, fancy old buildings and modern buildings. Chicago is a windy city and the wind was certainly whistling down the roads between the skyscrapers this morning. There are some overground railway lines that are a bit off putting. Well, it put me off, walking under a metal contraption not far overhead and a train comes along. It sounds like it is 2 inches above my head. They was also another very loud continuous noise. I appeared to be the only who thought a huge spaceship was landing or something. Turns out it was a hovering helicopter shifting a large steel beam in a building site. The noise was amplified in the wind tunnels.
Chicago is also known for its street art / statues and I wandered around finding some of them. I spent quite some time this afternoon catching up on photos and emails, but not as many as I would have liked. I found a place in the afternoon that had decent coffee.
Tomorrow afternoon Wendy and her 4 arrive. I am looking forward to seeing them .
Assorted extras that I may want to remember
On the boat one night I had strips of julienned salsify mixed in with another vegetable.
The ginette, a small nocturnal fox , is the fauna emblem of the Ardeche region.
Cevelle de canut is a Lyonnaise term for a particular type of softish cheese. Literally brains of canut, a derogatory term for the silk weavers.
Souris d'agneau, literally mouse of lamb is a lamb shank
In the parts of France we have been to, in lifts and buildings the ground floor is labelled r c. The French term for the ground floor is rez de chausee, pronounced in one quick go as rechausay ( or something like that). It took me several days of thinking 'rue something' till it clicked.
The ginette, a small nocturnal fox , is the fauna emblem of the Ardeche region.
Cevelle de canut is a Lyonnaise term for a particular type of softish cheese. Literally brains of canut, a derogatory term for the silk weavers.
Souris d'agneau, literally mouse of lamb is a lamb shank
In the parts of France we have been to, in lifts and buildings the ground floor is labelled r c. The French term for the ground floor is rez de chausee, pronounced in one quick go as rechausay ( or something like that). It took me several days of thinking 'rue something' till it clicked.
Saturday. London to Chicago
A day of travel. Uber to London airport, uneventful flight to Frankfurt, left Noel in Frankfurt airport, uneventful flight to Chicago, uber to hotel.
I have only stayed in apartments on my previous trips to US, never hotels, so I donot know what is standard. This hotel, the cheapest I could find within walking distance of major sights is odd. Huge, old, sort of done up. Really old airconditioner that made the room too noisy and too cold, so with some difficulty, I turned it off. I could not change the temperature, the dial was rusted and impossible to read. There are no tea making facilities, but I can make myself a pot of filtered coffee, if I am prepared to put up with a powdered milk ( and I think sugar) concoction. I am not.
The bathroom is partly new, but not the shower control which only seems to have 3 settings- hot, medium and cold. The bed was comfy though.
I have only stayed in apartments on my previous trips to US, never hotels, so I donot know what is standard. This hotel, the cheapest I could find within walking distance of major sights is odd. Huge, old, sort of done up. Really old airconditioner that made the room too noisy and too cold, so with some difficulty, I turned it off. I could not change the temperature, the dial was rusted and impossible to read. There are no tea making facilities, but I can make myself a pot of filtered coffee, if I am prepared to put up with a powdered milk ( and I think sugar) concoction. I am not.
The bathroom is partly new, but not the shower control which only seems to have 3 settings- hot, medium and cold. The bed was comfy though.
Friday, June 23, 2017
Wed Thur, Fri National Gallery, Kings Langley, Regents Park
On Wednesday we spent most of the morning in the Natonal Gallery, then went to a choral eucharistic in St Martin in the Fields. The church is quite small and has a comfortable feel. The 8 choral scholars were outstanding . The lovely sounds sort of enveloped us. In the evening we had a lovely dinner with Noel's daughter and her partner.
It has been very hot in London - low to mid 30's. Apparently a few days ago was the hottest day since 1976, when I was also in London. Buildings do not cope well, nor do the trains and certainly the people donot. We had difficulty not laughing out loud when we heard an announcement in a tube station to remember to drink and to take off excess clothing.
On Thursday we visited friends of Noels of very long standing. We had lovely day with them, driving round the villages near them, a lovely lunch in a pub, and just catching up.
Today, Friday, is our last day in London. Neither of us wanted to use our brains , nor stay in our apartment all day. We caught a bus ( and yes, we got to sit in the front of the top of one of the new hybrid double decker busses) to Regents Park and spent a lovely morning wandering around . There we lots of baby ducks, baby swans and baby geese accompanied by at least one parent. We shared a salad sitting in the shade and caught the bus back. Dinner tonight at a local pub.
Tomorrow Noel flies home and I fly to Chicago.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Tuesday Royal Albert Hall
This morning we caught a bus to the Royal Albert Hall and went on a tour. Again, the only way, other than going to a show, you can get in. Once again, it was very interesting for lots of reasons - the history behind the financing and design, the ingenious design of the roof which was quite revolutionary for the time and the sheer oppulance of the space. We walked in and smiled. I had no idea that apart from concerts they have tennis matches, fancy dinners, ice skating competitions, etc etc. The whole stage area and first 6 rows of seats were designed to be flexible, back 150 years ago. We sat for a while in the box next to the royal box, then went up and got a completely different view from seats just below the top standing room gallery. We prefer the box. To finance the building, , Prince Albert's colaborator Henry Cole (who did the work) came up with the bright idea of selling seats to the as yet unbuilt building for a lease of 900 years. Wifey, VR, bought the first lot, then more were sold, enough to build the building.
After a coffee we went for a wander in Kensington Gardens. Back to our apartment for a late lunch . Noel's daughter came for a while then I wandered the back streets and shops of Chelsea for a few hours. I splurged on some fancy takeaway food for dinner, accompanied by a cheap bottle of red from Sainsburys over the road , from Spain.
After a coffee we went for a wander in Kensington Gardens. Back to our apartment for a late lunch . Noel's daughter came for a while then I wandered the back streets and shops of Chelsea for a few hours. I splurged on some fancy takeaway food for dinner, accompanied by a cheap bottle of red from Sainsburys over the road , from Spain.
Monday - St Pauls and the Globe
After a coffee in the crypt we sat down with our audio guide. It was the most detailed guide I have ever used- an easy to use menu system with a whole lot of little video clips about different parts of the building and different aspects of the churchs work and life. Amongst other things I learnt that the current building is the 5th church on the site, it is the only baroque church in England with a dome, the current Dean preaches to a person in the back row, and Martin Luther's widow was the first female to preach from the pulpit. We listened, wandered, looked, listened some more. There are 2 video art installations by a Bill Viola who I will look up. Apparently St Pauls is the first church in England or maybe Europe to have a permanent video installation. It was about martyrs. Apparently the word martyr is derived from the same root as witness.
We had taken in about as many wondrous things as our brains could handle when a priest announced that there would be a half hour eucharistic service. We went and after the service spoke to the priest who told us his son lived in Melbourne.
Lunch was somewhat disappointing. Though, on the plus side, I have discovered that 'baked eggs' in England means just that . 2 times 1 egg in a little iron ramekin baked in the oven.
We walked over the Millenium bridge to the Globe Theatre and went on a tour - the only way, other than seeing a show, that you can get in. It was most enjoyable. The weather has been very hot and that was enough for the day.
We had taken in about as many wondrous things as our brains could handle when a priest announced that there would be a half hour eucharistic service. We went and after the service spoke to the priest who told us his son lived in Melbourne.
Lunch was somewhat disappointing. Though, on the plus side, I have discovered that 'baked eggs' in England means just that . 2 times 1 egg in a little iron ramekin baked in the oven.
We walked over the Millenium bridge to the Globe Theatre and went on a tour - the only way, other than seeing a show, that you can get in. It was most enjoyable. The weather has been very hot and that was enough for the day.
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Evensong at St Pauls
This morning we did little other than go over the road to a place that was not there when I was here in 2009. It serves lots of gluten free food. For breakfast I had waffles made from almond meal and spelt ( not GF but I can eat it) and yummy extra fruit bits. No added sugar. We went for a short walk around a few blocks and bought some food . After lunch we set off to St Pauls. On Sundays they say they are not open for sightseeing. We were about half an hour early for evensong and enjoyed just sitting. After evensong, we listened to a Dutch organist give a half hour recital. 6 small,very varied pieces.
We had a nice dinner at a place near St Pauls, caught the tube back and stopped in a cafe in Kings ave Chelsea and paid £8 for a machiato and a hot choc. Until now we have found the food to be better value for money than Australia. And you always pay for location.
We had a nice dinner at a place near St Pauls, caught the tube back and stopped in a cafe in Kings ave Chelsea and paid £8 for a machiato and a hot choc. Until now we have found the food to be better value for money than Australia. And you always pay for location.
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Fri Lyon, Saturday London
We spent most of our time on Friday in the Beaux Arts museum in Lyon. Amazing collection of old stuff and paintings. Supposedly the best collection in France outside the Louvre. What we particularly liked was a series of pamphlets they had on different themes. One was nature, one masterpieces, one the colour black.
A few hours ago we arrived in London after lots of trains and steps and escalators. The tour director made a mistake and decided rather than wait for a taxi at St Pancras to go on the tube for 25 min and then walk. Lots and lots of steps. Now 2 tired people. The apartment seems ok.
A few hours ago we arrived in London after lots of trains and steps and escalators. The tour director made a mistake and decided rather than wait for a taxi at St Pancras to go on the tube for 25 min and then walk. Lots and lots of steps. Now 2 tired people. The apartment seems ok.
Friday, June 16, 2017
Wed and Thurs in Lyon
We spent time on Wed morning on admin stuff and wandering around streets. In the afternoon we went on a walking tour of the old part of Lyon. We went into the Cathedral which has some interesting modern stained glass and an amazing clock. We were taken through some of the traboules, narrow covered passageways between streets that seem part of the buildings. In the evening we had dinner in a local bouchon. In French a bouchon is a cork in a bottle or a traffic jam. In Lyon it is also the name of a small local, no frills cafe, not fine dining but delicious traditional home cooking. Usually there is a fair bit of offal on the menu.
On Thursday we went first to a large park. We wandered around a lake and then through a zoo. We saw some animals we had never seen before, many of which are vulnerable or endangered. We saw a spectacled bear who normally lives in the high Andean forests, a Muellers Bornean gibbon, a L'Hoests monkey, a bat-eared fox and a radiated tortoise with a lovely pattern on its shell. Then we walked through a botanical garden, rows and rows of beds with all sorts of different shrubs and plants. The park was free and there were lots of school groups.
In the afternoon we went to a museum with all sorts of info about the Resistence history and activities in Lyon during WW II.
Normally in train stations I can understand announcements in French OK. But not yesterday. We were on the Metro on our way home from the museum quite tired after all the walking of the morning. The train was stopped at the stop before we wanted to get off. Just before it started there was an announcement that I could not understand. People groaned and everyone started getting off the train. Someone told us that a suspicious parcel had been found and everyone should leave. Righto, off we got. So we walked for another 20 minutes or so but along a street we had not seen before and it was full of fancy clothes shops, so I was not rushing. We have often seen armed police or army people wandering around. Once I commented to Noel that the 2 guys who we saw wandering past carrying large guns looked about 15. He replied, No, more like 20. Hmm.
On Thursday we went first to a large park. We wandered around a lake and then through a zoo. We saw some animals we had never seen before, many of which are vulnerable or endangered. We saw a spectacled bear who normally lives in the high Andean forests, a Muellers Bornean gibbon, a L'Hoests monkey, a bat-eared fox and a radiated tortoise with a lovely pattern on its shell. Then we walked through a botanical garden, rows and rows of beds with all sorts of different shrubs and plants. The park was free and there were lots of school groups.
In the afternoon we went to a museum with all sorts of info about the Resistence history and activities in Lyon during WW II.
Normally in train stations I can understand announcements in French OK. But not yesterday. We were on the Metro on our way home from the museum quite tired after all the walking of the morning. The train was stopped at the stop before we wanted to get off. Just before it started there was an announcement that I could not understand. People groaned and everyone started getting off the train. Someone told us that a suspicious parcel had been found and everyone should leave. Righto, off we got. So we walked for another 20 minutes or so but along a street we had not seen before and it was full of fancy clothes shops, so I was not rushing. We have often seen armed police or army people wandering around. Once I commented to Noel that the 2 guys who we saw wandering past carrying large guns looked about 15. He replied, No, more like 20. Hmm.
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Mon, Tues in Lyon
Yesterday we left the boat, got to the apartment, met the owners, got information on local coffee shops, cafes, markets and on the apartment, sorted ourselves out and went to lunch at one of the suggested local places, about 100m away. It was delicious.
Lyon has 2 hills. One is Fourviere with the Basilica and Roman ruins and the other is the Croix Rousse. In the afternoon we went on a little ' tram' . It is called a tram but it is more like a little narrow bus pulling several carriages. Near the top of the Croix Rouse is a huge wall of several apartment buildings which has been made into a huge detailed mural of life in the area.
We mastered frencH supermarket shopping , almost. Despite me using my best French, as always I must have thrown in a few Italian words. After i paid she said Buongiorno to me with a big smile, much to the amusement of everyone in the queue who would have heard me and Noel talking in English.
This morning we had our coffee and croissant at the cafe one shop away from our front door. Very convenient. Next to the river near us, near as in 200m away, every morning except Monday there are is a market where fruit and veg and cheese and meats and flowers are sold. We took a while to work out the country of origin code on the f and v. We bought some camembert , the 1 name we recognised, and asked for some sheep's milk cheese. We bought some of one of the 3 he had. , That is assuming he understood my pronunciation of mouton. Who knows. We looked at the range of game birds at one stall and had no clues what most of them were. A few still had head and necks attached. We bought some fruit which we have started on. It is quite delicious.
We caught the funicular to the top of Fourviere and went to the Basilica . It was amazing inside. Very ornate, but the colours, predominantly pale blue, grey and light brown all seemed to make it OK not grossly over the top. So we liked it. There were lots of scenes on the walls all done in mosaics.
Then we went to a museum of the Gallo Roman times of Lyon. It was an interesting building, set into the hillside, with views out to the remains of a Roman ampitheatre and odeon. In Roman times Lyon , or Lugdunum as it was called was the principal town in Gaul and the citizens has rights equal to those in Rome. This was not the norm in Roman colonies.
Then we had lunch in one of the little cafes called bouchons in the old town.
We visited the textile and decorative arts museum, but were underwhelmed.
Now its time for dinner - salad and more of the local viognier that our host left for us.
Lyon has 2 hills. One is Fourviere with the Basilica and Roman ruins and the other is the Croix Rousse. In the afternoon we went on a little ' tram' . It is called a tram but it is more like a little narrow bus pulling several carriages. Near the top of the Croix Rouse is a huge wall of several apartment buildings which has been made into a huge detailed mural of life in the area.
We mastered frencH supermarket shopping , almost. Despite me using my best French, as always I must have thrown in a few Italian words. After i paid she said Buongiorno to me with a big smile, much to the amusement of everyone in the queue who would have heard me and Noel talking in English.
This morning we had our coffee and croissant at the cafe one shop away from our front door. Very convenient. Next to the river near us, near as in 200m away, every morning except Monday there are is a market where fruit and veg and cheese and meats and flowers are sold. We took a while to work out the country of origin code on the f and v. We bought some camembert , the 1 name we recognised, and asked for some sheep's milk cheese. We bought some of one of the 3 he had. , That is assuming he understood my pronunciation of mouton. Who knows. We looked at the range of game birds at one stall and had no clues what most of them were. A few still had head and necks attached. We bought some fruit which we have started on. It is quite delicious.
We caught the funicular to the top of Fourviere and went to the Basilica . It was amazing inside. Very ornate, but the colours, predominantly pale blue, grey and light brown all seemed to make it OK not grossly over the top. So we liked it. There were lots of scenes on the walls all done in mosaics.
Then we went to a museum of the Gallo Roman times of Lyon. It was an interesting building, set into the hillside, with views out to the remains of a Roman ampitheatre and odeon. In Roman times Lyon , or Lugdunum as it was called was the principal town in Gaul and the citizens has rights equal to those in Rome. This was not the norm in Roman colonies.
Then we had lunch in one of the little cafes called bouchons in the old town.
We visited the textile and decorative arts museum, but were underwhelmed.
Now its time for dinner - salad and more of the local viognier that our host left for us.
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Sunday Lyons
PS from yesterday. Chalon was on the border of occupied France and Vichy France. The hospital was in occupied France. This caused lots of problems.
This morning we went on a guided tour of Lyon. We will return to the church on the hill, the cobbled lanes in the old town and some of the monuments , museums etc in the newer part of town that we saw . So,details of them later.
In the afternoon we went by public transport to the place we will be staying in from tomorrow just for a look. We mastered ticket buying from a machine that accepted only coins or cards, but not notes; changed trams or metros several times to different lines and worked out not to put our 2 hour ticket in the receptacle for used tickets( just). Then we went to another place to collect our Lyon discount card that I had previously ordered, got some more tourist information and got some money from an ATM.
We have enjoyed the cruise.
This morning we went on a guided tour of Lyon. We will return to the church on the hill, the cobbled lanes in the old town and some of the monuments , museums etc in the newer part of town that we saw . So,details of them later.
In the afternoon we went by public transport to the place we will be staying in from tomorrow just for a look. We mastered ticket buying from a machine that accepted only coins or cards, but not notes; changed trams or metros several times to different lines and worked out not to put our 2 hour ticket in the receptacle for used tickets( just). Then we went to another place to collect our Lyon discount card that I had previously ordered, got some more tourist information and got some money from an ATM.
We have enjoyed the cruise.
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Saturday Chalon-sur-Saone , wine and Beaune
This morning we wandered around Chalon where we were moored over night. We thought we would first go to the lookout on top of a nearby tower. However, we could not get to the tower so we walked down some old atmospheric cobbled streets of old shops and had a coffee instead , skipped the churches and watched the world go past.
In the afternoon we went by coach through fields and fields of grapes. We were given lots of information. However Noel was often asleep and lots of the info went over my head. I did manage to note that 80 % of white grapes grown are chardonnay and the rest aligote (with an acute) and most of the red are pinot and the rest gamay noir.
We stopped in what is considered as the centre of the burgandy wine area, Beaune. We went to an interesting wine tasting . Amongst other things we were told to smell the empty glass after drinking the wine, the smell will probably have changed. After that we visited a place initially established in the 1400s as a hospice and hospital for the poor and destitute. It had an interesting display of how the different rooms were used.
In the afternoon we went by coach through fields and fields of grapes. We were given lots of information. However Noel was often asleep and lots of the info went over my head. I did manage to note that 80 % of white grapes grown are chardonnay and the rest aligote (with an acute) and most of the red are pinot and the rest gamay noir.
We stopped in what is considered as the centre of the burgandy wine area, Beaune. We went to an interesting wine tasting . Amongst other things we were told to smell the empty glass after drinking the wine, the smell will probably have changed. After that we visited a place initially established in the 1400s as a hospice and hospital for the poor and destitute. It had an interesting display of how the different rooms were used.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)