tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89058429141628148262024-03-20T06:17:31.630-04:00Adventures in ParisWhat happens when one Canadian girl gets laid-off after 26 years? She goes to Paris with her best friend for 5 weeks!Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-64227442892570029122010-12-08T14:06:00.000-05:002010-12-08T14:06:21.726-05:00PeopleOne of the things I love about travel is interacting with the locals. These are just some that stand-out:<br />
<ul><li>My landlord Frederic and his lovely girlfriend Amelie. He had a bottle of champagne waiting for us when Margaret and I first arrived. There was some work being done from the terrace of my apartment - scaffolding up for my full 5 week stay as the workers had to work on the roof of the building next to mine. Frederic was very apologetic and offered us free meals at two restaurants. He and Amelie met us for drinks then left us to have a lovely dinner - he had picked up the tab.</li>
</ul><ul><li> The men who worked on that scaffolding who greeted me with a smile and a wave through my window every morning.</li>
</ul><ul><li> Frederic's assistant who told me to be sure and phone if there was a problem flying out the next day as the apartment was available if we had still needed a place to stay.</li>
</ul><ul><li> Jean-Jacques (met through Frederic) who works at the restaurant downstairs. (It was nice to have a contact close by "just in case")</li>
</ul><ul><li> The woman who works at the bakery "somewhere" in my neighborhood. Not only did she greet me with a smile, they also had the best baguette. Unfortunately I only went there twice when I fell upon it by mistake and never really did figure out exactly where it was. Go figure.</li>
</ul><ul><li> The woman who works at the bakery right around the corner from my apartment who was although very business-like, she was also pleasant every time I went in to purchase my half-baguette.</li>
</ul><ul><li> The friendly young lady who works at the <i>Cafe Sous Rire</i> a couple of doors down from my usual bakery. She was very friendly and served with a smile.</li>
</ul><ul><li> The 80'ish year old woman and her friend who were sitting at the next table at the cafe mentioned above. The older of the two talked up a storm and I enjoyed eavesdropping on their conversation. She didn't eat her whole meal in one go because she went to talk to a woman at another table (an American who she didn't even know.) </li>
</ul><ul><li>The bouncer at our favorite bar who both times we went told us to go ahead inside - no 10 euro cover for us! Yay!</li>
</ul><ul><li>The young lad who works at the Baudoyer Market every Saturday. I'd buy my chicken from him. He was always pleasant, smiling and joking around.</li>
</ul><ul><li><a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travelblogs/40/10573/Francois+the+Paella+Man?%20%20destId=359279">Francois the Paella Man</a> at Baudoyer market who's paella is supposed to be wonderful. I never did try it as I'm not a paella fan but the beef bourgignon was pretty good. There was a line-up every Saturday and judging by the voices - mostly tourists or perhaps expats.</li>
</ul><ul><li>The gentleman who at 7am on a cold dark Sunday morning helped Alex and I to get a taxi to the airport when our shuttle never showed up after we had waited an hour.</li>
</ul><ul><li>The man who works at the Chatelets-Les Halles metro station who patiently and with a smile gave me directions twice.</li>
</ul><ul><li>The young man with who Margaret and I struck up a conversation as we walked down Boulevard Sebastopol one Saturday evening.</li>
</ul><ul><li>The numerous Parisians who stopped me on the street to ask <i><b>ME</b></i> for directions.</li>
</ul><ul><li>The taxi driver who drove us to the airport - he never stopped talking. He didn't speak any English. It was one of my few long conversations in french and we did just fine understanding each other as we talked about various topics including the strike, politics and learning a second language.</li>
</ul><ul><li>The wonderful service we had at <a href="http://www.lespietons.com/"><i>Les Pietons</i></a> - and the sangria was ok too. :)</li>
</ul><ul><li>The men who work at the Moroccan food area of <i>Marche des Enfants Rouge</i> - wonderful food and great service.</li>
</ul><ul><li>The woman I bought flowers from every Saturday while at the Baudoyer Market. </li>
</ul>~ LLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-74611821688253191392010-11-30T18:53:00.000-05:002010-11-30T18:53:26.742-05:00Just Some of the Things I Miss<ul><li>Going for walks every single day! Always something to see! Interesting people, beautiful buildings/churches.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Sitting outside at a cafe for a cup of expensive tea. Worth every centime! (I certainly didn't go to a cafe just for tea every day at the very inflated prices, but when I did treat myself I'd spend at least an hour or more relaxing. Waiters don't bother you. The table is yours until you get up to leave.)</li>
</ul><ul><li>The ringing of the bells from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Merri">Saint-Merri</a> Church. I'd hear them every hour when I was in my apartment as the church was right around the corner. I kick myself <br />
now for never going into that church to visit. I read recently that it contains the oldest church bell in Paris dated from 1331.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Walking by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontaine_des_Innocent">La Fontaine des Innocents</a>. It was right on my way to my metro station and the "mall".</li>
</ul><ul><li>Grabbing a crepe from a street vendor - although the choices are numerous including with a layer of Nutella, I preffered mine sprinkled with sugar or with a thick layer of creme de maron (chestnuts).</li>
</ul><ul><li><a href="http://www.hm.com/">H&M</a> - We don't have any where I live.</li>
</ul><ul><li><a href="http://www.promod.com/">Promod</a> - Cute clothes at great prices</li>
</ul><ul><li><a href="http://www.pylones-usa.com/pylones/indexpylones.php">Pylones</a> - They have the cutest gadgets ever!</li>
</ul><ul><li><a href="http://www.cafe-oz.com/cafe.php?id=2">Cafe Oz (Chatelet)</a> - Go there on a Saturday night when everyone dances on the tables until closing at 6am.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Discovering new (to me) french singers. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/joycejonathan">Joyce Jonathan</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/zazofficiel">Zaz</a> are two that stand out. I bought Zaz's CD while in Paris and have listened to it a lot since I got home!</li>
</ul><ul><li><a href="http://www.france24.com/en/">France24</a> and <a href="http://www.nrj.fr/">NRJ </a>- (France24 is a French news station but in the English language. NRJ is an all music video tv station.) Hey, when that's all you have to watch you become attached. I'm actually putting together my own CD of various songs that were played on NRJ.</li>
</ul><ul><li><a href="http://www.m6.fr/emission-100_mag/">100%mag</a> - a daily French tv show with short stories - therefore easy to follow. I watched this every day!</li>
</ul><ul><li>This is not something I miss exactly, but I followed very closely the rescue of the 33 miners in Chile. A story with a fairy tale ending. An ending that could have gone so badly but ended wonderfully!</li>
</ul><ul><li>My Saturday morning routine. After breakfast I'd walk to Baudoyer Market. I'd buy a (cooked) chicken and a bunch of flowers. Then back to the apartment to take the still warm chicken off the bone and make my chicken-rice soup. I'd eat my soup either for lunch or dinner depending what plans I had that day.</li>
</ul>~ LLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-67278000893007018222010-11-25T09:37:00.000-05:002010-11-25T09:37:58.372-05:00Down to miscellaneous<div style="text-align: center;">And you thought your neighbours were close?</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Saint-Merri Church</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nice job!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Seen in an art store. Just lovely! (Artist - Josepha)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Caesar's Head statue next to St-Eustache Church</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wrought iron everywhere</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What jet-lag looks like</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">~L</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-33833636758802652582010-11-18T09:44:00.000-05:002010-11-18T09:44:42.465-05:00La Tour Eiffel and LaduréeVisiting the <a href="http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/index.html">Eiffel Tower</a> was at the top of Alex's list of things to see in Paris. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. It had warmed up a lot from the day before and the sun was shining brightly!<br />
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It's well organized with two separate lines depending on if you were taking the elevator or taking the stairs. The line-ups were huge, but the one for the climbers moved very quickly. There are three levels. You can walk up only as far as the second. If you want to go to the top you have to take the elevator. It's my understanding the third level is very windy and the view is lovely but it's more difficult to pin-point specific sites of Paris.<br />
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Since I'd already been up the tower on a previous visit Margaret and Alex walked the stairs on their own while I sat on a bench to people watch. Their whole "trip" took an hour which included the wait in line. <br />
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For lunch that afternoon we decided to treat ourselves to lunch at Ladurée on the <a href="http://adventureinparis.blogspot.com/2010/09/avenue-des-champs-elysees.html">Avenue des Champs-Élysées</a>. We had a leisurely three hour - three course lunch. It's a lovely restaurant with a wonderful atmosphere and the food was delicious! It was worth every Euro and I highly recommend it.<br />
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~ LLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-54252262443159902502010-11-15T09:39:00.000-05:002010-11-15T09:39:37.469-05:0018th ArrondissementAlthough not my first time here, this was a "must do" for us. We'd been fortunate to have gorgeous weather almost every day but this particular day the weather didn't cooperate - I froze my little toes! Alex and I took the metro the the 18th arrondissement where we met Margaret. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilique_du_Sacr%C3%A9-C%C5%93ur,_Paris">Basilique du Sacré-Coeur</a> is beautiful! Unfortunately no photos are allowed inside, but we did venture in to check it out (and to warm up!).<br />
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A block away is Place du Tertre. A small square surrounded by cafes. The interior has many artists selling their paintings; others just waiting to draw your picture and covered areas with heaters (thank goodness) to grab a bite to eat.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Waiting for a snack?</div><br />
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After lunch we left. I would have liked to have stayed around longer but we were all so cold. Fortunately this was the nastiest weather we had and the following day was gorgeous - just in time for our visit to the Eiffel Tower...<br />
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~LLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-63808032816934135972010-10-29T09:27:00.000-04:002010-10-29T09:27:35.491-04:00Catching upI apologize for my lack of posts. Once Alex got to Paris I got naughty about posting. I'm back home now but will continue our adventure in chronological order.<br />
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<i><b> Note: This post has many photos</b></i><br />
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Although I had done a ton of research before going and had a notebook of things to do/see etc. there were many things not in my book that you'd find in any Paris guidebook. For example going to the Louvre - a no brainer. Tuileries wasn't in my radar at all but one day Alex and I decided to go to "<a href="http://www.carrouseldulouvre.com/W/do/centre/accueil">Le Carrousel du Louvre</a>". This is a "mall" below the Louvre. I believe their website says there are 45 stores...felt more like 20 but it passed the time. <br />
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On our way there we strolled through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuileries_Garden">Tuileries Garden</a> which is right next door. It was a lovely day and there were a ton of people there. It's a lovely place and nice to get away from the asphalt, people and traffic.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He might be saying "Noooo not again!" hehe </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7LaaEO-Kn_-8Zcc_71l1uZw3tDruOlW0tXJaV4yxn3XQ50o08ktObreWRkCXfs5DblmiDS9_veyTNRs2b-1ZaSDhBOobDoteG0NrbciH62fOGe6mDz82nhKQb5PO9kFGWEsV8AGck5U/s1600/Tuileries6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7LaaEO-Kn_-8Zcc_71l1uZw3tDruOlW0tXJaV4yxn3XQ50o08ktObreWRkCXfs5DblmiDS9_veyTNRs2b-1ZaSDhBOobDoteG0NrbciH62fOGe6mDz82nhKQb5PO9kFGWEsV8AGck5U/s320/Tuileries6.JPG" width="224" /></a></div><br />
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The following day we happened upon a crowd right around the corner from my apartment putting on make up for this:<i><b></b></i><br />
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Its my understanding that Paris isn't the only city that does this annually but it was new to me. We missed seeing the numerous "zombies" on their walk but spent quite a long time watching them prepare for their journey.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>"Zombies (are) were people too" </b></i></div><br />
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~ LLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-20567339123790803972010-10-14T14:48:00.000-04:002010-10-14T14:48:18.028-04:00Musée du LouvreYesterday was Louvre day. We spent many hours walking around - a small percentage of it lost. <i>Dear Louvre, Please work on your map. Thank you! </i><br />
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Here are just a few of my favorites: <i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Winged Victory </b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2tXdUB_OgmuD6uSEH5Q6L1WZ9G_NtojCU38b51Lzez8RqN5N3PHX_cmYfU7J4qXOQcTn_wmJi5YlwSVeVqo4k-TyaSBu6pfCbYJXtRRL0fXxfhvJLWihPajz3HrUzGFFbXkROe31a0s/s1600/Winged+Victory.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2tXdUB_OgmuD6uSEH5Q6L1WZ9G_NtojCU38b51Lzez8RqN5N3PHX_cmYfU7J4qXOQcTn_wmJi5YlwSVeVqo4k-TyaSBu6pfCbYJXtRRL0fXxfhvJLWihPajz3HrUzGFFbXkROe31a0s/s320/Winged+Victory.JPG" width="208" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Easter Island head - Isn't he adorable :) </b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSco_9ZlKAFgH5fkMWL86wxf3uvYUVJ602Lr7gUTDTBut5Ykxt0Cld6pfyso4gOki9BLxRZnrUSZPa-a4gGIqD-VGzioBSo6HmC9W6_f0jyKmXOP453uf-xA56SWMsFL9NbYTjnbgnrbA/s1600/Easter+Island+head.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSco_9ZlKAFgH5fkMWL86wxf3uvYUVJ602Lr7gUTDTBut5Ykxt0Cld6pfyso4gOki9BLxRZnrUSZPa-a4gGIqD-VGzioBSo6HmC9W6_f0jyKmXOP453uf-xA56SWMsFL9NbYTjnbgnrbA/s320/Easter+Island+head.JPG" width="222" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Three Graces</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJFUc2b_Y6ASm5MHepnWFzGmW8hP85uLqFaoAIDej8Wg6SUmEVYc3D7xbQ1wkx-TxVWVa4QhpEUDYQ6PTlNvACipycK5swtDCs4Po4Osk7S0LbjcU5Z71tSuNxMFQargq2En2qYxgwzg/s1600/Three+Graces+-+Roman.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJFUc2b_Y6ASm5MHepnWFzGmW8hP85uLqFaoAIDej8Wg6SUmEVYc3D7xbQ1wkx-TxVWVa4QhpEUDYQ6PTlNvACipycK5swtDCs4Po4Osk7S0LbjcU5Z71tSuNxMFQargq2En2qYxgwzg/s320/Three+Graces+-+Roman.JPG" width="262" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b> Reminds us of Sid from the movie Ice Age hee hee</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkXXo8G4xjJICNAI9dzHAWy5KDGzWUs9k2hsqN32vodwtkUjOBkwXGA2JrYm3U-JDy2WTSREgmfMTqm_NM71n5BunL_Jy05IHbuVtujCC6l8iAd99yVCa3deD99-rDhJtB8P6HH93d2o/s1600/African+art.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkXXo8G4xjJICNAI9dzHAWy5KDGzWUs9k2hsqN32vodwtkUjOBkwXGA2JrYm3U-JDy2WTSREgmfMTqm_NM71n5BunL_Jy05IHbuVtujCC6l8iAd99yVCa3deD99-rDhJtB8P6HH93d2o/s320/African+art.JPG" width="287" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Beautiful ceiling </b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dgW6EWW-vsBbhlc5uK4GqU3s7-7_L6HiTZHd1sIK7MI57Tytpa_rcndN7WxkCCRFC1nfX2zy9mfghhWAlBiLIfDVbCsZIrVL6ysrz4ZSN6KSankNKKMsXxPvK1RsyypcumImAx6JczU/s1600/Louvre+ceiling2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dgW6EWW-vsBbhlc5uK4GqU3s7-7_L6HiTZHd1sIK7MI57Tytpa_rcndN7WxkCCRFC1nfX2zy9mfghhWAlBiLIfDVbCsZIrVL6ysrz4ZSN6KSankNKKMsXxPvK1RsyypcumImAx6JczU/s320/Louvre+ceiling2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Like I have to tell you... </b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIltTt-HctcDmPHzwdk65Z07ZJhr-9yuioDVHmDttFWaS_bRWK-PSF58XsqlpLZUBNtmpiiYprg6QnNuLXU4SUmvbdlL3ek78Q_Rvgn4BXW41DyzqJxBbEdu8tvUn_sDqiO4opP5JYt_0/s1600/Mona+Lisa2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIltTt-HctcDmPHzwdk65Z07ZJhr-9yuioDVHmDttFWaS_bRWK-PSF58XsqlpLZUBNtmpiiYprg6QnNuLXU4SUmvbdlL3ek78Q_Rvgn4BXW41DyzqJxBbEdu8tvUn_sDqiO4opP5JYt_0/s320/Mona+Lisa2.JPG" width="261" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Venus de Milo </i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeh3j1wjqRTIz6pQb2mSrHVWYCueD742eEJ2_GIoN8clLgBTYTDpgDCMMaqt1lzR5H1KWSSIeMNFBg7eXS29k-dhIfcvxTqBHI9Zj0Of0-PS3a-sKWa2AFWfZz2_Lpih8bUlYYTUotFTs/s1600/Venus+de+Milo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeh3j1wjqRTIz6pQb2mSrHVWYCueD742eEJ2_GIoN8clLgBTYTDpgDCMMaqt1lzR5H1KWSSIeMNFBg7eXS29k-dhIfcvxTqBHI9Zj0Of0-PS3a-sKWa2AFWfZz2_Lpih8bUlYYTUotFTs/s320/Venus+de+Milo2.JPG" width="192" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Goya - Portrait of Mariana Wald </i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkpCBjTULTsYPmEBjtkBS7QM5a8lFKZ5hEAuBWUIYWHR-99TDd0nSrjckWAT7BvDEE5vtumQmMwl_KNmYynN-ME_4VwVwgLYSPXddnji6lOCKjKoSSaK3YtJ_RotBRDKWhdQkHWNJ3H0/s1600/Goya+Portrait%E2%80%91of%E2%80%91Mariana%E2%80%91Wald.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkpCBjTULTsYPmEBjtkBS7QM5a8lFKZ5hEAuBWUIYWHR-99TDd0nSrjckWAT7BvDEE5vtumQmMwl_KNmYynN-ME_4VwVwgLYSPXddnji6lOCKjKoSSaK3YtJ_RotBRDKWhdQkHWNJ3H0/s320/Goya+Portrait%E2%80%91of%E2%80%91Mariana%E2%80%91Wald.JPG" width="230" /></a></div><br />
After hour long walk around the museum we went to Angelina's for some wonderful hot chocolate. It's as thick as molasses and is served with whipped cream. A meal in itself. The chocolate is not too sweet, it's just very rich and major yummy!<br />
<br />
~LLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-85362151271454264172010-10-09T15:54:00.000-04:002010-10-09T15:54:26.423-04:00It's the little things...Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been sick for the last few days. I have a miserable cold. It's slowed me down quite a bit, but I think I'm on the mend.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br />
Going to a new place is never 100% perfect. There are little things that irk. They are just little things that are different than you're used to. I'm not a negative person, life is too short for that. I like to focus on the positive not just while travelling but in life in general. The following are a few little things I have enjoyed about being here...<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Walking down little side streets because you just never know what you'll discover</li>
<li>Walking a different way home and discovering a place I had wanted to go to, but had thought it was too far away and that my feet just didn't have the ability to walk that long distance that day;</li>
<li>Sitting at a cafe, drinking tea and watching all the people go by;</li>
<li>Going out to my favorite boulangerie to buy a 1/2 baguette;</li>
<li>Going to a bar and end up having such a good time we didn't get home until 4:30am;</li>
<li>Going to the market every Saturday to buy a small rotisserie chicken and some flowers;</li>
<li>Doing really well with my budget and yet I don't feel like I've missed out;</li>
<li>The metro which is hot as hell but is well organized and cheap;</li>
<li>That comfortable feeling as I step out the front door of my building and the neighborhood feels like home;</li>
<li>Drinking Orangina because not only is it tasty but reminds me of a family trip to France when I was a teenager;</li>
<li>Having little chit chats with strangers, whether they be tourists or locals;</li>
<li>Lighting the rose scented candle I treated myself to after a long day and just relaxing.</li>
</ul>This list is by no means complete. There's so much to love about being in this city and I feel so fortunate to have had this opportunity. And tomorrow - Alex arrives. I can't wait to share this wonderful city with him.<br />
<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~ L </div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-66127984991960855532010-10-06T02:49:00.000-04:002010-10-06T02:49:06.623-04:00Shopping<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN">(Tip:<span> </span>For those on my email list for this blog, if you don’t see photos, please visit my blog directly as I have included photos on every entry since arriving in Paris but I realize that not all email programs support embeded images.)</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">There isn’t much in the way of shopping malls here in Paris.<span> </span>Off the top of my head I know of two – one at the Louvre underground with 35 shops and the other is Forum des Halles which is just a few minutes from my apartment.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">What you do find here are boutiques and some very very large department stores.<span> </span>BHV, which is about two blocks from me, is 7 stories and they sell everything <b><i>including</i> </b>the kitchen sink.<span> </span>Clothes, cosmetics, art supplies, large and small appliances, linens, furniture, tiles and even a store for pet supplies etc. (What they don’t have is a shoe department and that’s just weird).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>The other day I ventured out on the Metro to Galeries Lafayette, another large department store.<span> </span>This one has more high end brands.<span> </span>Your Chanel, Louis Vuiton (with a line-up to get in), Tiffany’s, Miu Miu and so on and so forth.<span> </span>Not everything has designer price tags.<span> </span>I did purchase a couple of things that didn’t come close to breaking the bank.<span> </span>They have a huge shoe department but I didn’t get any closer to ending my quest for comfortable shoes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>I have been to Galeries Lafayette every time I’ve come to Paris.<span> </span>It’s not just about the shopping.<span> </span>The building is just so lovely inside as per photos below.<span> </span>Quality may not be great, I was using my IPhone to take photos that day as I had left my digital camera at home.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span>Window dressing </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykDsFPCQYtaBLkQ8olje178liqSfKX7h3XQzBGdSvy_lpIs1YT1pGsxPggDtoaRACDlDTexnydoMEfQVaz2by2gn6Yz7znJSA4VgMCNX6SLKz5kiSVjArwVAeyIaM_RnvzHJTZFBcRPU/s1600/Galeries+Lafayette+Window.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykDsFPCQYtaBLkQ8olje178liqSfKX7h3XQzBGdSvy_lpIs1YT1pGsxPggDtoaRACDlDTexnydoMEfQVaz2by2gn6Yz7znJSA4VgMCNX6SLKz5kiSVjArwVAeyIaM_RnvzHJTZFBcRPU/s320/Galeries+Lafayette+Window.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHOEldMhZ6M8WlSMm2fnOnjSxtQdRnMVzwQvgv4JroaJzrfZEdkwQVH8KVvyKo5KQQY_fIUM-6Uby-xjzuZsZXpl0Md6azybj8gDJP85noTov7CHMR_AWsCTKk4_s3fNb1Tjrv6xM4C8/s1600/Galeries+Lafayette+Window2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHOEldMhZ6M8WlSMm2fnOnjSxtQdRnMVzwQvgv4JroaJzrfZEdkwQVH8KVvyKo5KQQY_fIUM-6Uby-xjzuZsZXpl0Md6azybj8gDJP85noTov7CHMR_AWsCTKk4_s3fNb1Tjrv6xM4C8/s320/Galeries+Lafayette+Window2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaNbRt60efn_APzVqLiQgyn2dVSX19BIj1XgrVuOmO5nLQByxAJ-gTJI85wfmxz8LLb6U0zGVT7eXCTGrG1nSD6j1z4VEBOKwoxRroheeh0a0roSgkuKoo-IxeWi0TLsUthwDfxK7E9A/s1600/Galeries+Lafayette+Window3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaNbRt60efn_APzVqLiQgyn2dVSX19BIj1XgrVuOmO5nLQByxAJ-gTJI85wfmxz8LLb6U0zGVT7eXCTGrG1nSD6j1z4VEBOKwoxRroheeh0a0roSgkuKoo-IxeWi0TLsUthwDfxK7E9A/s320/Galeries+Lafayette+Window3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRdEBsTeoOpTzDIMGbToz848bjB4zTVkEqhebYCYODORe_kBkc5F4Qf4UvgRJcK9AwkQIZLTAh7jfaidXBAg1o4dpX0cGR7fIhsVx7CQ56YbuJkqzk_HAlkV16fYoj8oA5OzdgiE1VDk/s1600/Galeries+Lafayette+Window4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRdEBsTeoOpTzDIMGbToz848bjB4zTVkEqhebYCYODORe_kBkc5F4Qf4UvgRJcK9AwkQIZLTAh7jfaidXBAg1o4dpX0cGR7fIhsVx7CQ56YbuJkqzk_HAlkV16fYoj8oA5OzdgiE1VDk/s320/Galeries+Lafayette+Window4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span><br />
The core inside</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2_knLXCC5HCPCrzZTeKRmgtJxXOOmJJ9uGEMfAwgqUCYiFpfKPKmrkdCy_dH_OJ5KhL1HK9Bv7HE10zCtsIPSHdZhpQ70_lyNkPOl-DkOa8eoPzeV2XLlGaSsU4YOYNiGTq0fsCcA0s/s1600/Galeries+Lafayette.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2_knLXCC5HCPCrzZTeKRmgtJxXOOmJJ9uGEMfAwgqUCYiFpfKPKmrkdCy_dH_OJ5KhL1HK9Bv7HE10zCtsIPSHdZhpQ70_lyNkPOl-DkOa8eoPzeV2XLlGaSsU4YOYNiGTq0fsCcA0s/s320/Galeries+Lafayette.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhxIw9AgZ-IXDAb6neRg9JYNb0DK8g7xf0aANdKEvvslEWC8FoaHXvEChs0AtydPVNopspdIiJPBgSCrRQIpVm7w2yHvwNoSCeq8IdMb65vQQ4LDef-wrOw8fsRTBeluF-KkhMEu3OFQ/s1600/Galeries+Lafayette2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhxIw9AgZ-IXDAb6neRg9JYNb0DK8g7xf0aANdKEvvslEWC8FoaHXvEChs0AtydPVNopspdIiJPBgSCrRQIpVm7w2yHvwNoSCeq8IdMb65vQQ4LDef-wrOw8fsRTBeluF-KkhMEu3OFQ/s320/Galeries+Lafayette2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> ~ L</span><span lang="EN"></span></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-51353785934539716812010-10-02T04:12:00.000-04:002010-10-02T04:12:51.704-04:00Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens…<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Just a few of <b>my </b>favorite things:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Paris on a budget?<span> </span>I buy a cooked rotisserie chicken at the market and make delicious chicken soup.<span> </span>There is sea salt and Herbes de Provence at the apartment already, so with the cost of the chicken and some rice I can make 3-4 meals for about 2.15 Euros per meal.<span> </span>Eat with a hunk of baguette and yum!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxpxLzV_Et5PkO6VjzUnFenKc3yPSggmngg8mXBaIM2yJBsKkHS-9cTAviHZZl_72ltjFAv7PAT7stvyz4nDjvSxouilFQDrUZSTFnm64syDDEU25PpBGXxYcQgxykYBxZlq-sRegsZ4/s1600/Chickensoup+and+bread.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxpxLzV_Et5PkO6VjzUnFenKc3yPSggmngg8mXBaIM2yJBsKkHS-9cTAviHZZl_72ltjFAv7PAT7stvyz4nDjvSxouilFQDrUZSTFnm64syDDEU25PpBGXxYcQgxykYBxZlq-sRegsZ4/s320/Chickensoup+and+bread.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Found these shoes for 19 Euros. Real leather and I’m so glad I bought them. They’ve turned out to be the most comfortable shoes I have with me.<span> </span>Cobblestones are hell on feet!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7OctfnxMmIssAI74wo24pay7B9uyHpFfHXt7iQTR6vEDr7ai9DQSaJIK2ctCh7O8nH8MnifSaVOi45IA3NeA9oEtTbLzpSbJ481ARRsUV7PFWZUuGrSUSLKyJEUxEFDztjk8x3U0Z2M/s1600/NewShoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7OctfnxMmIssAI74wo24pay7B9uyHpFfHXt7iQTR6vEDr7ai9DQSaJIK2ctCh7O8nH8MnifSaVOi45IA3NeA9oEtTbLzpSbJ481ARRsUV7PFWZUuGrSUSLKyJEUxEFDztjk8x3U0Z2M/s320/NewShoes.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Wonderful spreadable cheese I have with baguette every day.<span> </span>Delicious!<span> </span>The yogurt here is really really good – better than at home but I’m not sure why.<span> </span>Dark chocolate mousse right from the dairy section of the grocery store.<span> </span>Amazing!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3NYhMtHtfwojarZdJU3a2kO37l14MZSb3yGQRjOjEntlVkt_ayPTuuYfKQdg1qdvWJGYfF-MHJ5Ixve8e8-X1DHJ2Gs8TIbL0engIa1PbIWXQTso3DMTn91A9uolGUU0O2Y1JWZvIjQ/s1600/Favorites.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3NYhMtHtfwojarZdJU3a2kO37l14MZSb3yGQRjOjEntlVkt_ayPTuuYfKQdg1qdvWJGYfF-MHJ5Ixve8e8-X1DHJ2Gs8TIbL0engIa1PbIWXQTso3DMTn91A9uolGUU0O2Y1JWZvIjQ/s320/Favorites.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Treated myself to this little bijou when I was in Krakow.<span> </span>Love it!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHYsuOl893aQVw5JSiN9nxd0IAgXFn_rt4d8VEwRBjRX3puSmE5i5yIR8SIS-1OJC_hyphenhyphenoxkavT7Sh3FL-1cdFGvs0eURcljX1zH-kUoIEL-vkPda2ramX28BdKjrs5GBQtoSsN6jgEHA/s1600/Pandora+Ring2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHYsuOl893aQVw5JSiN9nxd0IAgXFn_rt4d8VEwRBjRX3puSmE5i5yIR8SIS-1OJC_hyphenhyphenoxkavT7Sh3FL-1cdFGvs0eURcljX1zH-kUoIEL-vkPda2ramX28BdKjrs5GBQtoSsN6jgEHA/s320/Pandora+Ring2.JPG" width="259" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">People I’ve met.<span> </span>Margaret’s sister and cousin.<span> </span>Her sister doesn’t speak English so there was a little language barrier but we worked it out.<span> </span>Margaret’s cousin speaks very well in English.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXo4R9zR8YW6f02_TnC7o4GODVSpbVmHU8pK09RMckSInilIUGkrOJDtmURYZMsuruHt1NIioKXBUkIsrb9JHd2cO_6ao-4eH-K2e5P9oF1JDE0Ro3XS2xIPeNCEb9DZH5NUgYyVPpmE/s1600/The+Girls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXo4R9zR8YW6f02_TnC7o4GODVSpbVmHU8pK09RMckSInilIUGkrOJDtmURYZMsuruHt1NIioKXBUkIsrb9JHd2cO_6ao-4eH-K2e5P9oF1JDE0Ro3XS2xIPeNCEb9DZH5NUgYyVPpmE/s320/The+Girls.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Seen on the window of a shop. Cute!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5b53ezd-4R646kzVwxS1jfvzHXR6si3nJO9BbrZZHnO-kcQvBAOLNBH1lYQonExQQ4uu7nusAPp-9iaV-oIUG5LxnrBdQFwjIEkYCbUrP4seEWU1spWX_yb-f2YwSFav5s1J7nvEoqZQ/s1600/Store+Window.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5b53ezd-4R646kzVwxS1jfvzHXR6si3nJO9BbrZZHnO-kcQvBAOLNBH1lYQonExQQ4uu7nusAPp-9iaV-oIUG5LxnrBdQFwjIEkYCbUrP4seEWU1spWX_yb-f2YwSFav5s1J7nvEoqZQ/s320/Store+Window.JPG" width="237" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">~ L </span></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-82147162002201929802010-09-30T04:11:00.001-04:002010-09-30T04:12:09.680-04:00Krakow, PolandWe flew to Krakow on Friday and were there for 3 nights. It was rather whirlwind but we took advantage of the time we had. We stayed with Margaret’s sister and brother in law. I felt very welcome despite the language barrier. Poor Margaret had to keep switching languages – she’d be on a roll in one language and forget to switch languages depending on who she was talking to. It was quite funny.<br />
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The Main Market Square in Krakow is huge. There are a lot of shops, cafés, horse-drawn carriages and it’s a great place to people-watch. We went there 2 evenings for coffee and dessert.<br />
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Saturday we went to the Wieliczka Salt Mines which dates back to the 13th century and was mined up until 1996. I can’t remember how many flights of stairs it took to go down but 4 days later my calves are still feeling it. (There’s an elevator to go back up to ground level at the end of the tour) When Margaret told me we’d be going to a salt mine I thought what a lot of you are thinking – huh? I’m so glad we went though. It was very interesting. We saw a lot of sculptures down there – all carved from rock salt. The tour ended in one of the 40 chapels in the mine. A beautiful huge room where everything is carved in salt including the gorgeous shiny floor.<br />
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Sunday we took a trip to Auschwitz. What can I say about that. It was as you’d expect. Emotional. I am glad I went. It was a once in a lifetime visit and I won’t forget it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_bI7DZzLWtuiXCr7r1nyOAVTzKysCsm3FelCVfbM1mCCEiro-E_Mm10sxlONbqQLVbjbr8aZ3A5eafE3omKJHRbxFm_6M-vAf5qzDRyHEIHToRU4IjqgWdZXfd8p56Ns8iGu_xMHqmQ/s1600/Krakow+Market+Square.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_bI7DZzLWtuiXCr7r1nyOAVTzKysCsm3FelCVfbM1mCCEiro-E_Mm10sxlONbqQLVbjbr8aZ3A5eafE3omKJHRbxFm_6M-vAf5qzDRyHEIHToRU4IjqgWdZXfd8p56Ns8iGu_xMHqmQ/s320/Krakow+Market+Square.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u6aB1sw0NVN4XQYRvrc4CQ0_Q3GuLYw9n3vGM-CilIRKA252oqL3smfWIRXCRcTJA-6WFU_UFZD9vJrwtytjRjumLBvKNqoUu0YsH67MtQbGe1RXYncM6CJ6zawBKR1xmswymfl_TT4/s1600/chapel2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u6aB1sw0NVN4XQYRvrc4CQ0_Q3GuLYw9n3vGM-CilIRKA252oqL3smfWIRXCRcTJA-6WFU_UFZD9vJrwtytjRjumLBvKNqoUu0YsH67MtQbGe1RXYncM6CJ6zawBKR1xmswymfl_TT4/s320/chapel2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even the chandelliers are made of salt</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMEKvrkKhEFKroHgDKaZ1WYcGhBDjqdkq66jT2OPWOz_lHx5n_uqyI3OoiPsa3oKI4PtRO2SMmoNjX8sbrbQBwbysrcnNJX945THnFdiojCaBWpCkw0tQmJ3whW2aJySOlY0IpiCJ8Vo/s1600/made+of+salt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMEKvrkKhEFKroHgDKaZ1WYcGhBDjqdkq66jT2OPWOz_lHx5n_uqyI3OoiPsa3oKI4PtRO2SMmoNjX8sbrbQBwbysrcnNJX945THnFdiojCaBWpCkw0tQmJ3whW2aJySOlY0IpiCJ8Vo/s320/made+of+salt.JPG" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Floor carved by miners over a 3 year period</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5QVlbqksgbVCv81C1-8zldzTSTOkFypbSymCUUBXKEXvX6RrpI8BzStoe1K15dHy8VD6g9xv1QHWkNMt0UAyvXij3q59Gsws11srUagDTIuauULvSqmZJ4b7gVdrmtqWEGbWbbmWyXg/s1600/floor+carved+salt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5QVlbqksgbVCv81C1-8zldzTSTOkFypbSymCUUBXKEXvX6RrpI8BzStoe1K15dHy8VD6g9xv1QHWkNMt0UAyvXij3q59Gsws11srUagDTIuauULvSqmZJ4b7gVdrmtqWEGbWbbmWyXg/s320/floor+carved+salt.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqr2zG0klnDV8ebEFA10f9jh9CUaDd3oCO9ElYTuxK-CYO80W6ScZLt_ZXSQb_ve2utPKaOrAXZRYQds-MIIc1h7R9Q5dpSFnPDkYTgW70gkF4B7GVdflQliEaOfrCs7S1ORvu9Mamyo/s1600/Wieliczka+salt+statue.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqr2zG0klnDV8ebEFA10f9jh9CUaDd3oCO9ElYTuxK-CYO80W6ScZLt_ZXSQb_ve2utPKaOrAXZRYQds-MIIc1h7R9Q5dpSFnPDkYTgW70gkF4B7GVdflQliEaOfrCs7S1ORvu9Mamyo/s320/Wieliczka+salt+statue.JPG" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Auschwitz</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOShrJ3KI1c3qdVbAO1icNJvCkxsYxJWYEZxfEVf8VtuIOeypIpnJuCT7BnFtym8bitjL35tW7buJHQ0X9jnb7U9IlT7HqfsT3mWDJD5f1Z9YBd0X2PAjZxxx15XCbnYbnFY07-9YfKDY/s1600/Auschwitz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOShrJ3KI1c3qdVbAO1icNJvCkxsYxJWYEZxfEVf8VtuIOeypIpnJuCT7BnFtym8bitjL35tW7buJHQ0X9jnb7U9IlT7HqfsT3mWDJD5f1Z9YBd0X2PAjZxxx15XCbnYbnFY07-9YfKDY/s320/Auschwitz.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrX15S22rV-naFquLbvUxnp-NIEqfiKT15rcV-2fMqskaJH3jeUFFBpEK6xDZeQTwFd4xokKfR8FGlfVt-7clvSKam2ordS1FppZgUPMm6gLoGvf2k0aRClhLtA-hRSrH6U7Ar0rMfls/s1600/Auschwitz5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrX15S22rV-naFquLbvUxnp-NIEqfiKT15rcV-2fMqskaJH3jeUFFBpEK6xDZeQTwFd4xokKfR8FGlfVt-7clvSKam2ordS1FppZgUPMm6gLoGvf2k0aRClhLtA-hRSrH6U7Ar0rMfls/s320/Auschwitz5.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
A few of my favorite foods: borcsht, pierogies served with fried onions and ham – both homemade. I’m spoiled now. When I go back home, frozen pierogies are going to be such a disapointment.<br />
<br />
<em>Tip for flying within Europe – do <strong>NOT</strong> fly Easyjet. We had huge problems with them.</em><br />
<br />
<em>~ L</em>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-18229543343617028952010-09-28T14:14:00.000-04:002010-09-28T14:14:44.262-04:00Avenue des Champs-Élysées<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One beautiful sunny day last week we spent the afternoon on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champs-%C3%89lys%C3%A9es">Avenue des Champs-Élysées</a>. We went to see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe">Arc de Triomphe</a> although we didn’t go up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a lovely lunch at a café and then did a little popping in and out of stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We each bought a little something for ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also went to check out <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avenue_Montaigne">Avenue Montaigne</a> which is <em>the</em> street to shop on if you have money – Chanel, Gucci etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say we didn’t buy anything there but we did peek in through the windows like little girls dreaming that maybe “some day…”!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8dsuxiLv2SYhDy74vsYgp1UY2qKb_a6h1C1CMZBP6fHPHR2dGLWXehEpter23ctfSSgGVe48ObSIdfALeop9VUHTZeQAfUFt882jBhJClAN6COOG_KF2t5wUhpQ6QB9WcHyY2iOh5Ps/s1600/ArcdeTriomphe2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8dsuxiLv2SYhDy74vsYgp1UY2qKb_a6h1C1CMZBP6fHPHR2dGLWXehEpter23ctfSSgGVe48ObSIdfALeop9VUHTZeQAfUFt882jBhJClAN6COOG_KF2t5wUhpQ6QB9WcHyY2iOh5Ps/s320/ArcdeTriomphe2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZr_OkV3B9WUxfjZrVykVOuSnxLDLxtxGYOA4Dj8F8QnviGW_EYOVH71WHpttnoTKqDKRVGHAJUXk9n-5zsTtX_Oz_51lpUQwkmqQeCTSKYyZOSj6B69Q1wMfcRiCtADnoktK3gJSva8/s1600/ArcdeTriomphe3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZr_OkV3B9WUxfjZrVykVOuSnxLDLxtxGYOA4Dj8F8QnviGW_EYOVH71WHpttnoTKqDKRVGHAJUXk9n-5zsTtX_Oz_51lpUQwkmqQeCTSKYyZOSj6B69Q1wMfcRiCtADnoktK3gJSva8/s320/ArcdeTriomphe3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbs483v1G28v3oDm-nqeu_8-lYTezJ8koX0hj4ekeLkMzVyu2oNzL2KG3-wITefQNX_hyiowwx34uybMh2xsJtkyLYXl20gVO56I_J1W2unigyKOaqaZAUuaqDMVfpszu4KicvEo3utA/s1600/ArcdeTriomphe4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbs483v1G28v3oDm-nqeu_8-lYTezJ8koX0hj4ekeLkMzVyu2oNzL2KG3-wITefQNX_hyiowwx34uybMh2xsJtkyLYXl20gVO56I_J1W2unigyKOaqaZAUuaqDMVfpszu4KicvEo3utA/s320/ArcdeTriomphe4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Swarovsky stairs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjm845Y9qRJZn_0LBIbQwTKp-TddMLtNhRuD4DHHCcitiw47uPISf2m7xLibNYl02pSBWB-ul4WMJjlqGJY7HFtJVwOJAvypRM5GC-S17wTdQbFmKlMt901uTJ9TTA59phFVymH1ZF034/s1600/SwarovskyStairs2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjm845Y9qRJZn_0LBIbQwTKp-TddMLtNhRuD4DHHCcitiw47uPISf2m7xLibNYl02pSBWB-ul4WMJjlqGJY7HFtJVwOJAvypRM5GC-S17wTdQbFmKlMt901uTJ9TTA59phFVymH1ZF034/s320/SwarovskyStairs2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chanel</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcC-42K7ZUuuFYIX1L9r1JIC-IlYJTb6N9cxqOFpe2UlLDYq_AJx0KkZy1mGcjJsH75GmjrAOvadnCWhOsr_9tf5-wUDtjG6tZXJkiSb5CK_F1JQk5U6l2nBfESR4KhJqTcS8lpjSzaA/s1600/Chanel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcC-42K7ZUuuFYIX1L9r1JIC-IlYJTb6N9cxqOFpe2UlLDYq_AJx0KkZy1mGcjJsH75GmjrAOvadnCWhOsr_9tf5-wUDtjG6tZXJkiSb5CK_F1JQk5U6l2nBfESR4KhJqTcS8lpjSzaA/s320/Chanel.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ladurée - mmmm macarons</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9vgRp5-_ENY_6U5ODzBjkM_L_kumSVQ5Z4EvqBODPrGNaUCVd94on7JVbgwEJhJ8mCDFSLe2X6-nizJSEpzLpJlu-8OksgzlN0Utc-GmU9iL-LS0E6L0wL9-go6T2bp9N0gna8GyhhY/s1600/Laduree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9vgRp5-_ENY_6U5ODzBjkM_L_kumSVQ5Z4EvqBODPrGNaUCVd94on7JVbgwEJhJ8mCDFSLe2X6-nizJSEpzLpJlu-8OksgzlN0Utc-GmU9iL-LS0E6L0wL9-go6T2bp9N0gna8GyhhY/s320/Laduree.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: left;">Until next time and Krakow, Poland...</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">~ L</div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-51008233961396214722010-09-20T14:21:00.000-04:002010-09-20T14:21:47.685-04:00We’re not in “Kansas” anymore…<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last night was the first night I slept right through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jet-lag be gone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*knocks on wood and gives a big cheer*</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We haven’t done much besides explore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day we’ve walked and walked and walked – Margaret and I have the sore feet to prove it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The neighborhood my apartment is in is wonderful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many stores and restaurants/cafes around here I’ll never be at a loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every corner you turn there is more and more to see.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday we actually made plans to do something specific.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met at Notre Dame for mass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glad I did it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Dear lady with the loud camera,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mass is not the time to take pictures with your loud camera – respect please!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After mass Margaret and I did some more wandering – since we’ve become so good at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had lunch at a café – my first Croque Monsieur of this trip was memorable.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are a few random photos taken since our arrival.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Notre Dame</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5VOPaFrpTrWS2cV4YXRq1INFK9Sf-s0jzq4jOvnoYU8JbLz0Nz2MiehYjEs1Pelngq3jrT_oYUM1dhuaxf7-ZQNzG-D64VDn2c_uRrGFoq6f-tRtmMasbqn_clqfqChPgNaWZtVFUQM/s1600/Notre+Dame.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5VOPaFrpTrWS2cV4YXRq1INFK9Sf-s0jzq4jOvnoYU8JbLz0Nz2MiehYjEs1Pelngq3jrT_oYUM1dhuaxf7-ZQNzG-D64VDn2c_uRrGFoq6f-tRtmMasbqn_clqfqChPgNaWZtVFUQM/s320/Notre+Dame.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Notre Dame</span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV34SUj6TEX72GozSLyPMKMtDneQvosoCcXV0JeUouap8H98DzGQllSdfFasdPGucPfN84kie17ygTI-1VGHRdE36IMUv6yh0SR0hoSWaYSCE_56Aic0dChjjjHEpq15HVKSbjQ0zUlt0/s1600/Notre+Dame2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV34SUj6TEX72GozSLyPMKMtDneQvosoCcXV0JeUouap8H98DzGQllSdfFasdPGucPfN84kie17ygTI-1VGHRdE36IMUv6yh0SR0hoSWaYSCE_56Aic0dChjjjHEpq15HVKSbjQ0zUlt0/s320/Notre+Dame2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fountain on Boulevard Sebastopol</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7eHChYlUbZ02JMO3_R_YtmXVLhWXqgwXa3Ng-1AowB9kUV_A_vkyzI0c16N_OfC_e80sdMNp06pyK2UiA-D1KlPHRIVLS-3NQIkFA771qqqJHOlLshine8PC7PxjZOWVkHJdKsjqD54/s1600/Fountain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7eHChYlUbZ02JMO3_R_YtmXVLhWXqgwXa3Ng-1AowB9kUV_A_vkyzI0c16N_OfC_e80sdMNp06pyK2UiA-D1KlPHRIVLS-3NQIkFA771qqqJHOlLshine8PC7PxjZOWVkHJdKsjqD54/s320/Fountain.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Interesting building</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7StZ6NtJ16Yg3Ltlbwe_7A0otHQ5_NMZstQBX7T5Niz1kr4ZnYGWYNaADR_6zsYdn6tKxpTYXdDZO-HTvdUmxgFB_VFC6mCbX_1uK5IHphBlSJCdAO6NF8frAoP-n6ug1Tm_QzCYAyCY/s1600/Interesting+bldg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7StZ6NtJ16Yg3Ltlbwe_7A0otHQ5_NMZstQBX7T5Niz1kr4ZnYGWYNaADR_6zsYdn6tKxpTYXdDZO-HTvdUmxgFB_VFC6mCbX_1uK5IHphBlSJCdAO6NF8frAoP-n6ug1Tm_QzCYAyCY/s320/Interesting+bldg.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gates</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIstNLOkdacJsR8pgjG-KUqlPwfVCV6RjAKt-E-BgoPhiHNMRgxhRvDN9GUQDfgq-bmqiXWmNfJZBum7-vaGzcnZWLRUDzHS-dVwgvuKOPtq3LegHWDdWI3ShHwGO9r231g9WSheH0Mw/s1600/Palais+de+Justice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIstNLOkdacJsR8pgjG-KUqlPwfVCV6RjAKt-E-BgoPhiHNMRgxhRvDN9GUQDfgq-bmqiXWmNfJZBum7-vaGzcnZWLRUDzHS-dVwgvuKOPtq3LegHWDdWI3ShHwGO9r231g9WSheH0Mw/s320/Palais+de+Justice.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seine</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF27MNTMARb-TezAjeNweKEKs6s3MX9L65M-pTByaXsdQLy3RGm3UDKzXa55T0eBBtj_fiz35pyWls1Ww2u1l72KpRkRK-OIxPA9GMG6yL6CurPYSIYlK1iR-cvFEHDQ-b1u4iKh-8mVY/s1600/Seine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF27MNTMARb-TezAjeNweKEKs6s3MX9L65M-pTByaXsdQLy3RGm3UDKzXa55T0eBBtj_fiz35pyWls1Ww2u1l72KpRkRK-OIxPA9GMG6yL6CurPYSIYlK1iR-cvFEHDQ-b1u4iKh-8mVY/s320/Seine.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://shakespeareandcompany.com/">Shakespeare and Co.</a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~L</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left"></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-89787394044069757452010-09-16T12:43:00.000-04:002010-09-16T12:43:50.396-04:00Cheers! Here's to being laid off!My alternate title for this post was "The Beverly Hillbilly Goes Business Class on a Swiss Airbus A330-300". It's not that I haven't flown first/business class before but I forgot how much fun it is to be treated like a queen by an airline. Not 5 minutes after boarding I had a glass of champagne in my hand and a bag of goodies beside me. <br />
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The goodies consist of socks, ear plugs, eye errr mask?, toothbrush/paste. Not that exciting really. This is Swiss Airlines - where are my Chocolates? (Whew I found them at the end of dinner)<br />
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So the seat - yep it's good. There's a button for "Mood light" - erm what exactly do they expect people to get in the mood for on a plane? (We'll call that a rhetorical question.) There is lumbar support - 4 buttons for just that...in, out, up, down. There's a button for the leg rest. Is the seat too hard or too soft for you Goldilocks? No worries, they've thought of that too. It's like a "Sleep Number" seat. Mustn't forget the bed button - these puppies lie flat! Those are all wonderful features but I think my favorite has to be the massage button! Yes it's true...massage on a plane - I like it!<br />
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I've never disliked airline food. I realize it has a bad reputation but I've never had a bad meal. They brought me a menu for my dinner of many courses. I started with a Seasonal salad with balsamic vinaigrette (Why does that sound so classy, when normally I don't even like salad!) followed by my choice for main course which is Fillet of beef with cress butter, potato, and basil gratin sauteed mushrooms. (What the hell is cress butter? Oh well, see above re salad). The beef was followed by two different cheeses, with bread (that had walnuts in it -yum) and non-salted butter. All accompanied by another glass of champagne. Dessert was a wonderful Chocolate, pistachio and hazelnut mousse. To top it all off, tea and Swiss chocolates. <br />
Dinner was delicious. I watched a movie while I ate. It's almost time for a sleep. I've tested out the massage action of my seat and yep it works just fine!<br />
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At this point we're 1 hour and 39 minutes from Zurich. Yep I have a third leg after this. No biggie though, it's a short flight. Margaret should have just landed in Paris. We unfortunately didn't end up on the same flights, let alone airlines, but we did happen to be connecting in Montreal at the same time so we saw each other for a few minutes. I haven't napped (par for the course with me when I have a head-cold like I do) but hopefully she has had better luck. Once we get to the apartment I think we'll both try to get a little shut-eye before we venture out.<br />
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~ LLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-58341476681058222662010-09-13T20:01:00.000-04:002010-09-13T20:01:19.517-04:00Time flies...kinda.It was just over a year ago that the idea of going to Paris was born. Time seemed to go very slowly, until recently. Now I have two more sleeps.<br />
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My emotions are all over the place. I'm going to miss Keith and Alex a whole bunch. It breaks my heart to leave Bizou (my dog) for such a long time - he's my baby and tad spoiled. I wish he spoke English so I could explain. I'm nervous too - can't really pinpoint why. Perhaps because I've never been away from home for such a long period, or because I'm traveling without my family for the first time. I'm also extremely excited - no explanation needed there.<br />
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Three days from now I'll be in Paris. In my new temporary home. In my temporary neighborhood. I'm really looking forward to exploring the neighborhood. <b><i>My</i></b> neighborhood!<br />
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~ LLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-6775396104437883112010-09-07T11:54:00.000-04:002010-09-07T11:54:29.253-04:00Getting there...I've about finished making my notes. Lots of places I'd like to visit, eat at, window shop at. It's like my own personal version of Frommers'.<br />
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We want to go to Amsterdam by train for 3 days - that is proving to be complicated. The train tickets have to be purchased on the French site as we are not in the U.K. I have some French under my belt but get stuck at the part about picking up the tickets. I've read that a foreign credit card can't be used when picking them up. That can't be right but it's holding me back none the less. I haven't given up but what a pain. I've also been doing a lot of research on hostels there - the common word that keeps creeping up (pun intended) in reviews of various hostels is "bedbugs". I can handle dirt or crappy paint jobs, but bugs? No way! Disgusting! I'm looking into hotels at this point.<br />
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~ L<br />
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P.S. I've decided not to bring nail polish and just buy a bottle there...but what do I do about base coat and top coat muuuuuhahaha *rolls her eyes*Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-54734989739448356132010-09-01T10:59:00.002-04:002010-09-01T10:59:56.126-04:00Two Weeks from Today...I'm not ready...I have a million and one little things to do. Kind of reminds me of the panic of getting ready for Christmas. On the other hand I'm so damn excited it can't get here soon enough. Oh, I know it'll get it all done. I have been making lists - that helps. <br />
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Speaking of lists - what's the rule on taking nail polish in your checked suitcase? Anyone?<br />
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Pardon my ramble ~<br />
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~LLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-17325051452509403352010-08-17T09:54:00.000-04:002010-08-17T09:54:37.833-04:00When in Rome...We've all heard that Parisians are rude. I don't believe there are any more rude people there than anywhere else. I do believe that the French take their culture seriously - and why shouldn't they? It's their home and we should respect that.<br />
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With all the reading I've done over the last year the one thing that I've read over and over again is this: when you enter any place of business, whether it be a restaurant, a grocery store, or the local boulangerie (bakery) make the effort to say "Bonjour Madame/Monsieur" and the same can be said for leaving - say "Au revoir". Think of the person as hosting you in their establishment. It's almost like going to someone's home. No matter how bad your french, make the effort and it will appreciated.<br />
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The following article talks about this and other things: <a href="http://www.parisiensalon.com/2010/08/visiting-paris-follow-these-rules/">Visiting Paris? Follow These Rules</a>.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-16550847215045267692010-08-13T10:35:00.000-04:002010-08-13T10:35:18.316-04:00WanderlustThe three of us, my husband, son and I love to travel. I was raised by parents who loved travel and was fortunate to do quite a bit of it as a kid. When I was a teenager my parents and I went to France for a month. When my husband and I got married, we went to France on our honeymoon for 3 weeks. We also detoured to Belgium (hated Brussels - bad experience unfortunately, loved Bruges!), Amsterdam and Luxembourg. <br />
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We've taken many family vacations over the years. In the last 6 years we've taken 3 cruises and been to Mexico 3 other trips all to escape the nasty Canadian winters. We go to California at least once a year as my husband is from there and his kids (they're grown) live there. It's really no wonder my son Alex who is 16 loves to travel. When he was a little younger I remember him asking "so where are we going this year?". <br />
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Although I'm a fan of visiting different places, it's not just about the place. I have never, and will never be a history buff. I don't really care what happened there...that sounds bad but it is what it is. Different architecture is lovely to look at but to me travel is about the "feel" of a new place, the culture, the people, the food.<br />
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A few weeks ago I had an epiphany (one of my favorite words, besides anvil - don't ask). I decided that I'd like Alex to join Margaret and I in Paris for 10 days at the end of our visit. Being that he's 16 I know I only have a few more years with him at home and our family vacations. I really want to show him Paris. We have fun together. He and Margaret know each other. I asked him if he wanted to come and of course he answered yes right away. (A few days after that he asked me why I ASKED him and what made me think he wouldn't be interested lol) I booked his airline ticket a couple of days ago, so it's official. I'm thrilled that he's coming and looking forward to it.<br />
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~LLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-57136017090876577852010-08-12T13:53:00.000-04:002010-08-12T13:53:00.201-04:00ResearchOver the last year I've done a lot of reading about Paris and France in general. Book-wise I've read what would be considered travel literature. It's been interesting to learn the dos and dont's of the culture from a newbie perspective. It also helped me focus on something other than losing my job.<br />
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Here are a few of my favorites:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cest-Vie-American---Voila---Becomes/dp/B000BSFQJG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281622921&sr=1-1"><i>C'est la Vie</i></a> by Suzy Gershman<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Life-Paris-Adventures-Perplexing/dp/0767928881/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281623027&sr=1-3">The Sweet Life in Paris</a> by David Lebovitz <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Town-Like-Paris-Falling-Light/dp/0767928172/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281623117&sr=1-1"><i>A Town Like Paris</i></a> by Bryce Corbett <br />
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I've also spent a lot of time reading blogs written by expats living in Paris. It's been a great way to find out about where to shop, where to eat etc.<br />
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This is by no means the complete list of the blogs I follow:<br />
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<a href="http://www.myfullcup.com/le-blog.html"><i>A Year of Change</i></a> - Gina writes about her family's adventures when her husband's job takes them to Paris for what was supposed to be a year's stay. What started out as the blog of a stranger, Gina and I have become friends. :)<br />
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<i><a href="http://anamericanathomeinparis.blogspot.com/">An American at Home in Paris</a></i><br />
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<i><a href="http://www.colleensparis.com/blog/">Colleen's Paris Blog</a></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.ipreferparis.net/"><i>I Prefer Paris</i></a><br />
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<a href="http://peter-pho2.blogspot.com/"><i>Peter's Paris</i></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.secretsofparis.com/"><i>Secret's of Paris</i></a><br />
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<a href="http://hipparis.com/"><i>HiP Paris Blog</i></a><br />
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From all my research I've started a notebook. I have sections on shopping, restaurants and to do's. Within each section I will be organizing by arrondissement (neighborhood). At least that's the plan. I have a ton of bookmarks on my computer as well, which I have to go through. Hey, gives me something to do before the trip n'est ce pas!<br />
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~LLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-80329636588305639212010-08-10T18:21:00.000-04:002010-08-10T18:21:25.746-04:00The DecisionMy best friend Margaret, who worked at the same place I did was also a victim of lay-off. About a year ago when we knew lay-offs were imminent she told me she was thinking of going to France for to learn French. The lightbulb went off over my head. We talked and decided it would be a fun adventure for the two of us. In a month she and I will be flying to Paris to spend 5 glorious weeks.<br />
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Although she will be taking French courses part time I will spend my time as a woman of leisure. She is registered for classes three mornings a week, so we'll still have plenty of time together. We are not staying at the same place. She was able to get student housing and I have rented an apartment.<br />
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The apartment hunt hasn't been a lot of fun. September is still considered high season and I had a list of criteria the length of my arm. I spent many many hours researching online. There are a ton of agency and non-agency websites where you can peruse one apartment after another. I finally nailed down a place through <a href="http://www.parisattitude.com/">http://www.parisattitude.com/</a>. They've been great to deal with. The only downer is the added fees. There is an agency fee, a cleaning fee, insurance (mandatory in France), and cost of utilities is also extra. My suggestion to anyone looking for an apartment would be to start early!<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Rue+des+Lombards,+Paris,+France&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=38.266076,114.169922&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Rue+des+Lombards,+Paris,+France&ll=48.859522,2.348785&spn=0.037947,0.111494&z=14&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Rue+des+Lombards,+Paris,+France&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=38.266076,114.169922&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Rue+des+Lombards,+Paris,+France&ll=48.859522,2.348785&spn=0.037947,0.111494&z=14" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
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The area looks promising. It's in the 4th Arrondissement. There are a lot of cafe/restaurants nearby, not to mention shopping. The apartment itself is small, but that's standard there. It's a studio alcove, so it has a living room area and a bedroom area which was important to me. I didn't want to have to make up a pull-out couch every day for 5 weeks. It also has a large terrace with a table and chairs so I can step outside to drink my tea in the morning. <br />
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~LLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905842914162814826.post-13110534005642904812010-08-06T22:32:00.000-04:002010-08-06T22:32:27.371-04:00Start at the BeginningAfter a really tough year at work, the lay-off notices arrived. I'd been working there 26 years and was one of many to be laid-off. It was a tough 13 months leading up to my last days. I went through a lot of emotions, both good and bad, but felt really good when I walked out of my cubicle for the last time. The sadness I felt that last day was about the people I worked with. I knew I would miss them.<br />
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It's been just over 4 months and I have to say the lay-off was a good thing. You don't realize how stressed out you are until the stress is gone. I've been enjoying my time off...a lot! Although I haven't been doing all that much, I have filled a lot of my time planning a trip...but that will be my next entry...<br />
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...till then<br />
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~LLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06951529384024660619noreply@blogger.com2