Thursday, July 15, 2010
Au revoir Paris
Another busy day in Paris. The weather was nicer than yesterday, and with Nancy mastering the subway system we did much less walking. We visited a number of places such as the Orangerie Gallery, which houses Monet's large water lilly paintings. Then we visited the tomb of Napoleon at the Musee L'Armee, a huge military building/museum. His tomb is outrageous, full of marble, decorations, relief carving and guilding. We also visited the Musee Rodin, and walked through the sculpture gardens. We finished the morning visiting the Eugene Delacroix home and studio. In the afternoon, we ventured to the Cathedral Notre Dame. No Quasimodo to be found. :( Nancy liked the Cathedral, but did not find it as stunning as the Notre Dame Cathedral in Montreal. We had a very enjoyable day, but were quite tired. We packed it in for the evening and planned the next couple of days.
Tomorrow we have a big day of travelling planned. We hope to take the 8am train from Paris to Amiens. Then travel to the Longueau British Cemetary, to find the grave site of George Hunter. From there, we will catch a train to Arras to visit the Vimy Ridge Memorial. Finally, catch the train from Arras to Calais, where we have a room booked. We better make those trains! Our plan is to take the ferry to Dover the next morning. Fingers crossed for good weather!
Hope to check in again soon, and we hope all is well with family and friends back home. Thinking of you all while we are away!
Love, JR and Nancy
Tomorrow we have a big day of travelling planned. We hope to take the 8am train from Paris to Amiens. Then travel to the Longueau British Cemetary, to find the grave site of George Hunter. From there, we will catch a train to Arras to visit the Vimy Ridge Memorial. Finally, catch the train from Arras to Calais, where we have a room booked. We better make those trains! Our plan is to take the ferry to Dover the next morning. Fingers crossed for good weather!
Hope to check in again soon, and we hope all is well with family and friends back home. Thinking of you all while we are away!
Love, JR and Nancy
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Paris... Ooo la la
Nancy insisted on the title...
We have had a busy couple of days. Leaving Brussels went very smoothly. After our very comfortable train ride, we embarked on our journey to find our hotel in Paris. Our grand illusions of easily finding our hotel were shattered. Our planned route developed into a sit down at a cyber cafe to regroup and find our way. WARNING! Do not use GOOGLE MAPS for European cities. Some streets are not correctly labelled, oh well.
We found our hotel to our great relief, and had a little nap. When we awoke, we decided to venture out into the city. We took a looooooong walk along the Seine River to the Eiffel Tower. Apparently, everyone else decided to do the same thing, but before us, for there were extremely long lines to go up the tower. Hours later, we found ourselves looking out over the city skyline as the light show began.
Then we decided to do more walking... to the Arc de Triomphe. Unfortunately we didn't get to go inside to the top, as it was closed. Finally, we decided to take the metro instead of walking back to our hotel.
Day2 (it's getting late, going to bed now)
Amazing day of art. Went to the Louvre, Musee D'Orsay and Centre Pompidou... simply amazing. My favourite day of art viewing ever. Nancy was very patient :) but she enjoyed it too.
Big day planned tomorrow... must sleep now
Goodnight
=JR and Nancy
We have had a busy couple of days. Leaving Brussels went very smoothly. After our very comfortable train ride, we embarked on our journey to find our hotel in Paris. Our grand illusions of easily finding our hotel were shattered. Our planned route developed into a sit down at a cyber cafe to regroup and find our way. WARNING! Do not use GOOGLE MAPS for European cities. Some streets are not correctly labelled, oh well.
We found our hotel to our great relief, and had a little nap. When we awoke, we decided to venture out into the city. We took a looooooong walk along the Seine River to the Eiffel Tower. Apparently, everyone else decided to do the same thing, but before us, for there were extremely long lines to go up the tower. Hours later, we found ourselves looking out over the city skyline as the light show began.
Then we decided to do more walking... to the Arc de Triomphe. Unfortunately we didn't get to go inside to the top, as it was closed. Finally, we decided to take the metro instead of walking back to our hotel.
Day2 (it's getting late, going to bed now)
Amazing day of art. Went to the Louvre, Musee D'Orsay and Centre Pompidou... simply amazing. My favourite day of art viewing ever. Nancy was very patient :) but she enjoyed it too.
Big day planned tomorrow... must sleep now
Goodnight
=JR and Nancy
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Leaving for Paris
Had a great morning in Brussels. The hotel held onto our bags while we went to the Gallery Beaux Arts. I'm so glad we decided to go there today! I saw some works that really surprised me: Rembrandt, Van dyke, Jordaens, Boosch, Ruebens, Bruehgel! Just amazing, I had asked people on the way to Brussels what kind of art they had, the response was mediocre. Nancy and I had a really nice lunch at a 'traditional Irish pub'. I did a sketch after lunch and then we stopped by the internet cafe before we walk to the train station. We are now off to Paris!
Ciao!
thanks for the comments everyone!
Ciao!
thanks for the comments everyone!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Enjoying Belgium
Hello,
Nancy and I have had some very enjoyable days in Belgium. Yesterday, we got up very early to catch a train to Brugges. There we were picked up by a tour group to go on a tour of Ypres and Flanders fields. We visited many commonwealth memorial sites, and cemeteries. We had a very informative tour guide and a small group, including a Canadian couple from Montreal and a family of three from Newcastle, England. It was a long day, but interesting and sombre. Two sites that stood out in paricular was the Canadian Memorial at "Vancouver Corner", and the cemetery site, which was originally the dressing station run by Dr.John McCrae(Flander's Fields).
After the tour, we planned on going back to Brussels, but luckly decided last minute to head into Brugge. This turned out to be a great idea, as it was a very beautiful city. It is known as the Venice of the north, with canals running through various parts of the city centre. Initially we were going to head back the next day, but there were chances of rain and we felt we were simply didn't have the time to train back to the city for another trip.
Instead, we decided to spend Monday in Brussels. A city that has surprised me in a very positive way. I expected it to be like a lay over before we reached Paris, however it has been a very pleasant surprise, with its beautiful cobble stone walk ways, historic buildings and many outdoor patios. A benefit to the experience is how friendly and helpful the staff has been at our hotel. The Pantone has been very great, where our front desk will do anything for us. Our hotel room has been a real luxury, spacious sitting area, a huge terrace balcony and air conditioning. We decided to stay an extra night, leaving for Paris on Tuesday from Brussels.
Unfortunately the galleries and museums are closed here on Mondays, so in the morning we plan to visit the Gallery Beaux Arts before we leave for Paris.
Until next post
- JR and Nancy
Nancy and I have had some very enjoyable days in Belgium. Yesterday, we got up very early to catch a train to Brugges. There we were picked up by a tour group to go on a tour of Ypres and Flanders fields. We visited many commonwealth memorial sites, and cemeteries. We had a very informative tour guide and a small group, including a Canadian couple from Montreal and a family of three from Newcastle, England. It was a long day, but interesting and sombre. Two sites that stood out in paricular was the Canadian Memorial at "Vancouver Corner", and the cemetery site, which was originally the dressing station run by Dr.John McCrae(Flander's Fields).
After the tour, we planned on going back to Brussels, but luckly decided last minute to head into Brugge. This turned out to be a great idea, as it was a very beautiful city. It is known as the Venice of the north, with canals running through various parts of the city centre. Initially we were going to head back the next day, but there were chances of rain and we felt we were simply didn't have the time to train back to the city for another trip.
Instead, we decided to spend Monday in Brussels. A city that has surprised me in a very positive way. I expected it to be like a lay over before we reached Paris, however it has been a very pleasant surprise, with its beautiful cobble stone walk ways, historic buildings and many outdoor patios. A benefit to the experience is how friendly and helpful the staff has been at our hotel. The Pantone has been very great, where our front desk will do anything for us. Our hotel room has been a real luxury, spacious sitting area, a huge terrace balcony and air conditioning. We decided to stay an extra night, leaving for Paris on Tuesday from Brussels.
Unfortunately the galleries and museums are closed here on Mondays, so in the morning we plan to visit the Gallery Beaux Arts before we leave for Paris.
Until next post
- JR and Nancy
Saturday, July 10, 2010
More Pictures From Amsterdam
These are all from the same post, just broke up the posting of pictures to the site. written blog below pictures. Just click on "July" and it will show the previous posts. click on pictures to get a bigger image.
Pictures from Amsterdam
Here are some pictures from the past few days in Amsterdam. As the post below says = we're now in Brussels.
We're In Brussels!!
Bon soir!
Despite the desire to be in Amsterdam for the World Cup, we skipped town. We are now in Brussels trying to type on a french keyboard. (not so easy)
Amsterdam was great. Luckily our friends Becca and Jeff told us to get an "i amsterdam" card, which allowed us to see all kinds of places; including a tour book, so we knew where exactly to go. We visited the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh museum, some canal houses and a canal tour, just to name a few. My highlight was visiting the Rembrandt house, where I saw his house but also his painting studio and print studio. They had an artist run a print demonstration, I got chatting to him afterward and he gave me a copied print of a Rembrandt print. Very cool! There are many more highlights to relate, such as the Anne Frank House- a very moving exhibit involving a recreation of the Secret Annex, in the actual canal house, followed by documents, letters and interviews. Thanks to Lauren, Nancy read the Diary of Anne Frank just before we left.
So we decided to take a train to Brussels, a step closer to Paris. Plans are to stay here for a couple days, making day trips to Brugge and Ghent.
I will add some photos after this message, they are mostly of Amsterdam.
We are doing really well, and are very pleased with our hotel in Brussels. Nancy picked one out off the net, very quickly: hotel pantone( great pick) a funky colour set up; very new and spacious!
Cheers JR and Nancy
Despite the desire to be in Amsterdam for the World Cup, we skipped town. We are now in Brussels trying to type on a french keyboard. (not so easy)
Amsterdam was great. Luckily our friends Becca and Jeff told us to get an "i amsterdam" card, which allowed us to see all kinds of places; including a tour book, so we knew where exactly to go. We visited the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh museum, some canal houses and a canal tour, just to name a few. My highlight was visiting the Rembrandt house, where I saw his house but also his painting studio and print studio. They had an artist run a print demonstration, I got chatting to him afterward and he gave me a copied print of a Rembrandt print. Very cool! There are many more highlights to relate, such as the Anne Frank House- a very moving exhibit involving a recreation of the Secret Annex, in the actual canal house, followed by documents, letters and interviews. Thanks to Lauren, Nancy read the Diary of Anne Frank just before we left.
So we decided to take a train to Brussels, a step closer to Paris. Plans are to stay here for a couple days, making day trips to Brugge and Ghent.
I will add some photos after this message, they are mostly of Amsterdam.
We are doing really well, and are very pleased with our hotel in Brussels. Nancy picked one out off the net, very quickly: hotel pantone( great pick) a funky colour set up; very new and spacious!
Cheers JR and Nancy
Thursday, July 08, 2010
We Made it to Amsterdam!
Yesterday, we arrived in Amsterdam at about 9am. The flight was great, actually arriving early. We took a short train ride from the airport to the centre of Amsterdam. Here are some pictures from today and yesterday.
Nancy and I have had a great second day, touring museums and galleries, walking about the city.
I'm short on time, more to come!
Friday, July 02, 2010
Planning for European Adventure 2010
I thought it was time to blow the dust off this blog and fire it up. One easy stop to find out where and what Nancy and JR are up to while in Europe.
One more day until we leave!
On Tuesday, July 6th, Nancy and I will be leaving for Amsterdam to kick off our European adventure!
One more day until we leave!
On Tuesday, July 6th, Nancy and I will be leaving for Amsterdam to kick off our European adventure!
Saturday, January 28, 2006
First Post
So.... I've made it. I have stepped up and joined the bloggers community. Its a strange feeling, but I guess before I know it I'll be posting all the time. Cheers!
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