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Saturday, March 31, 2012

Andrew Bird - La Cigale


We went to Paris for the night to see Andrew Bird live in concert at La Cigale. We’ve been wanting to see Andrew Bird for some time now, so it was really amazing that we got to see him in Paris and that the venue was La Cigale. La Cigale is a beautiful old theatre in the Montmarte district.
During the day we went to the Hotel national des Invalides to visit the war museum and see Napoleon’s tomb.
 



We also went to the flagship Repetto store near the Paris Opera so I could get some new demi-pointe dance shoes. It turns out that I’m not the only one who seeks out the Repetto flagship store for a sentimental souvenir because Sarah Jessica Parker was there! It was my first time seeing a celebrity “up close.” I didn’t immediately recognize her; she was wearing enormous glasses and walking around with her blackberry taking photos. I thought to myself, wow that women really resembles Sarah Jessica Parker, and then she smiled at me. And then I thought maybe it is Sarah Jessica Parker... It was when she started speaking to the sales woman that I knew for sure. Of course she was speaking English, but also I just recognized her voice. It was strange to recognize the voice of someone I’ve never met before.
Afterwards we went out for a coffee and got some snacks for our apartment hotel before heading out to the concert. It was a terrific show and a wonderful overnight in Paris.



Friday, March 30, 2012

Amsterdam

We’d been talking about going to Amsterdam ever since we moved to France. For some reasons the train tickets are very expensive but we finally decided its now or never, and instead rented a car and headed out for a two night stay.  We left after work and parked the car in one of the park and ride stations outside the city centre. We spent the first night somewhat disoriented, walking around residential streets. Finally we figured out where we were, two steps away from the Red Light District. There we were able to find something to eat, the trusty ol’kebab of course. We stopped in a pub from some Heineken on tap and people watched as the fellow tourists wandered by the ladies in the red-lit windows.  Afterwards we wandered back to the Leidse Plein district near our hotel where we finished our first night at a jazz bar.

The next day we went to the Albert Cuyp market before going to tour the Heineken brewery. 





We spent the rest of the day wandering around the city centre, taking pictures, and doing some shopping.
 
A trip to Holland wouldn't be complete without a Windmill!
The next morning after purchasing some Gouda and Tulips to take home, we headed out back to France....

Amsterdam - video

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Thank you


Thank you, to all our friends and family whose love and support has been so greatly appreciated. It’s wonderful to feel that although we live an ocean apart we’re not really that far from home.


Un gros merci à tous nos amis chez nous en France aussi. Votre soutien et amitié sont toujours beaucoup beaucoup apprécie. Je vous embrasse.


Sunday, January 8, 2012

Buon Anno!


After a wonderful Christmas in Arras we flew into Rome to spend a few days on the Amalfi coast. We stayed in a lovely house rental over looking the Mediterranean in the small coastal town of Massa Lubrense. 
                                                                            The view from our roof deck   

Upon arriving on our day we settled in and took a short hike down to the waterfront recommended by the two Luigis. 

The sun was setting as we wound our way back up the twisting streets

The next day we went to see the unearthed ancient city of Pompeii.







And finally on the third we braved the winding seaside roads to see the Amalfi coast. Andre drove us along the winding roads stopping to take pictures whenever there was a curb large enough, and stopping for a beer here and some pasta there in Amalfi and Ravello.










Click play to watch the video above

Our last day was spent visiting Sorrento sampling the lemoncello and of course my favorite chocolatas so thick you need to eat them with a spoon...












Our only grey day, Sorrento 

The next day we left the coast for Rome where we spent the last two days of our holiday walking around the old city and celebrating the New Year! 






It was a wonderful Christmas vacation. Our last days together were spent back in Arras. Bob and Louise left for Canada soon after, but not before we enjoyed the French tradition of La galette des rois!













The traditional galette is either a marzipan our apple pastry baked with a small figurine la fève inside. The youngest must go under the table and tell the person cutting the pastry who will eat each slice. The person who finds la fève is the king! 

Vous me manquez beaucoup!!