Christmas London Style!

I hope everyones holidays were as great as my time in London was! I spent 4 days in London with Susan and her roomates Suzanne and Jackie. It was absolutely fantastic and I had a really great time. Here are a few pictures from our Christmas celebration. We cooked a huge Christmas feast including Turkey, homemade bread, and about 5 kinds of veggies. So yummy!

We forgot to get a Christmas tree so we just used some Bamboo that Jackie's sister had in her appartment. That's where we were for Christmas because her sister was in Ireland with her partner...that's where he's from...don't you love all the fun gifts under the tree!

All the food we cooked over the previous 24 hours. It was all so good...great group effort on all our parts!!!! See the bread...I made that! Thanks Mom!

Suzanne modeling her beautiful Christmas dress

New skirt and top!! Too flowy together but just wanted to wear some new stuff!!! We all got dressed up in our Sunday bests for dinner...so much fun!

Jackie and Suzanne modeling their hot outfits for the camera. Work it girls!!!

Sitting down to our yummy dinner after what felt like days of prep work!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY HOLIDAY AND MERRY NEW YEAR!
I HOPE SANTA IS GOOD TO ALL OF YOU THAT BELIEVE IN BABY JESUS AND THAT THE HANUKKAH ARMADILLO BRINGS ALL MY JEWISH FRIENDS LOTS OF FUN STUFF!

MISS YOU ALL!

HUGS AND KISSES!!!

Home Sweet Home

This is what I looked like during my whole trip around Europe. Huge bag on the back, day pack on the front, messenger bag on the side, and my canvas Verona bag on my shoulder. I thought I would get one last picture of the whole get-up on move-in day! I have no idea who the people in the background are, but they look really scared of me and all my bags!

This is my new bedroom...I bought all new linens and decided to go with a burgandy and black motif...I actually bought black sheets! I feel so sophisticated! And sexy...just kidding Dad! The walls are very white so I'll have to get a lot of posters to put up to add that special Amanda touch!

And the living room. Yes, that is a fireplace and it WORKS...with real wood...or coal...or something...but basically I can light a fire and be nice and toasty. And yes, that is a TV, WITH CABLE so I can get caught up on all the North American shows that are starting a season behind over in Ireland. No couch, so hangover days are going to be killer, but super comfy Ikea chairs!

This is the kitchen...very nice...we have a full size table with lots of chairs so I can start to have dinner parties, once I make new friends of course.

Yup, that's our fridge! It's built in and looks just like a normal cupboard! I know you are all WAY jealous!

Amanda O'Gulka

I have SO much to share!!! Its only been 3 days but so much has happened to me! I arrived safe and sound in Galway on Sunday and of course it was raining! It just made me feel so welcome! But it managed to clear up by early evening so I did venture out for a bit of a wander around the city centre. Its so amazing here. Not too big and everyone is really friendly!
Sunday night I made some phone calls about room postings I had found online and set up a bunch of meetings for Monday. When I arrived at my hostel, the guy that checked me in told me not to be too disapointed if I didn't find a place right away, but that just pushed me to find a place and prove him wrong.
On Monday morning I went and saw the first place, unfortunately there were two females living in the house and they both smoked so the house did smell a little like an ashtray. But I was willing to take it for a few months if it meant I could have somewhere stable for a few weeks. Fortunately I had also set up some viewings for that evening so kept my fingers crossed.
The second place I looked at was also a single room and was quite nice, and the girls living in the house seemed like a really good time, but once again they smoked. But I was willing to deal with it because I really liked the girls there.
The third place was in a house where the owner lived, a young woman who bought the house just this year. The room is a double and there is no one smoking in the house.
The fourth place was pretty, but I would be sharing with 3 boys, and the house wasn't really too neat.
So I had it narrowed down to 2 places and just needed to choose between them. With a little help from Heidi, I decided to go with the third place I saw and moved in yesterday morning. Unfortunately I didn't the guy at the hostel before I left, but Galway isn't too big so I'm sure I'll see him around at some point!
I love my new place!! My landlady is named Orla and she has been living in Galway for 4 years and works as a Solicitor...kind of like a Lawyer. She's really fun and I am already enjoying living with her. There is another woman living in the house right now, but she is leaving to go to school or something...I think in Cork...so there will be someone else moving into her room and then there is also a single room empty, but I don't know if Orla is going to fill it.
Yesterday I went and bought all new linens and I spent my first night in my new bed last night and it was utter heaven. I took some pictures and will post them, but I forgot my USB cord so will do it the next time I come to a computer.
I have registered with the local Immigration and have applied for a PPS number (basically a Social Insurance Number because they don't really want mine from home...no idea why, but they said no).
I have started to post my CV (resume for all you who don't speak European) and will hopefully find something shortly after the holidays.
Heading to London tomorrow to spend Christmas with Susan, my awsome friend from Australia. It should be a great time, except of course when we both realize that we aren't at home and have the big cry!
I still can't believe that I am really here and settled! I even have a new Hair Dresser! Got my hair cut today and he is HOTT!!!!!! Might have to start getting regular cuts just so I can see him!
I have been on this computer for way too long so I am going to head out and grab some food for dinner and then head home to pack...again!
Love to you all!
PS sent out an email with my phone number (the last number I sent had one too many 0) and new address so if you didn't get it just let me know!

Doughnut anyone?

I never thought I would want to sleep so much, but it appears that my body has realized that we have stopped for a few days and that it isn't super important to run around and see everything, and has taken the opportunity to just crash. But I'm not complaining...it has earned the right to sleep for a while.
Dublin has been brilliant so far and I have even met some new friends already! Yesterday I went to my Ireland Orientation, where I learned all I need to do to set up a bank account, pay taxes (yuk!), and some tips on doing my CV...crazy Europeans don't use resumes, but rather a CV which is a little tiny bit different. While there I met a woman named Becky who is a Canadian girl from Saskatchewan, Saskatoon to be exact, and apparently knows a Scott Gulka...I'm sure I am related to this person, I just have no idea how. Anyway, she taught english in Asia for 3 years and met an Irishman and decided to move over to Dublin to be with him...wait...isn't that my dream??? She's super fun and we hung out yesterday afternoon while I hunted for some info on getting a cell phone. During our travels we actually came across a sign that seemed very familiar. Yes, that's a Tim Hortons sign in Dublin...and it says, 'So Fresh They Must be Canadian'...don't really get the slogan, apparently Canadians are fresh but I never knew that. Anyway, Irishmen like our doughnuts, but the coffee isn't avaiable...weird I know.
Today I finally made my cell phone decision and so went out to get it and afterwards decided to go and have a Starbucks hotchocoloate as a treat. While sitting there reading my book, a woman approached and asked if there was anyone else sitting in the comfy chair at the table. I told her no and we started to chat. Her name is Barbara and she is a real Irish. So incredibly sweet and nice, she let me sit and talk all about my favorite topic, me and my travels. We exchanged emails and she told me that whenever I come back to Dublin I have to stay with her. I am clearly loving this country!
So I sent out out an email with my new phone number in it, but if you didn't receive it for some reason, just email me back and I'll send it to you....just don't want to post it on here and end up having crazies calling me at all hours of the day and night...although it does sound like the beginning of a romantic movie...and the beginning of a creepy thriller where a stalker calls me then finds out where I live and then kills all my friends....just gives me the willies...so in the interest of the lives of all the friends I hope to make in Galway, I'll just email it to people.
Tomorrow I am heading off to Galway and I have contacted a few people to set up times to look at a few appartments early this week. So exciting!
That's about it for now, talk to you all again soon!

Its SOOO green! Oh right, its the Emerald Isle!

Everyone told me it was going to be, and I knew that it was going to be, but I was still so surprised at how green Ireland was from my plane window. I spent the last 20 minutes or so of my flight with my forehead glued to the window looking for any glimpse of my home for the next year, and then there it was. The sky was totally clear so I didn't have to deal with thick clouds and in fact could see the little golfers on the greens...yes dad its true...they are still playing golf in Ireland on the 15th of December.
It was so fun to get into the customs line and get to tell the guy at the desk that I was there to work...and get this...he was really funny! I know! A Customs official with a sense of humour! I have never encountered one of those in an Airport before! I thought they were just a fabled myth...but I am in the lands of magic so that must be why.
My bus ride into Dublin was even really amusing as I had a bit of a character as a bus driver. He speaks numerous languages and would announce all the stops in Irish, English, French, Spanish, and German, including his accented 'blah blah blahs'. He also gave me some safety advice about areas to avoid at night when alone. I was actually a little sad to have to get off the bus.
Tomorrow I am going for my orientation where they will hopefully tell me about some great jobs in Galway and help me get my bank account all set up, and then on Sunday I am going to take the train across the country to get settled! Super excited! My two first priorities are getting a cell phone and a place to live so as soon as I have either I will send out an email to everyone tell you my new contact info. And then you can all start calling me and sending me mail to your hearts content! How exciting for you!
That's about it from the Emerald Isle today! Don't worry that now that I am here I am going to stop posting on my blog, I would never take away such an important procrastination tool used by so many of my family and friends! Postings just might become a little less frequent.
Love to you all!

Ode to Paris...in the form of a Top 10

1. There are SO many things that I love about France, but I think that one of the things that I love the most has been speaking French. Not only is it great to be understood and to understand others, but I also feel so very chic being able to Parler Francais! I might have hated learning it and getting frustrated with all the friggin past tense verbs, but I have found it to be an invaluable skill to have. I have met so many people who said that the Parisians are really unfriendly, but I have not come across any of these people. Just like anywhere else, by making the effort to communicate in their language they are all the more willing to help you out. My kids are SO going to be bilingual!
2. Paris - I knew I was going to love it, I just didn't realize how much. It has surpassed all my expectations and did not disappoint in the least. Yes the metro stations reek of stale urine, and there are some very cheeky men around, but you forget it all when you remember you are in PARIS!
3. Crème Brulé - I can't get enough of it....my love of it might have even surpassed my love of cheese cake (I know Tanya...it’s THAT good!)
4. And what goes better with Crème Brulé, or really anything for that matter, but Champagne! I always knew I loved it, well our love affair has actually just started in the last few years or so, but it has only grown since I have been here. I have it whenever I can and with the oddest things...I actually had it with the French equivalent to grilled cheese. It will remain my drink of choice and will always be found in my fridge...either champagne or sparkling wine...but only the good stuff!
5. I will forever remember my first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower and how if felt to actually see it in person. I don't know what it is about that huge hunk of metal that just makes my heart patter away, but I just can't get enough of it. Wherever I am I try to see it and have taken a billion pictures of it from every angle and at every time of day. It just takes my breath away, and I'm not ashamed to admit it, it brings tears to my eyes.
6. French food will be my down fall, and it is for this reason that I think that I subconsciously decided to spend 2 extra nights here. The quiche, pain au chocolait, crepes, baguettes, croissants, the list goes on and on...if I happened to live in France I would have to buy that book about how French women don't get fat because I really don't get it.
7. Public Radio in small towns. I don't mean like a CBC kind of public radio, I mean some guy or girl sitting in a booth playing music and doing commercials for the local stores, and blaring it out of speakers all over town. Its pretty cool, except some of the music is a little sketchy. Saved my Mp3 batteries though!
8. Hanging out with my gals from Rome in Angers again. I've said it before and I'll say it again, nothing beats hanging out travel friends for the second or third time. It’s just really nice to be beyond that initial 'where-are-you-from? where-have-you-been?' stage of the conversation
9. Amazing friends that gave the BEST museum suggestions! Heidi's and Adam's favs totally became my favs too! I could have spent days wandering around in the Musée Rodin, the Musée D'Orsay, and the Centre Pompidou.
10. Going to the Ballet. I have wanted to do it since I started my trip, but the fact that I got to see two ballets here in Paris, and for only 15€ together, made it even more special. I am now hooked and am going to pursue my dream of becoming a 20-something ballerina!
    

Sculptures, Alcohol, and War Memorials

I know I already put a picture of the Thinker on the blog, but this is the real one outside, well there are really 9 real ones around the world, but this is the real Parisian one!
Another of the statues from the Rodin Museum. So beautiful I just had to share.
Bottles of Mumm champagne. Clearly the one I tried to purchase is the 9 littres on the left. But then I realized I would have to carry it around. Luckily they deliver!

Shopping in a grocery store in Angers we came across these Mickies of rum in plastic packagine. Any guesses on what the heck????


Statue standing outside the Juno Beach Centre, called 'Rememberance and Renewal'

Juno Beach. When they were building the Centre, they actually found equipement that had been lost on D-Day in the sand.

Juno Beach where the soldiers actually came to shore.

This is the Juno Beach Centre. Its a really cool design and sits just back from the beach. Not only does it talk about Canadians' role in WWII, but also about the economic and social climate before and after the war. There is a whole room dedicated to just informing others about Canada today. Very cool.

And the French Adventure Continues

I can't believe it but the end is now in sight. Not that I am excited to finish my travels, but as I was telling mom and dad on the phone yesterday, I have developed an extreme hatred for my backpack. Its not the actual backpack itself (Katie, I am actually in love with the bag and have had numerous travelers tell me how jealous they are of it and all the little compartments) its more the putting on of the backpack and trying to manuver through the metro without taking down too many people. Oh, as well as the fact that I have 4 bags hanging off me at any one time...I think that I am going to get a picture of myself taken and post it so you can all laugh, just like all the Europeans that I pass.
But the end is near...not the end of days, I'm not a prophet or something! This Thursday I will be boarding a plane in Paris (or rather some obscure airport 80km from Paris) and traveling to Dublin. I am really excited and also kind of nervous. This is the real deal now. I have been dreaming of it for years and it is finally here. Holy Crap.
Before I get into too much detail though, I should bring you up to date on my travels up to now.
My last morning in Reims was a bit of crazy time. I couldn't fall asleep my last night there, so let myself sleep through breakfast in an attempt to get enough sleep for the day. Unfortunately by sleeping in I missed the bus by 30 seconds (I saw it pass the stop as I was scrambling with my 4 bags to get there) and realized that I was going to miss my Chapagne tour while waiting for another bus. So into the phone booth I squished myself and called to find out if there was another one. The woman was VERY helpful and said that I could do the French tour 15minutes later if I wanted to. So I jumped on the next bus, got off at the Train Station to store my bags, only to find out that the lockers are no longer available. I had 5 minutes to get to the Champagne cave, so I just grabbed a cab and went. Of course that used up the last of my Euros (I think Reims has the only train station in Europe without a Bank Machine in it!) and so when I arrived at the Cave I had to use my Visa, but they only let you use your Visa for purchases over 15€, and the entry fee was only 7€. The women working there took pity on me when they saw my sad face, and I was allowed entry. Welcome to Mumm's Champagne Cave!
The tour was really great, and our guide knew that French wasn't my first language so made sure that I understood everything she was saying. It took around an hour and we got to see the production from when the crushed grapes arrive to the end product. And my was it yummy. I was actually able to snag myself a second flute, and so without breakfast in my tummy, I was quite a happy girl indeed.
After the tour I put my baggage back on and headed to the bus stop to catch the bus back to the train station. When I arrived I had only 10 minutes to get on the train, but I was SO hungry that I stopped to grab a snack and watched the train leave without me. It was so sad. So I grabed my bags and decided to go for a wander around the Christmas markets for a bit, grab some more Euros, and kill about 2 hours.
When I finally made it back to Paris, I quickly got to my hostel, changed into my new going-to-the-ballet-I'm-so-cultured clothes, and headed out. The theatre was different from the other one I had gone to. It was beautiful in a tacky-gold-barfed-all-over-it kind of way. The seat wasn't as great as I had thought it was, so once again spent the night standing, but the dancing was amazing. I wasn't a huge fan of the music, it seemed like Jazz on crack, but it was still really enjoyable.
After the ballet I went to a restaurant down the street from my hostel, called Chez Justine. The food was really yummy (I finally tried Steak Tartar and it wasn't bad), the champagne was like liquid gold, and the music was fabulous. There was a 4 piece band playing, an accordian, two guitars, and a celo. I loved it and ended up staying until after midnight.
The next morning I jumped on a train and headed to Angers to see 3 girls that I met while in Rome. They are Notre Dame College students studying in Angers for the semester. Katy showed me around town, with guest appearances by Nicole and Kate. Angers is really cute and it was SO fun to see the girls again. Had a fabulous time!
Unfortunately, on the train ride back to Paris I started to feel a bit flue, and was convinced I was getting sick. So when I got back to Paris I went straight to bed, and luckily woke up with just a slight sniffle.
On Sunday I traveled to Bayeux, on the coast in Normandie. They have the longest Tapistry in the world (I think thats right anyway), which tells the story of William the Conqueror. Its 70m long and really cool to see, unfortunately the museum just keeps telling you the same story over and over again, first in a fake tapistry which explains in english and in french using copies of the images, then in a movie, and then finally with an audio guide while you are looking at the actual tapistry. I can now tell you the whole story if you want to hear it...although I'm sure you don't.
Yesterday I rented a car and drove to Caen for a bit, then out to the Juno Beach Centre. It was so incredible to see the Centre. I loved it all, and could have spent hours wandering around. If any of you are ever in Normandie it is a stop I highly suggest.
Today I am just hanging out in Bayeux because apparently the Ferry to Ireland from France was canceled today, whether because of rough water or the strike I'm not sure, so instead I had to scramble to find a flight over on Thursday. Its nice to have a day to chill out, but I'm anxious to get over there.
Tomorrow I am once again heading back to Paris for the night to catch the shuttle early Thursday morning to the airport and by mid afternoon, I will officially be Irish, for the next year at least. I'm SO excited.
That's about it for now. Its a long one I know, but I figure that its been a few days, so suck it up.
Love to you all!

Colour-coded pipes!

The Centre Pompidou. Each colour is a different kind of system, but I don't remember which is which so I'm just going to make it up. The blue is water, red is gas, white is air, and green is...grass?

Curtain call at the Nut-Cracker. It was SO amazing that all I want to do now is become a Ballarina...its not too late..right?

I really wonder if ballarinas are taught how to bow after a performance because this one did it really well. She got right down onto the floor and then got back up again, all so gracefully.

This is the entrance to Versaille, the castle built by one of the Louis. I think it was Louis the XIV or maybe the XV...I really can't keep them all straight. I don't understand why they kept naming their kings Louis..seriously, get these people a name book!
The ceiling in one of the King's reception rooms. Apparently its the largest painting ever created. It was quite impressive.

This crappy picture is actually from Versaille. Its the Hall of Battles, but I think I had the flash on because it didn't turn out too great. But you can tell by the skylight at the top how long the room is. Both sides of the hall are adorned with pictures of all the many battles that France too part in from basically the begining of time. A lot of violence in these pictures. Such a male ego thing.
One of Rodin's heros was Victor Hugo, so it isn't surprising that many of his works included the famed author. I think that he actually had a bit of a friend-crush on the guy. Just my opinion though! This is Hugo with a nymph or something wispering in his ear. Apparently she is his conscious/inspiration. I really loved this piece.

This is a picture of the Rodin Museum from the end of the sculpture garden. Who wouldn't love to live here! I completely forget the name of this sculpture, but I thought that it was absolutely beautiful. One thing that I did notice about Rodin's pieces was that there was a lot of passionate embrasses going on. It made me wonder if his life was this passionate. Then I saw his picture and decided to stop thinking about it.This is a small replica of Rodin's 'The Kiss'. It is such an intimate thing that I felt like a voyeur looking at the sculpture. Its so beautiful though and I can only hope that one day I will have a relationship where my man is comfortable enough to grab me in such a passionate embrace and then grab my butt.
Rodin's 'The Thinker'...I wonder what he is thinking about? Perhaps he is thinking about his long lost love, or perhaps the answer to the age old question, "how much wood could a woodchuk chuk if a woodchuck could chuk wood?". Or maybe he's just constipated and hes just concentrating really hard on becoming unconstipated.

I can't seem to find anywhere to use Internet that is WARM!!

Two more days in Paris and so many more adventures to tell you about! On Monday I got up and headed to buy some more post cards...I sent 20 from Paris so there will be lots of lucky people getting mail in the next few weeks!! I then called mom & dad for the weekly update from Europe, and it is looking like there is going to be a Fall invasion of Gulkas!! So excited!
Once I got all the mail done and in the box, and had had a nice yummy snack of cheese and tea... weird combo but it workded...I set off for the Centre Pompidou. the building was built in the 1970s and some believe it looks stupid among the older buildings of Paris, but it is the home of the National Modern Art collection, so its only makes sense that it has a moder look to it! In order to provide as much gallery space as possible the architects actually put all the systems (water, air, gas, etc.) on the outside of the building and colour coded them. Its really cool. Inside I saw 3 exhibits, one that was all about light and shadow, a second all about the Dada art movement, and then one called the 'Big Bang' which housed all the centres pieces in categories acording to theme, not in chronological order. I loved the art and shadow exhibit because it was all interactive. The 'Dada' exhibit wasn't bad, but I just don't think I was cool enough to get it all, or really care. I really enjoyed the 'Big Bang' though because the pieces were so varied.
After looking at art for 4 hours I decided to peruse my Pariscope magazine and figure out what to do for the evening. I just happened to open it to the dance section and I noticed that there was a ballet taking place at the Théatre de Chatelet. So I jumped on the Metro and go my butt over there to see if there was any tickets left. There were some so I ended up getting a seat for 5€. Just another reason that I love this country!! Because I wasn't appropriately dressed for the ballet, I rushed back to my hostel and changed and was back in time to find my seat. I was in the secon balcony on stage right, but had the lights in the way so I ended up standing during the whole performance. As the orchestra started to play I realized that I recognized the music and grabed my ticket to read the name of the ballet. It said 'Casse-Nois'...or if you are english, the 'Nut-Cracker' I almost started to hyperventilate! AND it was performed by the St. Petersburg Ballet Company! How lucky am I that I just happen to find a ballet in the entertainment magazine that is the very ballet that I would watch every year before christmas? And not only that, but it was the first time I had ever been to the ballet! Needless to say I was on cloud nine. The performance was amazing and I think I only breathed about 2 breaths the entire show. I loved it. I walked all the way back to my hostel humming the music...I'm sure all the Parisians I passed thought I was loony.
Yesterday I decided to head to Versaille for the day. I did the tours of the Royal and State Appartments, and then wandered around outside for a little, but decided to save the gardens until my next visit as they weren't in full bloom and I have heard they are spectacular.
Last night I went to a movie with a Canadian staying in my room. I knew she was Canadian before I even met her, for 2 reasons. The first she had a maple leaf on her bag and the second because she is carrying around a Tim Horton's mug. Yup. The commercial actually happens in real life!
Today I scooted over to the Rodin Museum, which I loved, thanks for the tip Heidi! Its all sculptures and are all so amazing! I spent about " hours there just wandering around.
I caught the train late this afternoon and am now in Reims for 2 nights, home of Champagne. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get out to some wineries and sample the yummy liquid gold.
On friday I am heading back to Paris to see another ballet on Friday night and then meet some friends in Angers on Saturday. And then heading to the Normandy beaches on Sunday. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that the strike in Ireland is resolved so I can catch a ferry to Rosslare on Tuesday! If not I might have to fly and deal with my heavy bag and stupid luggage restrictions! AHHHH!
Anyway, off for some dinner and champagne!
Love to you all!!!

Paris Dreams Coming True!

So another few amazing days in the city of Paris. Yesterday I went for an exploration of Marais and Montmartre. In the morning I wandered into Marais and stopped at the Hotel de Ville (city hall) because there was a winter festival going on. I saw a group of teens dancing some hip hop, very cool, and people skating on a man-made pond. So something that I need to do this year. But I will probably fall and break something so I think its best to leave it till I get to Ireland so I don't have to put my bag on my back anymore.
I wandered over to the Picasso Museum and was actually surprised to learn that he was married 3 times and had children with 2 lovers. I swear I read that he was gay. Apparently I am losing it though. Beautiful women too, and from what you can tell from his paintings, beautiful children. I was only really familiar with his cubist work and his blue period, but he was really an amazing artist. I was blown away by quite a few of his works.
After the museum I continued on my wandering, stopped at the former house of Victor Hugo, and then sat and listened to a string orchestra (are they still called an orchestra when there are only about 10 of them?) while I had a rest. It then started to rain, so like any real Parisian I headed into a cafe for a glass of wine, a yummy salade, and chocolate flan (first time eating flan and it was enjoyable, but it was chocolate so was there really any doubt I would like it?). It rained for about an hour so I quietly sat, munching my salade, sipping my wine, and reading my book. I felt very french.
Once the rain stopped I once again ventured out and took the metro to Montmartre. PS if you didn't know Montmartre is built on a huge hill, and of course all the good stuff is at the top, my butt got a workout it hasn't see since Italy. Felt the burn this morning, thats for sure!
My first stop in Montmartre was at Sacre Coeur, after passing the only inter-city winery and the oldest house in Paris, on the way there. Sacre Coeur was beautiful, but of course we weren't allowed to take pictures. I don't really understand the need for this except that the flash from continuous photographs does damage pieces of art and people are ignorant and don't know how to turn off their flashes, so the rest of us must suffer. Fortunately I'm sneaky so I have been known to take a few shots when I wasn't supposed to, if I felt they were really worth it. But I don't get the idiots that see the signs that are posted everywhere, in diagram form, and then still take pictures using a flash! They always get caught and then get all pissy about it to their friends when it was clearly posted. Or the ones that keep using their flash and aren't caught, causing damage to these pieces. I usually just want to tap them on the shoulder and tell them not to, but the few times I have they usually just give me attitude and I don't need that. So anyway, needless to say, I have no pictures of the interior of Sacre Coeur, but it did feel good to rant about that for a few minutes!
After Sacre Coeur, I made my way down the hill, past the two windmills (called Moulin in french...hey, these blogs are educational too!) and then into Place Blanche too see one of the most photographed places in Paris. The MouRou (Moulin Rouge for you non-twenty-somethings...hey, we are a lazy generation and need to find abbreviations for EVERYTHING!). It was cool. It wasn't as spetacular as it appeared in the movie, but I also expected to have Ewan run out and sweep me off my feet while singing to me, and that didn't happen either. I am still debating whether or not I want to fork out the cash to see the show or not, and any input from those that have seen it are free to give me their two cents to help me decide!
Today I ventured over to the Louvre and lost myself in there for 4 hours. I felt like I saw a fair chunk of it, but then I checked out the map of the building and realized that I only saw about one third of it, and that was just walking through, not really stopping to appreciate all the pieces that I saw. Its huge. I did see the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and The Winged Victory of Samothrace. All incredibly beautiful. The line in front of the Mona Lisa wasn't even too bad, which meant that it was just too hard to discretly take a picture of her. Just open a book though, she looks just like her picture! That's about it for today! Hugs to everyone!

Welcome to the World Little One!

I am really excited to let you all know that on November 17th, 2005 a little wonder came into the world. Her name is Sophie Pow and she weighed 7lbs 2oz. I am so excited that she made is safely and that she is dearly loved by her big brother Elliot. I am just sad that I won't be meeting her anytime soon. If anyone wants to see her picture or some adorable pictures of Elliot dressed as a monkey for halloween just send me an email!
Welcome Little Sophie, I wish you all the happiness in the world...and a nanny that was as fun as me!

I might have to make-out with this city!

Have you ever loved something before you ever really knew it, only to fall out of love when you see it below the surface? Well that is so NOT how it has been between Paris and I. If anything I am more in love with it. I had always dreamed of Paris. Its beauty and its class. Its humour and its sass. Much like Grandma actually. And the city has not disapointed at all.
My first day here I just wandered around, not really going anywhere in particular. Yesterday is when it all started for me. I pulled my butt out of bed and walked from my hotel across town to L'Arc de Triomph. It didn't look so far on the map, and besides, my experiences with European maps is that things usually look further than they really are. In fact, Parisian maps seem to be quite acurrate because it took me nearly 2 hours to walk there. But when I did get there it was well worth it. I did the climb to the top and looked out onto Paris. I could see Sacre Coeur, the Centre Pompido, the Opera, Notre Dame, the Pantheon, and of course, the Eiffle Tour. When I got to the roof I actually walked around away from it so didn't see it until I had seen everything else. It did not disapoint. I think (read: did) I even shed a tear or two over the amount of pleasure it brought me. A dream since I was just little. So of course I took about a million pictures of it!
After staring out at Paris for about half an hour, I headed back down the Arc and walked down to the Seine to get a closer look at the Eiffle Tower. It was even more magical up close. I loved it. Unfortunately I wasn't able to actually get any closer than across the street from it because, or so the word on the street was (literally), some guy was up top threatening to jump. I'm not 100% sure though because I haven't actually read anything about it. Apparently this guy didn't realize that it was my frist visit to Paris. But I am going to head back either tonight (if the rain stops) or tomorrow night and take some pictures of Paris at night...woo, pretty!
Today I had a big day of sight seeing. My frist stop was at Notre Dame, unfortunately it didn't blow my mind, especially after all the other cathedrales I have seen. After that I headed to the Conciergerie, once a castle, then a jail, where many people were kept until their beheading, including Marie-Antoinette. My next stop was a bit morbid, and more than a little creepy. It was to the city catacombs. Apparently in the 1700s people started to get really sick because of the mass burials that were going on, so the city decided to use the old quarries under the city to house all the old human remains. But instead of just piling them nonchalantly, the bones were actually organized in an almost artistic fashion. I took a picture. It might be really weird, but I wanted to show people how it was organized.
After creeping myself completely out I decided to go and see the Pantheon. It was orginally a religious church but it repurposed (word in the guide book! sounds smart eh?) into a temple to the Nation. It is now the resting place to many of Frances 'great men' including Voltaire, Rouseau, Victor Hugo, and both Pierre Curie and his wife Marie (the first woman to be entombed here). The building is beautiful and so open. I really enjoyed it. So now you have been brought up to date on my Paris adventure so far. Love to you all!!!!