The first two days we just hung out and enjoyed being together. There’s a little lake a short walk away and both days we went there to walk a around it. When we finished we went to a little restaurant on the lake with an amazing playground that was the perfect way for 4 year old twins to amuse themselves. They love it there.

On Wednesday, March 23rd we took the train to Cologne, where my cousin, Sascha, and her boyfriend, Marc, met us at the train. They so kindly took our bags to their apartment so we could wander around the area for awhile, until it was time to travel to Belgium for time with the family. I’ve been to Cologne, but Jim had never made it out of the train station. The first thing we did was go into the beautiful and very impressive Dom, located directly outside of the train station.

Sascha and Marc recommended that we walk across the Rhine River to a tall building on the other side, where we could get a wonderful view of Cologne. The bridge is covered with locks. They must weigh a ton. Unfortunately when we got there we discovered the viewing area wouldn’t open for another hour. Oh well…

We then walked along the river before crossing back over on another bridge. We had lunch by the river, where Jim enjoyed a Kölsch beer from Cologne. My brother, Dave, insisted that he have one so of course he did. When it was time we walked to Sascha and Marc’s apartment and he drove us to our new home away from home in Belgium for a 5 night stay.

The Belgian countryside is beautiful. We are staying in a wonderful large house on the outskirts of Spa. The house is perfect for the 8 of us, with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

The house photos, other than the front of the house and the château on the hill, were taken from the Airbnb listing. I should have taken pictures before the other 5 people arrived and it became total chaos. Lol! It is so nice to be able to see the family after far too long. The twins have grown so much since I saw them in October 2019 and Jim had never met them. I’ll do separate posts for the other days.

We arrived on schedule yesterday morning after an uneventful, yet sleepless flight from San Francisco. We had rented a car in Sacramento to drive to SFO for our flight. After a little mixup with the car return the rest of the day went smoothly.

We are finally in Europe!!

Jo met us at the airport and after a quick stop for Jim to have a cup of coffee we took the train to the to the Frankfurt main station. Our hotel is across the street and our window actually looks out over the police station. We were worried about potential noise but our fears weren’t realized. After checking in early Jo took us to a very nice and historic area with many half timbered houses. We even took a little ferry ride across the Main River to get some nice photos. We had a nice lunch and I got the schnitzel with green sauce I’d been thinking about for a long time. It was the first meal we had since lunch at SFO before our flight. We just had a few snacks on the plane.

After returning to the Frankfurt main station we went on a quest to get a Covid PCR test, at my aunt’s request. We will be gathering with the family in two days and she wanted to be sure we weren’t sick. That was an adventure. After all the walking, with my plantar fasciitis killing, me we decided around 5:30 or 6:00 that we were exhausted and were ready to call it a day. Dinner consisted of a protein bar in our hotel room. We showered and went to bed early and I had my first good nights sleep in quite a while.

My photos haven’t made it from my phone to my iPad yet. I’ll add some pictures after that happens.

We were so disappointed to have to cancel our long awaited 35th anniversary trip in September & October 2020 due to Covid-19 and we have been patiently, or maybe in my case impatiently, waiting for the time to be right to travel internationally again. That time has now come. Cases are climbing in Europe right now, but we will be diligent about wearing masks and avoiding crowded situations, even though that is no longer required. I was feeling apprehensive about it, but I got some news today changed all that. I learned a good friend passed away. We have been hiding out at home to avoid getting sick for two years now. Life is short and we will never get this time back, so we’re going. We are vaccinated and boosted and I’m determined that we will explore new places, revisit a a place I love, and see friends and family in the safest way possible. First stop…Germany!

On Tuesday, October 15, 2019 we took off in Sacramento and flew to Frankfurt, via San Francisco. I arranged flights both to and from Frankfurt with 2 1/2 hour layovers in San Francisco. I wanted to allow plenty of time to avoid any stress. Jack has been very afraid to fly, though that has changed since he now has Alzheimer’s. Our flight left Sacramento 2 hours late, due to foggy conditions in S.F. So much for plenty of time. We had to hustle to get to the gate for the plane bound for Frankfurt. The plane was already boarding.

The flight was uneventful. I thought I had come up with a good plan for sleeping on the plane. I haven’t had much success in the past. I had high hopes. Sadly my plans didn’t work. We arrived in Frankfurt Wednesday morning. After going through passport control and collecting our luggage we found our way to the Europcar counter to pick up the minivan we rented. Cousin Sascha was there waiting for us. She had arrived by train from Cologne. I added her as a driver to the car and she drove us to Unkel. A 5 bedroom villa was rented in this picturesque town on the Rhine for the family to gather together.

By evening, we were all together. This house and this town couldn’t have been more perfect. It was a tiring day for all.

Thursday we went grocery shopping, then wandered around town and explored the riverfront. The day was all about enjoying each other’s company.

On Friday we took a riverboat from Unkel (conveniently there was a KD dock in Unkel) to Königswinter. We walked through the town to the station for the cogwheel train that took us up to Drachenfels. I ran into my friends, Nigel and Carol, there. I knew I would be seeing them the next day, but didn’t expect to run into them there. The views were amazing.

After spending time at Drachenfels we took the train back to Unkel. We stopped in a cute place to have coffee/tea and cake. Some of us (not naming names) got a little silly.

On Saturday Nigel and Carol picked me up so we could spend some time together. They are so sweet. When they found out I would be in Germany they decided to come from England see me. They made a trip out of it, and were happy to find this part of the Rhine to explore. We went to Ahrweiler, on the opposite side of the river. There are surprisingly few bridges that cross the river. We had to cross on a car ferry. Because they have a British car with the steering wheel on the other side, I had to take care of the things the driver usually does, such as paying for the ferry and getting the ticket at the parking garage. Ahrweiler was a nice walled town and I enjoyed our time there. After we drove out of town we stopped at a Cold War era bunker.

After we returned to the house, Nigel and Carol had dinner with us.

The views we saw today were wonderful. This entire area is very scenic, with a lot of vineyards climbing up the steep hillsides.

On Sunday we stayed around the house waiting for Marc, who flew in from Hawaii this morning. After he arrived in Unkel we drove to Linz am Rhein. It is less than a 10 minute drive. I first went there in 2016 with Danielle, when we took a boat from Bonn to Linz. Being a Sunday, most places were closed. Before leaving we went to a nice little restaurant for coffe/tea and cake. This German tradition is something I can get behind. 😊 Thankfully Sascha was always willing to split cake with me.

On Monday Barbara and I went back to Linz. We wanted to spend some time together and thought it would be good for Jack to have time with his daughters and grandchildren alone. We did a little shopping and had ice cream, and then lunch. The proper order of things. Life is short…eat dessert first!

Tuesday was our last full day in Germany, and we wanted to make the most of our day together. We took the car ferry across the river to Rolandseck. Danielle was told by someone there about a secret garden with sculptures. An easy walk. Sure. And the secret garden? It was completely underwhelming. They should have kept it a secret. Sascha and Barbara hiked back to get the car, while we waited at a riverside camping place.

From there we drove up to Rolandsbogen, where we were treated to more spectacular views. Marc joined us there (he had to work) and we went to the cafe and enjoyed…cake!

We drove to Remagen and walked around before taking the ferry back across the river.

We had our final dinner together. After we ate I gave Barbara the quilt I made her for her 75th birthday. It’s on the 27th, but I had to give it to her early. I think she likes it!

On Wednesday, October 23rd Jack and I drove the 1 1/2 hours back to the airport and returned the car. We were there 3 1/2 hours before the flight departed. The boarding process had already started when we arrived at the gate. When we checked in the man who helped us suggested we have their cart transport us since the airport is huge. Well, that wasn’t the best idea because we had to wait for 3 different carts in different areas of the airport. I think we should have walked!

The flights home was uneventful.

Trip summary:

I am so happy we made this journey when we did. Everyone had a wonderful time. Jack was emotional, as was I, when we departed. This was an important time for Jack, his children and his grandchildren to have some bonding time. Sadly it is unlikely this will happen in this way again. It was a good thing we could make this happen now.

This morning I had to check out of my hotel. They kindly stored my bags for me so I could stay in the city a bit longer. I had a final destination in mind, as will be revealed later. I decided first to go to the Arc de Triomphe. I’ve seen it at a distance on multiple trips, but the last time I was really there was in 2008. Previously it only required to pay admission if you wanted to climb to the top. Now it apparently costs €12 just to look at it up close. Never mind.

I just wandered along the Champs-Elysée until it was time to go to my final destination. I looked in a few shops to waste time, but it’s not really my thing. Finally, it was time. Time for my final meal of the trip . Jamie suggested it. I have a very smart daughter. Ladurée, here I come.

They probably would have seated me in the lovely dining room upstairs.

Sadly I didn’t have a reservation. So they seated me downstairs in a sunroom type area. Not as elegant, but still very nice. They also had seating outside by the street, but I preferred to not hear the traffic noise.

I hadn’t eaten anything all day in preparation for this. I have a question about French cuisine, why do they put eggs on everything? I’m not a big egg eater. I chose the Chicken Caesar Salad with avocado. It wasn’t in the description, but unsurprisingly it came it’s hard boiled egg in it.

For dessert, because there must be dessert at Ladurée, I had a chocolate eclair in honor of my mom, who loved chocolate eclairs. And for my brother, Dave, who would be very upset if I left Paris without eating an eclair.

By the time I was done there and got back to the hotel to collect my luggage it was around 3:00. Today is a train strike day, and I figured my odds were better if I attempted to get to the airport before people started clogging the trains to get home from work. It went off without a hitch

Now I’m in a soulless Ibis hotel room at the airport. The best thing I can say about it is that it’s convenient, clean and it’s the best WiFi I’ve had on this entire trip. It could be worse.

Tomorrow I have an early flight to SFO. Now I’m more than ready to get home and see my family. I still plan to summarize my trip and my impressions of it, and maybe add some more photos since I’ll have good WiFi. So it’s au revoir to Paris for now. I think the odds are good that I’ll be back !

Yesterday morning I went to the Pont de Grenelle, where there is a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Pont means bridge.

The best view is from the water.

After that I decided to go to Jardin des Plantes, a botanical garden. After all the effort to go there I found it wasn’t that great. In June it should have been green with a lot of plants flowering. Many of the plants looked half dead. Not wanting to waste my time, I left.

The next stop was Montmartre. This is the highest point in Paris. On a nice clear day you can get incredible views. It was crawling with people. After taking the funicular up to Sacre Coeur I walked around Painters Corner to see if I would find a small watercolor I couldn’t live without. We buy watercolors on our trips as our souvenirs and have a gallery wall of our travels on our great room wall. We’ve bought two here on different trips. I didn’t find anything, but I did stop for a break and liquid refreshment.

I picked up a few things to take home, then had time to kill before meeting Susan for dinner. It’s her last night in Paris and we thought it would be nice to spend it together. Even though most of my time here was at the apartment we shared we really didn’t see much of each other. She chose a restaurant near Luxembourg Gardens, her absolute favorite place. I decided to go to LG and enjoy the beautiful summer day. I took a book with me that I’m trying to finish so I don’t have to take it home. I headed for the nice shady area next to the Medici Fountain. Guess who I found there! We didn’t hang out together because she just wanted to soak in her last moments there. We later walked around the park and she reminisced about her childhood spent there, and then later taking her son, Ryan, for extended trips when he was young.

She showed me an even smaller replica of the Statue of Liberty right there in Luxembourg Gardens. I never knew it was there. Next to it is a plaque describing the long friendship between France and the U.S. There’s an American Oak tree planted as a tribute to those lost on 9/11.

The small oak tree is to the right of the statue

Dinner was good.

I walked Susan back to Notre Dame, not far from her hotel. We said our goodbyes. I know she doesn’t want to leave, but is ready to go home. I feel the same.

Today is my last full day in Paris. I’ll be spending tomorrow night at an airport hotel. What to do on my last full day? Rush around and see as much as possible? Or just enjoy the beautiful day? I enjoyed the day. I went to Musée Marmottan – Monet in the morning. They have the largest collection of Monet’s anywhere. The museum is located in an old mansion. It was more crowded at opening time that I thought it would be. A large class of about 30 kids who looked to be 5-6 years old were there at the same time I was. They weren’t misbehaving, but they did act like kids, as kids do. It took some of the pleasure out of being there. I looked and looked, going around the ground level twice and upstairs twice. I only saw one Monet. What the hell? Jim and I went there in 2014. I I know they had more than one. Finally I asked someone. He instructed me to go all the way through a special exhibit and at the end I’d find stairs leading down to the Monet’s. I think signs might have been nice. When I found the Monet’s I also found the kiddos. I spent some time and then left.

Now where should I go? Hmmm…maybe I should go back to the hotel and take a nap! And that’s what I did.

I spent the rest of the afternoon at Luxembourg Gardens, hanging out by the fountain and reading. It was a nice relaxing afternoon.

Around 6:30 I started thinking about dinner. Where should I eat what will probably be my last dinner in the city on this trip? First I walked to a restaurant that Susan W. recommended. They were closed and there wasn’t a sign indicating when they would open. Strike 1. Then I walked to a place that Betty G. had recommended for their soufflés. Closed. Strike 2. Then I walked to a place someone else had recommended. I didn’t put who it was in my notes for Paris. The menu wasn’t appealing to me. Strike 3. I ended up walking to Susan R.’s favorite restaurant, Le Flore en L’Ile, on Ile Saint Louis. I was first there on her recommendation in 2016 when Jim and I took Philippe there. I was there with Susan last week, but I wasn’t up to eating. I think we ate there another night. It’s hard to remember with the days all running together. Anyway, my dinner was delicious.

Chicken Satay with Basamati rice. It wasn’t like what I normally think of as chicken satay, but it was really good.

I got crème brûlée for dessert in honor of my dad and my sister, who both loved it. Yum!

I walked back to the hotel to call it a night. I needed to completely repack in preparation of checking out of the hotel in the morning and storing my luggage there until I’m ready to go to the airport hotel. Instead I’ve spent the evening on the blog. It takes a long time on my phone, especially adding the photos. I’m sure I’ll add more pictures and information after I return home. I’ll have time to repack in the morning.

This picture was taken outside my hotel room window at a little after 10:00 p.m. tonight. It’s still so light out.

Yesterday I moved to Hotel Parc Saint Séverin, located in the Latin Quarter. This particular area is very touristy, but thankfully the hotel is on a very quiet pedestrian street just outside of the tourist zone. I was able to get into my room early. Once I dropped my luggage in the room I met up with Susan at Hotel de Ville to go explore the Canal St. Martin area. I had to cross over the bridge to Ile de la Cité, then over another bridge to Hôtel de Ville. As I got to the far side of the bridge I had to go through security. I was wanded and my purse was looked through. Their having a celebration for the 2024 Olympics, being held in Paris. Yes, 2024. The French like to celebrate and demonstrate.

The Canal St. Matin area is supposed to be the newest up and coming area and attracts hipsters. I was underwhelmed.

I needed to return the apartment key to Suzanne between 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. She texted me at about 5:30 to tell me her plans changed and I should arrive by 6:30. Yikes! I had to walk to the Maria’s, which meant crossing back by Hôtel de Ville again. I got wanded twice in the same day!

Today I woke up after sleeping over 7 hours. I haven’t slept that much in a very long time. I love this room. It’s quiet and the room has black out curtains.

My goal today was to hit the outdoor markets. I love going to markets in France. First I went to Rue Mouffetard. It was primarily fruits, veggies, cheeses, etc. I didn’t stay long.

As I walked down Rue Monge towards the river I passed the street where we stayed in 2008. I stopped at Eric Kayser for breakfast.

---

The next market was at Bastille. That was a good one. It had more variety.

The 3rd market I went to was the Aligre. It had two components. The largest area was primarily fruits, veggies, meats, eggs, etc. Off to the side was an area that was a flea market. As I was leaving a man stepped on the toes of my right foot. Hard. Great, my right foot hurts and my left ankle hurts. I stumbled across the Promenade Plantée. It was an elevated railroad track and is now a park, similar to the High-line in NYC. I walked it to the end (or beginning, depending how you look at it), though I didn’t start at the other end.

I limped my way back to the hotel and decided to take a nap. Even though I had a good nights sleep, I’ve been sleep deprived since I left home on the 5th. In reality it’s probably been longer than that. Today is the 24th. Yep, a nap is a good idea. I set my alarm for an hour and woke up refreshed. I wandered around the area and did some shopping.

Here are some random pictures I took:

I only have a few days left. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Today I went to a museum that was new to me, the Musée Jacquemart-André. It’s in an old mansion. The owners were childless and spent their years together collecting art. Now anyone who goes to their house can enjoy it too. I paid a brief visit to Parc Monceau, then headed for the big department stores. I was really in search of a place that I had the best omelette of my life in 2011. Sadly I couldn’t find it.

I took these photos in Galleries Lafayette and on their roof.

The Eiffel Tower is a mess with construction. I think they are making it more secure. I started at the Trocadéro, then took a bus to the other side of the river to get more photos. Here are a few.

Tomorrow I will be moving to a hotel in the Latin Quarter. I’m hoping they have WiFi. There’s no WiFi in this apartment and posting pictures is painfully slow. I had such a wonderful opportunity to stay in this apartment. Sadly it was not disclosed that some work would need to be done during the last part of my trip. I’m okay with moving. My only complaint, besides the lack of WiFi, is that the noise from outside is very loud, all of the time. It’s a little less between maybe 2:00-5:00. Sometimes. Even though the hotel is in a touristy area, the street it’s on is small and there isn’t much traffic. I’m hoping to get some sleep there.

This is the view out of the kitchen window in the apartment.

You can see the top of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. I tried to get a good photo of the Tower lit up at night, but it didn’t come out well.

This morning I went to Versailles. My goal was to avoid the over the top chateau, since I’ve been there twice, and just see the gardens and Marie Antoinette’s cute hamlet. I picked up a sandwich and headed for the palace. Me and possibly thousands of other people.

All that gold on the exterior gives you some idea of what the interior looks like.

I walked through the gardens to the Grand Canal. I sat on the grass by the water and ate my sandwich while watching the boaters. There were a lot of school groups there, with students of all ages.

I twisted my ankle on the cobblestones, but I forged on the the Petit Trianon, where I discovered I would have to pay €12 (about $14) to go in there, in order to access the Hamlet. I’ve been there before, and I know how much further the walk is. I may regret it later, but I left. I took the little train back up to the chateau, and caught the RER back to Paris.

I was tired, my ankle hurt, and I just wanted to lie down for 30 minutes. So I did just that back at the apartment. It’s impossible to sleep well because of all the exterior noise.

Today is the first day of summer. In Paris they have something called Fête De la Musique. People play music all over the city. I wandered around different neighborhoods enjoying a variety of musicians and DJ’s.

For dinner I went to a place that had been recommended to me – Breizah Cafe. They are known for their food from the Brittany region. I had a smoked salmon crepe, or as they call it in Brittany, a galette. It’s made of buckwheat. It was very good. I’m going to try to replicate it at home.

After listening to more music and walking close to 10 miles with a bum ankle I decided it was time to call it a night. If you can call it night. It’s now 10:30 p.m. and it’s dusk. Sunset was officially at 9:56 p.m., but it isn’t dark yet. It’s been a long day, literally. Happy Summer!