So.. yesterday to prove that we are sooo tough we gathered all of our strength and walked to Buckingham Palace. There were police barricades set up and lots of "Bobbys". They said that there was going to be a march (parade) and the royal family would be out too. Well we didn't want to miss a march or the queen so we went and got a good spot on the railing. We waited about an hour and then they marched in their entire military. Every branch and everyone who used to be in the military and is still alive. They also brought in two big busses of what we call "queen look alikes" which was a whole bunch of women all dressed like the queen with big ridiculous hats. I thought that maybe she was one of them or something and for safety they brought extras you know so people wouldn't know which was her. HAHA.. anyways, we never saw any royal family but it's safe to say we enjoyed ourselves. Behind us a guy climbed up in a tree and a female bobby(police officer without a gun, only a stick and handcuffs) was like, "get down, it's not safe for you up there." Then she got another female bobby and they both told him to get down. So he enjoyed the entire parade from the tree obviously and got down when it was over and left. HAHA... that amused me quite a bit!
So our hotel is most definitely run by some sort of mob. Not really sure. They have 8 employees that work all around the clock, morning to night and they have at maximum 14 rooms. Sooo... it is interesting that they are in such a bad condition and breakfast is so awful and they are always out of water and toilet paper. We like to name the employees because it sounds like a clue game.
Here they are: 1. the french guy 2. his girlfriend 3. The asian reception girl 4. the Asian guy 5. The curly hair man 6. The little maid girl 7. The bearded man 8. the mustache man.
We think there must be a little "side" business going on. Last night we were in our room talking and we had been for a little while about how we wished we had a tv so we could watch stuff and see what was going on with the queen and why she didn't come out or where she was if she did and stuff. Then like a little later at night there was a knock at the door. I asked who was there and Asian girl said "reception" so I opened the door and Asian man was standing there with a tv and Asian girl stood behind and answered the phone when it rang. He said, "you needed a tv?" I was like, no, we didn't need one because obviously I didn't want him to come in!! That totally creeped me out because we said no such thing about a tv to any of the employees, but maybe I've been reading too many spy novels. HaHa. Anyway I will be REALLY relieved to leave that hotel in 21 hours! Love you all!
Monday, June 18, 2007
London...T minus 21 hours
Hello everyone. Thank you for all your prayers. This morning I woke up and got out of bed and washed my hair all without crying. So it's a good day. Plus, Amy and I are both in good spirits since we have started our count down to come home to the States and see you all! We are so excited for the party (not so much the long flights though) and planning what new outfits we should wear. We hear you are getting it nice and hot for us there so there can be badmitton and fun on the deck! This morning, it was raining. It must be the fashion here, everyone seemed prepared with gargantuon umbrellas. We spent the morning at starbucks with our good coffees and muffins and new books we got for the flights home. Now we are passing the time in an internet cafe until lunch. We will also go to Picadilly today and try to get theatre tickets for tonight. I think today would be perfect for the National Gallery with the rain, I will have to find somewhere to put Amy though. Maybe the gift shop, I know she has one more thing she is looking for. Cheers! and Love -S
Sunday, June 17, 2007
London
Hello all! We are in London and needing your prayers. Shannon is in a LOT of pain. She has a spasming muscle in her upper back that makes it impossible to do her ADL's (activities of daily living for those of you non transcription folk). She needs your prayers. I am still sick. I hope it is not the plague. I had a VERY high fever all day yesterday which was a joy for traveling and carrying three bags. I also have massive swollen glands and a sore throat and runny nose. Shannon can't wash her hair and makeup is out for both of us. We are so sexy. It's hot. HaHa. We do laugh though and we smile on occasion to each other! This morning our breakfast was bad toast (but at least there was butter) and cereal with shelf milk as Shan calls it. It is milk that has been sitting on the shelf all day. Yum. We walked to Starbucks and to the pharmacy (our third time there since we've been in London) and home and we both decided it was way too long of an outing. Now we are waiting for time to pass and we plan to call the men later today when it's day for you people!
I will tell you a funny Paris story. We were in our room after Versailles and we had finished dinner. Across the street in another top floor window were like 4 guys. Well I looked out the window at one point and one guy saw me and leaned out the window in serenaded me in French. It was funny. Then Shan walked by and they got really excited and were like, "oh deux, deux" They were very excited about there being two of us, we didn't want to break the bad news that there were still 4 of them! HAHA. We laughed a lot though. And that night we made our "American" food. Which was fried egg sandwiches on english muffins and I put laughing cow cheese on mine because there wasn't any cheese you chew and I can't eat just egg. It's one of "the rules". Shan is getting better at learning my rules. HAHA. We also had fresh raspberries and strawberries and nectarines. It was good. We watched an entire french movie on tv and narrated a lot of it and it was entertaining and we laughed! Now that we are safe in London, don't let us forget to tell you about our Paris ghost.
Ok, well happy man day to all! We love all of you and appreciate everything you've done for us!
Have a fun party! This is love from both S and A!
I will tell you a funny Paris story. We were in our room after Versailles and we had finished dinner. Across the street in another top floor window were like 4 guys. Well I looked out the window at one point and one guy saw me and leaned out the window in serenaded me in French. It was funny. Then Shan walked by and they got really excited and were like, "oh deux, deux" They were very excited about there being two of us, we didn't want to break the bad news that there were still 4 of them! HAHA. We laughed a lot though. And that night we made our "American" food. Which was fried egg sandwiches on english muffins and I put laughing cow cheese on mine because there wasn't any cheese you chew and I can't eat just egg. It's one of "the rules". Shan is getting better at learning my rules. HAHA. We also had fresh raspberries and strawberries and nectarines. It was good. We watched an entire french movie on tv and narrated a lot of it and it was entertaining and we laughed! Now that we are safe in London, don't let us forget to tell you about our Paris ghost.
Ok, well happy man day to all! We love all of you and appreciate everything you've done for us!
Have a fun party! This is love from both S and A!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Paris
Hello everyone. my time is almost up online. Amy is raging because she just lost her whole blog and her computer logged off. We are trying to work past the challenges of the last couple days. Thanks for all your nice encouraging comments. We love you. S and A
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Chateau de Sucky *edited*
Sooo.. Chateau de Versailles was NO GOOD! That whole stupid place was bad. We got up and it was really hot and sunny. I put on my cute little white dress and sunscreened and shan looked all cute in white capris and a little tank and sunscreen. So we get on the train and get off and it's freezing and pouring rain in Versailles! Of course, we aren't shocked by this anymore. We stand outside in the rain in the Queue for an hour. Joy. We finally get in and bought tickets to get us into the house and Marie Antoinettes stuff down at another place. The maps are completely useless as it doesn't show the entrance to the buildings and there seems to be no entrances. We finally get in the house and in each room there is a little sign with just a number on it. So that the people who bought the little audio thing can hear what the room is or what happened there. Everyone else can guess. I wasn't about to buy the stupid little thing. Every once in a while there would be a sign.. sometimes 5 languages.. NEVER english. I think those people would invent another language before they would post English anywhere. They made me RAGE a lot. So they said there is a mini-bus to take you to Marie Antionettes stuff. Wouldn't you know it costs 6 euro (which they don't mention when you buy your ticket to get in there). Shocking. Or you can walk (in the pouring rain on the mud) and they say it's a 60 minute walk. Well, what's that at least 3 or 4 miles? When we get to her little play area she had as a little kid (which was really cute) on the walkway out there, lots of dead scorpions laying in the dirt. I'm a big fan of nature you know!! My leg is very infected now and I noticed it while I was there so i blame Versailles of course. After every stupid room in the castle there was a little place you could buy stuff. Oh ya, I wasn't gonna give them another penny. One part made me laugh, the queens chamber where apparently 19 royal children were born. I thought at that point Josh would have exited via second-story window. HAHA.
Now we are going to relax tonight and tomorrow. We're sending lots of love and we love all of your comments!
We are very tired. Shannon says she loves you all and she is alive. I am blogging for both of us.
Au Revoir!
Now we are going to relax tonight and tomorrow. We're sending lots of love and we love all of your comments!
We are very tired. Shannon says she loves you all and she is alive. I am blogging for both of us.
Au Revoir!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Happy art day!
I absolutely love reading all your comments. We always look forward to them, and then spend the rest of the night talking about the funny things you say and the news you tell us. I will tell you some more to hold you over for another day, but I think you are all going to have to hear our stories again in person when we get home. Amy says no presents if you don't. :)
So we woke up and went straight to Musee d'Orsay this morning. There was a tiny line that went really fast, it wasn't even out the door. I spent about three hours looking around. I made it to most of the museum, but spent most of my time at the impressionism, granted that is most of the museum. i actually got the little audio guide thing this time and learned something. So I lost Amy to the cafe and gift store after about an hour and met up with her at the end. There were soooo many pieces there it was sort of overwhelming. I snapped a couple of pictures just so I could remember my favs, I know you art ladies will be asking to hear all about it when I get home. So Van gough is my favorite in every museum, so that was fun. and i like the degas ballerinas. who can say? it was all amazing. and i saw another painter that i can't remember the name of but i took a picture. it was cool. sort of starting to be surrealist, of jungles and crazy things. almost a graphic symbolic quality. oh and renoir was really cool which i haven't really appreciated before. I really like all of their subjects of landscapes and countryside and regular people and everyday sort of life scenes. Today we also went to Notre Dame. I think it was very cool inside and out. I like how it is so sculptural on the back exterior. And the inside was so dark and mysterious with the huge columns and vaults and stained glass. We got very hot walking around so we went home and took a nap. Then did a load of laundry. It was pouring rain, so we went to dinner right around the corner from our apartment.
We will work on the hot chocolate day after tomorrow. Tomorrow we are going to Versilles. Amanda and sara recommended we rent bikes to go around the huge grounds, and i think that sounds like a great idea after all this walking. but amy might take some convincing.
So we woke up and went straight to Musee d'Orsay this morning. There was a tiny line that went really fast, it wasn't even out the door. I spent about three hours looking around. I made it to most of the museum, but spent most of my time at the impressionism, granted that is most of the museum. i actually got the little audio guide thing this time and learned something. So I lost Amy to the cafe and gift store after about an hour and met up with her at the end. There were soooo many pieces there it was sort of overwhelming. I snapped a couple of pictures just so I could remember my favs, I know you art ladies will be asking to hear all about it when I get home. So Van gough is my favorite in every museum, so that was fun. and i like the degas ballerinas. who can say? it was all amazing. and i saw another painter that i can't remember the name of but i took a picture. it was cool. sort of starting to be surrealist, of jungles and crazy things. almost a graphic symbolic quality. oh and renoir was really cool which i haven't really appreciated before. I really like all of their subjects of landscapes and countryside and regular people and everyday sort of life scenes. Today we also went to Notre Dame. I think it was very cool inside and out. I like how it is so sculptural on the back exterior. And the inside was so dark and mysterious with the huge columns and vaults and stained glass. We got very hot walking around so we went home and took a nap. Then did a load of laundry. It was pouring rain, so we went to dinner right around the corner from our apartment.
We will work on the hot chocolate day after tomorrow. Tomorrow we are going to Versilles. Amanda and sara recommended we rent bikes to go around the huge grounds, and i think that sounds like a great idea after all this walking. but amy might take some convincing.
Bonjour!
Well it's Bonsois here right now! I am always very happy when I read all of the fun comments! Deb- yes I watched a lot of I Love Lucy, perhaps more than the normal dosage. haha! Angel face- I don't think that's the plan unless you are bringing a plane to get us! That would be fun-fun-fun!
I am trying to remember your questions-- people are weird here.. like if we're crossing the street they actually slow down and encourage you to cross safely, which is the exact opposite of Rome where they try to kill you! Most of the people we have met have been friendly and helpful with directions and when people see us with the map they are usually eager to help! Funny thing though, today a man asked to look at our map to see where he was going, then he asked if we needed help. HAHA.. we were like, no we got it, but thanks! Crazy.
We started the morning with getting up and going to the Musee D'orsay. I almost died in there actually. They have a lot of art. Shannon got this little device that tells you all about lots of pieces of art so she would look at the art, and then listen to an hour about the art still looking at it. I had to compete with the elderly for the few chairs. Finally I went to a cafe in there and had Cappucino and a muffin and I didn't die. For the art people, I enjoyed Degas and the ballerinas, I like Monet, I like Renoir with the dancers, and of course Van Gogh, but I just don't look at them for quite as long. You know I have the attention span of a poodle!
We also visited notre dame today. I give them props for sweet architecture and lots of stained glass. There is not a shortage of dramatic statues. Creepy gargoyle things on the outside of the building too. We got tickets for this boat ride you can do on the river and you can get off at any stop and get back on again or at another. We got on it and tried to ride to a certain location, but it was HOTTT and there were 5 million children on the boat so we had to get off for sanity purposes. We are going to ride it tonight to the eiffel tower and we are very excited! It was raining earlier so hopefully not so hot and maybe the children will be in bed, we're not taking it until late so it will be dark!
I can't think of what else to say about today. Tomorrow we are going to Versailles and we are very excited about it! Both Shannon and I are experiencing foot problems. Swelling and achiness. It is hard to be walking and on your feet for like 15 hours straight! Much Love to all!!
Au Revoir!
I am trying to remember your questions-- people are weird here.. like if we're crossing the street they actually slow down and encourage you to cross safely, which is the exact opposite of Rome where they try to kill you! Most of the people we have met have been friendly and helpful with directions and when people see us with the map they are usually eager to help! Funny thing though, today a man asked to look at our map to see where he was going, then he asked if we needed help. HAHA.. we were like, no we got it, but thanks! Crazy.
We started the morning with getting up and going to the Musee D'orsay. I almost died in there actually. They have a lot of art. Shannon got this little device that tells you all about lots of pieces of art so she would look at the art, and then listen to an hour about the art still looking at it. I had to compete with the elderly for the few chairs. Finally I went to a cafe in there and had Cappucino and a muffin and I didn't die. For the art people, I enjoyed Degas and the ballerinas, I like Monet, I like Renoir with the dancers, and of course Van Gogh, but I just don't look at them for quite as long. You know I have the attention span of a poodle!
We also visited notre dame today. I give them props for sweet architecture and lots of stained glass. There is not a shortage of dramatic statues. Creepy gargoyle things on the outside of the building too. We got tickets for this boat ride you can do on the river and you can get off at any stop and get back on again or at another. We got on it and tried to ride to a certain location, but it was HOTTT and there were 5 million children on the boat so we had to get off for sanity purposes. We are going to ride it tonight to the eiffel tower and we are very excited! It was raining earlier so hopefully not so hot and maybe the children will be in bed, we're not taking it until late so it will be dark!
I can't think of what else to say about today. Tomorrow we are going to Versailles and we are very excited about it! Both Shannon and I are experiencing foot problems. Swelling and achiness. It is hard to be walking and on your feet for like 15 hours straight! Much Love to all!!
Au Revoir!
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