Paris

Paris, a set on Flickr.

Our holiday was 7 days in total, 5 of which we spent exploring Paris (we feel like we only scratched the surface!). We are getting pretty good at navigating our way around big cities so we brought train tickets that would get us into Paris, on the metro and buses. We also learnt pretty quickly that if you specifically want to do anything in Paris you need to go early to avoid waiting in cues that don’t move. Our first stop was the Eiffle Tower, we figured that we may never return so we went to the top. We visited the Musee D’Orsay museum a fantastic museum in an old train station. We checked out some cool bridges, the Pont Alexandre III & lock bridge. Our visit to the Norte Dame was a bit of a wait ... and we have been spoilt with some of the best cathedrals and monasteries in Europe so it didn’t really hold the wow factor for us. The Louvre on the other hand was fantastic. We spent an entire day exploring the Louvre and think we missed a fair bit! The Mona Lisa was average compared with all the other amazing paintings statues and artefacts. Can't visit a city without stopping by the Arc de triomphe, the Paris one is cool. We spent another day at Versailles. The gardens were absolutely wonderful and huge, Taylor loved it because she has been studying the Treaty of Versailles in History and Leo loved playing in the autumn leaves. We also visited the Luxemburg palace and gardens. Unfortunately our camera lens broke and then we threw the little camera on the ground, so we didn’t get the usual snaps (these things happen).

Paris Home Exchange

Forgot to get a picture, this is us leaving.

 

Three days after Allan and Corban arrived home from NZ we set off for a trip to Paris.  Our home exchange was 32 minutes out of Paris by train.  You could say that we traded up.  Our house was lovely; we shut off a dining room, lounge and 3 bathrooms so that we didn’t have to clean so much when we left!  The kids were happy to have an abundance of toys and even Taylor struck it lucky with a cool teenage room.  The town of Rambouillet was very cute, with it’s own castle, cute little city centre and lovely markets.  It was lovely visiting Paris in autumn, very beautiful. 



1 Year Anniversary

 

While we were in the South of France we had our 1 year anniversary since leaving New Zealand.  We brought a yummy French cake, ate lollies and danced around the lounge.  Corban even offered Leo her dress, she told him "he would look cute" ... being the tough boy that he is, he took her up on the offer and they had a wonderful time! It is crazy to think that we have been away for a year!!  We have learnt so much, met many new people, been challenged over simple things, had the longest winter ever, learned to greet people in 4 languages and much to Allan's disappointment been ripped off on the odd occasion.  The kids have all grown heaps.  Leo was barely talking and now he expresses himself in the funniest ways and gets us all laughing.  Corban is beginning to read simple words, I had to laugh on the bus when she was trying to sound out a really long Czech word and then responded with "well that doesn't say anything!" ... just what I was thinking (ha ha). Taylor gives directions to tourists in Czech.  Allan can drive on the right hand side of the road without freaking me out and I got us going with how to travel Europe as a family of 5 without breaking the bank.  All in all a great year!  

Le Bourget du Lac

Le Bourget du Lac , a set on Flickr.

I have already posted some photos of Le Bourget du Lac, this is the area we were staying. These are an assortment of photos from our mornings and afternoons at the lake, plus a visit to the local castle. The pictures don’t really show how clear the lake is but it is beautiful and warm. The water play area is a great place for the kids to play. It is amazing to think that at the start of our holiday Leo wouldn’t go near the water and would cling on so tightly with fear. Now he is swimming out to the pontoon by himself (with water wings) and jumping off with such a huge smile. We stayed in the water most afternoons until the sun went down behind the mountains; it gets cold pretty quick once this happens.