French Treasures

April 8

Versailles

Spent the last couple days visiting two of  France's national treasures--the cathedral at Chartres and the Palace at Versailles. Louis XIV built quite a place. Wow!!  Gigantic, ornate, exquisite. Best known for its hall of mirrors. 

Erich and Ashlee arrive tomorrow and then we are off to Beaune and Burgundy wine country. 

Second Smallest Country

April 5

Monaco

Only Vatican City is a smaller country than Monaco. Monte Carlo is quite a city, and there is oh-so-much wealth. The harbor is filled with gigantic yachts. And the cars pulling up to the casino are magnificent. Rick was happy to walk part of the F1 circuit. They were already setting up for the race at the end of May.

 

Ahh, the French Riviera

April 2

St Paul de Vence

Enjoying our time in St Paul de Vence at the Villa St Maxime, run by Jean's cousin, Ann. It makes up for the trip I missed in 2003 when we celebrated the 20th year of our book club. (Darn those kidney stones!)

In Roman Times..........

March 28

Nimes

We visited the Roman amphitheater in Nimes today. It dates back to the 1st century AD and is the best preserved arena in the world. Obviously it was used by gladiators, but it's had many other uses in its 2000 years. Today it is even used for bull fights!!

Then we canoed under the Pont du Gard--a three-tiered aqueduct that was once part of a 50km system of water channels built around 19 BC. Those Roman engineers were something!!

By the way, did you know that denim originated in Nimes and that in the nineteenth century Levi Strauss bought, by chance, a batch bearing the number 501!!  The rest is history. And 'blue jeans' is a phonetically anglicized form of 'blue de Genes'. 

What's more Swiss than fondue?

March 25

Geneva, Switzerland

Very quiet in the city on Good Friday. Museums closed but visited key sites--United Nations, old town, Reformation Wall--and had traditional "moitie-moitie" cheese fondue, half Gruyere and half Vacherin. Extra good washed down with wine. 

Adoption complete!!

Munich, Germany

We visited the BMW Welt today and came away with a brand new, shiny red baby--BMW that is. Left Munich and drove across Switzerland to Geneva. Nice ride!!

The World Isn't Safe Anymore

On the day we are to leave for our jaunt through France, we learn of terrorist bombings in Brussels. We will not be deterred, but we will be vigilant. On to Munich!!