What a trip so far.....

Sorry it's been so long since a blog entry. It's very, very early on Friday morning and I'm the hotel lobby (WiFi doesn't work back in my room...so have to come to the lobby for it to work - where, I might add, my MacBook is working perfectly).

We are having a truly amazing time. David is still a powerhouse - he leads the pack all the way. Jacqueline - forever the maternal "wonder woman" brings up the rear....and me...well I'm usually somewhere in the middle of the pack - with the good fortune to be able to walk and talk with either Morgan, Margaux or Madeline - whichever girl happens to be my companion, for the moment. These are among my favorite times, getting to go one on one with each of the girls....seeing how much they are loving this trip - and remembering each of them throughout the years - from infants.....Anyway - I'm waxing on...... Here's a favorite picture of each girl, taken on the trip....so far.....

By the way....today we move hotels - since the Hotel Muguet (pronounced "moo-gay"....I had it all wrong - thinking the "g" was soft) was not able to take us for our third night - when we decided to extend the Paris portion of our trip. This has been the perfect place to stay. Incredibly well situated for everything we've wanted to do. We are off all the of main streets - on a one way street. So, that makes for a very, very quiet spot.....But, just two blocks from the Invalides/Ecoles Militaire....15 minute walk to the Eiffel Tower and 20 minute walk to the Musee d'Orsay (more on our visit there last night and our amazing dinner in a later post).

We're moving to the Hotel Apollon. It's very close to the TGV (fast train) station - which we will take tomorrow for Bordeaux. Plans for the rest of the day are up in the air - but that will be part of another/later post. By the way - the 10-day forecasts, when we left the US was for rain, clouds, rain and more rain during these first few days, in Paris. Instead - we've been blessed with incredible weather - mild, sunny - barely needing a (light) jacket, at nights.....Guess that's what happens when you are traveling with three angels: Morgan, Margaux, and Madeline. They've been incredible throughout the trip - troopers. Meals are the only difficult part - since we all have our "likes" and "don't likes". I remember when I was their age - I hated just about everything - so to have become a chef - nothing short of a miracle.

Okay - now on to some pictures - and breakfast. Because of the scattered nature of our first days' schedules I have been WITHOUT COFFEE FOR TWO DAYS.....not today, however!!! After I post I'm going to pack for the move to the other hotel and sit down to a few cups of very strong coffee, croissant and such.....

Big hugz and Gros bisous (as they say in France)

At the Eiffel Tower
Madeline looking sweet at the Luxembourg Gardens
And Venus was her name (Morgan!!)
Margaux outside the Musee D'Orsay

Wiped out but had to take in some sites with this weather!!!

Time for a nap, after our quick excursion out and about. The weather here is beyond spectacular - I mention this, because, it was forecasted: RAIN. We will still likely get some of that during the trip, but even with only a couple of hours sleep we had to head out from the hotel and check things out. Took off on foot for the Eiffel Tower - but needed to have some lunch. Stopped in to the first cute place we saw (David's idea) and sat down. I did the interpreting of the menu. It was a very, very true/classic bistro - with about 20 seats total. After sitting down, however, it became clear that the American taste buds were rearing their limited heads - and nothing on this little place was going to fit. 

So, with gracious apologies accepted by the maitre d' we hit the streets in search of something simpler with more broad appeal. A street-side panini stand was perfect.....and then off to the Eiffel Tower.

The line for the elevator was longer than you can believe - with all of the pre-reserved student groups getting priority over those of us in the standard line. Finally, gave up. Went for a complete tourist trap horse AND buggy ride - and it was absolutely awesome.

A couple of pictures below and then it's off to nap, for me. My eyes keep shutting - as I sit here typing this.....Enjoy the pictures - and will post, later!!!!

We Have Arrived....nous sommes arrives!!!!

I'm sitting in the lobby of the Hotel Muguet

I'm excited, stoked, and totally wiped. The rest of the group has gone upstairs to their rooms and mine just got cleaned and is ready. Not much bigger than a closet - but who CARES. It looks out onto a sweet little garden, has a decent sized bathroom and a nice (and looks comfy) bed..... I ended up buying and bringing a foam pillow - helped me get a smidgen of sleep on the plane. Plus, it will make for very restful slumber over the coming nights....

Here are a few quick pictures - taken at SFO (tried to post them from the airport Air France lounge - but they had some serious firewall issues that prevented me from bringing up my blog). Anyway - Everyone is showered and is ready to head out....

Love to everyone - it's awesome already...we saw the Eiffel Tower as our plane was landing - that's where we're headed next!!!!!!

A Quick Post Before Hitting the Sack

Twas the Night before leaving....and I'm really pooped!!!! But, had to pop on real quick and thank Nick for getting me out, distracted, and full of some amazing food. Nick started with the asparagus/citrus salad....and I decided to go FRENCH - with the yummers Onion Soup. We had Ono and Halibut - one of each....grilled with amazing sauces and those kick-ass Hayes Street Grill French Fries

Here we are after dinner - just before I hit BART and headed back home to Pleasanton...

Is It TIME TO LEAVE, YET????

In 24 hours, we'll be boarding Air France flight 083 to Paris. To say I'm feeling anxious and excited - big understatement....I'm mean, my gosh...I'm at my dad's house taking pictures of a clock with our departure time (tomorrow).....yeah.....I'm ready to GO.

Bags are packed and I'm ready to go......Thanks to my dear friend Nick, I'm going to be distracted this evening. He's suggested we meet at Hayes Street Grill for a early and quick bite to eat, tonight. He's house sitting for some San Francisco friends. I'm grateful for his wonderful friendship....and especially appreciative that he suggested we meet tonight....it's a special way of leaving town and a chance to see a great (Palm Springs-based) friend in both of our's former City by the Bay. And, in case I forgot to mention it: a great distraction.

Going to grab a quick nap before catching BART into SF for dinner.....so that's all for now. More tomorrow - can't believe it's actually HERE!!!!!

The Trip Begins.....

On my way to my departing flight for San Francisco, I looked back, as I passed under the welcome to PS sign, at the airport; and my heart started jumpin'.....I've been waiting for this day for months...literally. Even though we don't actually leave for Paris, until Tuesday....this is the first leg of the trip, for me. I guess I'll just have to be patient - the inbound flight is seriously delayed. Normally, I'm on the 7am flight - which originates from Palm Springs --- so I guess I should have used my common sense and tracked the flight coming from Portland, through San Francisco, which is the plane that's going to be carrying me to SFO.....whenever it gets here. After some internet sleuthing (never knew Palm Springs Airport had free WiFi...I dont' usually have the time nor the inclination to whip out my laptop when i take my usual 7AM AlaskaAir flight) I discovered the delay is runway maintenance at SFO.

Okay - enough with the boring story.....I'm just killing time while I wait to see when the inbound flight from SFO finally takes off. The idea of eating airport food is not appealing - but it looks like I'm going to be stuck here until at least 1pm (it's 11AM right now). I'll just take some deep breaths and face the fact - this is nothing compared to some of the hassles we might experience during the France trip. Bigger planes, longer flights, shuttle services, the TGV.

Anyway - just found out our plane has left SFO and is going to be just an hour late....Still guess I'll grab some food and chill. Hope to have much more interesting things to inspire me for future blogs.....

Huge mounds of thanks and love to Mike and Eric - lovin' my Keens.....

WHAT TO PACK? WHAT TO PACK? WHAT TO PACK!!!!!

Well, it's 5 days....and counting. Here in Palm Springs I'm shuttling houseplants to my friend, David Madison's, this morning, to be cared for while I'm away. The 10-day weather forecasts for Paris and Bordeaux are showing mild temperatures; even light rain. I don't have to check what meteorologists are saying about what will be happening with the mercury in Palm Springs, while I'm away....triple digits are here!!!!!

On Saturday morning - I'll be getting on board an Alaska Air flight to SFO for my dad's house - where I'll be staying for a couple of nights before joining up with the Leppla family and our flight to Paris.

Well, "my bags are packed...and I'm ready to go...." as the song goes. As Jacqueline, David, Morgan, Margaux, and Madeline are making their decisions about what to pack, I thought I'd post a picture....just a cyber-reminder: PACK SOMETHING NICE TO WEAR....JUST IN CASE!!! You know, we don't want to go to a nice restaurant and not have appropriate clothes to wear. I'm not sure what the occasion was for this picture - but I'm sure it was taken just before we all headed out for some special celebration.

Anyway - details about the trip will unfold over the next days and during the trip, when I'll be posting along with lots of help from Morgan, Margaux, Madeline - and probably even Jacqueline and David....Pics, stories and more....for now AU REVOIR!!!!