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Saturday, 31 January 2015

50 Shades of Grey - Fall colours in Britain


Enjoying the moody fall colours of grey in Great Britain, all 50 of them, we set out on the great road adventure in the blue tin can again. Whoever said white was a complicated colour has never seen the full spectrum of grey skies in England.

Committed to seeing more of Great Britain, we ventured to the south of England. I tell ya, just because Google says its a 3 hr drive, it will most likely turn all Gilligan on you and you find yourself stranded not on a deserted tropical island, but a crowded British motorway for an indefinable amount of time.

That said, we again, get to experience some new geography, and of course, FOOD!  We've been having some really good eats in Britain.


First destination was Stonehenge.  Many said we'd be let down by Stonehenge, but we found it fascinating.   E was studying it at school, so she was a great interpreter.  To boot, we beat the summer crowds too.




How did they get those stones there?





Grumpy faces

If you had to hang out in the drizzle for a bazillion years, you wouldn't be smiling either.  But I think he's winking at me.


Name that expression - reflection? dejection? constipation?


Part of the pumpkin Halloween scary faces?

Very grumpy modern day faces


Notice the lovely mauve hue in the grey sky....

Next stop was the beautiful city of Bath.  It used to be the playground of the rich and famous bourgeoisie.  I think it still is.  The architecture is stunning, grand and you can just imagine how Beau Nash made this town the most popular resort destination in 18th century England. 


Stained glass windows in the Bath Cathedral  known as Bath Abbey
Coolest light fixtures




All the angel carvings were different.





Bath near Putney Bridge






Way cool tromp-d'oeil architecture.  Apparently Nicholas Cage lived in one of the town houses


The Royal Crescent





Bath in Bath... hence the name.  


Those clever Romans knew how to keep everyone all clean.


Nope, I'm not taking a bath without a rubber ducky!


Roman Bath ducky ready for the splash


It wouldn't be a holiday without some good grub.  We splurged at the Michelin-starred Bath Priory.  They weren't going to accept our reservation since E wasn't 12.  I had to convince them there would be no problem with her eating off the tasting menu.  Go figure.  




Despite living in Britain, the sticker shock never really goes away.


However, E approves!


Tasty amuse bouche





The tiniest langoustine but oh so tasty.  


Breakfast mid-way through the meal; truffled grilled cheese with quail egg


Foie gras.  My ethical dilemma - it seems so wrong to eat fatty duck liver but it tastes so good.  









Eating too fast for the camera


To quote Karen-Anne, "you are never disappointed with a lemon dessert"


Sometimes, Adrian just has to eat.  As delicious as posh food is, there just isn't enough on the plate.  We ate at some other lovely places in Bath, including this Italian restaurant with a big rack of lamb.
Adrian-sized portions! At an Italian restaurant in Bath




From Bath we headed to the south coastal region of Cornwall and visited with Deborah and Phil Dodge.  We made a pit stop in Cheddar Gorge.  The home of the cheese.  However, there is no cheese!  Did someone move the cheese?

The Cheddar Gorge.  Its the birthplace of Cheddar.  Where is the cheese?  

We had a lovely time exploring the villages, Pendennis castle and the beach.   It was soooo foggy at the Pendennis castle that we couldn't even take pictures!  Maybe fog was all part of the attack/defence strategy for King Henry VIII?


Fog in Cornwall









A few years ago, the storm waves crashed the church tower clock out!  Talk about knocking out your clock!




  Searching for the famous Cornish pasties
Would you like a cuppa?
Hey, could you see us if we weren't wearing turquoise?

Windy beach in Cornwall




See, isn't monochromatic grey beautiful?

For the sequel winter post, I will include an all new 50 Shades of Grey Vol II.  Who knew grey could be this exciting. Oh my!

































Monday, 12 January 2015

Le gai Paris at New Year's!

Brilliant!  How else do you describe ringing in the New Year with the dazzling lights of the Eiffel Tower when you're with family and friends?


My cousin Jean-Francois and his family, Rozita, Shadie and Shirine  visited us first in London and we made the journey on the Eurostar to gay Paree to join Sylvie in New Year's celebrations.

We had a fabulous time walking and touring and of course eating!  It was fantastic to see Sylvie, Jose and Anne-Marie again after almost 8 years!  It was 20 years since the whole group was all together!

Woo hoo!  

The city of lights


Strict orders!  Take me to Paris - got the map! Know the landmark!

First stop, the Eiffel Tower


Cousins!


First time E was in Paris at 8 mths old
Return vist at 8 years old
Living the life! Look, Adrian has sprouted wings!



I liked the spherical repetition in this photo
Look what eating all this baguette will do for me!
I owe all of this to baguette.


Only in France is the cross walk sign skinnier.  I took this as a green light message to eat my way through Paris (again).  


So we had crepes with creme de marrons.






A little seafood....

Then some cheese

We howled when Jose magically pulled out a perfect cheese platter, with the knife in the cheese from his bag transported on the Metro. (can't seem to get the audio to work)




Say cheese!


More stinky cheese!  Even our cheese monsters (E, Shadie and Shirine) were starting to ask, "more cheese - again, today??!!)

Do you think Nutcrackers eat cheese?


I bet we're having more cheese for dinner tonight.

Everyone say cheese!  Yes, we're eating more cheese!

The lovely Anne-Marie and Rozita


Hey, is that dog poop on my shoe?  Some things in Paris haven't changed....



Hmm, they haven't got a clue.  

Adrian didn't mind, he was all about the cafe.

I 'amm loooking zo French, n'est ce pas?








Sylvie touring us through the Marais.  Who knew what a "pas de mule" was before?  I thought they were shoes.  She's promised a private tour just for Adrian the next time we come to Paris.



Lunch in the Jewish quarter.



You know, I look this good all the time.



The brilliant dome of Galleries Lafayette


Decor - so simple and so elegant



We lucked in one morning and didn't have to wait in line to get into the Notre-Dame cathedral. Last time we were there, we attended Easter Mass and experienced some amazing choral music.  It was 19 years ago that I met Karina Roman at the Notre-Dame!  Isn't it a small world?

Outside Notre-Dame

Nativity diorama in Notre-Dame.


Writing a prayer at Notre-Dame.  Just 3 days before 9 January,  my inauspicious personal prayer was for more peace in the world. 


Beautiful window in Notre-Dame. 



Pooped in Paris

Must be the end of the trip as E takes her crashed stance on the Eurostar. 
  


The Eiffel Tower standing strong at the end of the day.  Vive la France!