Trip Report (Long)

9 years ago

DH and I had a wonderful time on our trip, a bus tour that started in Amsterdam and ended in Paris. In addition to Amsterdam and Paris, we visited many lovely locations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Without a doubt, my favorite city was Paris. I had heard Venice (which we also saw) being referred to as a museum city, which it is in many ways but to me, Paris is truly a museum city. It is so rich in history, beautiful architecture and culture that it is wonderful at every turn. I also loved Amsterdam for its unique beauty, including the canals, wonderful architecture and walkability. We found Paris very walkable too, and that walking was the best way to absorb all the sights of this truly great city.

I am not particularly religious, but when I walked into Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, I "knew" that I came on the trip so that I could see this beautiful structure. I found it simply breathtaking and otherworldly.

We spent an extra two days in Paris after our tour ended and although we had no translator and knew very few French words, found that we were treated very well and very politely by everyone we encountered in shops, restaurants and museums.

Was very fortunate to see many beautiful art works at the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay and, in Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum.

We unfortunately weren't able to visit Anne Frank's house while in Amsterdam. We were there on Commemoration Day, when the victims of war are remembered and after we walked to Anne Frank's house, found that there was about a three-hour wait line. A somber atmosphere with a man playing a violin among the waiting crowd.

Now I'm slowly getting back to my regular routine, including reading. Not much time for that in the hurried pace of our trip! Posting some photos here - hope it works!

An unexpected surprise - the beautiful library in the Rijksmuseum

DH and I at the Eiffel Tower

We thought we would visit a bookstore on our last day in Paris as a low-key venture and located Shakespeare and Company, a famous English language bookstore very near Notre-Dame Cathedral.

This post was edited by stacey_mb on Sat, May 31, 14 at 9:26

Comments (19)

ont_gal
9 years ago
oh beautiful-how fortunate you are. Love your Paris pic with hubby :)
liz
9 years ago
You had a truly wonderful trip...aren't you glad you went?

I know EXACTLY what you mean about Notre Dame...I get that same feeling whenever I enter a church of that magnitude...I went to see the Cologne Cathedral in Germany in March and it was just breathtaking...THANK YOU to the air bombers in WW2 who left it standing...

The history of Europe is so amazing...I cried when I first went to the Louvre...to be standing looking at a painting that Leonardo painted or that Michaelangelo sculpted...truly inspiring and makes our country seem like such a youngster!!
Related Discussions
trip report to s.c. georgia ( not good!)
Q
Comments (22)
ncpalmnoze7: yes the roots definitely need to get well established and that may take a long time or short time depending on a lot of situations... Mine are actually growing very fast for Sabals and are all pushing out it's newest fronds already, i take care of them daily also. That curves Sabal is just a little curved im getting some very tall twisty curvy trunked sabals in spring also. Ralpf charges a lot for curved sabals because they are much more rare and eye catching and are "not your normal straight palm tree" he says... Jacklord- Thanks haha yea im getting many big palms and going to get much bigger, I appreciate all the comments and concerns! -Justin in VB
...See More
Spices and Heirloom Veggies: My Trip Report
Q
Comments (9)
Beth, I made pickles first and then I finished dehydrating my tomatoes from yesterday and then I finished my yellow tomato sauce and THEN I made one batch of Multi-purpose Seasoned Tomato Sauce. By the time I finished it was around 2 p.m. and we hopped in the car and sped down to the Southlake Central Market to check out their produce selection. I was a little disappointed. They didn't have nearly as many heirloom winter squashes, pumpkins and gourds nor did they have as many heirloom tomatoes. However, they did have pickling cucumbers, so I bought another 5 lbs. Since I made bread-and-butter pickles today, I'll make dills tomorrow. Best of all, my own pickling cukes are about to reach pickling size, so I'll be able to make stacker-type pickles about Friday or Saturday. We also picked up a 10-grain store bakery bread that we like and a few other veggies. Then, it was off to Green Sprouts Farmer's Market a couple of miles up the road. It really is just a smaller, more affordable version of Whole Foods or Central Market, but I mean really, really, really smaller and not much selection. They had some great prices on produce, but a lot of their produce was overripe and I didn't purchase anything there. But, I did get visiting those two stores out of my system. The next time I want to go to Central Market, I'll go to Fort Worth because it has a better selection by far. I don't know this for a fact, but it seems bigger than the one in Southlake. It might be that the Fort Worth store has more autumn pumpkins and winter squash outside because they have a big covered patio type thing in front of the store where they often have musicians and cookouts when the weather is good, and I didn't see anything like that at the Southlake store. The only advantage the Southlake store has over Fort Worth is that Tim can stop by it on his way to work at DFW Airport if there's something I "need". I got home in time to spend an hour in the garden while my sweet DH grilled chicken and sausage and made dinner. I had used up all my tomatoes today making the multi-purpose tomato sauce, but I got to pick another 6 tonight, so I'm OK. Moni, I think Tulsa might have a Whole Foods or Wild Oats which are sort of similar to Central Market but more heavily focused on organics and less focused on gourmet-type fare, although there is a lot of gourmet type stuff, especially if you like artisan cheeses and breads. I'll do some research and see what I can find out about Edmond-OKC-Tulsa. Surely something in that area has a 'health food store' with a good selection. I have found they usually have the best produce in terms of variety and selection. Today I was looking at all the fingerling potatoes (six or eight varieties) at Central Market and making a mental note to buy some in December to sprout for spring planting. Two road trips in two days. I've got to stay home and weed and mow for the rest of the week or the yard and garden will be a jungle. Jan, I'll link Pendery's below. The web site is great, but if you're ever in the Fort Worth-Dallas area, you have to visit the store for the sheer pleasure of inhaling all the lovely aromas of the many spices and herbs. Don't miss their chili mixes. They are great and come in many combinations. I love that Pickling Spice and Italian Seasoning Mixes too---they look like real spices and herbs, not just ground-up powders. Dawn Here is a link that might be useful: Pendery's Spices
...See More
Arizona Trip report (part I)
Q
Comments (2)
I have some pictorial trip reports elsewhere, but following Keith's format for a sense of the day by day results here is how my first three days went: 7/30-Arrived at Tucson airport in the evening and cruised backroads for sidewinders that night. Came up empty on sidewinders. Saw several Merriam's Kangaroo Rats. Also saw a DOR Mojave Rattlesnake en route to sidewinder country. 7/31-Walked a wash in the morning looking for Gila Monsters with no luck. Spent the afternoon at Sonoran Desert Museum and added Desert Spiny Lizard, Zebra-Tailed Lizard and Sonoran Desert Whiptail to my lifelist there. Took a night hike looking for Gila Monsters and saw about 70 Great Plains Toads and one large Sonoran Desert Toad. 8/1-Hiked in the Huachucas looking for Ridgenosed Rattlesnakes with no luck. Saw several tarantulas on the roads. Then drove to Cave Creek Ranch near Portal where we'd be staying most of the trip. Saw two Desert Box Turtles on the roads near Portal. A Madrean Alligator Lizard (lifer) greeted us at the door of our cabin at Cave Creek Ranch. It was crawling up the crack of the door and ran into the cabin and under the stove when I opened the door.
...See More
another trip report - interesting trees at Udel, summer edition
Q
Comments (64)
Last update? I'm having to take on additional responsibilities at work in this fiscal year and will have less time for posts. ("up or out" LOL) Happened to be over there yesterday, and although mostly losing my sweet tooth, decided I could not resist some ice cream at the Creamery. The Emmenopterys is dead. The Osmanthus X fortunei, though, was full of fragrant flowers and in great shape. I don't know why they are bothering with this Trachy...another polar vortex winter will take it out. Especially because they didn't give one of the most sheltered spots. The moment I saw this, I thought, "omg, is that what I think it is?" And, it is. I would never steal anything...and I certainly wouldn't be updating this thread if I were planning to do so! But this is the rarest plant in this garden...rarer than the Emmenopterys in my opinion, and I'm a little surprised they didn't plant it in a more hidden spot for it to size up. Ladies and gentlemen, the elusive Torreya jackii.Looks grown from seed to me...thinking the needles will get longer. Debated about featuring but already established that there are rare plants in this garden last year, and in other threads over the years. I think plant collectors are mostly an honest lot? Hope so...if it does well in this garden, cutting material will be available in a few years. The wet summer has allowed their Camellia yuhsienensis to size up and finally look really happy. This plant has been struggling for years but more from neglect I think. It is very hardy and was in full bloom only a couple weeks after the polar vortex freezes ended...way before even 'Korean Fire'. I want one eventually, but am happy enough to have a hybrid of it, 'Dream Angel', that has similarly tough ability to bloom in a real mid-atlantic winter. This is the base of their Quercus virginiana...and sorry to say, looks like 2013-2015 and January 2018 have finished this guy off. Top looks very sparse. I guess they are giving it one more year in case a miracle happens LOL. (spoiler alert...they don't) I've decided I like the look of the variegated Illicium - kinda like a poor man's version of the variegated Daphniphyllum, which is very difficult to graft and may just be too weak to survive in most of the mid-Atlantic. Didn't wade in for a closer pic because I bet this place is teaming with Ixodes. I wonder why this Magnolia macrophylla looks sickly. Chlorosis? They have several but this one is the worst looking. Saw them back in the summer...had never actually been around that species in bloom. The floral odor is indeed disagreeable. Not a good picture but a nice combination of 2 Cephalotaxus and Thujopsis. Finally, nice to see Acer griseum but too bad they let the trunk do this.
...See More
glenda_al
9 years ago
What a wonderful trip! Thanks for sharing!
Orchidllauraga
9 years ago
How terrific!!!! I have a feeling that you really had a great time!!!! I love the pic of you and DH in Paris. You do have plans on blowing that pic up and framing it don't you??? BTW I think you look like Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa.She also loves Paris.

I would love to see more pics from your trip!!!!
sleeperblues
9 years ago
Thank you for your descriptions. I have always wanted to visit Paris, and your post solidifies that. I know the feeling of overwhelming emotion you got--I got it the first time I saw the Pieta in Florence. I just started crying it was so heartbreakingly beautiful. The second time I saw it it was encased in lucite because some madman had taken a hammer to it.
alisande
9 years ago
It sounds like a fabulous trip! Loved your pics (and how nice to see you!); please post more when you get a chance.
pam_25f
9 years ago
Welcome home! Your trip sounds fabulous. Love the pictures.
chisue
9 years ago
Long? Oh no! Too *short*! We want more!
ruthieg__tx
9 years ago
What a wonderful trip. I would love to see some European cities. Our walking days are over though. More pictures?
Fun2BHere
9 years ago
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. I love Paris. I just can't handle the travel to get there.
linda_in_iowa
9 years ago
Wonderful pictures. Looks like you enjoyed yourselves. Please post more pictures.
Kathsgrdn
9 years ago
Sounds like a wonderful trip you had!
Country Sunflower
9 years ago
What an awesome adventure !! So glad you got to see such beautiful architecture and other beautiful parts of this beautiful world we live in.
casey_nfld
9 years ago
Wonderful!! Would love to hear more about Paris. Any do's or don't's? We will be going there in September.
stacey_mb
Original Author
9 years ago
More pictures are coming!

Casey - a few thoughts about Paris.

Walking is an excellent way to get the real flavor of Paris, but don't forget to also take the Metro. DH and I walked some distance to museums, etc. and were very tired by the time we got to our destinations. So take the Metro at times and save your energy for exploring museums, etc.

Have a proper map of Paris. We used a map from the hotel but it was a "skeleton" map, not showing all streets. We had a little difficulty finding locations and needed to retrace our steps more than once. And with a proper map, you can "map out" your route to a destination ahead of time. Hopefully it will also include a Metro map.

If I went to Paris again, I would learn some French ahead of time. We got by on not much more than "bonjour" and "merci" and people were very nice to us, but I would have enjoyed being able to address people a bit better in the country's language. It also seems the polite thing to do.

If you go to the Louvre or any other very large attraction, do some Internet or library research ahead of time to pinpoint what collections, etc. you want to see. The Louvre is huge and pre-planning means that you won't be spending precious time in seeing art works that are of no interest. The next time I go to the Louvre will not be with a tour group, just for that very reason, to see art that is of particular interest to me.

Take some toilet tissue along as you are touring Paris. All the restrooms I encountered were well supplied, until I went into a Starbucks to use their facilities. They were out of paper and I was grateful that I had my own supply.

Beware of potential theft. There are signs at the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower warning of pickpockets. There are people who use different strategies to distract a tourist so that their co-thieves can swoop in and lift a wallet or bag. There were several such attempts on members of our group, but none of the thefts were successful. On one of these attempts, as we walked along, a man approached my DH with a gold ring, supposedly found on the sidewalk. DH knew about the scam so wasn't going to linger with the man. Familiarize yourself from the Internet with the typical scams used, hold your purse in front of your body and keep your wits about you.

How long will you be in Paris?
casey_nfld
9 years ago
Thanks so much Stacey! We've done a lot of research already. We're familiar with the scams and we've bought a theft-proof backpack (pacsafe). I speak French (I'm not bilingual but I can easily get by). My DH is in a wheelchair so the metro is out but I've read that almost all buses are wheelchair accessible so for us it will be a combination of walking and buses.

We are flying direct to London, 2 days there, then taking the train to Paris, 4 nights there and back to London for a couple more nights. We are going in mid September. Can't wait! We've been to London before but never Paris.
stacey_mb
Original Author
9 years ago
Casey - lucky you, going to London and Paris on one trip. That's what I call really hitting the jackpot!

Hopefully your hotel is fairly centrally located and either walking or bus rides won't be too lengthy. It is very fortunate for you that you speak some French. Your language skills will really serve you well on your trip. In your research, have you already narrowed down what sights you will be seeing in Paris? On our "wish list" was to visit the Palace of Versailles but weren't able to, since there was a strike by municipal workers that day. If you go there, you must report on what you saw!

How exciting! I think I will start a bucket list, with a trip to London and Paris being the first item on the list! LOL
casey_nfld
9 years ago
Our hotel is just across the street from the Trocadero - the big plaza that overlooks the Eiffel Tower.

We're not sure how many museums we are actually going inside. When we spent a week in London we hardly went inside anywhere! We had fabulous weather (no rain the entire week) and just enjoyed walking the streets and admiring the architecture.

We can pack a lot into a few days. In Paris we are hoping to see the major sites - Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, the Louvre (outside at least), possibly Sacre Coeur, Galleries Lafayette and a few parks/open areas like the grounds of Les Invalides, Luxembourg Gardens, etc. Also hoping to take a boat ride on the Seine.

At first when we were going to spend an entire week in Paris we were thinking of going to Versailles. But now with just 5 days (4 nights) we're not going since that would take a full day. Who knows, maybe we'll get back there some year.
stacey_mb
Original Author
9 years ago
Casey - sounds like you have a great trip planned! And your hotel is in a wonderful location. We took a photo of the Trocadero area from the second level of the Eiffel Tower, including the curved buildings Palais de Chaillot. Beautiful! Lots to see just walking and in September, the weather will be good and the summer crowds will mostly be gone. I hope you have a wonderful wonderful trip and I look forward to seeing your photographs.

This post was edited by stacey_mb on Mon, Jun 2, 14 at 12:08

Trip Report (Long)

Comments (19)

ont_gal

liz

Related Discussions

glenda_al

Orchidllauraga

sleeperblues

alisande

pam_25f

chisue

ruthieg__tx

Fun2BHere

linda_in_iowa

Kathsgrdn

Country Sunflower

casey_nfld

stacey_mb
Original Author

casey_nfld

stacey_mb
Original Author

casey_nfld

stacey_mb
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Trip Report (Long)

Comments (19)

Related Discussions

stacey_mbOriginal Author

stacey_mbOriginal Author

stacey_mbOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

stacey_mb
Original Author

stacey_mb
Original Author

stacey_mb
Original Author