| Paris Encore 2006 ROAD TRIP 12/28/2006 |
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TRAVEL |
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| Ron thought it would be a good idea to use
his International Driver's Permit to rent a car and drive to Chartres
to see the cathedral. that sucker is up on a hill. Our parking place WAS
NOT!. It is a gorgeous place. This had to be one of the foggiest
days so far that we have experienced. I have to say, Americans love to
go ANYWHERE by car. We had to go over to St. Sulpice Church to find
the Avis agency to rent the car. Ron and I were riding the Metro a
WHOLE LOT earlier than this foursome is up and about. We found a place
to park under the crypts in front of Notre Dame Cathedral and hoofed the 2
blocks home to get the women. When we BOUGHT back our car from the
parking garage, it casts roughly $8.00 to park for less than 2 hours. I burnt 2 discs for the ride - Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and the Allman Brothers Greatest Hits. We first hit the highway to Chartres. Its got an old got this cathedral ON A HILL. we parked at the bottom. The walk was refreshing. Or at least I think that's what Marsha was calling it. Beautiful old town, if we could have seen more of it. The fog had settled in and it cut down visibility. One of the women, I think it maybe one that is married commented on our pilot's knowledge of ceiling and sight limitations and the science involved. I found it interesting, but i want to fly a plane, also. We found a great little cafe to get a coffee and take a leak, of course. Ron and Meg walked down the hill to drive up to pick us up. Great idea, and compassionate action. The problem is, you cant get up the hill with a car. You also cant get a signal on the cell phones. We stood around waiting for them for over half an hour and froze our stained glass. Eventually we saw the Mother-to-be walking up the hill to get us from another direction. I have never been so happy to see Meg and Ron in my life. We then drove out to Versailles. There is a line in the song Roundabout by YES that says..."Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there" We saw them standing in the fog, just hanging in the sky, with homes built up the sides. I live to ride shotgun with a good driver in beautiful places. This scene was breath-taking. Versailles was the "Summer Home" of the royals. the entire courtyard, acres of it, are cobblestones. On any other day, the palace would have been incredible. It was just incredibly crowded. We got some good shots, and survived rude crowds. We then drove into the rush hour traffic of Paris. Big fun. Seriously. I love the traffic jams if I am not driving. We then dropped off crap at the apartment and went on a hike for dinner after giving Avis back their car. It got lengthy, but was very refreshing. Dinner was good, with spirited conversation covering navigation, circumcision, the gross inadequacies of men in general and other fun stuff. we tried to find a tavern for a drink, but the one that seemed nice was like a meat locker, as the table was at the front door. We left and returned to the apartment. It was the last night with the kids and we could tell that some emotions were getting tried because it would be a while till the Mother and Child Reunion. Goodbyes are Long, Sad and Painful for any male that married into the clan. I guess it is rough on the women, also. T
Remind me to tell you about Versailles!
And seeing Donald Fagen |
