Penmans Abroad!
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
I know...the order of the pictures annoyed me too. I just need to figure out how to put them in order and take out the duplicates. Sorry about that.
Tonight going to have dinner with the folks. Then tomorrow I am going to go to work, have some dental work done after work, then go home and watch Friends...what? You guys don't want to know what I am doing on a daily basis?!?! Oh I see...you are only interested in my life if I am traveling...whatever!
I was looking on the web for pictures of Salisbury Cathedral (to replace the ones that gremlins stole from my camera) and I came across this essay that I thought might interest us.
Alyssa, I don't know what you are talking about. The weather here in Southern California is a balmy 80 degrees. Boy, am I glad to be home!
But talking about the weather has made me remember something about London: As we were freezing our butts off waiting for the changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace I was privileged to watch the Mounted Police whose job it was to control all us unruly tourists. The rules were, it was made clear to us, that we had to stay up on the pavement and off the cobblestone roadway on which the Guards would march. I was only one person away from the curb and so had a pretty good view. Several times while we were just chillin' someone would dash across the cobblestones and quick turn around to stand in front of the others already there. Typical tourist behavior.
Here's the good part: If that person was spotted by the female mounted officer who was patrolling by us, that officer would ride over to the newcomer, point to him (or her) and shout "You there! Get back through the crowd! All the way in back! These people have been waiting here for quite a long time and they deserve to be in front! (paraphrased)
Very refreshing! I think, for me, that was the best part of the whole "Changing of the Guard" ceremony. Well, I have to get back to working on my tan...
Hmmm... I thought I left freezing weather behind in Europe! Why is it 45 degrees in Oakland!?!?
I'm enjoying the pics everyone has put up. If only they were in some kind of order! Everyone at work has enjoyed seeing them, too. Thanks for taking them Rach and Dad.
Later!
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Saturday, January 10, 2004
I must admit, Rachel's method of posting a slide show of her "photo album" using Shutterfly was inspired. Especially because this service is free! That being the case, I have also loaded my pictures to Shutterfly and present them here for your perusal. This is pretty much everything I took on the trip, except for the video and, of course, my "Lost Photographs" (Wahhhh).
Friday, January 09, 2004
WHAT A VACATION!!!!!!!! Will be hard to top this one.
Hello everybody, this is Jane (Nana) who was part of this 5some who left our mark on London and Paris. as well as these cities feeling a loss now that we're gone. (boohoo).
It was wonderful. awesome, magnificent, tiring, boring(on planes and trains) but the end result was worth it all. Without any exaggeration we walked minimally 500 miles and climbed 1000 stairs which totaled approx 16000 steps. (sometimes on a dead run. no kidding)
There is so much to see and do in both cities and we chose what we wanted to do, saving some things for the next time.( which will not be in wintertime). Talk about COLD!! had so many layers on I felt like I was waddling. (I know, some of the people who read this
will say I was, lol).
Sorry, I need to go. Abby (our dog) got into the garbage and is eating cough drops. Later.
Hi Everyone,
Who would think that a trip that included losing your only coat at an airport, discovering you have packed only left contact lenses and being sprayed with tear gas would be the time of your life??? That is indeed what it was.
A few years ago when I was in Culinary School, a class assignment had us write a letter to ourselves. We had to list 3 things we wanted to do within the next year. Our teacher mailed these letters to us a year later. One of the things on my list was go to Europe. The teacher had written, "Go, you'll love it. No matter what, do it!" It has been a dream of mine for a very long time to go to Europe. With one thing and another it always seemed to be put on hold. We began really talking about it a few years ago then, 5 years ago David's Dad, George, passed away and then, 2 days later, on New Year's Eve, my Dad died also. Needless to say, it has been difficult to celebrate when knowing that as we counted down till midnight, what I was really doing was reliving the events of that night. I was determined to make some new memories, at least for my mom and I. Then 9/11 happened and traveling anywhere seemed insane. Being self-employed, time and money is always an issue but, my 50th birthday and our 30th wedding anniversary were coming up and I decided that it was now or never! I didn't want to spend the rest of my life saying, "Gee, I wish I had..." or "I really should have ...", life is too short.
I dreamt of being at the top of the Eiffel Tower, toasting "Here's to ME!" with champagne at midnight with the fireworks going off all around us. I don't know what Freud would have to say to that but it is what started this whole thing. In reality, we were at the bottom of the Tower, with Champagne, I did toast to me, and we had people throwing firecrackers from the apartment building behind us. When we went out to get the taxi and the whole tear gas thing happened, I giggled to myself, "Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor, I asked for different memories for tonight and I sure got them."
I really enjoyed the trip even though it was cold. Everything was so large, the scale of the buildings, the cathedrals. I kept saying, "How did they do this? They didn't have any modern tools." It all seemed kind of pretend to me. We were constantly surrounded by so much history, so much evolution, so many centuries of change.
David and I watch alot of mystery stories and many of our favorite authors write about London so it was neat to see the places we had read about or seen in the shows. If we could go back I think I would like to do more of the London Walks tours. I really enjoyed the personal touch that seemed to put on everything. A particular favorite of mine is Anne Perry's Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series. It takes place in the late 1800's but each novel has the name of a section of London (Traitor's Gate, Charing Cross,etc.) in the title. I would also like to go visit some of the areas where famous English authors lived (Agatha Christie, Beatrix Potter, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). Oh well, maybe next time.
Yes, there will be a next time for I have caught the traveling bug and will seek new stamps for my passport. Even though I don't even like going to Disneyland with more than one person, I would definately travel with the other "Fab Five". We mostly got along with only the slightest hint of grumbling. Mostly about the weather. Alyssa and Rachel were super about directions and getting us where we needed to go (although Mom and I were able to venture out one night on our own without getting lost) and David was great about taking movies and still pictures so I will have lots of them to look at later.
Thank you family for being with me, you are the best part of the journey.
Bruce in Arizona writes: Hey guys... Thanks for taking the time and having the idea to start a blog for all of us to read. YES, I read it. I can't WAIT to read the book. I have SO many questions.
The "book?" And someone said they can't wait for the movie? I know you guys are kidding, but... who do you think would play me? Mel Gibson?
Well, the "Fab Five" are scattered to the four winds. Rachel is back home getting ready for school in San Diego, California. Alyssa is back at the Mission in Oakland, California. Jane is trying to recover her health in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. Donna and I are here in Corona, California (with Duchess who has come home from Wyoming). We are trying to reset our body clocks with varying results (again, except Duchess, who was only a time zone away and sleeps all the time anyway).
As I read over the posts from the trip I wonder if I made it sound too much of a struggle, too difficult. The fact is, it has been a wonderful experience, probably one of the most exciting, personally stretching, things Donna and I have ever done. It was completely at this level as a life event (I am up on my toes stretching my hand as high as I can).
This trip was not something I was keen on doing. I do not like traveling very much. I am a picky eater who prefers the comfort of the familiar when eating ("Try it, you'll like it." is not a phrase I ever enjoy hearing). Also, I am a bit of a snob about Southern California. Why travel anywhere else when you have the best of everything (including weather) within a few hours drive right here. Donna practically had to drag me along on this excursion.
But, I am totally blown away at what a great thing the trip was. There were unpleasant experiences, most notably the travel days at the beginning and end of the trip. If I never again sit in an airplane coach seat it will be too soon (and pity poor Alyssa who had to get on another plane to go home last night). And the cold was something my Southern California bones were not prepared for (even though we were warned). We packed for the weather, but it just didn't matter how many layers we put on. And let's face it, I just did not eat as much as everyone else in Paris.
All the same, take all that stuff away from the trip and now I am standing, stretching my hand as high as I can, just not up on my toes. Okay? Still an amazing adventure.
I've been to a foreign country! Another continent! To a country where the only phrases I know in the native language is "Hello" "Good-bye" and "I do not speak French. Do you speak English?" There are things about London and Paris that are like any other city I have been to. The people going about their business do not look you in the eye. They don't smile much. But if they are there to deal with tourists - hotel clerks, tour guides, bus drivers - they are unfailingly pleasant. I could do this again (if we win the lottery). Just not in the winter. And doing two world-class cities in less than two weeks is too rushed to do them credit.
This is all my way of thanking Donna for a brilliant time! As monumental a task as arranging this trip was, Donna did it almost entirely on her own.
Now I have to go to bed and let my body try for more reacclimatization time. We're not done here. Keep emailing us at Penmans Abroad.
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
Sheesh...you know some people had to go back to work!!!!
Okay Here is the link of about 100 of the photos I took. If you have any questions or comments about the pictures feel free to email me at rachelpenman@yahoo.com.
Now I am finishing up all my laundry and then going to bed!!!!
I bugged Rachel about her photos from the trip. She informs me she has over 500 photos! So I asked her to pick a few and I would post them while she works on the rest. I decided to concentrate first on pictures with me in them... I mean with people in them. As I said about the pictures I posted earlier today, if you click on the image you will bring up a larger image with more background sights.
This first photo is of Donna, Jane and me at Trafalgar Square in London. Do we look cold to you?
Here's everyone (except your intrepid photojournalist) in Paris, New Year's Eve, on the Champs Elysee (You can't tell but we are in the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe).
And here you have Alyssa and I at Notre Dame. Trust me, you really have to click on this one to see the original.
I know. I know.
But I have to tell you, catching up is not as easy as I thought it would be. In addition to catching up on real work, I am in the process of getting the pictures in shape; rotating, reducing to a manageable size, trying to remember just what the heck that is a picture of...
But this is a picture of the "Fearsome Foursome" on Christmas day before a London icon.
And here they are again on Saturday the 27th, one of only two sunny days in London, on a bridge over the River Thames.
If you click on these images you will download not just a larger image of the same picture, but a little wider view.
Now, of course, we were the "Fab Five" on this trip, but Rachel and I shared duties as photographer, so you may never see all five of us in a photo.
Here, Donna and I take turns taking each other's picture in front of some big rocks.
The bigger pictures show much more of Stonehenge so go ahead and click on the images.
This is my attempt at Impressionist art. I call it "Freezing Hands Can't Keep Still." But it has a kind of nice effect. This was shot New Year's Eve at the Eiffel Tower as Parisiennes threw lit firecrackers at each other (and us).
(Contact me for prints suitable for framing)
Sunday, January 04, 2004
I apparently am the last person to enter into the blog from the airport. It is Alyssa and dad's turn to watch the luggage. As I sit here I am still swaying back and forth from the train ride. I am not looking forward to the travel day ahead of us...hopefully I will be asleep for most of it. I am the only one that has to be back at work on Tuesday morning...I am not sure how that worked out...*cough cough* maybe I am getting sick...Although I am the only one who did not get sick at all during the trip. Even though I was the one that drank almost an entire bottle of champagne!
I enjoyed this trip very much. I can't wait until I build up more vacation time so I can go somewhere else! Somewhere warmer next time. Although I do love the rain...I do not like it when it is verrrrry cold. Alyssa and I are already talking about where we are going next. I think backpacking next time is the way to go because my luggage is very heavy and I don't think I wore half the clothes I brought. Oh well...I always have been a heavy packer.
There were so many great things that we did on this trip. Alyssa and I were talking last night as we were falling asleep about the best thing that we did on the trip. I think the best thing was the London walks tours. I really enjoyed the Jack the Ripper one, but I suppose that is the criminalist in me. I also liked the fact that it freaked Alyssa out sometimes...but that is the sister in me!!
I had said that all I wanted to eat in Paris was cheese and bread and crepes. And I think that I was pretty true to my words. Everyone kept commenting on the baguettes and wheels of cheese that I would buy and eat while they ate their omelettes and sandwiches. But give me a good piece of bread and a good hunk of goat cheese and I am set!!!
Only a few minutes left and I need to check my email. As soon as I get home and go through the hundreds of pictures that I took I will post the link here. See and talk to you all soon!!!
Alors! Je suis TRES fatigue! (translation: Yowza, I'm BEAT!) About the last thing I want to do right now is spend another seven hours in the airport (although having internet helps while away the time...) But if I was sleeping, I would still feel sick, so I suppose it doesn't matter.
Since I have 8 and a half minutes to reflect on our travels, I thought I'd share some cheers and jeers with all our faithful readers (I can't believe we actually have faithful readers!)
Cheers
London phrase: Cheers (said when leaving or receiving something.)
London sight: London Walks tours (Jack the Ripper night walk and Historical London day walk)
Food eaten: crepes with nutella and banana
Paris phrase: Bonne Annee (Happy New Year... they all seemed impressed that we know it!)
Paris sight: Snow falling on New Years morning past the beautiful apartment buildings outside our hotel
Jeers
Most annoying person encountered: the tour guide on our second London on/off bus. He was foul. I know British humour is a little on the randy side, but SERIOUSLY. There are children and my grandmother on board.
Biggest waste of time: traveling ANYWHERE (hurry up and wait!)
Yuckiest food: Was there? I must be eating at the mission too much, because, although not everything was rave-worthy, there wasn't much I couldn't eat.
I could have lived without: Seeing all the people peeing in the bushes behind our bench at the Eiffel Tower on New Years Eve. For the love, people!
oops, only one more minute. I had a wonderful time, overall. I don't think I annoyed my family too much (some much, but not too much). Rachel and I are saving our leftover Metro tickets for the next time we're in Paris, and I would move to London in a heartbeat.
Au revoir!
Au Revoir, Paris! We have left Paris and are spending the night at Heathrow airport. What fun!!
First let me apologize for not updating the blog as frequently as I would have liked. Alyssa tells me she saw internet "cafes" everywhere in Paris. I don't know. It is almost midnight Sunday night here in London. We checked out of our hotel in Paris this morning and called a cab for Gare Du Nord railway station. Very impressive place. (Here's another Gare Du Nord link. The comments at this site are not ours - we don't know who the person is that took the picture.) The EuroStar train through the "Chunnel" left Paris around 5:30 pm. We didn't have time for much else today in Paris except sit in a McDonalds waiting for our train to leave (don't say it! if you were patient enough to click on the second Gare Du Nord link and let it load, the picture eventually moves around to where you can actually see the McDonalds). The EuroStar dropped us at Waterloo station where we grabbed another cab for the forty-minute ride to Heathrow airport. Where we now find ourselves. This is just the beginning of our long travails home... I mean travels home.
It is very gratifying to know that friends and family are reading the blog. When our travels are done, maybe I will make up places we've gone. Just to keep the blog going.
Shivaun and Brian write: Hi guys! We are enjoying your journal entries so much- every morning we turn on the computer to see what's new and where you've been. I have to tell you- I can't wait for you to get home because I am exhausted! When I am done reading each entry I want to curl up under a warm blanket and take a nap myself! I hope you will all get some much needed rest when you get home. Enjoy! Oh wait! I do have some advice when in Paris- (you know, I took 4 years of French) "Je joue au tennis"( translation: I play tennis) I hope it comes in handy! Au Revoir! Shivaun
Darn, Shivaun! I wish we had seen this before we had to leave Paris. I would have loved to play tennis in Paris. Maybe we will come back... in the Summer!
Linda and Charlie send: Hi All, I can't wait to see "Penmans Abroad" the movie! It sounds like you are having quite an adventure. Okay I must ask this, when you say you had to run, champagne in hand, from tear gas throwing riot police New Year's Eve at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, did you mean Nana and Donna also? No offense ladies but the amusing sight of that will not leave my mind. Forgive me!! Can't wait for the next installment, be safe and have fun...Love, Linda
Let me say we all are glad that we put Nana in a cab for the hotel about 11:15pm. She was cold (we all were freezing, but Nana had the sense to say, "I'm cold and want to go back to the hotel.") After midnight under the Eiffel Tower, we started looking for a cab for ourselves (David, Donna, Alyssa, Rachel). Well, the taxi stand was deserted and right next to it there was a group of about six or eight police crowded together behind riot shields. Hmmm. There actually was a semi-circular clearing of about 30 yards around the police, which we pushed through the crowd and entered before we realized anything was up. As we walked into the center of the open space, I looked around to see why everyone was standing back. That's when I saw a young man push through the crowd and throw a bottle at the riot police. Ooops! We started walking back towards the crowd poste-haste. We almost made it. The crowd surged around us (conveniently in the direction we wanted to go - away from the police). We managed to avoid being knocked over. Alyssa and Rachel each grabbed one of their clueless parents (I don't remember who grabbed who) and started pulling us along through the crowd. At some point I remember Alyssa shouting, "cover your face!" but I had no idea what she was talking about. Nevertheless I knew my eyes and throat were burning! After a few minutes we were out of the tear gas cloud and could breathe again. All's well that ends well, they say. But I want to know why Donna and I were clueless but our daughters seemed to know exactly what was going on.
Brother Bruce in AZ writes: Hi Guys, Just checking in... Sounds like you guys are having quite an adventure. Still jealous, in spite of the cold rain. Don't forget, I live in the desert. We all get weepy when it rains. So... When are you coming back to the states?
After we spend the night in Heathrow, our flight leaves for JFK around 9:30am. We have a couple hours layover in New York, where we will say good-bye to Jane (she takes a shuttle bus home to Levittown, PA). Then our flight from JFK to LAX gets in about 5:30pm (this is all Monday). Hopefully, our car will not have been towed from long-term parking at the airport, and we should be home by 7:30pm.
Presumably Duchess will be waiting for us at home. Andrea was to bring her home Sunday. She will be alone Sunday night and Monday until we get home. As soon as we get home (if I don't fall asleep first) I will post pictures of the trip. Remember, email us at Penmans Abroad
Friday, January 02, 2004
Bonjour mes amis! Bonne Annee! (Hello friends! Happy New Year!)
J'aime Paris. Malheuresment, tout le monde n'aiment pas Paris. (I love Paris. Unfortunately, not everyone loves Paris.) I am continually defending it against the remembered delights of London. I liked London too, but there's just something about Paris.
We took the on-off bus through Paris, which gave us a good overview, and is good for two days, so we could take it again today to see Notre Dame, the Louvre Museum, the Orsay Museum, etc. in better detail. I am also looking forward to shopping a little bit at Le Bon Marche, or some other shops.
We have also finally found an Internet Cafe. There are many, I'm sure, we've just not seen them. All three technophiles are sitting next to each other racing to put our blog entries in first.
The only down side to Paris is that I am sick. A beautiful cough has settled in to my lungs. Tres bien! And the near zero temps (in Celsius) don't help. How did I ever think I could live in New York or Paris or London? Brrr! Even Oakland is almost too cold for me. Sad. But it did snow yesterday, New Year's Day, as we woke up. it was lovely. It completely obliterated the insanity of the night before, where the near rioting of our merrymaking neighbors at the Eiffel Tower earned us an attack by police in riot gear and tear gas! I'm telling you, we know how to do things up right!
Anyway, I'm still having a wonderful time, although I would like to be in my own bed when I am sick, with my puppy curled up beside me, and english speaking tv. Quelle dommage.
Au revoir! A bientot! Arrividercci! Adios! Bye bye!
We are in Pareeee! Internet access in London is ubiquitous. In Paris, rare. Or maybe we have not been hanging out at the best tourist spots?
Danyelle from Levittown says: Hello everyone... This is Danyelle, Jane's (Nana's) GREAT granddaughter. Happy 2004 To everyone. Did everyone have champagne? How long was your trip? So far out of everything you have seen what has been your favorite? And... did you climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower?
Uncle David I am sorry to hear about your pictures... Bad news travels fast! (ha ha) Oh and Uncle David... By the way.... you have been saying how good the food has been over in London have you had any Carl's Jr since you have been there?
I hope you all have a safe return and look forward to hearing the stories..... I love you all very much. Love, Danyelle
Hi Danyelle! Nope, I haven't seen a Carl's Jr yet, and I have been looking. (For those outside So California, Carl's Jr is a local fast food chain, my favorite.) And everybody here has been very kind about my lost pictures.
But we are here in Paris and it is very different from London. Paris is grander. The buildings are larger. The architecture is more beautiful. There is much more open space and parks. The people are not as friendly as in London. They stare at you if you smile at them. Alyssa says that our smiles is how they tell we are Americans. We look dopey to them. Sorry, that doesn't sound like my problem.
Time to run. I will extend this posting when I get the chance. I will expand on our first two days here. I will tell you all about getting gassed by the Paris police!
Nothing says New Years like tear gas and a good bottle of champagne. Had an eventful New Years Eve under the Eiffel Tower. Running from the riot police through a mob throwing bottles at the police, trying to find our way back to the hotel through the cut off streets, and having half a bottle of champagne in me didn't help at all. All in all it was the best New Years I have had in a while!
It has been very cold here. It snowed and rained most of yesterday. It is supposed to be a high of 2C or 36F today. We are seeing Notre Dame and the Louvre today. Off to find a crepe to keep my hands warm!
Bonne Annee! (Happy New Year!)
Tuesday, December 30, 2003
Hmmph! Old folks indeed! While we had the youngsters doing our laundry, Donna, Jane, and I did go to Stonehenge and Salisbury.
All right, I am an idiot! Let's get that out of the way right now. You'll see why momentarily. Our trip to Salisbury and Stonehenge was another London Walks tour. Except there wasn't as much walking and it wasn't in London and it cost more than the normal walking tour. Clear so far?
For this tour, we met our guide at the Waterloo Rail Station (not an Underground station). Of course, we underestimated the time to get to Waterloo on the "tube" so we were dashing for the train and holding up the whole tour group (only briefly). Once on board the train we headed for the county of Wessex where we alighted at Salisbury station (after about ninety minutes or so on the train). Guess what... it was raining! But not so bitterly cold, just very cold.
From the station we walked to Salisbury Cathedral. This took about forty-five minutes with stops along the way for the tour guide to impart historical and cultural goodies. The area was beautiful, even in the rain. The word that comes to my mind is "pastoral." Before we got to the town and cathedral we walked through a park area that had a river winding through it with swans swimming along, weeping willow trees dipping their branches in the water, and a local gent casting a fishing line into the stream. Yes, "stream" is better than river in this case (although being from So Cal, anything with a little water in it is a river). And all along this first part of the walk we can see the cathedral with its beautiful spire as it towers over the landscape. It was pretty as a postcard. Yes! Postcards! That's what we should have.
Salisbury Cathedral is a working church with regular services and the normal community life of a church. But this cathedral is enormous and its spire gorgeous. It is the tallest spire in England. I cannot really decribe the cathedral, outside or inside, adequately. You should see pictures... I mean postcards!
Other than the historical interest in the building itself, Salisbury holds another important historical item. One of the four remaining copies of the Magna Charta (the copy in best condition). Unfortunately, we were pressed for time so we did not have long to view it, and photographs were not permitted.
After the cathedral, we went into the town of Salisbury and had lunch at a pub named The Ox Row. While waiting for our food, I went over some of the pictures I had taken of the Cathedral and the pastoral park area. Found one picture where my fingers had obscured half the lens while shooting. So I attempted to delete it.
Oh? You can already hear what's coming?
All right, I am an idiot! I deleted every picture that was recorded in the camera. The wandering stream with swans, the gorgeous spire, the beautiful stained glass windows, Donna against the backdrop of the cloisters green. (Agonized wail) So, did I run back to the cathedral to try and re-take at least a few pictures?
Of course not. Because we were late for the bus. In fact, I had to tell the inn-keeper? pub-master? bar-keep? to wrap our food to go and so we were dashing for the bus and holding up the whole tour group (only briefly). And we were off to Stonehenge.
We got to sit upstairs on the double-decker bus that was taking us to Stonehenge. Remember, it is cold and rainy, and the bus is packed. So, of course, we could not see a thing through the steamy windows. Which did not stop our tour guide from pointing out things we couldn't see as we went along. Sheep, barrows (burial mounds), Sarum, which is the original site of the cathedral. And, look! there ahead, it's Stonehenge! Which looked suspiciously like the back of the coat of the guy three rows ahead of us. Anyway, I couldn't see Stonehenge until we got off the bus at the car park (British for parking lot).
But we did get to walk up to the actual Stonehenge site (to within about 20 feet). They are quite impressive, though they are slightly smaller than I expected and the diameter of the circle of stones is much smaller than I imagined. But the impressive part is that people 5,000 years ago with no technology or machines were able to transport the stones, erect them, and hoist the lintels atop. The other thing that I thought was interesting/strange was that a busy highway passes less than a quarter-mile away and these people go to or from work everyday seeing Stonehenge. Weird.
We only had about an hour before the Stonehenge exhibit closed for the day but it was sufficient. Got a few nice pictures :-)
We re-boarded the bus which took us to the train station for a leisurely (read "sleeping") trip back to Waterloo station. Back through the amazing underground system. And we are here again at the hotel.
Tonight we pack, because we have to be back at Waterloo station to catch the EuroStar train to Paris! at six in the morning! with ALL our luggage. Bye-bye Britain. We had a lot of fun. Especially since you know how to speak our language.
Monday, December 29, 2003
Alyssa and I just got back from the Ho Ho gallery...better known as SoHo! We went to Bar Italia...it was an experience. It was recommended to us by a friend. It is open 24 hours and we had some great tiramisu. Alyssa said the coffee was fantastic. The rest, however, was not what we were expecting. We ended up doing a coffee house crawl trying to find a cafe where we could sit and talk about what to do in Paris. Consisting of 2 cafes. It was a big night for us...
Tomorrow we are shipping off the old folks to their native land of Stonehenge. Meanwhile, Alyssa and I will be doing laundry, another day on the edge! We will also be seeing a homeless shelter, having afternoon tea, attending an evensong service at Wesminster Abbey, having dinner at Wagamama, and completing our day with another walking tour featuring Jack the Ripper's haunts. Then we collaspe and it is off to Paris.
We are finding many ways to make fun of the English...including their fear of ice cubes.
Now we are off to bed to rest up for our big day of laundry. Wish us luck.
Good evening (London time)!
Today has been one of the best so far. The weather was bitterly cold and rainy wet. But we slept in! Until 9:30 anyway. After one of the continental breakfasts the hotel provides for free (probably watching us thinking a continental is not four croissants and only one glass of orange juice!), we hit the road.
We first high-tailed it to The British Museum where, because of time restraints, we ran through the museum in about half an hour. The section Donna and I were interested in seeing was Ancient Egypt so we saw about a quarter of that area. Then, boom! off to the next thing.
As Alyssa reported below, we went on a tour led by a sprightly english matron about half as tall as me. This was a London Walks walking tour that we discussed before leaving home. A walking tour through rainy London streets (did I mention it was bitterly cold?), of which many are uneven cobblestone. Nonetheless, I think this was one of the best touristy things we have done yet. The tour guide was very informative. She would lead the pack of about 25 people down a street at a pace only about half of us could keep up, but she would then stop, have every one gather around, and then very kindly wait for stragglers to catch up. A talk about the history of the locale would last about five minutes -- and off we go again! The tour lasted around two hours and we wound our way around about five city blocks. But keep in mind, that there are almost no square (or rectangular) blocks in London. Truly a fascinating tour.
The tour ended by a pub named Sir John Oldcastle, near Farringdon station, where we dripped in for supper. I had the traditional fish and chips. This is actually the third time now that I have had fish and chips in London. But I feel it is my duty to sample as many variations of the dish as possible. My favorite is still at the Sherlock Holmes Restaurant in Northumberland Street near the Embankment. Still, all three meals have been good (the other one being in a French restaurant, go figure).
The bad thing about the trip so far has been all my beloved technology. I cannot get a thing to charge here in the hotel, trying different adapters and converters. My iPaq PDA is completely dead. The digital camera works fine (uses AA batteries) and the digital camcorder is working (but I haven't needed to recharge it yet). Without the laptop charged up I cannot post any of the pictures we have taken yet. Worst case I will post them when we get home. Maybe I will have better luck with the electricity in Paris.
All in all, we are having a great time. We did have a couple of days that at least started out bright and sunny. One of those days (Sunday, I think) we went to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard. Let me tell you, if you feel you must, just so you can say you did, go see the Changing of the Guard. But see it in the summer! The entire "experience" took about one hour. Of which forty-five minutes is standing around in the bitter cold. The fifteen minutes of activity was unimpressive compared to, say, a high school marching band performance. What makes this impressive is only that you are aware that this is the Queen's Royal Guards you are watching. Well, that and the fact that no high school marching band I know uses AK-47s. So, now we can say we've seen it.
I think that easily the most impressive thing we have seen in London, and I have heard many others say it, is the Underground. You can go everywhere on it. Pop up out of an Underground station and you are a half-block from any destination. The map of the Underground system looks like so much spaghetti but I think it is brilliant. It has made our visit here very easy. I do not know how we would have done it otherwise because there is no way I am going to rent a car and drive in this town!
That's it for today. I will try to post again before we leave for Paris.
Whew, not a lot of time tonight, as Rachel and I plan on going back out, but what a day! We got to sleep in way late (hurray!) and I got to see the National Gallery, full of bee-yoo-tiful works from the 13th century on. I got see some of my faves, Botticelli and his gang. We also took a really great tour with a sprightly older lady as tour guide. It was funny to hear her talk about Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Shakespeare in Love in her posh British accent. But it opened up a whole other side of parts of the City. Long tour, but very fun. We also got to see the inside of the famed Harrod's of Knightsbridge department store. Gucci, Yves St. Laurent, Dior, etc. All I could afford was the restroom. :( We've tried three times to see it and it was closed. So finally we got in today! We stayed for about 15 minutes and said, eh, we could go now. But we were there! Anyway, more later as we go and I have more £££ for computer time. Cheers!
Sunday, December 28, 2003
Hi Everyone,
This is my first post. I was busy planning the trip so I let everyone else talk about it. The trip so far has been great. We've been going strong Talk again soon.
Yesterday was a fun day on our trip! Did A LOT of walking...but hey that is the name of the game! We did some shopping...Alyssa bought a cool hat! I bought a new carry on bag, seeing that mine broke during our sprint in the JFK airport. Alyssa and I went out to dinner at a fun Belgium place. Belgia Centraal. The wait staff are dressed as monks! Good food, had a great dessert!! Good beer too!
We had lunch at the Sherlock Holmes Pub. He unfortunately was away on holiday...but Alyssa, Mom and Dad had fish and chips (ewwwwwww!) and they said it was pretty good! We took a cruise on the River Thames. Very fun way to see the sights!
Today (Sunday) was a fabu day in London! We saw the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Or more likely we saw the people standing in front of the gate in front of us watching the changing of the guard!!!! It was very cold today!!!! The wind just rips right through you. And yes I am from SoCal, so I know that I sound wussy compared to the Eastern people, but even Nana said it was cold!!!
We had a full english breakfast that consisted of a gross looking egg (I like mine scrambled DRY!!!), beans, toast, sausage, bacon, and tea. The tea was great...
In the afternoon we made our way over the the Tower of London. Waited in line for the bathrooms...waited in line for tickets...waited in line to get in...I think you get the idea!! There was a guided tour with a Beef Eater (the guards of the Tower). Very funny chap! Gorgeous grounds! Got some great pictures! Waited in line to see the White Tower, which was the main battle tower...waited in line to see the Crown Jewels. Mom says they looked fake! I said that is how you know they are real! Very opulent...wouldn't mind having a few myself!
Now we are back at the hotel resting our weary feet...and then we are meeting up to decide what the plan for tomorrow is! Then Alyssa and I are going to sneak out and look for some fun later tonight!!!
More later!!!!!!!
Saturday, December 27, 2003
Well, I'm better now. I think I am finally adjusting to the sleep schedule, although the daylight thing is throwing us all for a loop. Because we are so far north, it gets dark at 4:30 (or 1630 as they say here). It makes you feel like you've been going all day, even when you haven't!
So what have we done... well, we've gone a lot of places and found them closed. These people take Christmas holiday SERIOUSLY! However, we have had a great overview of London, seen many famous sights, either from a bus or from a boat on the Thames, we've seen a lot of shops, some tres cher, some not so much, and we have explored the wonder that is the London Underground.
So far, the highlights have been seeing all the shops that I see people on "What Not to Wear" go in to. I couldn't afford anything in them, but I went and saw them on Oxford Street! We also had delicious fish and chips today for lunch, in a pub/restaurant devoted to Sherlock Holmes. I'll be charitable and say that I'm glad someone invented the electric lamp. It must have been hard to see back then. But the food was good.
Rachel and I also took my friend Amy and her friend Alison up on their suggestion of Belgo Centraal tonight. It was a neat restaurant, although it was challenging to find something we were used to. It ended up being a fab meal, though. And we had a Belgian waffle for dessert. It was a belgian restaurant. We had to.
Anyway, I'm almost out of time on the computer. Cheerio!
Friday, December 26, 2003
Greetings from London!!!!
We are having a great time so far!!! A bit colder that I am used to in sunny San Diego...but I am enjoying it! Got some great pictures while on the hop on hop off tour. Although some are blurry!
Did a little shopping today, didn't buy anything if you can believe it!!!
Looking forward to the rest of the trip! Hope we are all still talking to each other at the end!!!
More later!
Yesterday, Linda and Charlie sent: Hi Donna, David, Rachel, Alyssa & Nana,
I am looking forward to following the adventures of our adventuresome family! Have a wonderful and safe holiday and I will be checking your website to "armchair" travel with you. Merry Christmas, Linda.
Well Christmas Day for us was pretty much recovery from travel (see my earlier post). Today was a very busy day! A brief overview is we took a "hop-on/hop-off" tour and saw half of London, and then we all five bought all-day passes for the Underground (What we would probably call the subway) and went shopping. Boxing Day is the day after Christmas here and whatever else Boxing Day is, it's Sale Day in the shops! I'll let the others describe our day in more detail.
Brian and Shivaun write: Hello, it's the day after Christmas, we're sitting in a pile of toys and wrapping paper. How is London? Hope you all have adjusted to the time change and recovered from your journey. We're thinking of you. Please let Nana know the kids loved all of their gifts. I have nothing witty or interesting to recommend when in London - never been. So, enjoy - we'll be watching! Love, Shivaun and Brian.
Well we haven't quite adjusted to the time change, but I think today will do it. It is about 8pm here and I am ready to fall into bed and sleep through!
Thursday, December 25, 2003
Yowza! We're here!!!
It is right now 12:30 Christmas Day, except we're not in Southern California (but my internal clock is). It is 8:30 pm Christmas Day here in London.
Our day started in Corona, CA at 4:30 am Wednesday. Because of security procedures at LAX we only just made our 9am flight to JFK in New York. A long flight and we were all a little cranky (my tailbone hurt!) by the end. But our flight was put into a holding pattern and was quite late landing. Instead of having about an hour to relax, use the restrooms and not sit between flights, we had to literally run from one terminal, out into the drizzle, to another terminal, go through all the security checkpoints again (shoes off, laptop unpacked, etc.), and race up to the gate as we hear them paging our name for boarding! The only bright spot was that Jane was there ahead of us waiting. Got on the plane, found our seats and took them (my tailbone still hurt!). There was another bright spot: the meals served were the best I can remember on an airline (American Airlines). This flight took longer yet, over six hours.
I have already informed Donna that we will be taking a cruise ship back to the states.
From Heathrow to our hotel, checked in, took a nap, and went out for Christmas dinner at a local restaurant; all went smoothly and pleasantly. We have plotted our next couple days and I will post tomorrow. Maybe pictures, too.
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Brother Bruce in Arizona says: Have an awesome time and take lots of pictures with PEOPLE in them. We love to look at PEOPLE. The pictures don't necessarily have to have YOU in them (but that would probably be a good idea).
Well, Bruce, we will try. We have two digital cameras, a film camera and a digital camcorder between us. It SHOULD be a well documented trip. I will post pictures here as I can.
I don't think I will sleep very well tonight. Tomorrow is a total travel day. We arrive at Heathrow 6:25am Christmas Day. I hope everyone else has a wonderful Christmas! My Christmas wish is to be able to sleep on the plane.
Send us an email at Penmans Abroad.
My friend Amy from San Francisco writes: I have some ideas for you for London, all are highly recommended from my various visits there. My favorites:
1. Belgo Centraal: a fantastic Belgium restaurant/pub in Camden Garden, you will have to ask once you are in the square on how to get there, hard to locate easily. Great beer and sausages, you will love the atmosphere.
2. British Museum: they just redid it, fantastic museum
3. Tower of London: neat tour with the beefeaters as your guides and history
4. Gordon's Wine Bar: an obscure bar, really cool underground cavern with seating, reminds me of you, another link, right outside the Charing Cross Stop, locals place, ask at a coffee shop outside for directions
5. Wagamama: Japanese restaurant, a chain
6. Soho Spice: great Indian food in Soho, fun place
Have a fantastic time in London and Paris! Can't wait to hear about it!
Monday, December 22, 2003
Greetings! If you remember my agonizing over what to do with our dog, Duchess, the situation has resolved itself quite nicely. While we are on our holiday abroad, Duchess will be going on a holiday of her own.
My sister Andrea is driving from L.A. to visit my sister Jennifer who lives in Wyoming. She has offered to take Duchess with her and, in fact, they pulled out just fifteen minutes ago. Yes, Duchess is on her way to Cowboy Camp! We just hope that Duchess does okay in the car. The longest car ride she has been on was about one hour. This one will be about 24 hours! I miss her already.
Well, almost down to the last day before leaving. All of a sudden there is so much to do. Scrambling to finish up projects at work. Scrambling to find all the tech gear we need (like voltage converters and plug adapters). Scrambling to finish the packing (I actually have too much gear and have no room for clothes). Scrambling to find enough reading material and audio books to last from here to London (maybe sleeping pills would be a better bet).
Absolutely worst of all... Could not find the time to see LOTR:Return of the King this weekend. What are the chances that they will be showing it during the flight?
Lot's of friends have said they will visit this blog and take a look. But don't just look, send us an email so we know you looked. You don't have to contribute a message for posting, just let us know you visited. Click here to send the email: Talk to us at Penmans Abroad
I will try and post tomorrow evening, but if I don't... my next post will come from London!
Jane, who will shortly be able to make her own posts, has asked me to make this one for her.
Jane from PA writes: Hellooooo everyone.....
I'm Donna's mother and I'm going with them to London and Paris and everywhere in between.
You should know that this is a "party" crowd and L & P will never be the same. I'm not worrying about the terrorists, I'm a bit concerned that we can stay out of trouble. I've been on vacation before with Rachel and Alyssa.....oops, said too much... Later everyone.
Saturday, December 20, 2003
Now we're talking! Here's a post from a friend of Rachel's who sounds like he's been there.
Jason from Toronto writes: Hello, I hope to be the second person not bearing the Penman name to have their comments posted on your brilliant blog.
It's probably too late but I would tell Rachel not to get an umbrella from San Diego, but to buy this one instead. London's Transport Museum. You could probably get one when you land at Heathrow.
A word of advice. If Rachel disappears on you, no need to call the Bobbies in Scotland Yard, you can probably find her here at Carnaby. Sorry for mentioning it to her.
I also passed along some suggestions for meals to try. Despite the name, Toad in the Hole is very good.
Since you shouldn't go to London without seeing some theatre why not go with Jerry Springer the Opera. (I'm serious.)
I know you said the people not locales but just in case, 221B Baker Street is a fun museum.
In any case I hope you enjoy your trip.
Friday, December 19, 2003
Smashing! We have our first outside contributor to our blog. She is a very intelligent young lady who really knows how to ensure her comments make it online.
Karen from Anaheim writes: Mr. Penman you are the coolest! I hope you guys have a wonderful time. I must admit it'd be great if Rachel could take her best friend with her (I can really fit into a suitcase if necessary!). Being that I've been abroad, I don't have any suggestions for you but watch out for that French food. I hear they eat snails…ew! LOL Have a fabulous trip and I'll think of you on your looooooooong flight while I'm on my 2 hour one to Colorado. :)
Hi everyone! This is a test post to see how well posting pictures will work.
This is a snapshot of two family members who will NOT be going to Europe this Christmas. (big sigh)
Thursday, December 18, 2003
That sounds like fun, Dad!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alyssa you will be happy to know that your list of things to do in Paris impressed my French co-worker. She gave it her stamp of approval!!!
This time next week we will be in London bay-bee! Weather is supposed to be showers with hi of 53 and low of 43. Wheeeeeeeee!!!!
*runs off to buy umbrella*
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Well, I must say I think I may have found about the most fun-sounding activity for while we are in London!
If London Walks is as much fun to do as the website is to read then we would have a great time.
Check it out.
BTW, Hey! We need to let others know about this blog. If we don't share it with those family and friends who are not going with us we will miss out on some great recommendations and suggestions.
And it's not like they wouldn't get anything out of it. How about a signed and numbered photograph of all of us in standing in front of an actual London Tube Stop.
Please! Send us recommendations and suggestions at Penmans Abroad
Monday, December 15, 2003
All right! All right! I get it. I'm a geek, a nerd.
All I want to do is go and try out my gadgets. I want to take pictures with my digital camera and upload them for others to view day by day. I want to use my laptop to conect to the web and post messages to this journal about the trip. I want to go to Wi-Fi Hotspots in London and Paris and use my PDA to do anything while sitting in a park or cafe watching people. I want to follow my family around filming them being touristy with my new digital camcorder (which I don't actually have yet -- I haven't actually gotten approval from the purchasing agent yet).
Now I also read all the Dick Francis novels. And I love Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Lord Peter Wimsey, plus any of a half-dozen British sleuths. But I don't really care about seeing those locales, I want to meet those people!
Email us with questions or comments at Penmans Abroad.
Ok, here is what I want to do:
In England:
1. See a racetrack and other landmarks from Dick Francis novels.
2. Go to Curves in Kent.
3. Go to Buckingham Palace (since it is around the corner)
4. See Notting Hill and Portobello Road
5. Visit the National Gallery
6. See Posh and Becks if possible
7. Be on "What Not To Wear".
8. See St. George Square where they film East Enders
9. Find Jamie Oliver
10. Eat at Fifteen, Jamie's restaurant.
In France:
1. Visit Musee D'Orsay
2. Visit The Louvre
3. Shop at Au Bon Marche
4. Sit in cafes and drink cafe au lait.
5. See if Jardin du Luxembourg is open.
6. Visit Deux Magots and the Latin Quarter and watch tourists.
7. Visit Versailles. Tour the palace this time.
8. Eat crepes. Lots and lots of crepes.
Just some suggestions! :)
Woo hoo! Got my bonus...I can eat while we are on vacation!!!!!!!
Things I want to do while in London
1) British Museum
2) On Off bus tour
3) Tower of London
4) Watch a changing of the guards
Paris
1) Eiffel Tower
2) Evening boat ride down the Seinne river at night (recommended by co-worker)
3) Visit the Palace of Versailles (maybe)
How about you guys????
Don't worry! I found my passport! Now I won't be hauled off to sit in a jail cell with Saddam for being a terrorist when I tried to make a fake passport.
Can we use this blog to work out an itinerary?
Thursday, December 11, 2003
Ain't technology grand?
By taking my laptop with us on holiday we will be able to send emails to friends and family and update this journal to keep everybody up to date on our adventures. I am pretty sure that England and France have the internet.
But, it gets better... While on our trip to Europe Donna and I will be able to do at least some of our work over the Internet. It will be like we never left home!
Hmmm... I have to re-think this a little.
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
What to do? What to do? What to do with the dog while we are gone?
This is our biggest concern about going. We do not want to kennel Duchess. We did that once before for about four days and we were not happy. We had hoped to have someone house sit/doggy sit while we were gone, but that fell through. We now hope to have our neighbors come in to feed Duchess twice a day and walk her once a day. That way she gets to stay in her home (empty though it will be).
Does anyone think it's strange that this is our biggest concern?
Email us with questions or comments at Penmans Abroad.
2 weeks people...14 days...336 hours...20,160 minutes...1,209,600 seconds until the day we leave!!!!
Can you believe it??? What to pack? What shoes to bring? How many extra suitcases to bring for all my shopping that I do??? Decisions decisions!!!!
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
Wow! I am so excited to be going to Europe with my family! It will be an adventure to say the least. J'aime l'Europe!
Monday, December 08, 2003
{David} This is the first post to our travelog blog (travelblog?). Donna and I are taking our first lengthy vacation in years and it is to Europe! Alyssa and Rachel are accompanying us, as is Jane, Donna's Mom.
Getting vacation time is amazingly difficult when you are self-employed. Our normal "vacation" is two nights in Las Vegas. This time we are taking two weeks!
The decision to "go abroad" is not whimsical. We are celebrating Donna's 50th birthday this month and our 30th anniversary in February. So if that isn't a good enough reason to make it a big deal, what is?
Donna and I got our passports a few weeks ago. Big thrill! No, really. Our daughters Alyssa and Rachel have had their passports for years. Donna has insisted for a long time that she wanted a passport with stamps before she turned fifty. Well, this is pretty close. And I have always dreaded the day when James Bond would run up to me and ask me to help him with some mission in exotic parts and I would have to hold back the tears as I explained I couldn't because I didn't have a passport (sniff). Well -- I'm ready now James!
We are leaving for London December 24th. We have a stopover in New York where Jane will join us for the rest of the trip. We will be returning January 5th. We head first to London and visit thereabouts for five days. Then we head to Paris to spend New Year's Eve and the rest of our trip in France.
I will encourage everyone on the trip to post entries. We'll see how that goes. Pictures, too, if I can get that to work.
Email us with questions (how's the food in England, really?) or requests (can you bring me back a little Eiffel Tower?) or congratulations (the author of this blog is brilliant!) at Penmans Abroad
Later.
