Gay Paris

We safely arrived in Paris to be met by Macrae at Terminal 1.  French Immigration and Customs were almost non-existent after our border crossings in Africa and South East Asia!  Macrae took us back to their place to have breakfast with Jillian and Liam.  We picked up real French Bagettes and Pain au Chocolat from their corner bakery just around the corner... I can get to love France!

After that, we all jumped a train into Paris to see some of the sites. I thought Jen walked fast but Macrae is in another league!  No wonder he is so much more fit than me (although I did find a scale and I have lost over 25 lbs so far... so Jenès forced marches are paying off!  Only about another 40 to go!)

We visited the Arc dèTriumuph, the Champs... the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Concorde, Bastille and a bunch more... including Napoleon's tomb and the war museum.  Phew!  It gave us a great overview and we were all glad to get off our feet at the end of the day.

The next day, the Cameron family headed over to Versailles to tour the musical gardens while Macrae and Jill prepared an Easter dinner for us and one of their French friends.  By the time we got home (with Liam), we were all starving and polished off that feast in no time flat!  It was a very interesting evening as their guest did not speak much English and we did not speak much French but we all managed to have a great time.  The kids also did Easter Fish that morning (the French disdain bunnies... and have Fish instead).   These fish were made out of the best chocolates... the kids were in heaven (when Jen was not stealing their chocolate).

Macrae had to fly back to Canada the next am for some important meetings but we stayed with Jill and Liam for three more days.  Liam had school (he goes to a very prestigious international high school in the village and now speaks with an English accent... he cracks me up as he is so much like Macrae was only with the English accent to boot).  Jill is working at the OECD and enjoying her job there - even with its long hours.   They have a great spot in Maisons Lafitte and I am sure will love their stay in Paris.  We are going to miss them though!

We arrived!  Thirteen and a half hours later (after a 3.5 hour flight from Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur), none the worse for wear.  I like that airline (and that was in steerage class).

Maisons Lafitte - where Macrae and Jillian live (well not in that exact house)

This is their little village

Lots of parks and green areas...  we were extremely impressed with the place and came to love it as much as the Morse Family does.

The back side of Maisons Lafitte

The designer of Maisons Lafitte was named Mansard... any guesses what he was famous for?  Mansard roofs (and building the Palace of Versailles!)

The Champs D'Elsey

Here's Chuck

Some hate it.. I love it.  Adds to the Louve... and Pyramids have been around longer than the Louve anyway!

One of a few "Lock Bridges"... people put a lock on the bridge to symbolize their undying love for each other... til the French cut them off next year. :-)

Napoleon's tomb

There's the little runt.

Firebolt (aka Max to Brent who still remembers the old one from 10 years ago)

Having a relaxing day chillin and catching up on emails.  Macrae and Jill have a great place for that!

The inside of the Palace of Versailles

Joe 6 Pack

Mont Martre (in behind Sacre Cours Cathedral)