Yes - back to England and London.
Jacky says I was a tad harsh on Paris in the last blog entry so I'll attempt to be more upbeat this time with my highlights.
i forgot about the food which is always good value in a French context. The parks and areas to sit and rest in, on a long trek, are great. The cathedral at Notre Dame is certainly one imposing building. The gothic architecture leaves a lasting impression and the vague feeling that a hunchback could be lurking in the rafters is appropriate and unsettling at the same time. Entrance to the cathedral is also free (unlike at Westminster which charges like a wounded bull). The Louvre is vast and, while the collection is completely overwhelming, the individual brilliance of great paintings and painters is plainly on view with very discreet security (until you get too close - then all hell breaks out. and, of course, there is the real thrill associated with viewing the Mona Lisa.
Sidebar - the place where the Mona Lisa is found was completely contrary to my expectations. I thought she'd be on her own, in a hushed, darkened room with massive security and only limited entry (like they do to get into the Louis Vitton shop or the Georges V hotel). But no - along with other paintings (poor sods - no one was much interested in seeing them when we were there) it's in a massive room with a few hundred people nosily jostling each other for a view and trying to get their picture taken with it as a background (more on this when I download my snaps).
We are now back in London - time to wash clothes, find an equestrian shop for Jacky, see a few more shows, visit Leigh-on-sea for old times' sake, and hopefully catch the play at the Globe before we leave next week.
Love and peace - Wozza
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Peter Brown called to say, "You can make it okay" (Fabs again)
Our last full day in Paris was spent wandering around and checking out some shops in the Champs Elysees and around the Denfert Rochereau area where we are staying. Jacky bought shoes and I found some CDs that I've been looking for for ages (see the music blog for details).
Being our last day I thought I'd entertain you with my thoughts of the French. Short version - they are a bizarre lot. They are fixated on the past - Marilyn Monroe, JFK, French icons like Bardot, old copies of Paris Match and so on.
There must be a by-law in the city saying that it is mandatory to sit at cafes and smoke and drink for part of every day; it is also mandatory to blow smoke into the faces of non-smokers at least twice a day.
Compared to London, Paris is dirty and crowded with cafes (see the by-law above) that spill into walk ways. Clearly no one in Paris who owns a dog (also a by-law) is able to buy puppy poop bags because every tree has a selection of faeces on display.
The metro system is poorly signposted and difficult to negotiate compared to the underground. It is also in a poor state of repair.
The homeless population is also large here. Each street and side street we went down had at least one man and a dog with a little cup (for money I think, and not for collecting dog pee coz that appears to be everywhere, intermingled with the human urine). Gypsies annoy tourists around major intersections. They also board metro trains and beg for money.
The Louvre is a vast place with some superb art work. We loved the statues and Flemish masters in particular but it is such a hard place to get around in. Again, poorly signposted and very crowded.
Okay so I am not a great fan. The pluses are the great buildings, The Seine, and the fact that I found two CDs I could not find in the UK. Score draw!
Love and peace - Wozza
Being our last day I thought I'd entertain you with my thoughts of the French. Short version - they are a bizarre lot. They are fixated on the past - Marilyn Monroe, JFK, French icons like Bardot, old copies of Paris Match and so on.
There must be a by-law in the city saying that it is mandatory to sit at cafes and smoke and drink for part of every day; it is also mandatory to blow smoke into the faces of non-smokers at least twice a day.
Compared to London, Paris is dirty and crowded with cafes (see the by-law above) that spill into walk ways. Clearly no one in Paris who owns a dog (also a by-law) is able to buy puppy poop bags because every tree has a selection of faeces on display.
The metro system is poorly signposted and difficult to negotiate compared to the underground. It is also in a poor state of repair.
The homeless population is also large here. Each street and side street we went down had at least one man and a dog with a little cup (for money I think, and not for collecting dog pee coz that appears to be everywhere, intermingled with the human urine). Gypsies annoy tourists around major intersections. They also board metro trains and beg for money.
The Louvre is a vast place with some superb art work. We loved the statues and Flemish masters in particular but it is such a hard place to get around in. Again, poorly signposted and very crowded.
Okay so I am not a great fan. The pluses are the great buildings, The Seine, and the fact that I found two CDs I could not find in the UK. Score draw!
Love and peace - Wozza
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Honeymooning down by the Seine ( Fabs)
Day two of our Paris visit. Yesterday saw us walking around Notre Dame and the banks of the Seine (not sure if it was left or right bank). We went underground, beneath the area in front of Notre Dame for a great look at Roman ruins that have been preserved, amazingly enuf, for all these years.
We managed to avoid gypsy con artists, the worst urine soaked footpaths, and the many people selling old copies of JFK's assassination newspapers (why do the French have such a fascination for him?) as we wondered along the Seine.
Today was mainly about us looking around the Louvre and especially the Mona Lisa along with everyone else who visits the museum. My main highlight apart from that (it is special standing in front of the real deal) was setting off the alarms by standing too close to a Bruegal. There is so much detail in his paintings and there was no indication I was too close until the bells started ringing and the security arrived on the scene.
We have just returned from dinner and I have had too much red wine so this whole post will probably make no sense in the morning.
One more full day here tomorrow. We have tried to see things we missed last time - hence the cathedral and Louvre. Tomorrow? Dunno. It's another day innit.
Love and peace - Wozza
We managed to avoid gypsy con artists, the worst urine soaked footpaths, and the many people selling old copies of JFK's assassination newspapers (why do the French have such a fascination for him?) as we wondered along the Seine.
Today was mainly about us looking around the Louvre and especially the Mona Lisa along with everyone else who visits the museum. My main highlight apart from that (it is special standing in front of the real deal) was setting off the alarms by standing too close to a Bruegal. There is so much detail in his paintings and there was no indication I was too close until the bells started ringing and the security arrived on the scene.
We have just returned from dinner and I have had too much red wine so this whole post will probably make no sense in the morning.
One more full day here tomorrow. We have tried to see things we missed last time - hence the cathedral and Louvre. Tomorrow? Dunno. It's another day innit.
Love and peace - Wozza
Friday, July 29, 2011
In France (Frank Zappa)
That's about all I could quote from that Zappa song. He was not a fan shall we say.
We arrived safely in Paris today after a couple of days back in the Shire with Randy. Funny thing - as I tried to find our hotel after negotiating the bizarre Paris Metro system (give me the London underground any day) I stopped at a cafe for directions. The bloke was very obliging and I said "shukran" out of habit. He said, "Afwan", back to me. He spoke arabic!
Go figure. My first conversation in Paris and it's in Arabic!
More tomorrow, inshallah.
Love and peace - Wozza
We arrived safely in Paris today after a couple of days back in the Shire with Randy. Funny thing - as I tried to find our hotel after negotiating the bizarre Paris Metro system (give me the London underground any day) I stopped at a cafe for directions. The bloke was very obliging and I said "shukran" out of habit. He said, "Afwan", back to me. He spoke arabic!
Go figure. My first conversation in Paris and it's in Arabic!
More tomorrow, inshallah.
Love and peace - Wozza
Thursday, July 28, 2011
How's it back in London town...? (Laura Marling)
We are back in London after our clockwise northern excursion (London > Chester > Ramsbottom > Rishworth > Keswick > Edinburgh > York > London). Since my last posting we have visited Edinburgh and York.
Two highlights: 1 - lunch in Biggar on the way to Edinburgh was amazing. I love Biggar. I could live there and eat their cottage pies and yo-yos (called custard creams in Biggar) for the rest of my days. It is a terrific stop off before the hurley burley of Edinburgh, and never disappoints.
2 Castle Howard, just out of York, was also amazing but for different reasons (no cottage pie and yo-yos but a passable scone with raspberry jam and clotted cream) which were mainly about the walled garden and the grand rooms and artwork in the castle/house. It was used as a set for different editions of Brideshead Revisited (Irene please note as you watch your box set). Jacky had a dilemma - either a pricey teddy bear or some blue Wedgewood style stuff. She went with the blue Wedgewood style stuff.
Note the fact that Edinburgh is missing from the list. Overall all it is dirty and crowded and a sad reminder that the UK is in a period of austerity. Even Jacky who adores Edinburgh was shocked. London in comparison is clean, open and vibrant (still).
For me the sadness was increased by the closing down of major CD outlets like FOPP and Avalanche, with only an HMV holding the fort (the FOPP in Rose street has been taken over by HMV and is a pale shadow of its former glory). Even the Hard Rock Cafe was a let down this time - way too loud (at times I couldn't even make out the song it was so loud and muffled) and way too many people squeezed in. A shame!
Tomorrow we are off to Paris. My ipad won't do a global whanau email so check in over the next few days for progress and highlights.
Love and peace - Wozza
Two highlights: 1 - lunch in Biggar on the way to Edinburgh was amazing. I love Biggar. I could live there and eat their cottage pies and yo-yos (called custard creams in Biggar) for the rest of my days. It is a terrific stop off before the hurley burley of Edinburgh, and never disappoints.
2 Castle Howard, just out of York, was also amazing but for different reasons (no cottage pie and yo-yos but a passable scone with raspberry jam and clotted cream) which were mainly about the walled garden and the grand rooms and artwork in the castle/house. It was used as a set for different editions of Brideshead Revisited (Irene please note as you watch your box set). Jacky had a dilemma - either a pricey teddy bear or some blue Wedgewood style stuff. She went with the blue Wedgewood style stuff.
Note the fact that Edinburgh is missing from the list. Overall all it is dirty and crowded and a sad reminder that the UK is in a period of austerity. Even Jacky who adores Edinburgh was shocked. London in comparison is clean, open and vibrant (still).
For me the sadness was increased by the closing down of major CD outlets like FOPP and Avalanche, with only an HMV holding the fort (the FOPP in Rose street has been taken over by HMV and is a pale shadow of its former glory). Even the Hard Rock Cafe was a let down this time - way too loud (at times I couldn't even make out the song it was so loud and muffled) and way too many people squeezed in. A shame!
Tomorrow we are off to Paris. My ipad won't do a global whanau email so check in over the next few days for progress and highlights.
Love and peace - Wozza
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Pictures come alive, now I' m dancing through my life (Irene Cara)
I'm adding this post from my iPad, on the run, as it were. I can't yet load my pictures but will do so when I get the technology to do that.
I kinda need to keep writing though, otherwise I'll forget things.
Yesterday was a magic day. We went from Chester to Ramsbottom, close to Bury, for Irene Purdy's 90th birthday celebrations; organized by Christine and David, her children. I had a fantastic time touching base with my UK relatives (pretty much the only relations too, except for Ross and Suzanne and her family).
Christine and David's families were there and it was my first chance to meet Jake and also Rowan's children. June Purdy looked as great as ever and her children were there as well.
Everyone looked fantastic. Especially Irene. She really reminds me of Biddy - feisty and youthful and fun of fun and enthusiasm. I hope she liked her birthday as much as I did. I had great fun watching her unwrap presents.
Well done to Christine, Alan, David for creating such a terrific day. Photos to come!
Today's adventures took in the Lake District and Wordsworth's Dove Cottage. Jacky and I fell in love with the Cumbria countryside. Dove Cottage was a real treat too.
Highlights of the last two days: Tom and Tom Junior's song for Irene, Jake's amazing music, Fran's poem, Tom's letter, Alan's cooking, Christine's photo montage, David's Irene book, the Stonegarth Guest House in Keswick (four poster bed no less), Irene's charleston, the Tom Tom stress reliever, the Thirlmere, the garden at Dove Cottage, the sunny weather, and Jacky loves seeing all the pets, dogs mainly, that she doesn't see in the desert.
Tomorrow we are off to Biggar and then Edinburgh.
Love and peace - Wozza
That's it fer now.
I kinda need to keep writing though, otherwise I'll forget things.
Yesterday was a magic day. We went from Chester to Ramsbottom, close to Bury, for Irene Purdy's 90th birthday celebrations; organized by Christine and David, her children. I had a fantastic time touching base with my UK relatives (pretty much the only relations too, except for Ross and Suzanne and her family).
Christine and David's families were there and it was my first chance to meet Jake and also Rowan's children. June Purdy looked as great as ever and her children were there as well.
Everyone looked fantastic. Especially Irene. She really reminds me of Biddy - feisty and youthful and fun of fun and enthusiasm. I hope she liked her birthday as much as I did. I had great fun watching her unwrap presents.
Well done to Christine, Alan, David for creating such a terrific day. Photos to come!
Today's adventures took in the Lake District and Wordsworth's Dove Cottage. Jacky and I fell in love with the Cumbria countryside. Dove Cottage was a real treat too.
Highlights of the last two days: Tom and Tom Junior's song for Irene, Jake's amazing music, Fran's poem, Tom's letter, Alan's cooking, Christine's photo montage, David's Irene book, the Stonegarth Guest House in Keswick (four poster bed no less), Irene's charleston, the Tom Tom stress reliever, the Thirlmere, the garden at Dove Cottage, the sunny weather, and Jacky loves seeing all the pets, dogs mainly, that she doesn't see in the desert.
Tomorrow we are off to Biggar and then Edinburgh.
Love and peace - Wozza
That's it fer now.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog (The Band)
Wayhey! Here we are back in old blighty.
We arrived about a week ago and have been staying with Pat and Randy in Ferntower mansions, in the shire (that's Highbury and Islington in London to you). We've shared the place with the delightful Mikaela and her daughter, Olivia, from Austria.
We are currently in Chester, at a lovely B and B. Tomorrow we head into Christine's greater Manchester area for Irene's 90th birthday celebrations. It's a meeting of the clans day that I've been looking forward to for ages!
Lots of photos will follow.
Highlights have been many so far: I adore the tube - the smell just hooks me every time; the Tate Modern has a new exhibition of surreal paintings and sculptures - the sunflower seeds
are fantastic; we did a river cruise on the Thames - twas a sunny day and the air was invigorating; we saw a West End show with Randy, Pat, Mikaela and Olivia - Thriller Live, and it was a riot of music, dance and waterfalls (a leak half way through caused some drama but the show went on); FOPP and HMV and Oxford St are always must visits.
Today we left the shire to head north as I said - the satnav came in really handy! Today is the final day of the school year in the UK so the roads will be even more manic for the rest of our visit. But tomorrow is another day.
The photos will come after I get back to the shire and before we head to Paris on the 29th. Until then we're off to find a pub for some mushy peas, cod and chips.
Love and peace - Wozza
We arrived about a week ago and have been staying with Pat and Randy in Ferntower mansions, in the shire (that's Highbury and Islington in London to you). We've shared the place with the delightful Mikaela and her daughter, Olivia, from Austria.
We are currently in Chester, at a lovely B and B. Tomorrow we head into Christine's greater Manchester area for Irene's 90th birthday celebrations. It's a meeting of the clans day that I've been looking forward to for ages!
Lots of photos will follow.
Highlights have been many so far: I adore the tube - the smell just hooks me every time; the Tate Modern has a new exhibition of surreal paintings and sculptures - the sunflower seeds
are fantastic; we did a river cruise on the Thames - twas a sunny day and the air was invigorating; we saw a West End show with Randy, Pat, Mikaela and Olivia - Thriller Live, and it was a riot of music, dance and waterfalls (a leak half way through caused some drama but the show went on); FOPP and HMV and Oxford St are always must visits.
Today we left the shire to head north as I said - the satnav came in really handy! Today is the final day of the school year in the UK so the roads will be even more manic for the rest of our visit. But tomorrow is another day.
The photos will come after I get back to the shire and before we head to Paris on the 29th. Until then we're off to find a pub for some mushy peas, cod and chips.
Love and peace - Wozza
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