Boys’ Choice: Army Museum and Sewer Tour

Our best technique for keeping everyone happy while travelling is letting everyone give input on our activities. Our second day in Paris we let the boys choose. Thomas wanted to go to a World War II battle field but since there are none in Paris, we went to the next best thing: The Museum of the Army. It is located in Les Invalides, which was built as a veteran’s hospital by Louis XIV.

The boys only saw a small part of the museum (I was at the Orsay, taking in the splendor of impressionist art at the time) and they’ve already told us they want to go back. They first checked out the armor – lots and lots of armor.

I’m told this is a manicure set. I’m not sure what that has to do with the army, but I guess everyone needs to trim their fingernails now and again.

Jeremy did not take many pictures. I was very paranoid nervous that the camera battery was going to die since we used up the first battery on Saturday. I told him not to go crazy with photography – we still had plans to go to the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe – and Andrew took me very seriously. Every time Jeremy saw something cool he’d say, “Let’s take a picture of that!” and Andrew would say, “NO!” (P.S. The battery did survive the duration of the trip but lesson learned –  next time I’ll bring the charger!)

Les Invalides also houses Napoleon’s tomb and the tombs of his family members.

After a quick snack and a visit to the bookstore, we walked along the Seine to the Tour des Egouts. We took a self-guided tour of the “guts” of Paris as Jeremy called it. It wasn’t Rick Steves who alerted me to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – it was the original Trivial Pursuit game. It was a Geography question (the blue pie piece) that asked, “What city’s sewer tour is highlighted in the Michelin travel guide?” I may have gotten that question wrong 20 years ago but I won’t miss it again!

We did not see any live critters, thankfully, just these stuffed ones.

Of course like all European museums there were mannequins.

I hate to spoil it for all of you who will be touring the sewer in the future but here’s what you’ll experience: Lots of different devices used for cleaning out the sewers, a history of the sewers, and yes, a bad odor. I was thankful to have a cherry chapstick in hand that I used to save my olefactory system.

After this tour I was certainly more thankful to all of those who keep this system running. Can you imagine the mess if they didn’t? The recognition and appreciation they receive is minimal, unlesss you’re this guy and your bust is on display where you did your life’s work. I did tell my children that if they want job security they should consider this for future employment.

In closing, be sure your camera battery is charged, don’t forget your chapstick, and don’t take your sewer system for granted.

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Notre-Dame

After visiting the Louvre we wandered along the Seine River until we got to Ile De La Cite. There is plenty to see on this tiny island but the most famous building is probably the Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris.

This is not only the center of Paris but the center of all France – from Point Zero all distances in France are measured. (Although if you look at a map, Paris is definitely not the geographical center, but who am I to argue?)

There was a long line to get inside but it moved very quickly. We did a very quick walk around the interior (but not fast enough for some members of our family.) It’s impossible to do justice to this cathedral with photographs – it is immense and awesome (but not in the Valley Girl sense.)

Saints, patriarchs, apostles and other Biblical notables inhabit the walls, both interior and exterior. Here is Joan of Arc.

The most famous architectural feature is probably the flying buttresses. These external supports enabled the builders to reach new heights.

After seeing the interior we wandered around the outside a bit. Behind the Cathedral is a small park. Thomas and Andrew were exhausted until they saw some playground equipment – and then they found some hidden stores of energy.

We also visited the Archeological Crypt which describes the city’s earliest beginnings as shown by these ruins.

Making the most of our Museum Pass, we decided to climb to the roof of the Cathedral! Sounds incredibly dangerous but don’t worry, it was completely safe.  We waited a LONG time in a LONG line outside. When we finally climbed up the we arrived in this room, complete with some stained glass windows and a gift shop. We were the first in line at that point, and seeing some benches and television screens we assumed there would be some sort of orientation video. We sat down and waited for probably nearly 15 minutes (and everyone else did the same thing.) Finally I asked one of the employees when the film would begin. He said, “There is no film. You can climb the rest of the way up whenever you are ready.” I wonder how long they would have let us stay in there? Maybe until people stopped purchasing souvenirs.

Here’s one of the most photographed residents of Notre-Dame! It was cool to see all of the gargoyles up close.

The panoramic view of the city was great too. This key chain Andrew bought looks just like the real thing, doesn’t it?

This is Montmarte, with the Sacre-Coeur cathedral at the top of the hill. We did not visit this part of the city so we’ll have to go back.

After 400 steps down we were back on the ground again and others were probably looking at us saying, “They are the size of ants!”

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The Louvre

Our first adventure in Paris (not counting finding our hotel and riding the Metro) was the Louvre Museum. I’d been there back when I was about half as many years as I am now (give or take) and nothing had really changed…just kidding! Seriously, a lot of the paintings were the same but seeing great works of art is a wonderful experience. The other members of the family had never been to the Louvre, and two kiddos had never been to an art museum at all!

We didn’t really have a specific plan going in. My thought was that we’d see as much as we could until our children melted down and then we’d leave before there was an international incident. Kidding once again! Yes, going to an art museum is usually an activity chosen by adults and endured by children who are riding in strollers, but the boys did fairly well. At least for the first hour or so. The Louvre is gigantic, and we knew we wouldn’t see all of it but we did enjoy the time we spent there!

Thomas looked thoughtfully at the paintings.

Andrew was amused at the number of naked people he saw (in the art, not visiting the museum) and when the novelty of that wore off he was tired, hungry and bored. Hey, he’s 6, that’s to be expected, right?

Here’s a few of the masterpieces we saw:

Winged Victory of Samothrace. This literally took my breath away when I saw it.

Of course we had to see the Mona Lisa (known around these parts as La Gioconda) along with everyone else.

I had a proud moment when Thomas saw this painting and said, “Hey, it’s Jesus’s cousin!”

Doesn’t it look like this guy could be using a can of hairspray?

This is one of four paintings where the faces are made out of fruit, vegetables, and plants, kind of like a Rose Parade float.

The Coronation of Napoleon is enormous, and it was surrounded by an enormous crowd of people. I could only photograph a small part.

The Louvre building itself is impressive. This painting was on the ceiling, and Andrew thought this guy looked like he was falling down on us. Look out below!

We found Venus de Milo, but her arms were lost. Funny story: When I was in 1st grade we went to the Memorial Art Gallery and the docent was telling us about some ancient piece of art and said that part of it was lost after it was discovered. I raised my hand and said, “How could anyone lose something so big?” It was explained to me that it was not lost in that sense, but that it was broken. Kids say the darndest things, don’t they?

Meet Ebih-il, the Superintendent of Mari. This guy is about 4400 years old, and he’s still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. His eyes are made of seashells and lapis lazuli.

This is one of the things I think is so cool about living here: When my kids learn about the Code of Hammerabi in Social Studies, they can say, “Oh yeah, I saw that once…in some museum my parents dragged me to.”

Soon enough it was lunchtime and we felt like this poor baby, so we headed for lunch and then to our next Parisian adventure!

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Paris for the Weekend

We just returned from a weekend in Paris! Doesn’t that sound so exotic and extravagant? Yeah, that’s how we roll…

Actually it is a small feat to go to Paris for the weekend since it is just over 4 hours by car. We left after school on Friday. Today is a holiday (some call it President’s Day but locals are celebrating Karneval) so we came back home today. Here’s a brief overview of our adventures – I’ll fill you in on all the boring nitty-gritty details in the posts to come! Our agenda was jam-packed, partly because there is so much to see, and partly because being the frugal type, I wanted to get my money’s worth out of the 2-day Museum Pass that we bought. I think we succeed on both accounts (although there is much more to see so I’m sure we’ll be back!)

 

Saturday morning we got up, jumped on the Metro, and headed to the Louvre, where we first had a petit dejuner of croissants (the first of many.)

After a morning filled with masterpieces (and tummies filled with McDonald’s!) we walked along the Seine.

The next stop was the Notre Dame Cathedral! It was amazing and cold! Can you see who made a purchase in a souvenir shop?

We climbed 400 stairs to the very top and were rewarded with this breath-taking view. (Or maybe that was just the stair-climbing part.) That was about all we could handle for one day so we headed back to our hotel where I strategized how we could get the most out of our Sunday.

Sunday morning we took the Metro in again (of course.)

First stop was church. Thanks to a little online research, we located a Lutheran church. Their website said they have services in French and English. Unfortunately, the pastor wasn’t expecting any English speakers (the regulars were all on holiday) and we were late so the service was only in French. One of us got something out of it; the other three were very patient.

After the service we parted ways. I went to Musee d’Orsay and took in the art and the boys went to the Army Museum. (Sadly, no photos allowed in Orsay – and I gave them the camera anyhow.)

I joined them there and we saw Napoleon’s tomb.

We got down and dirty (or more accurately down and smelly) on the Paris Sewer tour.

No visit to Paris is complete without a stop at the Eiffel Tower.

On our way to the Metro we checked out the Marine Museum.

The last Parisian landmark was the Arc de Triomphe. Back to the hotel to hit the hay!

On our way home today we made a stop at Riems, France and saw some of their claims-to-fame. 

Special thanks to Rick Steves for all of his travel advice, and to Mme Adasiak, Mme Guido, Mme Rubin, and my 9th grade French teacher (whose name completely escapes me right now). Plenty of French was stuck in my brain from those 5 years and it came in quite handy. Tune in later this week when I share more of my 323 photos! First up: the Louvre.

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Karneval!

On Sunday we went to our first Karneval parade in Sittard, the Netherlands. It seemed as though the tables were turned, at least in the sense of fashion. Usually when we’re out and about I feel like we really stand out because we’re wearing “bright” colors (the ones pictured on the boys above) and the locals are all wearing black. This time Jeremy was decked out in black, and here’s what the locals were wearing:

Here parades are not a spectator sport. Those along the parade route are just as involved in the festivities as the paraders – dressed up, throwing confetti and streamers, spraying silly string, and cheering.

There were several marching bands, some wearing traditional uniforms (with the addition of scarves in Karneval colors – red, green and yellow)…

and some that were not. (I am amazed at the number of marching bands around. I would doubt that many Americans even own a musical instrument, much less play in a band.)

Unfortunately, I do not know Dutch so I can only guess what the marching groups were representing. I loved seeing their costumes though. Amazing! Everyone had  elaborate makeup too.

These were probably the simplest costumes we saw. What they lacked in accessories they made up for in blue face paint.

I’ve been to the Rose Parade and to Mardi Gras parades, but this one really “takes the cake” when it comes to costumes.

Now that I know what to expect I’ll get to work on my costume for next year. I just have to gather up some tulle, fur, boas, makeup and a wig. And long-underwear – it was chilly!

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Somebody Loves You

It’s nearly Valentine’s day, a holiday that is either joyfully embraced or cynically detested. I’m somewhere in the middle. We don’t have a lot of traditions or expectations, except that every year we read my favorite book, Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli. It has the distinction of being the children’s book that regularly gets me choked up. (I’ll admit it, I’ll Love You Forever is not a tearjerker for me, nor is Guess How Much I Love You.)

The book’s namesake, Mr. Hatch, lives a life that is unremarkable at best and dreary at worst. He lives alone and has a mundane job at the shoelace factory.

One day everything changes for Mr. Hatch. The postman delivers a heart-shaped box of chocolates with a note that says, “Somebody loves you.” Filled with joy and curious about who sent him such a gift, he gets a spring in his step. He helps his neighbors, bakes brownies for the children, and plays his harmonica.

This joyful life comes to a screeching halt when the postman knocks on his door. Unfortunately, the package had been misdelivered and wasn’t for Mr. Hatch after all. His great disappointment is obvious to everyone, as he morosely resumes his solitary existance. His neighbors and friends learn what had happen, and I won’t spoil the big ending, but suffice to say it is a happy one.

Whatever your plans for February 14th, I encourage you to read Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch. And while you’re at it, pick up a box of chocolates for the “Mr. Hatch” in your own life.

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DEROS List

I’ve never been a fan of the term “Bucket List.” I tend to think the title is a bit morbid, and I believe that when I do kick the bucket I’ll be in a much better place* and won’t be lamenting what I didn’t see while on earth.

However, I am a list-maker and a prioritizer so I do see the point. An assignment in Europe is all about the travel opportunities (or so I’m told) and so I present to you my DEROS list. What is DEROS? That is a military acronym for Date of Expected Return from Overseas. We’ve got until April 2014 (or maybe June 2014 if we can extend long enough not to disrupt the school year like we hope.) I’m not a sky’s-the-limit romantic type – more of a live-within-our-means type – so some may see this list as quite short. Certainly this is likely to change, but for today here’s what I’m hoping to see, generally and specifically:

Germany

• Cologne (just 45 minutes away and we haven’t been there yet!)
• Rothenburg de Tauber
• Berlin
• Munich

The Netherlands

• Amsterdam (Van Gogh Museum, Floating Flower Market, Maritime Museum, Corrie Ten Boom’s house)
• Keukenhof Garden

France

• Metz (the Cathedral, Smurfland and the Flea Market);
• Normandy (D-Day and Mont St. Michel)
• Paris Tour de France
• Strasbourg

England

• London
• Sherwood Forest

Austria

• Berchtesgaden

Denmark

Norway

Sweden

Italy

A Mediterranean Beach (I’m not picky)

and maybe the Canary Islands

Am I missing anything? Maybe I shouldn’t ask…

*For more information see Romans 1:16; 1 John 1:9; John 14:2-3, Romans 10:9-10

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Snug as a Bug in a Rug

 

It’s been pretty cold here – single digits and that’s Fahrenheit. (Negative temperatures in celsius.)  We haven’t gotten any more snow, but it is definitely winter! We’ve been staying plenty warm at home, thanks to our awesome floor heat and our fireplace. It’s so cozy there’s no reason to go anywhere. We are snug as a bug in a rug.

Saturday morning we had a hazy, frozen fog. It made everything look frosty and beautiful, including these spiderwebs.

Poor spiders, though! Their homes are iced in!

Today the day started with a beautiful sunrise.

At the chapel we celebrated the Superbowl with a chili cook-off/potluck. I know the Saints are not playing, but I made a King Cake. Only one of us plans to watch the big game. It starts at 12:30am and there aren’t any commercials! I’d rather sleep.

 

P.S. Finally we got the new camera lens. The spiderweb pictures were taken with it and it makes a big difference. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for helping out with the delivery!

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der Schnee!

Finally we have snow! That’s schnee in German – isn’t that a fun word? Certain members of our family have been looking forward to this for the last three months. The anticipation was heightened when they received gloves, snow pants and a sled for Christmas.

A few indications that our children have spent the majority of their lives in temperate climates:

• When I woke them up and told them it had snowed, they assumed that school was cancelled. After all, we got about 2 inches of the white stuff! That would be enough for at least one snow day in Arkansas.
• Getting ready for school – putting on coats, hats, boots, and gloves and packing their shoes in their backpacks  – was a challenge. I attempted to leave at least 10 minutes early but we ended up leaving right on time because that whole routine took so long.
• They spent nearly 2 hours playing outside after school.
• They’re ready for another storm!

And they might get their wish. The forecast is for cold weather all week and some more snow on the weekend. We’ll get good use out of those snowpants yet!

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