Day 7 Eze/Monaco/Italy

Today was crazy! I am 5 minutes from where this happened. The cars here are CRAZY!! This is funny money here I decided. Who are these people? What do they do? Where do they come from? I passed a couple and I knew he was either a professional soccer player? Or a prince? I don't know, it's seriously crazy money here. This article was funny because that is exactly what I'm seeing! Seeing it from a bus with a bunch of tourists, but still..

We decided to go to Italy just because. Today was an bonus day. Our guides finished last night :( which basically meant no bike rides or hikes today AND we had to get everywhere we went by ourselves and pay for it ourselves. Double :(. So as much as I wanted to rest on this beautiful hilltop, we decided to go to Monaco and Italy! I'm so glad we did.

We were in Monaco for about an hour and saw the palace. The country is still celebrating Prince Albert's marriage to Charlene of South Africa. It's weird that for all the hoopla about Prince William and Kate Middleton, why was this marriage not really covered? Or was it and I just missed it? Anyway a lady on the train in the know told me that there was lots of gossip about this woman not really wanting to marry him and become princess. Everyone thought she would bolt a few times. He's a playboy. At the wedding apparently, she was stoic, showing no emotion? Don't do it Charlene! Why??? She is beautiful eh though? She's an Olympic swimmer to boot.

I think her hair looks cuter short like this. Love this cut.

Most every woman I saw today in Monaco looked like her. With serious modesty issues but I won't go into detail. 

ok enough of that. I don't ever feel the need to go there again. I guarantee those people are not happier than someone with a good husband/wife and some children and a tramp and probably a dog and a bbq grill with warm hot dogs and a car that gets them from point a to point b.

So, then we took a taxi to Italy! The contrast was evident the second we crossed over. Now to be fair, we went to some random Italian town and not Venice, but still, the people were very very different than the French people. Not as proper, not as thin, not as quiet, not as well dressed. Louder, more relaxed. We got a gelato and a pizza and shopped at a huge flea market for a few hours, then hopped the train back to France. Interesting fact: The gelato in France is a tiny little scoop. The gelato in Italy was a huge overspilling scoop. I'm glad we did it, but I'm glad to be back, if just to hear the french language again. Soooo beautiful! 

Fun Fact about Holland: So this woman was on the train with us from Holland. When I think of Holland, I think of fields of tulips and beauty. She said "Nah! It's awful! Totally flat. Flat flat flat! No hills, not interesting." Then I said, "But those tulips!" She said, "For two months only! The rest of the time it's cold, windy, rainy. It was only nice for about 2 weeks this whole summer. I'm here so I could see some sun!." She went on and on about how much she loved southern california and couldn't believe Venice Beach..."so free, so hippie, skating, biking, music. Everyone was just eating and doing things." Ha ha. I was like, "But Europe! Look at these buildings!" She said, "Pfsssh!" 

Perspective!

Time to wrap it up. Tomorrow at 6 a.m. we go home. 12 hour direct flight from Nice to SLC. I can't wait to get my hand on my babies. Not just my baby baby but all of my babies, every single one at every single age (except for my oldest one. Can't get my hands on him, but I get to get my hands on a phone and hear his voice. Excited.) Farewell. 

Day 6 Cote d'Azur/ Eze

Fact: Everyone in France smokes. I don't know when the transition comes in a French person's life to a full-time smoker, but it happens. It amazes me that they are so conscious of fresh food, fresh air, etc. and then smoke.

Fact: The French make great food. French food is different than American food. French eating times are also different. Our dinner tonight began at 8 and just ended (midnight.) Course after course and looooong periods of nothing in between. But good. Lots of talking. And yawning.

We hiked today to the top of another mountain past Roman ruins on the exact trail that Julius Caesar used as his ships parked on the coast and expanded the Roman empire. There were stone "trophees" built along that path in honor of him. It's weird how history that just usually goes over my head suddenly makes sense when I see it with my own eyes.

We are about 20 minutes from Italy. I kind of want to take a cab there, step on the ground, get a gelato, and come back. Is that dumb?

What is going on back in Washington D.C. right now?! Yikes! Fix this!

I miss my girls. It's time to come home. One day left. The company who has been planning this trip, called Butterfield and Robinson are now done. Tomorrow is a free day. Then I get to see my girls!

Brett is snoring which means at 12:26, I'm up too late. Again. Bye!

DAY 5 Provence/Cote d'Azur (French Riviera)

Today we are right in between Provence and the French Riviera. Another 22-mile bike ride up a mountain in the pouring rain! Only about 1/3 of the people went today and I was one of them! It was all uphill, seriously up a mountain and I was so drenched by the end, there was water pooling in my shoes. It was so awesome! I felt so good afterwards, a kind of good I have never experienced. Probably how one feels when they run a race or whatever. That's how I felt. This ride was through a forested mountain and medieval towns. The view and the smells were amazing. Can't describe it. I just kept going up, up, up wiping rain out of my eyes, up, up, up. The van stopped us for about 10 minutes in Selleine for pain au chocolat and chocolat chaud. Yeah I know that's a lot of chocolate. It was heaven. In this little cafe, there were 4 old pals playing cards at the bar, staying out of the rain. While we were eating, an old rough looking guy walked in and one by one went to each man and kissed and hugged them. Kissed them once on each cheek. It was sweet to see their friendship. We should kiss people on the cheeks when we see them. Definitely hug people. People need human contact more I've decided.

Tomorrow, we move to the Mediterranean coast to the town of Eze, 30 minutes from Monaco. I don't want to leave this hotel bed ever again though so that will be a tough one...Brett's skyping with Kate so I've got to go! e

Day 4 Provence

Hello everyone! Bon Soir! Yesterday was the day the "exercise" began, which is funny really, because those first two days in Paris contained more exercise than I ever expected. By day 3, my hamstrings were still in bad shape and my lower back was spasming. Great.

However, all is well! I decided on the 8 mile walk option instead of the 32 mile ride option. I loved it! There were about ten of us walking all over Arles. This region is all about olives. We ate wild blackberries and apples. Our guide Denis (pronounce Denee) is seriously the coolest guide. He walked with us, talked to locals for us, showed us things, etc. We talked to Jean Claude who was an olive tree farmer and he explained the business of making olive oil to us. We also toured an olive oil press.

We ate lunch at a place that raises the bulls who fight in Spain? They were in a field next to the restaurant. It was random, but ok, why not? The food...

So a word about the food here. I've been noticing that the French EAT. They are eating all of the time. I see young teenage girls walking around with long baguettes and just ripping off bread and eating it. Lots of patisseries everywhere. But they are all thin. I don't think I've seen an overweight French person. Here's the thing. They are eating fresh food all of the time. Fresh from farmers markets. They walk. A lot. They eat small portions. The cereal bowls are little. The gelato portions are little. I love it. The food has been a major highlight.

Final highlight yesterday was touring the hospital where Van Gogh painted most of his paintings. Since I saw his apartment in Paris as well, I am feeling a kinship with him this trip. Hard to explain since he was "crazy", but I am learning that he was just passionate which drove him to the edge many times. That hospital is still in St. Remy and is a hospital that treats depressed women. They come for a month and paint. They are required to paint and to sell their artwork to help pay for their stay. Some of it was great, some very average.

Today I decided it was time to cowboy up and RIDE!! I did it. 22 miles today. It was surreal. I was riding through sunflower and lavender fields. We rode up hills into stone villages and back down again. The smells, the wind, the sun. I just kept shaking my head. I was so appreciative in seeing the country this way. Again, Dennis rode by us and vans checked up on us, stopping us once in a while for fruit, nuts, drinks and bites of chocolate. FINALLY, I think I've gotten over this mental block I have had where I assume I can't do hard physical things. My friend Kimi understands this about me the most. She knows what I'm talking about. But I passed a hurdle today. Tomorrow I am riding 15 miles, then relaxing in the afternoon. I will continue riding when I get home to California. Not afraid anymore.

Brett is a biking maniac. If there's a short ride/long ride option, he and about 4 other guys always take the long ride option. He cruises and never seems to get tired! Tomorrow is a 60 km ride for him which is about 40 miles? When I think about where he was physically 2 years ago, I can't believe it. Anyway, cool thing happened today. I was riding with my girl peeps and it was the end of the ride and we were going up a long hill. I was a little tired. Ok I was really really tired. I was going really slow. All of a sudden, I hear what I thought was my husband behind me, which I thought was odd, because he went on the long ride. Sure enough, Brett pulled up next to me, put his hand on my back and pushed us both up the hill. He was like an angel for me. I thought how many times has he done this for me in our marriage. Hopefully I've done it for him too. Cue Bette Midler singing "did you ever know that you're my heeeeerooooooo."

Well, it's past midnight and the ride starts early tomorrow.

Oh one more thing. Riding in the back of a bus when you are turning up hilly roads is NOT GOOD if you are prone to car sickness. Just an FYI. And if you are riding in a bus, don't read your Van Gogh book until it's too late and you're already sick. Also, French people like stripes and blue shutters. And soap. And tablecloths.

oh oh oh how could I forget this?! Tonight at dinner, oh I'm getting so excited to write about this, there was a BAND playing right next to my table. I kept thinking- I feel like I'm in a movie. But not sure why. And it kind of felt like a 1940's movie, but I didn't know why. Then the girl next to me said, "I feel like I'm in a movie." Finally I realized it's because this band which consisted of a drummer, two guitar players and a saxophone player were playing songs straight out of a Woody Allen movie. I was in a Woody Allen movie. I don't know how else to explain it. What music is that? Jazz, yes, but a certain kind of jazz. The Woody Allen kind. Anyway, oh man, I kept smiling at them and clapping at the end of their solos. They loved me. They were cute old men and they were so appreciative of the applause. I got a picture taken with them. I tried to tell them that I was in a band and I think they understood as I mimed playing the piano, pointed to me, to them, smiled. I don't know but they were so so so good. Really good musicians and just the kind of music I would expect to hear here. I felt like I was in Midnight in Paris with the Fitzgeralds. (and if you haven't seen that movie, DO)

SORRY SO LONG!!! Kate is loving Darcy. I don't think I'll ever get her back. Girls at EFY. Spence about to leave for Russia. I miss my Sydney. Elle est super chouette!

Day 3 Paris/Provence

After two days in Paris I've come to the conclusion that I want more! We realized that we missed the Tour de France riders going around the Arc de Triomphe by about 3 hours! OUCH!!! Seriously? Our train left at 10 and the Tour de France ends today about 2 or 3 with the bicyclists going right past the hotel we were staying in. I can't believe we were so close to seeing such a cool thing and we missed it. (Darcy, tell Chris!)

We met 3 hilarious 50 something women from LA on a girl trip coming home on the train from Versailles. They reminded me so much of Laura and Melinda and a third combo of the two. We chatted all the way back from Versailles. They were such close friends and everything through their eyes was funny. They chastised me for not making it to the Rodin museum, which I was already bummed about. I chastised them for not making it out to Marie Antoinette's hamlet on the Versailles grounds. They could NOT believe I had 5 kids as in acted as if their breath was literally let out of their bodies and they couldn't breathe. I laughed and said that what can I do? I love the little guys! One said, "Just get a puppy!" I told them I wanted to be their new friend, and because they are the way they are, they didn't even think I was weird for saying that. We promised to run into each other back home (which of course we won't). We also met Phillip who is from San Diego but has been living in Zimbabwe and South Africa for two months. He is a professor of interior design at San Diego State and was trying to build a green school in Zimbabwe. He was really cool. Longish white hair and a scarf with only one bag.

We just took the four-hour train ride from Paris to Arles in Provence. I am sitting in a cute cottage hotel room with pictures of elephants on the wall and crickets chirping loudly outside. The property is very spread out so that out of my window I can only see trees and hear crickets. Brett and I NEED another Nutella crepe, but I'm not thinking I'll find one here. Hopefully.

Note to self: WHY did you pack so much? Why are all of the Americans carting around 2 and 3 big suitcases while the Europeans have a dufflebag? Next time I travel here, I will pack completely differently. Oh well, live and learn. Biking tomorrow. I'm worried about my super sore legs being able to go again tomorrow. From what I can see, it's flat. Flat, more arid and rocky than I thought it would be, and olive trees everywhere! Must finish my Van Gogh book before I get to the mental hospital he stayed in tomorrow. I am still reading about him working in the mines trying to be a preacher to the mining town. Must read before dinner!

We are now with 10 couples from Brett's work who each earned this trip by being the best by some sales measurement. They are fun people, and I've met them before. One is a high school football coach who never got his luggage. He's been walking around in flip flops and has had to buy a new shirt every day. He said he's loved it and it has taught him that we don't need all the stuff we think we do. One has her doctorate in French Literature but is from Colombia, so she speaks fluent Spanish and French. We met up on the train here and she had a backpack full of vegetables. She ate a tomato like it was an apple and offered me some raw broccoli. I had a leaf or two, gagged it down, then secretly popped the Lindt dark chocolate ball I swiped from my mom's house into my mouth. She has been translating for us which is great! Yeah. We meet everyone else here tonight.  I've decided that people are so fascinating. I hear how some people live and I think-that is sooo opposite of me! But it's okay.

One sad thing: Today is Sunday and no church :( I hate Sundays on the road... At least we're not biking today. Au Revoir until demain. e

Day 2 Paris

Wow I am so beat. I literally have been limping around in pain the last half of today. Versailles was worth the trip for and a.maz.ing. Have one funny moment of the day.

So, we're at Versailles which is about the size of La Canada or say, Provo. By the time you are done there, you are TIRED. You have walked from one end to the other, then back to the middle and crosswise one end to the other. That's not to mention walking through every palace, and from the subway station. It is mostly open walking through the gardens. Well, today there was a horrendous amount of rain. Not nice hot rain (Sarah), but cold pounding sideways rain. Luckily, we snuck in a guard shack that no one even thought about hiding in except for a couple from Morroco, us and a big spider. Everyone else was running around getting completely soaked. Umbrellas were of no use. Umbrella after umbrella was being blown inside out while we calmly watched. It was wonderful.

Anyway, we waited it out for about 45 minutes and then the sun came out with only spurts of rain every hour or so. Well, we decided to get a food item or refreshment if you will from a little tiny stucco building with an outside glass case. An awning covered the glass case, the worker behind the case, and about 2 feet beyond. That way, if you were ordering and it was raining, you would be covered by the awning free to purchase your gateau or pain. We were eating our crepe and a man and woman came up and stood under the awning to get in from the rain. Then he proceeded to smoke a cigarette. The woman worker, probably about 50, asked him to stop smoking because the smoke was filling up the air under the awning and going back directly at her. He said something in French I didn't understand, but it was something like, "I can smoke if I want to. And I want to." Well, the worker woman was so angry and offended. The next thing we knew, the awning was rolling back into the building by about a foot so that the man was uncovered and the rain was falling on his head. He looked up and angrily scooted in closer to the glass case, touching the glass case with his back so he could still stay covered. The worker quietly moved the awning again so that there was no way he could stand under it. He was so furious. Smoking away and furious. He turned around and started yelling at the lady something like this. "How dare you! You are an idiot. I can smoke if I want! You better cover me up again right  now!" As soon as he opened his smoky mouth, she started singing very loudly, "La la la la la !!!" Just like when my kids sing "I can't hear you la la la" to a brother or sister. She actually turned her back away from him (although she was about 2 feet away from him) and loudly sang la la la la. He huffed. Then she looked at us and said with a grin, "C'est France!" and shrugged her shoulders.

It was so so funny. She was so gutsy. I fell in love with her for sure. C'est France. There are so many things in Paris that I think..C'est France! Just FYI, the Georges Pompidou modern art museum has the best view of Paris and is free with admission. ok bye. Miss my baby. erin

Something so cool

OK so it's the end of day 1 in Paris. Really great day. Fit so much in but this is what is so cool. A while ago on my blog( actually almost 1 1/2 years ago), I posted this below.

This brownie discussion leads me to why I love modern art.

I don't know where the first one is, but the second one is in France. I am missing France.

I posted it because I found it somewhere on the internet and thought it was so original and made me think how wonderful visual things are that add to the harmonies of every day life.

Then today, Brett and I wander into the Montmartre section of the city to see the sunset on the steps of Sacre Coeur Basilica. Afterwards, we wandered around looking for Vincent Van Gogh's apartment he shared with his brother while living in Paris. It was very random and I only wanted to find it because I am reading a great book about him and had just seen his self portraits in a museum today. We are getting way away from tourists and think we are probably lost because it is just a quiet little french street with no one on it. I turn a corner and THERE IS THE STATUE COMING OUT OF A STONE WALL. (The one on the bottom of my post so long ago). He was coming out right at us. The exact one. How random is that?! I was so happy. Seriously. Now I'm just waiting to run into the first one in some chance place.

It also rained a little hot rain today. In Paris. I know! I felt pretty lucky to be seeing the city through rain for a few hours. Ok. Going to sleep now. I miss my kids but I am happy to be here with Brett reading about Van Gogh! e

TREK 2011 California style

I miss these two! The Stake YW Pres sent me this today. Made me happy.

Yesterday I went to the grocery store. They asked if I wanted plastic bags or paper. I said, "Plastic will be fine." "ok. That's 10 cents each." Yep, in California now, all bags that are plastic cost money. The intent of course is to get people like me to step up and start using cloth bags. Here's the prob. It's not like if I go green, which I KNOW I should do, that I can fit my groceries in a few cloth bags. No. I am going to have to BUY maybe 12 cloth bags! and haul them there every time! wah wah.

This law will be a pain for me. Better for the environment, but greeeaaat.

There is, however, another law here in California that I LOVE. All restaurants and fast food establishments are now required to post how many calories each dish contains on the menu. It's great! Honestly, we were at Bajio and Maddie wanted a quesadilla with chicken. We looked at the menu and it was 1,000 calories!! She decided to get a soft taco instead which was 240. It really helps when making your menu choices, because items always contain way way more calories than you think.

 This is a chef smiling that sneaky little smile prior to this new law.  She just knew that you were going to LOVE your meal and that you were going to gain 5 lbs afterwards because you had no idea it was 2500 calories. I'll bet she's not smiling anymore...(except maybe after work if she's doing something enjoyable or whatever)

 This guy is like, "Hey! You're bursting my bubble! I now KNOW how many calories each of these are!!! Oh man! What choice should I make?!" (come on buddy you can do it. Apple is better. Apple is better.)

 This guy seriously doesn't care because he's youngish and the pounds haven't caught up with him yet. But those of us in our 40s know that they WILL sir, they WILL.

On another note, I went biking today again. I need to get to the point where I actually enjoy it and I'm not there yet. Probably because every minute I'm thinking, 'Is this good enough? Why am I breathing so heavily? Will France be just like this or harder? Probably harder huh? Yeah probably. Man, how am I going to dooo this? Just pedal to the top of this hill. Keep going. Boy it's hot today. I wonder if the group will have to wait for me or if the follow up van will have to go extra slow to wait for me. Why are my thighs hurting already? Will they hurt there? Can I fake an injury?' on and on and on and on the thoughts go around in my little brain.

I've picked the 3 museums we're going to in Paris. The Pompidou, the Rodin and the Louvre. I got some shortcuts and tips for each one. Got recommendations for a good restaurant just 3 stops past the arc de triumph. Definitely walking along the Seine at sunset.

Last time we were there, couples were making out all around us, on the boat and on the side of the river. Ha ha. We're also going to Versailles. Renting bikes in Versailles. How awesome is this statue coming out of the water?!

After that, the biking portion in Provence! Bring it on! But not too much on. Bring it on a little! Yeah!! Google Images is pretty great. Here's some of Provence. It really looks like this?

I will die if it really looks like that. Do you think this was photoshopped and it's some cruel joke? When you really get there, it's all industrial? That would be pretty darn tricky.

Going to Utah in a few days again before France. This time we're prepping Kate with the fact that mom and dad are going on a plane and will then come back for her. She gets what that means now. See ya later kids! We'll trrryyyy and remember you! wohoo!

Girls are gone on Trek. It always feels extremely weird when one of my kids is gone, let alone 2. Maddie left all confident, bandana tied around her head. Ali also left sick to her stomach, nervous about everything that could happen.. Can't wait to see them tomorrow night! About to go practice a Schubert piece with a violinist for Sunday, then we are taking the little ones to a band in the park tonight with friends. I'm always up for that.

Brett is off work today and Monday due to CARMEGEDDON!!!! I don't know if anyone has heard of this, but it is going to be a traffic jam of biblical proportions this weekend in L.A. due to the closure of one of the highways. People are hunkering down in their houses. Here's a little quote from the paper...


The 53-hour freeway closure has prompted hospitals at UCLA to offer beds to employees who might have a hard time getting to work July 15-17, and public safety officials plan to have helicopters and ambulances staged in key areas.

Yikes. Brett's company pretty much cancelled work today and Monday which is sweet for us. It reminds me of the good old days when Brett worked from home.  Don't think I would sign off without one more google image of CARMEGEDDON!!

Don't get spoiled with all of these google images. They take time and may not be able to be sustained in future posts. Thank you and good day. e

I just got back from Utah. The whole time, I was thinking how great Utah is. We biked in Park City and it was just so beautiful. We got to see friends, family and have a great time! Brett's parents are home! I didn't realize just how much I missed them, especially mom, until we saw them. What a great family they have raised and I get to be a part of. Loved the trip so much.

Then, the first night back in California, my daughters' awesome, wonderful friends came over. I just love it here too! I really love both so much. When Porter called me Mom followed with "is that ok?" I had a moment. I never thought I would be as close to kids here as I was there. I love these kids. When I saw Brent and Scott and Jacob in Provo last week, it was like seeing family. I realized that these kids cling to each other and really do become family. The awesome thing is, I felt the same way when I saw Jeffrey Derricot and Jane and Berkley. Family. Chosen kids.  I appreciate the Lord giving me people, mostly young people, to be around and be influenced by and enjoy.

Jacob works at the MTC cafeteria. I made him look me square in the face and promise that he would find Spencer the next day he worked and give him a hug for me. He sent me this the very next day. Happy day!

Maddie's camping on the beach tonight. Ali's at dance. Porter and Rachel are picking her up right now and going to Old Town Pasadena to watch some street performers. Brett's on his way home from the temple. Kate, Syd and I just went to the park and are settling in for "So You Think You Can Dance." I just can't clean the kitchen right now. I just don't want to after 9. We're going to meet Jules and Dave and BJ at the beach tomorrow. yeah! I get to accompany Dave and Sam in sacrament this week and then play Schubert with Lois for next Sunday's sacrament meeting. I get to play for the youth choir practice after church. Erin Noelle is happy when she is playing for people. Not even because I'm playing, but because I get to socialize a bit. ha. If it weren't for that, I would be even more hermit-like here in my lil house.

The gospel is true. I love reading so many missionary letters right now. I know that America was established by God to be a free country so that His gospel could be restored in a place where it could grow. I'll end with a poem that Spencer requested in one of his letters. All he knew is that it was something about a boy and was written by a Russian convert. Thanks to google, I got it in about 2 minutes. Amazing.

Who are you boy? You journeyed to this land of ours.

This land where I have endured my days

And felt oppression kill my soul

And forced me into some tight mold

And teach me that I should not hope

Unless I care to smell the smoke

Of dreams that the Red Army tamed.

Who are you boy? From this land of plenty.

Teaching of God if there is any.

You have all, we have none.

Do you know what that feels like son?

And yet, you ask me to believe

In something that I cannot see,

Some force you say will bring me joy.

Do you know what that feels like boy?

Where you are from, faith is free.

But it has a price for me.

When I have pain, I have my bottle.

Hurt dies quick when you drown it in vodka.

That's enough to warm my soul.

I work, I sleep, the days go by -

I am waiting for the day I die.

You don't understand this place.

You say believe, obey, have faith.

Live life well, serve and give.

Here in Russia we just live.

Who are you boy? Why did you come

To save a soul who once was numb?

To teach a wretched, hateful man

Who cursed your help, refused your hand.

I thought that we were worlds apart.

So how is it you knew my heart?

A fraction my age, you calmed my rage.

Mercy paid my generous wage.

I should have been left behind

It is hard to love my kind.

Hope in your heart, power in your hands

Why did you come to this distant land

I know now, it was for me

The Red Curtain fell, but I was not free

Until a boy from nations away,

Brought me my Lord. I bless the day

He led me to weep at my Master's feet,

The American boy I met on the street.

New and naive, still in his teens

With a message to bring the world to its knees.

I thought that the truth would come from another -

I did not know this boy was my brother.