Its our last day in the UK. Today we visited Windsor Castle, and for us all, this one of our favorite stops.The sense of history and majesty we got here is perhaps more emphasized because, well, we speak the language, and a way back in our families, as I mentioned in our Westminster Abbey visit, … Continue reading Last Day Overseas

Tonight was our last night in Paris. As a mini-celebration and farewell, we headed to the Champ De Mars, where Napoleon once marched his troops, and much other history occurred, to have a small family picnic.The first photo at left was taken at about 9:15 PM; it stays light out quite late here. The second … Continue reading Twinkle Time Again

It has been a busy two days here in Paris. Wonderful weather, and warm! Yesterday morning, in a bow to teenage lethargy and weariness, Nancy & I (together) headed off to the church of La Sainte-Chapelle, a stunning place, full of light and nearly the entry story of the Scriptures, all in stained glass. This … Continue reading The Last Two Days in Paris

It is with sadness that I need to interupt our European vacation to report the death of Dr. Randy Pausch. Dr. Pausch's book, The Last Lecture, was co-written by a journalist with the Wall Street Journal.Randy spent his final months being lauded in arenas far beyond his specialty. ABC News declared him one of its … Continue reading Remembering Randy Pausch

Today was a day full of variety. We took the early morning train to the Palace of Versailles, where we thought we might beat the crowds. Not. I am guessing we were there with a small crowd of, oh, say, 20,000.How calming, how serene, how pastoral, how like the leisurely life of Louis XIV. Not. … Continue reading Versailles, Impressionists, and The Laundromat

Today was our first full day in Paris, and we started off with a wonderful whirlwind tour of the Louvre with our new friend Christi Bart, who runs Norman Conquests, a fascinating custom tour company. Turns out, Christi is a former actress (General Hospital!), who decided to chuck it all, and move to Paris 20 … Continue reading The Center of a Town, and of a Country

Enough said.

Yesterday was a full day.We started at the National Art Gallery, visited St. Martin in the Fields, had a low-budget picnic lunch in The Green Park, stopped by Buckingham Palace (Queen home, but no sighting) and visited Westminster Abbey, later in the day. It turns out I might (fat chance) have family members in ancient … Continue reading History, Nobility, and Fraulein Maria

Today was a brilliantly sunny London day. It was lunch time, and for Londoners, apparently sunshine is a rare commodity. Everyone in the central business district, who could get out, got outside for the lunch hour. And where do these hundreds flock on a sunny day like today? Given that the London Stock Exchange is … Continue reading Sitting on the Steps of St. Paul's

British Culture and Sports Update We were awakened at 7 AM today by our two girls, who came to our door in near hysterics, after watching 30 minutes of Teletubbies. This programme (as it is spelled here) is know to induce hysteria in teenage American girls, I guess. The British certainly know how to do … Continue reading British Culture Update and Our Travels