Greetings from Paris & Merry Christmas
Hello again,
So, a few days ago we were in Bourdeax and since time flies we are now in Paris.
We travelled north out of Bourdeax to Nantes, where we were greeted by Christmas markets and busy streets. That night we had dinner at La Boucherie Restaurant (which translates to The Butcher’s Shop Restaurant) where we enjoyed an almost Australian Steak and Chips.
The next morning we did our sightseeing in the freezing cold. Our hands felt like they could snap off after having them out of our gloves to eat our pastries for breakfast. Nantes had a Cathedral (no surprise there), a castle with moat (which had plenty of scaffolding and workmen surrounding it) and the old gates to the city. Here’s Sophie standing in the main arch protecting the exit to Paris.
11am we drove to Tours where we found a hotel to stay the night which felt like we in Africa because of the Safari-like decorations in our room. We decided that Tours was our place to catch up on the sleep we felt like we were missing. Later that night we ventured out into the small town to have a look and find some dinner. It was freezing in the breeze so we weren’t out for too long.
The next morning we drove to Orleans which turned out to have a very small city centre with our hotel right in the middle. We were in a room that could also be called an attic, it required climbing 5 sets of narrow windy stairs in a 4 storey building. The roof of the room was quite angled which made it impossible to stand up in the shower, but the room was really nice. A major supermarket just down the road allowed us to pick up cheap pastries, alcohol and some much needed toothpaste.
Orleans is the home of Joan of Arc, almost all of the notable buildings and areas are named after her. Here’s a photo of an outdoor ice-skating rink with her statue in the background.
Sophie enjoyed the shopping and managed to decide on a coat to buy (finally) which she later wore out to our final dinner as a group of 4. Here is a photo of Sophie’s Entree which she found to be quite nice.
This morning we left Orleans bound for Paris airport where we needed to drop off Mel in order for her to catch a flight to the UK. Unfortunately for her she later informed us that due to fog no flights were flying into Heathrow, so she caught the train. Hopefully the weather clears and we are fine to fly to Sweden in a few days.
The airport was also where we needed to return our car. In the 21 days we had it we travelled 5427km and filled up more times than we care to remember. All went well with the return, then Lachlan and us caught the train to our Hotel in Paris, which is within (long) walking distance to the main sights. This afternoon we walked just up the road to the Sacré Coeur. Here’s a photo of it and the view from it. It was from up here that we also caught our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower (which you can’t see in these photos).
Everything is still going well, tonight will be our first of five nights in Paris and we are looking forward to the busy days ahead that we are in the process of planning so we make sure we see everything.
Merry Christmas to you all, we hope you all enjoy your time off work and enjoy opening your presents.
Special mentions:
Family - love and miss you heaps and sorry we won’t be with you for Christmas.
Emily - goodbye and best of luck in Dubai, we hope it all goes well and I will miss you.
Naomi - have a fantastic trip, be careful and I hope you make it to the top of the mountain.
Sophie and Sam
December 22nd, 2006 at 8:28 am
Hi,
Thanks for the phone call. Once again I have enjoyed reading the blog.
Merry Christmas and we will miss having you here. Enjoy and stay safe.
Lots of Love and Hugs from the Cossarts, Gutkes, Nashs and Milazzos (I think that covers all of us) XXXX OOOO
December 24th, 2006 at 10:07 am
Hey Sammy and Sophie hope you are having fun in Paris happy christmas my dad loves your blog site and i do to we are all missing you for christmas lots of love ben and dad (Uncle John)
December 24th, 2006 at 4:30 pm
Thanks guys
Sounds like you are having an amazing time!! Hope it snows for you in Paris and you get a white xmas.
I’m heading to melbourne (hopefully, providing there are seats lol) tomorrow for christmas. We’re coming back on the same day so shall be a busy trip.
Saw em off at the airport Friday nite. As can be expected she did it in style, with an entourage of 25 people, all crying and blocking the gates to customs as she left… only to be followed by about 5 mins of waving through the glass
Missing you heaps, happy christmas and new year. Make it a memorable one!
love
Naomi
xx
December 24th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
Happy Christmas Sam and Sophie - will miss you - have a lovely time, lots of love Grandma and Grandpa
December 24th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
Hi Sam and Sophie, Wishing you a fantastic Christmas in Paris, can’t believe you are spending Christmas in the city of love!!!!! Have a great time, we miss you lots. Love the Nash’s
December 24th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
Sam, You’re probably pleased to not be here - there are no beds left! Have lots of fun…. will love to have you visit sometime soon when you are back. We have been to lots of the same places - some we haven’t been and would love to hear more about.
Sophie, we had a lovely time with your Mum and Deb last Sunday (& Ryan, of course). Plan to see more of them. We might actually get you over for a visit now, huh?
Lots of love and a very happy, very different Christmas,
Liz & Charles
December 24th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
hellooooooooo.
merry christmas for tomorrow.
hope you guys are having a wonderful time in ummm paris.
have you kissed on the top of the iffle tower?
HAHAHA jks
also happy birthday sam and i hope you have a good birthday. (of course you will, your with sophie) =)
lovee lots.
kel
x
December 24th, 2006 at 6:32 pm
Hi wonderful people - well obviously everyone here is thinking of you two. Uncle John adn Ben came down to Samford yesterday - do did I - and today the Nashes and Grandma and Grandpa arrived this arvo. Grandma and Grandpa go back probably Tuesday after lunch. Is hot but not too bad - though tomorrow is supposed to be quite hot with maybe storms - totally different to what you will have - would be nice if you saw some snow but maybe more likely out in the country rather than in the big city.
Liz and Charlie had a lovely time meeting Deb and Ryan and Spiro and Soph’s mum before they came over. Ryan was really good the whole time and just sat in his pram. They were impressed that they walked over.
Britty is out brushing horses - Sam’s mum is going to get worming stuff so Britty can have a go at worming a horse - very exciting - know you two wish you were here for it. Dana and Kia are missing you - but enjoying eating and rolling in the horse poo - Dana especially brought some in onto the grass near the pool so we could be impressed - and then rolled in it as well as ate it.
Guess those are the highlights so far - so you are all up to date now - is just nice almost all of us being together.
Have a great day at Disneyland and a safe flight to Sweden - Sam’s dad has been checking out your weather on sbs - so praying fogs all going or you could have some excitement.
Love Aunty Marilyn
December 24th, 2006 at 6:37 pm
Dear Sam
I hope you have a Merry Cristmas!!!
Also Happy Birthday!!!
Me and Mickey are getting along.
Say hi to Sophie.
Love Brittany.
December 25th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
I hope your white christmas is filled with joy and plenty of celebration, I’m sure Disneyland will take care of that! I hope you guys are having a great time before you fly out to Sweden. I’m sure Sam is counting down the hours before he sees his friends there!! And farewell Lachlan have a safe trip.
As always, it sounds like you are having a blast! You have spent so much time overseas and have discovered and experienced so many wonderful things, although Sophie I’m not too sure about your entree!! I can’t wait until you guys get back because we haven’t gone out for dessert for ages! That’s not the only reason.. of course!
Anyway, stay safe and enjoy your holiday!
Gemma and Luke
December 26th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
Merry Christmas guys! Hope you had a great day - was it a white one? It snowed in Victoria & Tasmania yesterday so surely you got some in Paris!! How was Disneyland?? We’re impressed you tried snails Soph - did you try any frogs legs? We’re looking forward to your next blog update!! Take care & have fun. xx
December 29th, 2006 at 1:20 pm
Hi Soph & Sam,
Well christmas is all over, from our calls I I think you had a good time. We missed you very much but we will all be here next year. Hope your birthday went well sam and the ice hockey match was really good. We are still waiting on the phone connection probably won’t have it until 9th Jan despite much talking by spiro.
We are doing some sightseeing around Perth. Went to rottnest island on boxing day and we are going to freemantle today to have a walk around this time. Megan and I are planning a flying tour to monkey mia and shell beach, although Megs is a bit nervous about the flying.
Yesterday we had a lovely lunch looking over the swan river. It was very peacefull and cool. Spiro had just seen a a lady who fell /jumped from a 15th floor window and was splattered on the pavement, so he needed some time out.
RyaN IS GOOD NOW ALTHOUGH HE HAS HAD SOME TONSILLITIS WITH A NEW DO8UBLE TOOTH HE IS GETTING. (capitals dont mean anything only my bad ty[ing.) He opens his mouth so well to let me look at his throat.
Will try to talk to you on new year, if I dont get through, have a wonderful time, keep safe, and may we all have a 2007 thats filled with friends
happiness and good moments.
Happy new year.
Mum, & dad, Megan, Deb, Spiro & Ryan.
PS: Dad is doing well up at Beachmere with the dogs. He rang yesterday and sounded fine. Damien and Jane and kids were up to see him. We have had over 2inches of rain he said. So thats good. Debs house is still no action.