Thursday, September 01, 2005

Long Time

It has been forever since I have updated everyone on what I was doing.
Classes have started for me and Bryan, which seem to consume a lot of our time.
My mom's birthday is Friday, and the only thing that we have gotten her is a card.
The card is not even that cute.
Next Monday, Labor Day, is Bryan's and my dad's birthday.
So far, I have bought Bryan's radio and for my dad, I have nothing yet.
Maybe my brother and mom will help out with my dad's present.
He has seemed like he is the hardest one to shop for.
Other than that, not a lot has been going on. I am ready for the weekend though.

Friday, August 19, 2005

We have finally gotten all of our pictures developed, so they are now being loaded on the computer. They will be coming Monday.
It seems like ever since we have gotten back, we have been so busy.
I have been working hard all week and still have not got anything done.
I thought that I would take a break from talking about the trip, and just let yall know what we have been up to.
Bryan's and my dad's birthday is coming up...They have the same birthday, September 5.
I'm not really sure what either of them is getting.
I think that me and Kaci might throw him a surprise party.
It just depends on what her husband has to say about it.
I'm sitting here at work about to fall asleep. I am so tired, and I wish my boss would leave so maybe I could crawl under my desk and take a nap...can't wait till 5.
Have a good weekend everyone!

Friday, August 12, 2005

Port of Monte Carlo

View from the boat ride.

In the Garden

In the Garden

These pictures were poorly taken so they are really small.

View From the Boat

Monte Carlo Hillside

These pictures were poorly taken so they are really small.

On the Hill

On the Hill

These pictures were poorly taken so they are really small.

Monaco/Monte Carlo

Continuing with our France trip...
After Nice, we went onto Monte Carlo and ended up staying 4 nights there unplanned.
We stayed at the Le Méridien Beach Plaza which is the most beautiful place ever.
I would have loved to just vacation there, if I knew what it was going to be like.
The first day we were there we went on the Aquavision Monoaco, which is a huge boat that has a lower level glass part where you can look at all the fish that swim by.
It was so neat, the view of the fish was good, but the view of Monte Carlo was even better.
The only bad thing was it was 55 minutes and Bryan got a little sea sick .
We still had fun.
That night we ended up going to the Les Casinos de Monte Carlo.
You can check it out here: http://www.casinomontecarlo.com/en/
After a long first day...we decided to just sit on the beach all day long.
The hotel had a swimming pool/bar so you could swim and drink too.
It was so relaxing and amazing.
We did make it to the Jardin Exotique Monaco on the 3rd day.
It sit upon a hill and you walk along the path over bridges and the view is more than amazing.
They had the best food in Monte Carlo too.
We ate seafood at Le Meriden Beach Plaza.
They cook everything in front of you. The atmosphere was great.
We also ate at Maxims De Paris. They have four different room:
a bar,
a cocktail room,
an elegant dinner room,
and a terrace.
We ate on the terrace. It was so beautiful and romantic.
I loved Monte Carlo.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Lyon and Avignon

After our adventure to Paris we went onto Lyon.
They have the most beautiful architect and monuments.
We saw the Parc des Hauteurs which is this beautiful rose garden, and the Saint-Laurent de Choulans (St. Lawrence church.)
We ate at LoloQUoi, which has the most amazing pizza.
We had a basil, artichoke, mushroom pizza with cream sauce instead of tomato sauce.
It still makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
Everything in the restaurant is lighted by candles too, which makes its really romantic. They have little candles on the table, and hanging candles from the ceiling. It was so nice.
We stayed the night at the Kyriad Perrache which has this outside patio area and bar and just drank all night.
We met this Italian couple having a honeymoon and sat with them the whole night. They talked about the wedding ceremony and all the arrangements, the families, and the food. They were definitely the cutest couple.
After leaving Lyon, we spent the next day passing through Avignon to go to Nice. (pronouced Neece.)
We went to rue de la République, which is like a huge market in Avignon. They have the big departments stores, but also the little outside markets.
It was fun.

(I'm currently updating the layout of the blog, so the France story might be postponed for a couple of day...make sure you check back though. The pictures are coming soon.)

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Adventure to Paris

Our trip to Europe was great.
However, we did cut it a few days short.
(Only because, we were exhausted from the fun, and missed our house, and Murphy, of course)
I guess I will start off with the beginning.
The start of the trip, was "different."
On the plane we sat next to a man, who probably just wanted company, but loved to tell stories of when he was a boy. Even though I was annoyed at first with his being there, we were totally entertained the whole flight. He talked from the time we took off till the time we landed.
Europe is so much different from the United States.
The people over there are just amazing...its kind of hard to explain.
Everything that's done in Paris is done later than here. Like normal lunch is about 1 or 2, and people don't eat dinner till 8 or 9. The night life is incredible.
My favorite thing about Paris is the club that we went to, Duplex, the first night. It's normally a restraunt but Friday and Saturday nights they turn it into a club. I think that it was used for a subway was or something because you walk down like 2 flights of stairs and you end up underground.
They mainly play disco music which was amusing to see Bryan dancing too. It was a blast.
The next morning we slept in after our late night adventure. Our hotel was nice. We stayed at the Timhotel Opera Madeleine. The hotel was 7 stories high and had a great view. (The pictures are coming soon.)
Of couse, we had to see the Eiffel Tower, which besides Bryan's fear of heights, wasn't fun at all. We finally made it to the top, after his protest. The view was good but it's so overrated.
We also made it to the Parc Zoologique Et De Loisirs De Thoiry. Which is mainly a big word for the "Zoo." It was interesting. They also have a "botanical gardens" which is really a big maze, which we got lost in for about 30 minutes. Also, they have "The Mysterious Island" which after a hike and short canoe trip, is an amazing castle that you get to tour.
I had a great 2 nights in Paris.
Before we left, me and Bryan had a romantic dinner at Flora Danica. I think the thing that I'm going to miss the most is the food.
Well I'm ready to unpack, so I guess I'll save the rest of the trip for later.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Map of Our Trip

If everything goes as planned, this is what our trip should look like.

Tomorrow Morning

The itinerary is finished.
We will leave tomorrow morning in fly into the London Luton Airport.
From the airport we will take the train from the Central London Rail Station to Paris.
We will stay 2 nights in Paris at the Timhotel Opera Madeleine.
Then we will spend one night in Lyon at the Kyriad Perrache.
We will drive through Avignon and spend the day there on our way to Nice, were we spend 2 more nights at Busby Hotel.
Then we will stop in Monte Carlo for a little gambling, and then onto Pisa to see the Leaning Tower.
We will stay in Rome for 2 nights at Parco De Medici Residence before heading to spend 2 nights in Venice. (I think that we will have the most fun in Venice.)
After Venice, we will head to Vienna to spend 2 nights at the cutest hotel: the Kavalier.
We will spend one night at Innsbruck, and 2 nights at Lake Lucerne.
We will finish the trip with one night in Rhineland aboard a cruise, and 2 nights in Amsterdam, and then back to the London Airport to fly home again.

Monday, July 18, 2005

Leaving Very Soon

Me and Bryan have been running around all weekend thinking of things to pack.
We realized that there was not enough room to take everything we thought was "necessary," so know we are re-packing everything.
It has been a chaotic weekend. I know that this week will pass by SO slow knowing that Friday, I will be leaving to go to Europe. I'm so excited.
I'm taking my computer, mainly to stay up-to-date with work, but I will keep everyone posted on what's going on.
Saturday night, Me and Bryan went to his dad's house to eat dinner with Bill, his dad, and Terri, his step-mom. We had the best time, talking about when Bryan was younger.
They have the funniest stories, and the best food. It really felt like family.
Also, we planned a trip to take next summer, all four of us. Were going to Cabo!
It's going to be awesome, the white beaches, the clear water...I can't wait.
Sunday night, we had dinner at my parent's house. Bryan helped Eric, (who is my brother and Bryan's best friend,) grill food for everyone. It was amazingly good. We were so full afterwards. Sara came over after she got off work and joined us. She is the sweetest thing ever.
If felt so good to be around friends and family.
EUROPE IN 4 DAYS!