So Much Has Taken Place

Hello everyone,

I've wanted to post much sooner but lack of internet service has prohibited it. Now I feel I must play catch-up and hope it doesn't become tedious. Our get-away and flight to London was superb; weather bright and sunny, flight uneventful but for a tiny bit of turbulence, all topped off by viewing of the film "Selma"--a heartbreaking yet uplifting story,

In London our B & B was a bit of a disappointment with its cramped quarters, shared bathroom and express train roaring by constantly just 100 yards from our window! First we were slightly angry, then mildly annoyed but that quickly turned into uproariously funny (as most things with Ted can) and we are still laughing about it. In fact our first night in Paris we had trouble getting to sleep; it was so quiet!

A unique tap in our unique B & B: hot and cold came out in 2 separate streams!

We then busied ourselves with delightful sights of England's capital city. We headed straight for St. Paul's Cathedral and were awed by its solemnity, beauty and history. That evening we headed back there to attend Evensong Service and were entranced by the clear tones praising God & echoing off the dome. I loved seeing the choir boys in their cassocks with ruffled collars and adorable faces. I was reminded of all the stories Ted tells of his days as a choir boy at St. Winifred's Church in Totton, England where he grew up; and all the mischief he got up to!

We stayed 3 nights in London and took in, beside St. Paul's, the British Museum, Big Ben, and my favourite spot, Covent Gardens. It was our last evening there and after our supper at the "Happy New Year" restaurant (remind me to tell you THAT story later) we took a spontaneous Tube ride to see the night life.  Covenant Gardens didn't disappoint! We watched street buskers do balancing acts, magic tricks and took a frightful ride on a bicycle pulled rickshaw back to our Tube station.

Friday morning we bid a fond farewell to our B&B and headed for the Eurostar Line and Paris. Everything about the 2 hour & 20 minute express train ride (150-160 mph) was phenomenal; oh, except that I fell asleep and missed the actual underground section through the tunnel under the English Channel! I was so bummed! I remain to be so bummed! C'est la vie!

Early mosaic image of Christ at the British Museum

We checked into our FABULOUS hotel on the Left Bank of Paris just about 3:00 pm; ooops, that would be 15:00 hours. That evening we walked to the Eiffel Tower. Yes, walked! We are only a 10 minute jaunt from this fabulous work of architecture. There are no words to describe it other than C'est magnifique! The walk home was an experience also as we got turned around and took the "long" way home. We laugh about that still, too!

Our room, our hotel, here is in an old building that has been reworked into an ultra-modern facility that is so classy and elegant that we could feel right out of our element; but we are just pretending to fit in and it is so much FUN! Ted spent close to 50 euros on a HAT!  OM, even I would shudder at that; but I do intend to shop today also, so I'll let you know!

We have had our delightful breakfast in the well-appointed "cellar" designed like a limestone cave...oh so marvelous...and now intend to do more site-seeing. Today we plan to visit Notre Dame Cathedral and Les Invalides where Napoleon is buried.  Ah, yes, and SHOP.  Did I say shop?

We consider ourselves blessed to be able to take this trip and visit such glorious works and monuments and attractions. We praise God for his goodness in our lives and pray you will all be blessed this day also.

Peggy/Mom/Granny plus Ted/Dad/Grandad