HOT SUMMER DAYS!

Summer has finally arrived in Paris, and while I know my Texas family and friends have been experiencing three-digit temperatures, I must say our 95-degree days are sweltering.  Unlike Texas where almost everywhere is air conditioned, here almost everywhere is not.  I feel as though I'm back in the early 60's living with darkened rooms (shades/blinds pulled to keep the heat out) and fans everywhere.  But it's actually okay...I told David I wouldn't complain too much because once it gets cool, it will stay cool and that also means rain😒.

So Wednesday night we had an unplanned night out at Moulin Rouge.  We'd been there once before during one of our visits here and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Due to some scheduling blips, our friend, Harold, had tickets that were for July rather than September.  Whoops!!!!  So instead of going with friends, we went alone😢.

I'll always think of Moulin Rouge when I see a windmill!!!

Let me tell you about Moulin Rouge in case you don't know.  First, it's in Pigalle, an area that ranges from sex shops and ladies of the evening to chic cocktail lounges and barista cafes.  The neighborhood's naughty appeal dates back to the l880's, the Bohemian Belle Epoque Paris.  The first time we were there we took a cab to and from and it felt kind of sleazy as we were heading home late at night.  This visit, however, I got a completely different feel.  There were lots of people sitting at the cafes, talking, walking and it felt very safe.  Second, it is a topless show (gasp!!!!!).  Not all the girls are topless, but many.  I have wondered why some are and some aren't.....do you get to choose????  Do you make more money topless????  Just my curious little mind!!!!!   The big difference between Moulin Rouge and Las Vegas is in the word "natural"!!!!!  These girls are all natural, slim, small-chested women not like most of the Vegas dancers.  It gives you a very different impression. Anyway, it's a very classy place (seriously!) with waiters in black tuxedos/suits and a beautiful old Paris interior.   The show itself is fabulous...the sets are wonderful and the costumes (which are changed frequently for the different numbers) are magnificent.  Now it is mostly in French, but even that isn't really problematic since you're focusing on the music and the dancing.  During three short breaks in the production numbers, they have short entertainment....ventriloquist, juggler, things like that.  I know...sounds dorky but the performers we've seen have been really excellent.  Then the dancers come back.  You can get dinner/show tickets or just show tickets.  Our tickets included dinner which was nice.  Though it would have been more fun with our friends, it was a nice night out (thanks, Harold!!!).

An unplanned night on the town!!

Then yesterday after my chiropractor's appointment, we took the bus to visit Le Maison de Victor Hugo.  I'd had it on my list,  and we decided this was the perfect time.  It's a 30-minute bus ride from the house,  and the buses were full and hot.  But it beat walking!!!  This "museum" is the apartment where Victor lived before his exile from France for political reasons.  I love this kind of museum.  It's free, which is always nice, and not crowded.  Headsets were available (and we usually take advantage of them) and most of the signs by pictures in the rooms had an English translation (which isn't always the case).  David and I both read Les Miserables several years ago (what a beating!!!! though we loved the movie) so it was interesting to learn more about the author.  David now feels inspired to try reading The Hunchback of Notre Dame.....it's 400 pages so he's pondering it right now!!!!!!

I imagine my grandsons playing this

To raise money for poor children, VH got some writer friends to donate their inkwells for this writing desk-they couldn't sell the desk for 100 francs!!!!

My favorite room, of course!!!

I did love this room with the plate-covered wall!  Most of the walls in the apartment were dark and many done in wallpaper and ornate patterns.  One room was the Asian room and all the artifacts, colors, furniture were Asian-inspired.  Hugo's bedroom was fairly small and a dark cranberry color with dark furniture.  Maybe the dark colors kept it cooler in the hot months.

Hugo's bedroom

The apartment was 280 square meters and he paid 1500 francs for it!!!  Our apartment is 90 square meters....so it was a big apartment.  And it had a great view...

...not exactly like this (!!!!) but you get the idea!!!!

After leaving Victor's home, we decided to stay in Le Marais and walk to Sacha Finkelsztajn's (really!!!!) for lunch.  We were there on a previous Paris visit and it is a great deli.  We walked the ten-minutes there and she was closed!!!!  Arggghhhh!!!!!!  She was closed the last time we went there too.  Anyway, instead we stopped at this popular (based on the lines) little place for a falafel.  Honestly, we didn't really know what that was...we got a cone-shaped paper filled with ten deep-fried balls of ground fava beans or chickpeas.  Very tasty!!  You can get it in a pita, which I may try next time.  Walking back to the bus, we stopped at Amorino's where the ice cream in the cones is shaped like tulips....gotta have one of those on such a hot day!!!

Perfect ending to our morning excursion!

It really was a perfect day, in spite of the heat,  and one we will always have in the Paris memory book of our minds.

THIS AND THAT

Holidays over it's time just to do the ordinary things that make life pleasing and comfortable.  For most French (and probably many others as well), it's coming to les vacances..vacation.  Many stores, eating establishments and markets will be closed as people here really take their vacation time and leave for 2-4 weeks.  We found out this morning our egg/cheese market ladies won't be back till August 25!!!!  Guess we'll have to find a substitute!!

So today's post is just a little of life here in our Paris home.  First, and most exciting (!!!), is the new arrival we're waiting for.  No, not grandchildren!!!! For some reason, our potted flowers (or ferns in Plano) always make the perfect places for nests for baby birds.  In Plano every year we could count on a bird building a nest in our hanging fern on the patio...a hassle for watering, I think!!!  Now, one of our flower box geraniums is home for a nest currently holding two nice-sized white eggs.

I wonder how long till a baby bird is here???

You can see there is only one egg in this picture, but several days later #2 was there.  Mama Bird sits on them most of the day, leaves for quite a while in the evening and comes back later at night.  Because this box is outside our bedroom off our balcony, Mama used to fly off every time we opened the door (for fresh air, remember no a-c!) but now she knows us so stays put usually.  I'll keep you posted on the birth!!!!!

It seemed in Plano there was always road construction.  Is it possible that will be gone and completed when we return???!!  I doubt it!  Well, some things are true no matter where you live, I guess, and we've found Paris to have road construction all over.  Now, we're not driving so perhaps it doesn't cause us the frustration it would in Plano, but it does cause buses to change their routes, shorten a route so we have to found another bus and make walking around in certain areas difficult.  David is really good at navigating us to another bus (that helps), it's just a nuisance!  But I've learned (pretty much) to just roll with it.  It's funny the little lessons I'm learning on this Paris adventure...

Plano or Paris???!!!!

However, never let it be said Sherry Finkelstein let road/sidewalk construction keep her from finding (and buying) some cute dishes (or shoes, but in this case dishes!!!)!!!!!  We'd been strolling a neighborhood I really like, St. Paul, where there are lots of little walkways with lots of little unique  shops when I noticed some blue and white plates in the back window of a shop we'd previously been in.  Much to David's dismay, I didn't mention this to him then but stored it in my mental file and later told him about them.  He's always been willing, though perhaps not eager, to carry dishes back when I've found them while traveling.  We are trying, though, to be very careful about what we buy here that we might want to take back because it is difficult and can be expensive.  Most of the things we've bought will stay....they're not "close to my heart", they just make this home more us.  Anyway, we went back the next day to get the dishes (we didn't even know how he was selling them...plate by plate or as a set and we didn't know the price), and he was closed.  There was no sign so we didn't know if he was on the long lunch hour people here take or closed for the day.  We decided not to wait it out and came home.  A day or so later we went back, he was open, and we bought a set...4 dinner plates, 4 dessert plates, 4 smaller bowls and 4 larger bowls!!!!  Success!!!  They are going to look so great with my English blue and whites that are waiting for us in storage in Plano. For now, we're using them,  and it makes me happy each time I see them.  It's the small things.....

Can't wait to mix these with my English blue/white!!

Note:  these weren't made in France, but in the Ukraine (in Eastern Europe) and the name of the company who made them  means "pasta".  I thought that was pretty interesting.  David's father's family came what is now Lithuania, also in Eastern Europe, so I kind of like that connection.

And last, but not least, getting one's hair done in a country where you have a language barrier is very difficult!!!  Last time I came home with much darker hair than I had intended.  In fact, I went from laughing at it (while sitting in the chair) to nearly crying.  Yesterday, I came home much blonder than I intended.  All I wanted were some blond strands in my darker hair.  That's all......oh, well.  Amazingly, the woman doing my hair (who has done my hair each time) kept talking to me in French as though I spoke French!!  When I conveyed to her (in my feeble French) what I didn't understand, she would repeat or slow down.  You wouldn't believe, or maybe you would, the long conversations we had with my limited French and her limited English.  And, of course, Google Translate, was used by both of us.  While I felt pretty good I could understand and express myself as well as I did, it was EXHAUSTING!!!!!!!😓.  Perhaps she felt the same way with her English!!!!  Anyway, it was good practice I don't usually get.  I keep thinking I'd like to do something different with my hair (if you know me, you know I am always changing my hair...I get bored with it) but maybe not while I'm here.  Who knows.....maybe the next time I go (September), I'll get a bee in my bonnet and do something drastic!!!!!  I'll keep you posted....

How far back can you take a selfie to look 10 years younger???!!!!!!

So that's it for now. Next time I'll share with you a little about our volunteer opportunities and how that is taking much of our time.  It's been warm here (not like Plano!!!) but I don't care because once it stops being warm (I'm not sure when that will be but lots earlier than Plano), it will get cool and rainy and will stay that way a long time.  So bring on the sun.....😎😎😎!!!!!!!

A WILD AND CRAZY WEEKEND!!!

Finally things are getting back to normal after a weekend of celebrating and partying.  Not by us, necessarily, but by the French and any who are looking for a good party!

As you already know from David's post, Saturday was Bastille Day, similar to our 4th of July.  We got out Friday to get any shopping done knowing that Saturday most things would be closed.   One of the sights we'd never seen when traveling here I knew David would enjoy was Les Invalides, the place where Napoleon's body is entombed.   Fun times!!!!!!  So that's what we decided to do on Bastille Day.  The day was sunny and warm so we dressed accordingly and hit the streets.

The facility itself is pretty magnificent befitting what we know about Napoleon.  And it seems to go on and on...not just a little building you can scurry through.  Included in the sight are the Cathedral Saint Louis des Invalides, the Musee de la Armee, the tomb of Napoleon and, as we understand it,  a hospital and residences for veterans.  Then, of course, there are gift shops, tea shops (for a little snack which you really need after going through it all!!!) and gardens.

Les Invalides

Napoleon

We started with the Cathedral which was designed in 1676 combining a royal chapel, now Dome des Invalides and a veterans' chapel, now cathedral of Saint-Louis des Invalides.  This allowed the King and his soldiers to attend mass simultaneously while entering the place of worship through different entrances following court etiquette.

This separation was reinforced in the 19th century when Napoleon was entombed there and two altars were created and then a glass wall was constructed separating the two chapels.  In addition to Napoleon, many of Napoleon's family, military officers who served under him and other French military heroes were also buried at Les Invalides.

Napoleon's tomb

The bodies of many other military officers are interred in the vaults of Les Invalides as well as the hearts of some whose bodies are interred elsewhere.  Interesting!

There is a lot to see....uniforms, weapons, a whole area on DeGaulle and the political environment and military fortitude and life.  You could probably spend hours if you read everything and spent time in every area.  We did not, though we did spend considerable time there (that said from a non-history lover!!!!!).

But David enjoyed it, and that is what was important.  He goes to things and does things I like so turn-about is fair play!!!!  Plus, I did learn some French history.

Saturday afternoon people began marking their spots around the Eiffel Tower for the concert and fireworks that were to take place that evening.   It was a madhouse, and we weren't interested in spending eight hours sitting on the ground waiting for the excitement.  However, at 11:00 p.m. we walked outside our building and were able to watch the fireworks from our street.  They had blocked our street off from traffic and the neighborhood restaurants had even set up some tables in parking spaces to accommodate more people.  Watching the fireworks spewing out of the Eiffel Tower was fabulous and more beautiful than anything I've seen.

The other excitement of the weekend was, as you know, France winning the World Cup.  This is the first time in 20 years France has won, and the celebrations were everywhere.  It has been said over one million people lined the Champs Elysees to welcome the team home (we were not in that crowd!!!) and the partying continued into the wee hours.  According to the Interior Ministry, there were 292 arrests across France overnight....so I guess fans are fans wherever you live.  Monday morning the streets were dirtier than we've seen them with bottles, trash etc., but at least the city is always there and getting things cleaned up and back to normal.  

To France:  Happy Bastille Day!

Bonjour, this is David again, Sherry's husband.  Today the nation of France celebrates it's "Independence Day", Bastille Day, commemorating the birth of the first French Republic in 1789.

Following are my continued thoughts from my guest post on July 4 regarding the intertwined relationship between the United States and France.

Replica of the Statue of Liberty flame.

Replica of the Statue of Liberty.

Statue of Liberty, was a gift from the people of France and was dedicated in 1886.  It was designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and was build by Gustave Eiffel, yes, that Gustave Eiffel.  There is a quarter sized replica of the Statue of Liberty on the Ile aux Cygnes (Island of Swans) in the Seine river.  The statue is not too far from the shopping mall (pretty much like an American shopping mall) where Sherry and I bought much of what we needed to furnish our apartment.  Also near Avenue President Wilson (see other comments below) is a full size replica of the flame from the Statue of Liberty.  Today, it has become a place where many people come to remember Princess Diana with flowers, cards and photos, as it is near the tunnel where she died.

Suresses American Cemetery 

World War I began in 1914 and ended in 1918, American entered the war in 1917.  This year is the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI.  In America on November 11 we celebrate Veteran's Day.  In Europe it is called Armistice Day, celebrating the armistice ending WWI, which occurred at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.  It will be quite a celebration in France this year!  Over the last few years I have read more about WWI.  The war was more devastating to France than to Germany.  The war was primarily fought in France and Belgium, with very little fighting in Germany.  More French land was devastated, and France lost more people, military and civilian, than Germany.  The Suresses American Cemetery, just a few miles outside of Paris, is the final resting place of 1,565 Americans who died in WWI, plus 24 unknown soldiers from WWII, but also listed in stone are the names of 974 Americans whose bodies were never recovered.  Our home town of Kansas City, Missouri, is the host of the "official" WWI museum in the United States.  I was there a few years ago, it was quite interesting and I would encourage you to visit if you get a chance.

Avenue President Wilson

President Woodrow Wilson was the president during WWI and provided worldwide leadership after the war with his work on the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations, which unfortunately failed.  Every Saturday and Wednesday, we go to the street market on Avenue President Wilson to buy cheese, eggs, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and flowers.  At first this was more of a dreaded chore until we were able to develop a rhythm to this kind of market shopping.  Now, I look forward to going as we frequent the same vendors every week and they recognize us and welcome us with more than a "bonjour".

Omaha Beach - site of D Day landings 

One of the many signs throughout Paris honoring those who fought in the Resistance.  This one near our apartment.


World War II began in Europe on September 1, 1939.  During the next seven months it was called the "Phoney War" as nothing much transpired.  But then....and by the summer of 1940 much of Europe, including the city of Paris, was engulfed by Nazi Germany.  In 2015, Sherry and I took a day trip to Bayeux for a half day tour of the D-Day beaches and battle grounds.  AMAZING!  It is because of the actions those men took those fateful days and months that we can travel and live in Europe today.  May 8 is celebrated as VE Day (Victory in Europe).  When I say celebrated, I mean celebrated, as it is a national holiday in France.  In America, it comes and goes with an article in the newspaper.  As we have walked around Paris, we are constantly reminded by plaques on the walls of many buildings remembering those who died as they fought to redeem France from tyranny.  The official WWII museum in the United States is in New Orleans.  There is a Pacific War (where both Sherry's and my Dad served) museum in Fredericksburg, Texas.  Both are well worth seeing.

Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Roosevelt was America's president during all but the last month of the war in Europe.  He is remembered and honored with street and Metro (Paris subway) stations named after him.

Avenue Du President Kennedy - the avenue named for President Kennedy is in the 16th Arrondissement in Paris, not far from the Statue of Liberty replica. For those of our generation, the question that binds us together is "Where were you when Kennedy was shot?".  As we have gotten to know other couples of our generation but from other countries over these last four months, the same question binds us together, regardless of our nationality.

Arc de TriompheJoyeux Anniversaire France!

America as enjoyed relative stability over the last 240 plus years.  Over basically the same period of time, France has experienced a somewhat tumultuous life.  Today France is governed under its Fifth Republic, which will celebrate 60 years in October.  I read a book a few years ago written by former United Kingdom Prime Minister, Tony Blair.  In his book he said the way to tell a good country from a bad country is “are people trying to get in or trying to get out”.  While there are occasional bumps in the road in the relationship between America and France, another thing that binds them together is that people are trying to get into both great countries.  

BELGIUM - WATERLOO - PART 3

I continued not feeling through the night and woke up Saturday fairly certain I wasn't up to a day out. The plan was to go tour Waterloo where there are various sights and museums.   I opted to stay home,  and Karen and David went without me.  I ended up spending the day in bed glad I hadn't taken a chance on feeling well enough to endure a day out.

David's going to continue this post with pictures and thoughts about Waterloo.....

Until a few days ago, I really didn't know where Waterloo was nor the significance of Waterloo beyond the phrase "Napoleon met his Waterloo".  Anyway, Waterloo was just a few miles from where we were staying in Braine l'Alleud Belgium.

We went to the town of Waterloo for dinner our first night in Belgium,  and it was a very nice town.  In addition to your typical restaurants and shops in Waterloo is the Wellington Museum.  In 1815 Napoleon seemed unstoppable as France's emperor with France winning military victories and expanding their land.  Napoleon met his match in Waterloo.  Wellington was the British commander who,  along with the support of German troops,  defeated Napoleon.

Wellington Museum in Waterloo

Wellington Platter-notice the domed church

The domed church across from  museum

There are four venues related to the battle and we were able to visit two:  the Wellington Museum in Waterloo and the battle ground.  The Wellington Museum was very interesting,  but the museum at the battlefield (called the 1815 Memorial) was amazing.  There were many exhibits of artifacts leading up to the battle at Waterloo and then more on artifacts from the battle itself.  There was also a 3D video depicting the battle.  After visiting the museum,  Karen and I climbed to the top of a domed-shaped mound (220 steps) that gave amazing views.

One of the displays showing battle uniforms

The 1815 Memorial from the base.

From the top of the 1815 Memorial.

Many of you know I am an early riser, and I often go out for a walk, especially in new cities.  One of the mornings in Braine l'Alleud, I went to the city's historic church.  Below is the plaque outside the church.  Just to think that a little over 200 years ago the wounded from the battle of Waterloo were treated in this church amazed me.

Plaque on the church in Braine l'Alleud

Church in Braine l'Alleud

Napoleon is entombed in Paris not far from our apartment.  I have yet to visit his tomb but will do so soon.  While Napoleon met his Waterloo and was a relentless conqueror,  he was also a great leader.  Even today we are benefiting from Napoleon's wisdom and leadership in many areas of everyday life including banking, civil law and consistent measures.

Invalides - the location of Napoleon's tomb

BELGIUM - BRUGGE - PART 2

We were up earlier on Friday because we were going to Brugge which was several hours away from the house.  The night before we discussed our travel options: driving (Karen had rented a car for her time in Belgium) or train.  Obviously, there are up sides to both options.  That morning as we were discussing the plans for the day, Karen said she'd decided to just drive.  That was fine by me since I've missed car travel and I could just sit in the back and enjoy the ride!!!  David was the navigator along with the GPS in her car.

It took about two hours or so to get to Brugge, and it didn't disappoint.  It is a charming city with, of course, lots of cafes and shops but enough space you don't feel crowded.  Again, lunch was our first priority since we'd had our light breakfast much earlier and were all running on low.  This day I opted for minestrone soup (and of course fresh bread) since I wasn't yet ready for "dinner" again.  The cafe was again nice and we ate outside.  There were trees all around and the weather couldn't have been better...warm but with a nice breeze.

The architecture in these cities is almost fairy-tale like!

I started not feeling well after lunch but "the show must go on" so we strolled the square enjoying this lovely city.  I really wasn't looking for anything to buy,  but we happened upon a little flea market down one street and found an old, distressed, white iron key with hooks for putting on a wall and hanging things.  We've been looking for some sort of hooks for the kitchen so I can hang up the aprons I brought.  Voila!!!!  This was perfect,  and it is currently on the wall holding aprons!!!!!  It's the little things!!!!!

Will this go back with us???  Apron-yes, key-maybe!!!

There were a nice variety of shops which was a little different from Brussels where it seemed the majority of shops were lace and chocolate.  Back to strolling after finding the apron key, we saw a shop with....aprons!!!!!!  So in we went and out we came with a blue and white "Brugge" apron!!!!  I've decided to try and buy an apron in every country we visit--I already have aprons from France (from a previous visit) and UK (from a previous visit) so this is my first new apron.  These are not just momentos, I use aprons when I cook and especially when I bake and often I need extras for the boys if they're at my house baking with me.  A mim must be prepared!!!!!

We ended our day in Brugge with a boat ride on a canal that ran through the city.  We were all tired and sitting on a boat hearing some history about the city from the driver was a relaxing, fun way to end our day.

I do love being retired with this guy!!!

BELGIUM - PART 1

Our friend, Karen, a former business associate of David, was in Paris a few days last week,  and we spent some time together.  Her Paris stop was only part of a 4-week-long trip she's taking in Europe.  Her next stop after Paris was Belgium, and she invited us to join her at the 3-bedroom house she was renting for two weeks.  We jumped at the chance to visit a new country...and for free (more or less!!!).  We are retired after all!!!!!😉

We left by train to Brussels on Thursday, July 5, and less than two hours later arrived in Brussels.  From the train station we walked (BIG mistake!!!!!!) to the City Center.  It was the worst walk ever!!!    First of all, it was a long walk and secondly, it was through a questionable area of town.  We were about ready to try and catch a taxi (if one was to be had) when we were there.  It was hot, I was tired and David was in deep "you know what"!!!!  Later, Karen said she read on Trip Advisor many reviews saying how terrible and long the walk from the train station to City Center was...I felt redeemed!!!!

We always enjoy a train ride!

Luckily for him the City Center was beautiful and full of cafes and shops, in addition to magnificent buildings surrounding the Plaza area.

The first item (no not shopping!) was getting lunch.  There were cafes on all sides and most, if not all, had outside dining so we just picked a cute little place and ordered.  Oh my gosh!!!!  It was dinner for  lunch!!!  I ordered Flemish Beef Stew which, of course, came with fries...delicious but way too much food for me.

In Belgium they dip the fries in mayonnaise then dip it again in the stew sauce-yummy!!

Lunch revived me and improved my spirits so....let's hit the shops!!!  There were chocolate shops EVERYWHERE!!!!!!  So all we could do was choose one and go in.  We picked up a box for Karen as a hostess gift and got a sample too!!!  Then we stopped at a lace shop where I got a tapestry pillow cover.  And that's all we bought.  We've discovered it's a little difficult shopping for the apartment since we know we're just temporary and we don't want to spend much money on things that will not come back with us.  So we're very careful with our purchases.

Lace shops abounded too!

After walking the "terrible trek" back to the train station, we caught a smaller train for the 30-minute ride to the little town where Karen would meet us.

A nice little Belgian town

I can't tell you how many times the phrase "we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto" came out of my mouth.  The City Mouse had come to the country!!!  Braine-L'Alleud was a nice, little town that was clean and pretty quiet.  The house Karen was renting was out a little...she said in the country but it wasn't as far "in the country" as I was imagining.

This does look like the country though!

The house where we stayed was very roomy, and we had our own bathroom.  Of course, no a-c but big windows throughout the house that we tried to keep open...at least in the bedrooms and kitchen.  It sits on quite a piece of land and there's a koi pond, henhouse with five hens (that's where their eggs come from-a neighbor tended them while the owner was gone), a rabbit pen (again the neighbor's job!), a garden and fruit trees.  It had the potential to be beautiful but was very overgrown and needed some TLC, I thought.

But in the mornings, we would sit at the kitchen table with the large window and door open eating our French breakfast and it was quiet except for the sound of the water in the koi pond and the birds singing.  Several mornings I was up alone (David had already gone out for our croissants and Karen hadn't come down yet), and I sat with a cup of hot tea listening to the quiet and taking in the natural beauty of all the flowers and trees.  You can't really get that in the city.  It was a nice change.

Fresh and Fabulous!!

This was our typical breakfast while we were at Karen's.  She and David always had coffee and I drank hot tea or water.  I also had boiled eggs several mornings--I don't know how the French (or in this case the Belgians) last till lunch with no protein.  I'm such an American!!!!!!😊. But everything was fresh that David had picked up at an outdoor market while he was getting the croissants.  Best cherries I've had in a while!!


After catching up with Karen and a light dinner, we all hit the sack to get rested up for the next day and our road trip to Brugge.....