St Chamas and other things

We have spent the past three days discovering St Chamas and some other things.  We went to a Roman bridge that was built way before I was born and  the washing area for people who had contagious diseases so that they could be cleansed.  We also climbed to the top of the hill separating the town and walked across the aquaduct from one side to the other.  It was quite trilling.  Dan strolled across and I held on to the railing every inch of the way.
We discovered, "It's not easy to get there from St Chamas" is a phrase we will hear over and over and over.    Even the people at the tourism office said that.   We are trying to understand bus and train schedules, but it is not easy for us two Anglais speaking old guys.
And until Yana gets home, we can't have internet in the house because it is his/her connection we work off of.
On the plus side, we made a friend or two already.... people who have been very helpful.
Tomorrow is market day, which is supposed to be pretty darn cool.
It will probably be next Tuesday before you hear from us again.

From the top.... Dan crossing the aquaduct,  the Roman ruins...note the cart ruts in the stone; the washing house, Dan on the other side, St Chamas from the harbor...note the homes in the cliffs, me having a coffee.

Hope all of you are well!

Finally in St. Chamas

OK, we did make it and are safe and sound......well, at least safe.  Who is to say who is sound?
We had a great time visiting Michele and Simone and Erik's parents, Jacques and Yvonne.  I know I spelled some names wrong...so forgive me.
We visited a lot of neat places..... La Rochelle, where we found a globe of the world and Dan found Illinois; we visited a reproduction being built of Lafayette's ship he used in coming to America to aid the colonies in the battle for freedom; toured the salt marshes around Niort; visited Roman ruins in Perigeaux and have eaten a lot!  Still, we seem to be hungry.  It's the wine.
I had a black Friday, dropped my computer, lost the screw that holds the lenses in on my glasses, camera memory card died, but all is well that ends well.

Unfortunately, our house internet is not up and running yet....hopefully tomorrow.
A bientot!

Today we took a tour of a wild side of Paris. We started with lunch in les Deux Moulins, a spot from one of my favorite movies. Turns out Dan also loves the movie, so does his wife Linda, so does our friend Eric. Next we went up to Sacre Couer and then wandered from the saints to the sinners in Pigalle. Another moulin, this one rouge, and plenty of window shopping!

ooops

OK, I have to work on making pictures smaller!!

Touchdown!

We are in wonderful Paris, where the lilacs are blooming and the trees are in full leaf.
We arrived early, and found out way to our hotel in the Rue Cler area....not a bad adventure!
Small room, but a great view.  We can even see the Eiffel Tower... or at least the top part of it....from our balcony.  And the street view is pretty cool.
The elevator up to the fifth floor held one person....and barely a suitcase.
Quaint.

We walked to the Tower, were amazed by the crowds, had a lovely lunch and are looking forward to a dinner with a glass of wine or two.

Are we there yet?

Wow!! Who would have thunk the hardest part was getting to the airport??  But, thanks to Eric that has been solved.  Part of me can't believe in less than 3 days I'll be sitting in Paris, sipping coffee, trying to figure out what Dan is saying.......
Our first task will be getting from the airport to the hotel.  No problem.  RER A to B to Metro Purple to Ecole Militarie to hotel.  Of course, Dan will be sensibly packed while I will be lugging the equivalent of the Chicago Bears front line crammed into a suitcase.  Try getting on a subway with that!
Of course I am only packing the essentials:  three pairs of pants, 8 shirts, 24 pairs of underwear, and 40 pounds of personal grooming products.  I keep forgetting they have stores in France.
Since we are near Marseilles, I thought it a good idea to bring a book which reflects the area.  So I bought a cheap copy of The Count of Monte Christo.  826 pages in small print.  Guess I will pack that magnifying glass after all.
A bientot!!