PARIS 2014

I can't resist.  After all, this is Paris!

Statue of Voltaire in a garden

 Wherever you travel now people are covering the bridges with locks symbolizing their eternal love.  It has become a thriving business for enterprising street venders.  Unfortunately, this isn't good for the bridges.  The chain link can't handle the weight of all the locks.  The result is that the metal the locks are attached to pulls away from the handrail.  There are areas now where the locks are removed and sold boards are being put up instead.  That isn't nearly as attractive as the original design.  The practice of attaching locks will have to stop.  We were in a city where the local government placed metal trees across the bridge.  People attached their locks to those trees.  They were interesting and attractive without being destructive.
  

Locks on a bridge in Paris.

We had never visited the Eglise de la Madeline.  We returned one evening for a concert.  We heard Vivaldi and then an Opera.  I'm not much of an opera fan but the two singers were so good I managed to keep my eyes open the whole time.

After many false starts Madeline Church was designed as a temple to the Glory of Napoleon's army.  It was finally consecrated as a church in 1842.  Chopin's funeral was held there October 30, 1849 and Mozart's Requiem was sung.

Eglise de la Madeline

Eglise de la Madeline.

Impressive ceiling in Eglise de la Madeline.

I think this should be the second car on Rabelo for our guests to use:-)

Wall art we discovered on a walk.

Art covering the walls of a restaurant.

I find the architecture in Paris to be beautiful.  Wherever we look there are wonderful old buildings.

This guy didn't look so happy.

No matter how many times we return to Paris there is always something new for us to see and another area to explore.  It is a beautiful city for walking, and walking, and walking.

I am always interested in hearing what YOUR favorite activities, restaurants, sights are.  Please let me know.  We will be returning to Paris very soon.

We always enjoy hearing from you so keep in touch.

ON OUR WAY TO PARIS...

This is typical of what we see in the small villages.

We never know what we will encounter next.  We certainly didn't expect the army.

French Soldier on Patrol

Is France at war?

They are laying down a temporary bridge.

We tied up one night in Champagne sur Vingeanne and went for a walk.  We heard the most awful sounds coming from across the canal.  Little did we know there was a family that kept hounds!  Imagine our surprise as 40 or more hounds went streaking by on the towpath.  A young family were taking their dogs for an evening stroll.  We felt for the poor fisherman when the dogs ran up and surrounded him.  I think I would have had a heart attack on the spot.

Family walking their hounds.

The challenge we occasionally face in getting on and off the boat.

We took Rabelo to her new home in St Jean de Losne.  Her permanent mooring has 130 foot of waterfront with a large lawn to mow, a shed, and lots of plants to keep under control.  It’s a jungle out there.

Tom couldn't let Julian have all the fun so he helped mow the lawn.

Goose infestation next door.

One night while Tom and I were eating dinner in our dining room we looked up and saw a swan watching us thru our window.

St Jean de Losne from a distance (our home port)

Once we had cleaned up our new yard and relaxed a bit it was time to visit Paris.  Every time we return to Paris we find new things to see and places to eat.  We tried a great sandwich shop for a late lunch called Cosi, at 54, rue de Seine.  The focaccia is made fresh and the creative fillings are tasty though a little skimpy.  The apple crumble for dessert was delicious!  The next day was Sunday, which means most places are closed.  In spite of the rain we walked the whole day.  We checked out La Valette as a future mooring for Rabelo.  They will allow us to stay 7 nights!  That will be a great place to tie up when Rabelo returns to Paris.  We saw that a major storm was brewing.  We knew there would be thunder, lightning and torrential rain.  Just before the deluge we ducked into a crepe restaurant.  Huddled under an awning we watched nature’s show and enjoyed a wonderful crepe.  We must return to the creperie.  For dinner one night we ate at Verjus, where we had a fantastic 7 course dinner.  They have only one menu and unless there is something you can’t eat (then they will try to accommodate you), everyone in the restaurant receives the same meal.  We will be returning there.  It was a treat!  Another night we went to a chain restaurant that is known for their mussels.  That will warrant a return visit as well.

Our friends Tess and Bruce had spoiled us by bringing Fauchon chocolates from Paris.  Tom and I had to find Fauchon and treat ourselves to some more chocolate.  That is GOOD chocolate!

Always keep your eyes open and camera ready.

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Langres, Beaune and Dijon, France

Can you imagine?  We tied up our boat, looked up and saw fields of sunflowers!

We returned to Langres since we enjoyed the town so much last year.  Here are Tom and Jim standing at the entrance.  Langres has tall ramparts including 12 towers and 7 gates as well as several bell towers.  Langres is a forttified city located at the gates of Champagne and Burgundy.

View thru an arch to the countryside

Cathedral Saint-Mammes.  The inside is XII century and the facade XVII Century.

Traditional Burgundy tile roof.  This is on the church in Langres

Window in the church

Sculpture in the church

Arch gallo roman circa a 20BC.  This is the oldest preserved building in Langres

Our dear friends Randy and Jim Weiss came for a visit to Rabelo.  Jim is the number one story teller IN THE WORLD!  The winner of many awards Jim and Randy created Greathall Productions where you can listen to great literature on a children's level, but that adults will enjoy as well.  He has stories for ages three to adult.  Visit www.greathall.com and check out the many stories available for your listening pleasure.  Tom and I have spent hours listening to and enjoying Jim's c.d.'s.

This is the guard house/observation tower

We had amazing views as we walked around the walled city.

Graffiti

Fortified town of Langres from a distance

We went wine tasting in Monthalie, Meursault and enjoyed the amazing scenery.  We returned to Paul Garaudet and spent time with his son this year tasting and then purchasing their wine.

Barrel room for Paul Garaudet

Cocktail time on Rabelo.  

Sundown view off our stern

Gal pals.  Friends for 38 years since we were newleyweds living in the same apartment building. 

Tom is making friends with the local residents we met on a walk.

Hotel Dieu, Dijon  Amazing tile roofs.  This was a hospital built to care for the poor.

Dreamy canal

St-Dizier, Vitry le Francois, Joinville, Rolampont: Le Canal Entre Champagne et Borgogne

City Gates to Vitry-le-Francois

Many doorways are adorned with these types of stone designs.

The church walls are covered with plaques.  When a person's prayers are answered a donation is made to the church giving thanks.  

Joinville was a pleasant surprise and unexpected treat.  The Qual de Peceaux is called "the little Venice."

Strolling down the alleys of Joinville with medieval houses.

Exploring more of Joinville

Fete de Musique takes place on June 21^st every year for Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year.  Throughout France people play their music as loudly as they wish and no one can complain. Bands set up and play in the squares, street corner, sidewalks, wherever they can find space.  People of all ages come out to eat, drink, dance, socialize, and listen to the music.  It’s a big party.  One band had shirtless men (not a pretty sight) banging on drums and screaming into their microphone.  Other groups were a little better.  I understand that later in the evening the large bandstand in the center of town had decent performers.

We are currently traveling on Le Canal Entre Champagne et Bourgogne.  This area sees almost no barge traffic.  They get one large barge (our size) a month and maybe two small boats a week.  Since there is so little traffic the moss has grown long and thick, trailing along the surface of the water.  It is like sailing thru quicksand.

How would you like to sail thru that?

It is cherry season.  You wonder why I would mention such an obvious fact.  What we didn’t know was that cherry trees grow wild here along the canal.  Julian has been picking cherries (which are beautiful but very tart) and introduced us to the French dessert Clafouti.  Delicious.

We discovered Joinville where we stopped for an evening.  Whenever we enter a new town we go directly to the tourism office to get information about the area.  They were surprised to learn we were from America as they never get tourists from there.  Joinville was an unexpected treat situated where the Champagne region meets Lorraine on the Marne.  .  They have 5000 inhabitants.  We explored the narrow elegant alleys with medieval houses.  After wandering around the old town, visiting the church and listening to the organist practice, we went to the Chateau du Grand Jardin, which is one of only three renaissance gardens in France.  Legend has it that Claude de Lorraine (1496-1550) was a naughty husband.  In order to beg forgiveness from his wife Antoinette de Bourbon for his infidelity, he built this chateau. 

Château du Grand Jardin was built by Claude de Lorraine (1496-1550) to obtain forgiveness of his wife, Antoinette de Bourbon, for his infidelity.

Artwork in the gardens of the Chateau Du Grand Jardin, Joinville

A sculpture we found in the garden.

A beauty roaming around the Chateau.

We took a nice walk in Rolampont where we discovered the remains of an old Roman bridge.  Leaving the next morning (after picking up our mandatory baguettes) we entered the first lock of the day…and got stuck!  We couldn’t move!  At all!  The lock keeper finally allowed some water to flow into the lock.  Whatever our bow was jammed on finally loosened  up and we continue our journey.

French countryside

More beautiful countryside

X-rated gnomes in a garden.  Oh my!

We have been putting in very long days.  Tom and Julian drive the boat 10 hours a day non-stop!  It is a lot of work going in and out of the locks, handling heavy lines and navigating the windy canals.  It takes intense concentration for the person steering, while the line handler must control Rabelo once in the lock so we don’t hit the lock doors front or back.  What do I do?  I cook, clean, laundry, write, review and edit photos, read, paint, and occasionally just relax.  Relaxing is allowed.

Tom and I had a rough hike from Rabello to the boulangerie and back.

It's always fun hearing from friends and family back home.  Writing to me via the blog doesn't work.  I don't get those messages.  Please send me an email directly.  When I have wifi I WILL answer you.