Re: THURSDAY!!! -- Jurgeleit.net

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Date Posted: 18:02:47 08/02/01 Thu
Author: chris
Subject: Re: THURSDAY!!!
In reply to: Beth and Neats 's message, "THURSDAY!!!" on 14:48:07 08/02/01 Thu

OK, OK. 7.30am Thursday here. Laura and I are up and the others (Murray & Riki) are still asleep. Mark's still away in Norwich. We had thought we might hire a car and go up there for one night, but I think everyone's had enough driving, plus Laura has had a bit of a cold. She seems a little better today. Right now she's standing at her little table finishing off a beautiful nectarine I cut up for her. No, now se's brought me the plate, saying 'More, mpre...' and she's sitting in the kitchem doorway calling me, so I'll have to go and attend to that.

Nectarine all sorted now. She says Tissy beautifully now, but can't say grandad (calls us both tissy sometimes) - which is a matter of some concern. Had a lovely weekend in France. We hired a car and took it across on the train in the tunnel under the Channel. That was pretty amazing. Had to drive to Folkstone on the south coast (about 40 mins from Mark & Riki's) on Friday after Mark finished work, then onto the train, and in about 20 mins we were in France (Calais). You drive the car on, like the Cook Strait ferry, but you stay in it, in a train compartment - 4 cars per compartment - and read your book or whatever, and then you drive off the other end. Have to go for more nectarine.

We'd booked at a wee hotel in Calais for the night. By the time we'd found the hotel and checked in it was about 10, and we hadn't eaten. The guy at the hotel directed us to the Cafe de Paris up the road. Everything was still well and truly humming - especially the Cafe - live music - full of people. Laura loved it. She found a couple of little friends and ran about having a great time. The music was all 60s and 70s stuff and really good too. We must have stayed till about 1pm.

Calais is only about 20 mins from Dunkirk, and a little further from all the WW1 battle area - Lille, Flanders, Paschendale, Ypres, Somme etc so next morningI persuaded everyone we should go to Paris the long way and visit a few of those spots on the way. Not a good idea. After some trouble we found Dunkirk, but coudln't find the beach the scene of the evacuation, and ended up on the motorway back to Calais. To save a lot of stress (which was beginning to build by then) we decided to abandon that plan and head straight for Paris. Arrived there about 5pm, after a few interesting diversions off the road looking for food places, an adventure at a french country supermarket trying to buy food for lunch, and eventually a lovely roadside picnic (about 4pm) using the food. Also at the pcinic spot were a couple from Melbourne who had just bought a BMW for their trip around France, and on the first day a tyre had blown, and they couldn't get the jack to propo up the car so they could change it. Dad & Mark helped & eventually we were off again. Getting into Paris was another adventure. We drove in by a route that brought us into a really grotty par tof the city. Stopped to get a cold drink, but were too scared to stay there long. Found a map to help us into town, but had no francs to buy it with. I was ddirected to a couple of money machines where I could get Fr money, but they were both out of service. So we just drove. Eventually a couple gave us directions to the centre of town & we found a place to stay there. Spent Sat evening wandering up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. Stacks of people - didn't find Teresa and Jono, who were there too - doesn't get dark till about 10pm, so we had plenty of time to lok around. Settled down to a sidewalk cafe dinner about 11pm before bed.
Sunday we set off early walking. Mark & Riki had a couple of hours visiting the Louvre while M & I walked Laura up and down the river till she fell asleep. Lunch at outdoor cafe, then we all went on a boat trip up & down the river from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower. Ice cream in the park, then Murray, Riki & Laura packed it in & went back to the hotel for a rest, while Mark & I did a bit more sightseeing. Nice dinner at a Thai restaurant. Monday we headed back to Calais early to avoid the Paris rush, and spent a lovely few hours on the beach, which L really enjoyed. Very hot. It's been in the late 20s - 30s all the time we've been here really - today has started with a little shower, but it's still supposed to go up to 27 degrees. Tubes are excruciatingly hot, especially when they're crowded. Yesterday Murray minded L and R & I went to have a look at Harrods. Incredibly opulent. Makes Kirks and Smith & Caugheys look like corner dairies. Didn't buy anything, but looking was good. Today I'm going in to look at the shops in Oxford & REgent St. BBQ at Teresa and Jono's place tomorrow, and at Peter & Lorraine's on Saturday after visit to Hampton Court palace. Then home Sunday night. It's been a great visit. See you all soon. Hope all's well with everyone. Love C

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