I was told I have to be kind and respectful, so I won't mention DisneyCatholique!
Actually, it is much neater than I expected. The Pyrenees are amazing!
We'll be home soon. (Too soon!)
Monday, July 19, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Papperlapapp
It's an outdated German phrase that zould be translated (figuratively) to something like "Blah, blah, blah".
It is also a play that is being performed at the Palais des Papes during the Festival d'Avignon. I was told that it was a musical/comedy that bound the physical elements of the palais, the mystique of the 14th century popes and the reality of modern Avignon.
There was humor. There were scenes that were downright hilarious! There was music; an odd combinqtion of Gregorian Chants and rabid cellos on crack cocaine screeching into the night. And the play did a remarkable job of using the Palais des Papes as an integral part of the performance.
All it lacked was... well, a discernable reason to exist. Richard would argue, in his theatre professorial tone, "It wasn't a linear piece. It was avant garde; cutting edge. It was reminiscent of the German post-modern school's theory of offending the audience." Translated to layman's English, "If you understood this play, you are over-educated in theatrical arts."
J'aime le sud de France!
It is also a play that is being performed at the Palais des Papes during the Festival d'Avignon. I was told that it was a musical/comedy that bound the physical elements of the palais, the mystique of the 14th century popes and the reality of modern Avignon.
There was humor. There were scenes that were downright hilarious! There was music; an odd combinqtion of Gregorian Chants and rabid cellos on crack cocaine screeching into the night. And the play did a remarkable job of using the Palais des Papes as an integral part of the performance.
All it lacked was... well, a discernable reason to exist. Richard would argue, in his theatre professorial tone, "It wasn't a linear piece. It was avant garde; cutting edge. It was reminiscent of the German post-modern school's theory of offending the audience." Translated to layman's English, "If you understood this play, you are over-educated in theatrical arts."
J'aime le sud de France!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
And today, Uzès
Yes, a new day, a new adventure; the small town of Uzès, 28km west of Avignon. It's about the size of Hood River, but a touch older (parts of the église de St. Théodorit [church] date from 1090). It is nice to be out of Avignon and far from the madding crowd. Those theatre people do party down when given a good festival!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Avignon, Vaucluse, France
We are here. It is amazing!
As I told Richard, "I'm not leaving. You can't make me!" (And he can't. I can run faster than him.)
He then mentioned destitution, poverty and living in the streets. Oh, he of little faith. I have direct deposit at work. And I hate to sound like an unproductive worker, but it will be months before anyone notices that I am gone.
I imagine if you called the Inn of the Damned today, you would be told that I "must be out to lunch!"
Having a great time!!!
As I told Richard, "I'm not leaving. You can't make me!" (And he can't. I can run faster than him.)
He then mentioned destitution, poverty and living in the streets. Oh, he of little faith. I have direct deposit at work. And I hate to sound like an unproductive worker, but it will be months before anyone notices that I am gone.
I imagine if you called the Inn of the Damned today, you would be told that I "must be out to lunch!"
Having a great time!!!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Nous sommes en Paris!
Greetings all!
Paris is as wonderful as I remember. So much to do, and so little time. (And so hard to find an internet cafe!) Today was a bit of an emergency - our train will be arriving in Avignon after the hours of registration at our apartment, so we had to find a live computer attached to the internet so that Richard could send them an email!
Just some stray notes on Iceland and France.
If you ever travel to Iceland, take the time to visit Gullfoss (the waterfall - it does have a name.) While Richard was totally unimpressed, it was without question, one of the most dramatic points of nature I have ever seen.
There appears to be a cello convention going on in Paris at this time; either that or a cello case strapped to your back is the latest fashion accessory in Parisian haute-couture. We have literally seen dozens of people roaming the streets with them, but nary a violin case. Obviously, vionlins are so last year!
Despite my adamant objection, it turns out that Richard was correct: there were parts of the Louvre that we missed in our three hour run through last time we were in Paris!
It was much more fun translating for Richard before he studied some French. When I told him the menu had "Blackened Salmon Butts" as a plate (in France, "entrees" are appetizers and "plates" are main courses) he just shook his head and groaned. Neither of us ordered it, so we don't really know what it was.
I am sure that most of you, like me, assumed that when flying Icelandair, the flight attendant would be in native dress and lead the passengers in rousing Icelandic folk songs while serving kippered herring. Wrongo-Dongo! They looked very severe in their highly westernized formal uniforms. They did not sing, and there wasn't a kippered herring in sight. Sigh.
We made reservations for the train to Reims today. I was so prepared to do the entire process in my totally fluent French. "Bonjour, monsieur. Mon francais n'est pas tres bon, mais nous avons les 'EurailPasses' et il faut que je fait les reservations pour le trains a Reims pour jeudi, le jour apres demain, s'il vous plait." His response was succinct. "Speak English, old man!" I guess I'm not quite the international icon I imagined.
So here I sit in a French internet cafe, but they have an English keyboard. Go figure!
More when I have the chance!
Paris is as wonderful as I remember. So much to do, and so little time. (And so hard to find an internet cafe!) Today was a bit of an emergency - our train will be arriving in Avignon after the hours of registration at our apartment, so we had to find a live computer attached to the internet so that Richard could send them an email!
Just some stray notes on Iceland and France.
If you ever travel to Iceland, take the time to visit Gullfoss (the waterfall - it does have a name.) While Richard was totally unimpressed, it was without question, one of the most dramatic points of nature I have ever seen.
There appears to be a cello convention going on in Paris at this time; either that or a cello case strapped to your back is the latest fashion accessory in Parisian haute-couture. We have literally seen dozens of people roaming the streets with them, but nary a violin case. Obviously, vionlins are so last year!
Despite my adamant objection, it turns out that Richard was correct: there were parts of the Louvre that we missed in our three hour run through last time we were in Paris!
It was much more fun translating for Richard before he studied some French. When I told him the menu had "Blackened Salmon Butts" as a plate (in France, "entrees" are appetizers and "plates" are main courses) he just shook his head and groaned. Neither of us ordered it, so we don't really know what it was.
I am sure that most of you, like me, assumed that when flying Icelandair, the flight attendant would be in native dress and lead the passengers in rousing Icelandic folk songs while serving kippered herring. Wrongo-Dongo! They looked very severe in their highly westernized formal uniforms. They did not sing, and there wasn't a kippered herring in sight. Sigh.
We made reservations for the train to Reims today. I was so prepared to do the entire process in my totally fluent French. "Bonjour, monsieur. Mon francais n'est pas tres bon, mais nous avons les 'EurailPasses' et il faut que je fait les reservations pour le trains a Reims pour jeudi, le jour apres demain, s'il vous plait." His response was succinct. "Speak English, old man!" I guess I'm not quite the international icon I imagined.
So here I sit in a French internet cafe, but they have an English keyboard. Go figure!
More when I have the chance!
Friday, July 2, 2010
A quick note on the Icelandic Kronur
I just spent well over 10,000 kronur on a very nice dinner for two.
Richard and I never bothered checking the exchange rate between the Kronur and the Dollar.
I've always heard Iceland is expensive.
We could be in big trouble.
I love Iceland. Richard gives it mixed reviews.
Richard and I never bothered checking the exchange rate between the Kronur and the Dollar.
I've always heard Iceland is expensive.
We could be in big trouble.
I love Iceland. Richard gives it mixed reviews.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Greetings from Reykjavik
The flight from Portland to Seattle was kind of fun. We were on one of those prop jobs; you now, where you get to know the hamsters on a personal basis and you do a little crop dusting along the way. But flying so low, on such a beautiful day made for some great views.
The flight from Seattle to Reykjavik was 7 hours of tedium. But it is over and we are in Iceland.
Richard questions the wisdom of my vacation choice. It is 53 degrees and raining. He is not convinced that we are having fun yet.
Tomorrow we will go on a tour to Geysir, some waterfall and some historic site (I forget the name of the waterfall and I have no idea what it's name of the historic site is; it starts with a letter we don't have in English.)And cut me some slack - I've been awake for more than 24 hours. I'd tell you exactly how long I've been awake, but the math is over my head at this point.
Reykjavik is pretty cool in my book!
The flight from Seattle to Reykjavik was 7 hours of tedium. But it is over and we are in Iceland.
Richard questions the wisdom of my vacation choice. It is 53 degrees and raining. He is not convinced that we are having fun yet.
Tomorrow we will go on a tour to Geysir, some waterfall and some historic site (I forget the name of the waterfall and I have no idea what it's name of the historic site is; it starts with a letter we don't have in English.)And cut me some slack - I've been awake for more than 24 hours. I'd tell you exactly how long I've been awake, but the math is over my head at this point.
Reykjavik is pretty cool in my book!
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