Originally Posted By LuLu I finally got 'em all up and captioned! I don't have photos for the first 3 days, since our checked bag took that long to find us, but there are still 675 photos for your enjoyment! (And those are just the ones that made the cut!) Start here and jump around as you choose. DLP is Day 2: <a href="http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/3176844#174794545" target="_blank">http://www.smugmug.com/gallery /3176844#174794545</a>
Originally Posted By friendofdd I've just looked at the first 4 or 5 pages and will take my time looking at them all, so it will take awhile. They are great, and seeing you and DrFrootloop in the scenes of history is terrfic.
Originally Posted By Ursula Monaco? You got to go to Monaco? How cool for you. Did you get to go inside of the casino? I loved all of your photos, great choices. Was the winery as cool as it appeared? I would have never left and would have begged them for a job.
Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819 Beautiful photos! I didn't see them all yet. I made sure to look at the DL Paris pages! Gorgeous! I hope you had a wonderful time!
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle It looks like you had a great trip! I'd love to go to DLP someday. Thanks for sharing!
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I'll do this late at night when I don't have a million interruptions. Can't wait to have a look.
Originally Posted By irishfan Just had time to look at the DLP photos which are great. The park looks great for it's 15th.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I'm really enjoying your photos Lulu. You guys seemed to really capture the beauty of France (including DLP). I am so sorry we could not get you on Indy, but to be honest, it is better to look at than ride. At least we managed to do most of the unique activities our park has to offer. I would love for you to share your thoughts of DLP vs other parks with us all. (Liberty Belle - if you ever get over to Europe you have a place to stay - remember we have a timeshare at DLP and a guide!). I'm glad you enjoyed the Louvre. I love this place and can spend days there. The British Museum has more antiquities, but the Louvre has more fine art. Both are fantastic museums. The Orsay is lovely too. Personally I prefer the older artworks, but their collection is impressive. As for Normandy beaches, it is a very humbling experience isn't it? The really sad thing is the cemeteries you saw are only a small sampling. We have them all over England (from WWII losses), France, Belgium, Germany, Poland etc. Such a loss of life I could not imagine. As for the Bayeaux Tapestry, interesting isn't it? It is an early form of propaganda. It was stitched between 22 - 80 years after the Battle of Hastings where England fell to the French under the Pope's blessings. The nuns who made it were commissioned by the victors. There are some very interesting pieces in it such as Hailey's comet behind William the Conqueror (nee Bastard), as well as the arrow in Harold's eye - which by all chronical accounts actually hit him in the neck. I do like the tapestry a lot and sadly could have bored you on Omaha and Bayeaux almost as much as DLP.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I'm glad you guys made it to Chambord. This was one of the main inspirations for the imagineers for Cinderella and the design of WDW's castle.
Originally Posted By Dave >>>but to be honest, it is better to look at than ride.<<< I agree, just sort of picture riding Mulholland Madness with a loop in it. >>>As for Normandy beaches, it is a very humbling experience isn't it? The really sad thing is the cemeteries you saw are only a small sampling<< I was surprised her tour guide didn’t point out Theodore Roosevelt Jr grave site. When we was there our tour guide couldn't wait to show it to us. And I agree the whole beach area had a very somber feeling to it.
Originally Posted By Dave Hey Dave? Picture this... Could you see Alice's Curious Labyrith in the area where Fantasia Gardens is in Disneyland???
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Could be a nice touch Dave, but I would love to see the Beastly Kingdome Labrynth there instead. That, or a true gardens dedicated to Fantasia.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo The Pont du Gard is so cool, considering how old it is. It's amazing. It's so funny though, Sarah was more impressed with Virginia City than many European points of historical importance. Is that a sign of the grass being greener???
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Interesting looking at Monte Carlo. Those buildng you call Condos I would call appartments. What is the difference beween a condo and an appartment?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I am so glad it worked out for you guys to enjoy Bastille Day as your last day! Thanks for sharing and also reminding me why I stay in American hotel chains! I am keen to hear what you thought were the high points, and what were the low? Also, do you plan on ever returning to Europe? Merci au bientot!
Originally Posted By LuLu Thanks for all your comments, DaveW! I could spend hours commenting on my experiences (and maybe I will eventually!). I definitely can't wait to get back to Europe! I've just been bitten by the travel bug in general and am dreaming of all kinds of trips... We didn't miss not going on Indy (or any of the other things we didn't do at the Paris resort). We could have spent at least another day there, but I have no regrets about the many other things in France that we gave priority to! The D-Day experience really impressed me in a way learning about it in school didn't even suggest. Carcassonne was cool but not impressive after our experience at Mont St Michel, which was the highlight of our trip. Actually staying within that old city and watching the tide come in and surround it - an amazing experience! My second favorite experience was the Mediterranean. I'm not even a beach person, but the Med. Sea is incredibly rejuvenative, and it was just a unique experience staying right across from the beach, seeing the incredible colors, finally having sun and warmth after so many dreary days, fireworks, "dress code" LOL, etc... Pont du Gard: amazing how that structure influenced the whole lifestyle, allowing a "life of luxury" so to speak - the public baths, fountains, all that lavish use of water. Actually a result of their inhumane use of slaves, I suppose... Apartments vs condos: in my mind the distinction is that an apt is rented, a condo is owned, with a mortgage payment instead of rent paid every month. Condos are usually a bit nicer - when we have "condo conversions" and they change apts to condos, they usually upgrade and add soundproofing, all new carpets and appliances, that type of thing. So I consider condos to be a cut above apartments (in general) - this may be a US definition. May be different in the UK? Other thoughts: I think we had a good balance of personal time (7 nights) and tour time (14 nights). 23 days is a long vacation, and even tho I didn't want to leave France, I was ready to come home (if that makes sense!). We were lucky to have a great tour group. I don't think I'd consider another tour company for Europe after our great experience with Rick Steves. I suppose due to his philosophy, the tourists come with a slightly different mindset. I *would* consider going on my own, but a tour is the way to go when you want to get around easily, see a lot, and not have to preplan everything. It was also nice for Elise to have others to interact with and not be stuck with Mom alone for 3 weeks - something she was a bit concerned about! Low points: losing the checked bag was the main thing, I would definitely try to do only carry-on from now on (I *always* do, but Elise's carry-on was thicker than BA's allowance and I was afraid they'd make us check it after we boarded). I will never ever put a camera in a checked bag tho, I knew I shouldn't have, but anyway... I guess some little thing had to go wrong! The only other thing, I wished I'd planned our free time in Paris a little better before leaving the US, we would have gotten to do more - maybe! We did do a lot and were pretty pooped already, before the tour started! Anyway, it was a fabulous trip that I'll never forget! I'm really enjoying reliving it thru my photo albums!
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I want to know more about the tour Lulu. I'm struggling on whether to go completely solo to Spain or do a Rick Steves tour and a bit on my own. Was the walking too much, too little? Is he descriptions of strenous and light correct? Did you feel to confined with the group or enjoy the tour guide pace? LOL! Sorry I've been waiting to here about your trip since before you even left.
