Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hi folks, We returned 1am yesterday from our trip to France (inc DLP of course). I don't know if anyone is interested, but I thought I would share. We departed our house at about 8:00 and drove down to the Channel Tunnel, a pretty smooth uneventful 3 hours and then we were able to take an earlier train through the tunnel. Loaded the cars on and off we went, 35 mins later we were in France, and off to our first stop in Arras (about halfway between Calais and DLP). We had stopped here before when Mikey was a baby, but never really looked around. This day we explored. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express for about 70 euro, £56, $112 for bed, breakfast and parking. Not bad and a great location (me missed Metallica's concert in the Grand Place by a few days :-( ) We explored, shopped a little and then went into the wonderful caves under the town. A facinating tour presented in French in English. It rained a little, but not too bad. We then had a a lovely dinner in a Medeterranian restaurant and an early night. we had hoped to go to Parc Asterix the next day. Pics: <a href="http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/Slideshow.jsp?&localeid=en_GB" target="_blank">http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/...id=en_GB</a>
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Ooops, please try this one: <a href="http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=56a8td25.368rq0drd&Uy=2qwwg6&Ux=0&localeid=en_GB" target="_blank">http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/...id=en_GB</a>
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE THESE ONES ARE BEAUTIES....even indy made it to france....your children are so much more Beautiful than the Great Photos, you have a Wonderful Family, you have been Truly Blessed...Thank you once again for sharing ,these pictures are just Wonderful, hugs fronm the Tink-Mobile Family...oxox looks like you had a Smashing good time...: ) : ) : ) : )
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thank you Tink-Mobile, I am indeed truly blessed. More pics to come. It just takes a while to do this.
Originally Posted By Rsey103 >>We departed our house at about 8:00 and drove down to the Channel Tunnel, a pretty smooth uneventful 3 hours and then we were able to take an earlier train through the tunnel. Loaded the cars on and off we went, 35 mins later we were in France, and off to our first stop in Arras (about halfway between Calais and DLP).<< This is something I would like to do---take that big yellow train from London, through the tunnel, and over into France. Sounds like you didn't go to London, but boarded the train (EuroStar?) near the tunnel? Does the London train stop to make pickups before going into the tunnel? No automobile traffic in the tunnel? Trains only? I'll come back for the photos later....
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hi RSEY103 - there are a few ways to go through the tunnel. Either take the Eurostar which is a high speed train from St Pancras and it stops at Ashford in Kent. Or you can take the Euortunnel which we did. You drive to Folkestone and drive the car onto the train. You then drive out the other end in Calais (about 190 miles north of DLP).
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove Enjoying this immensely, Dave. Thanks for taking the time to put this together for us. Your children are breathtaking (as is the architecture and explanations). Thanks! xoxo
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thanks STIL. I am thankful for the people that take the time to read, makes it worth while.
Originally Posted By lesmisfan such beautful photos. and my how your kids have grown since i last saw them!
Originally Posted By Mr X Great pics and report, thanks. And your family is absolutely gorgeous! But, where's Dad? Behind the camera as usual like myself, right? (you need to hand that camera off sometimes!)
Originally Posted By sarahwithbaloo There are some pics of Dave in the trip (unless he decided not topost them)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thanks guys. actually Sarah, there weren't that many, unless you count the videos which I may put on youtube.
Originally Posted By Tinkeroon Gosh Dave, the kids...especially Jess, have grown so much in such a short time! She looks so much older than she did when last we saw you all. It wasn't very long ago!! Can't believe the difference. Just love the architecture there in France. Our daughter has been to France, Belgium and Holland and took lots of photos that are very reminiscent of yours. Isn't it fabulous?! Well, of course, living in England you may see similar things all the time. Never having been there or any of the above places, I wouldn't know what England looks like other than what I see on t.v. but if it looks anything at all like any of your photos then WOW, you are lucky to be around so much history. While California has it's own history it isn't quite like THAT! I think it's just fascinating to see. Sounds like you all had a great time and I'm so glad to hear it! Welcome Home!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thanks tinkeroon. I remember as a kid when I moved to England, I would go to the library and they literly had books older than our country, it blew me away. I have lived in houses built in the 18th century, and worked in some buildings over 1000 years old. It is pretty awesome (though typically the Brits sometimes forget how much so). what is nice is Sarah is still impressed with places like Virginia City or the Missions because they are sooooo different to europe (well ok, the Missions look like less ornate buildings in Spain). It is nice to appreciate both histories, and I hope I raise my kids to do so.
Originally Posted By Tinkeroon Being such world travelors...the kids should do well in history in school! Having seen so much of it first hand rather than just reading about it in a textbook.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I wish. Mikey did well in his report card at the end of term, but only got a moderate grade for world awareness. I keeled over and asked the teacher why, what could we do - (the little cuss has been to the Us twice, and 7 countries in europe by age 5). the answer was that he did not know much about the British seaside. Ironic since he has travelled more extensively in the UK than his own teacher, it's just the seaside is not a keen interest of his!
Originally Posted By Mr X ***the answer was that he did not know much about the British seaside*** Isn't the teacher supposed to TEACH about that stuff first?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmmm, maybe. I think he did well considering his report card was only 12 weeks after he started school!
