In London Heathrow Airport

Jonathan "Is there an airport in this shopping mall?"

Sheryl "I don't know but they sure know marketing, after the three levels of security you land in a huge liquor store."

Jonathan "Oh look, and they have a bar in here."

Sheryl "wow, and free samples... Go for the bar go for the bar!"

Jonathan "You are your mothers daughter."

FW:

We started the day with a bìke tour.
Then found a pub for lunch, and went to the theater this evening.
We've spent more in 2.5 days in London than we did in 2 weeks in France. We wish we could stay for a few more days... But I can't wait to snuggle the new baby!
-S

FW:

We missed our train to London yesterday so we were stuck in the train station for a few hours... grr. But last night we saw 'Wìcked' and it was amazing!

Today we went to Westminster Abby. It's more of an inside grave yard than anything. We went to communion there and it was weird recieving Christ while standing on a grave.
We also had afternoon tea, it was posh. And we did a little shopping. The exchange rate is killing us but we're only here for a few days so we are just getting over it.

I hope every one is well. Love,
-Sheryl

What I'll miss about Paris...

We're very sad to go today. Breakfast consists of a chocolaté croissant covered with powered sugar and almonds. YUM!!!

This is our last evening in Paris. Yesterday we went to a medieval museum, Musee Cluny.

And we went to mass at Notre Dame.

Here in Paris I've discovered my new favorite food... nutella crepes!

Today we slept in a bit and then headed out to see the Eiffel tower. It took us forever to get there and it looked exactly the same as it did the last time I saw it.

We've done a little shopping and had lots of coffee. And I don't know where people get that the French are rude to Americans, everyone here has been extremely helpful and kind. This keyboard is a pain, the letters are in the wrong places which makes typing slow. That's about all I can find to complain about.

In the morning we head to London for a few days before returning home. We have tickets to see "Wicked" a musical about how the wicked witch of the west (from the wizard of OZ) became the wicked witch. We are planning on having high tea at some point, seeing Buckingham palace, Westminster abby, and possibly the London zoo. It all depends on how tired we are and what all we can cram into 3 days.

- Sheryl

PBP Pictures

Marlene ready to start.



Becky coming into a control!



Marlene climbing into the control!



She's still able to fake a smile and look good, even when she's miserable :-)



Control at Brest, the 1/2 way mark.



Sheryl soaking swolen feet in the cold ocean at Brest.



Crew on day 4, all very tired!

In the Suburbs

Now the vacation begins! Yesterday we picked Marlene up from the hotel and bid farewell to the crazy bike people and Marlene and I spent a few hours at a spa. It was lovely! We had massages and floated in hot water for a while, it felt so good after spending 4 days crammed into a car.

Last night we went up stairs and had appetizers with the neighbors who are wonderful. We gave the kids our leftover glow sticks and Marlene still had some stickers that she gave them, they were thrilled.

This morning the market came to the street. We literally had to walk out the front door to shop. It totally rocked. They had all kids of clothes, shoes, & kitchen things, not to mention all the fresh meats, vegetables, & fruits you can imagine. We got a fresh roasted chicken, although it wasn't nearly as fresh as the turkey we saw during PBP, it was still clucking! Really.

We got Marlene off to London and walked around down town a bit. Both Jonathan & Marlene drove in down town Paris which is one of those things that you should avoid at all costs, but they both did great and we're all still alive. Everyone here has been totally great. We haven't had anyone be rude to us and what little broken French we can speak. Jonathan is picking it up quick and now that we don't have Marlene here to speak it for us we're braving it our selves. The hard part is how things look and how they sound are completely different, it's like they do that just to mess with us.

Other than that though the French really do have some things here that make so much sense. Like round-a-bouts. If you miss your turn you just drive in a circle and you get another chance. And the toilets have a half flush button to save water. And public transportation, you don't even have to own a car. The rental car had a navigation system in it that we figured out, even though we speak different languages, and it made finding the house so easy. It also helped to find the actual controls during PBP because we had a street name but that was it.

Time to rest a bit before dinner.