More of My Travels...we arrive in Berlin...for longer than planned

We land...it's great, the Berlin Hilton is great, all that we need and a breakfast every morning too! They totally cater to Princess Piper, and that is, indeed, what they called her! Her 'favorite gal' was our waiter in the lobby lounge, and she helped (with Brad's co worker Paul) Piper find a new favorite drink, it's apple juice and sparking water. This was mine:

The manager came over the first night and brought her a Hilton Backpack and bear, and today at the pool, the (super cute) pool boy brought her two Hilton Ducks and a kick board. (Bears will be a theme in this town and during this part of the trip)



Side note: Piper is addicted to The Little Mermaid and today just up and dove in the pool, like Ariel. I would like to take credit but sadly it's from the movie. Nonetheless, the girlie now dives in and thinks she can swim like a mermaid. I am so proud.

First day on our own, Brad is off to work, so Piper and I grab a cab and head to The Kurfurstendam area of the former West Berlin. We are staying in the Former East Berlin, and you can still tell the difference. We go to the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedachtniskirche. Which is two very different churches. One is very old (1895)and was hit by bombs on November 23, 1943. Built next to and around it (the church still stands and is amazing, an open empty hole of a church that is still beautiful) is a grey octagonal church that has 33 thousand blue stained glass squares that make the entire church glow in different hues of blue. It has an amazing sounding organ and the two next to each other are like night and day. Something else that was unusual around it was the souviner shops that looked like a bavarian villiage right out the door of both churches along with the currywurst stands. Odd yet totally normal I guess.







Then we head down the street to KaDeWe. This is THE LARGEST DEPARTMENT STORE in all of EUROPE! It was great! We walk in and they are having a private reception for some sort of 300 year old anniversary of china,from China. They have tv cameras and the model whose face is in all the ads is standing there in a long black shimmery dress. They have this huge budda that is nodding it's head and sticking out his tongue, then they have smaller ones you can purchase! We made our way up to the food market on the top floor. It was huge, it was impressive but I have come to the conclusion that nothing tops Harrods in London. I will give the best chocolate selection nod to KaDeWa though, it was impressive and we 'donated' to the store. We also discovered a new Princess, her name is Lillefee, she rocks! We are now the owners of a lot of Princess Lillefee. http://www.lillifee.com/en/ check her out. So this is where we really discover all the bears around town, here is the first one, in front of the Hertz car rental:


We get back and meet up with Brad, and then we walk over to Brandenburg Gate. So much history with this, of the last four gates. It is at Pariser Platz and the US Embassy is there, as is the Russian (which has Aeroflot airlines attached to it) Embassy and of course a Starbucks:
This is also where the wall formerly stood and there is a lot to see and take in there.



Also in that general area is a very moving memorial to all the Jews that were murdered during the Holocaust. It is apparently somewhat controversial and it takes up a whole city block but I found it facinating.
This is about all I am going to post for now. We must hit the road to Madrid, so stay tuned because about the time we are doing all of the above, the volcano in Iceland blew and all flights were cancelled. We were able to enjoy a full week in Berlin so we did quite a bit and could have/should have done more but the last two days of the trip were so warm it was easier to relax, like this, photo by Piper. Brad and me at Alexanderplatz in beach chairs:

My Travels...through more of Europe than I planned! Paris...

I thought I would blog more than I did at the beginning of this trip, but now I find myself with a few extra days on my hands as we are stranded in Berlin due to the Iceland volcanic eruptions. After numerous calls to Air France and no response, not even a response to my email (and they say they promise to respond with in 24 hours, pleeze!) we have had to make our own plans, they involve a BMW S Series, yea, and driving 22 plus hours, boo, to Madrid, yea!! I have always wanted to see part of Spain, so now we will, even though it will be quick. We are not set to fly home on Thursday out of Madrid. Lots of people have the same idea so I hope the roads aren't too busy. As of today they've been testing the skies with flights and then going over the plane to see if there is damage, there is not but who knows what the politicians, meterologists and all others in the EU are thinking?? So, what have we done? Make the best of it! The Hilton is fabulous, the staff is great, Piper has been able to wear her new pink sparkle high heels from Paris every night to dinner and has loved the attention.
So, after our first day in Paris, where we walked the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, had a drink in a cafe and then went up in the Arc de Triomphe; we were done! It was such a beautiful view from the top of the Arc, I didn't think it would get better. Oh and the first people on the street that spoke to me asked if I spoke English, and they asked in French! Turns out they were from New Jersey there to run in the Paris Marathon!!! Too funny. When we got down from the top they were having the evening ceremony preformed each night at 6:30 PM by retired vetrans honoring those that have fallen and keeping the eternal flame burning. It was really impressive.
Day 2 started out with us walking into a fabulous neighborhood where our cousin Ryan and Catherine lived for a while, we went to their favorite bakery and did our best to order crossiants and coffee and Brad managed to even get cold milk for Piper. After that it was onto the Eiffel Tower and WOW it is impressive! They have vendors at the bottom that sell mini towers, scarves and postcards it is crazy, and all the ques to get up into the tower! We had reservations for lunch on the second level at Jules Verne an exspensive and totally delicious restaurant by Alain Ducasse, worth every euro we spent and we spent A LOT there!



http://www.lejulesverne-paris.com





After that we decided to skip the Louvre and instead go to the Musee d'Orsay, it was the old train station that was originally inagurated in 1900 and operated for 39 years until electric trains started running. It is the site of one of the largest collections of impressionist art and I loved it all! I think I walked around with my mouth hanging open seeing all these truely beautiful works of art. It was my favorite museum in all of Europe...so far. Piper totally fell asleep so Brad and I enjoyed a wonderful walk across the bridge and up to see the Louvre and then down through the Jardin du Tulleries and past the Place de la Concorde, where Marie Antoinette was beheaded. (advice here, don't start a revolution, uprising or large scale protest with the French, they get pissed). We had delicious crepes as we walked back along the Champs. And after such a wonderful meal (the best I have had in Europe on this trip), we were done!


Day three, it was Sunday, so we went to church of course! We rode the subway (really easy and incredibley efficient) over to Notre Dame. We have been in beautiful churches but none compare to Notre Dame. It is huge and amazing. We walked all the way around the inside and just stared at the stained glass and listened to the organs play and enjoyed the mass in French.









From there we went to the Conceiergerie, which was basically the prision where if you were well off you could spend your last days in a cot, or if you were poor, you slept on the floor with straw and a bunch of other guys, not washing or anything like that. Marie Antionette also spent her last days there before she was taken over to the Concorde. It's a facinating place, Piper did not like it. Then we went to the Sainte-Chapelle which is where the famous Rose window is, and is currently covered being cleaned. The place is quite beautiful and there are chairs all around the room to sit and wait for light to shine through and see the colors dazzle. Brad said it gave him the creeps, so we were off to a boat tour of the Seine River. That was pretty cool and a nice chance to sit for the adults, Princess Piper has enjoyed seeing Paris and Berlin via a stroller with a cover, such the life. The river tour took us up and down and highlighted all the fabulous sites and a great history of the bridges, my favorite being Alexandre the III. It is ornate and gold and very distinctive. Then we started shopping. We had spent the day in the Latin Quarter and Island, so we walked up to Rue de Rivoli and picked up a few things along the way back to the hotel, including more yummy crepes.
Day four and Brad is off to work, Piper and I take the subway back down to the Latin Quarter and St. Germain des Pres, where we went to the Musee National du Moyen-Age-Thermes de Cluny.


It was a fancinating medieval collection spanning Paris history for 15 centuries, including works from the Chapel of the monks de Cluny. There was stained glass, the Lady and the Unicorn Tapestry that tells of the 5 senses and then a sixth, Love. It was beautiful, there were all sorts of bits and pieces of Roman and Greek artifacts and a 16th century alter depicting three carved scenes including one of the Last Supper. Oh and two of the Pope's rings, they were HUGE, try double the size of a Super Bowl Champion ring. Piper and I went down St. Germain from there, just walking andlooking and admiring the architechure and stores, until we got to Cafe Les Flores next to Cafe Les Deux Magots both famous for the writers, painters and artists that used to hang out there.





We had a little coffee and sweets then walked more streets and had a great time. We stopped at the Grand Palace, which was grandly empty as it under goes restoration, walked up George V street and then we took the afternoon off and had cheese, wine (for me, she got ginger ale) and some quiet time in the hotel lobby.
Day Five, Brad is off to work at the airport and we are free to GO SHOPPING!! We started by walking down Rue de St. Honore, it was a great street with designers stores at every corner and when we got to our destination, it was just like we had imagined Paris to be, there was a flower shop, the Opera and the little square was called Place de la Madeleine, with the church in the middle. We ate at Fauchon's a beautiful food market that also serves pasteries and coffee, yummy! After that off to the largest Department Store in all of Paris, the Galeries Lafeyette.


The food market was good, but did not rival Harrods and even after seeing KaDeWa in Berlin, Harrods is still tops and over the top! This is the store where we 1. had lunch at McDonalds and 2. bought Piper her first pair of heels. So, all in all a great trip of shopping. I recommend both Fauchon's and the Galeries Lafeyette. Walking back we took Blvd. Haussmann, and saw a wonderful church St. Augustine and walked through it. Then it was off to the airport and onto Berlin...whew what a trip through Paris!

Paris France

Hey, I am in Paris, I love it, so far. Will do a full story later, when I am not beat from the flight and a day of walking around. (okay and a couple glasses of wine). Missing the Masters golf though, but this is worth it. Beautiful day and the most amazing view from the Arc de Triumphe!! Can't wait to see the Arc from the Eiffel Tower tomorrow. Interesting observations regarding cars and people on the very busy street Avenue des Champs-Elysees; unlike NYC the cars don't constantly honk and there isn't continual yelling at people while driving. It was really quiet. Yet, people seem to think they really do have the right away and just walk out regardless of the little green man blinking the OK or not, they are INSANE. New Yorkers edge out but certainly don't randomly or routinely just walk out, even with cars coming right at them. Granted I doubt they'd be killed, I mean a lot of the cars driving around made the US Smart Cars look like SUV's!

Oh Right, totally forgot about Bon Jovi

So...my 40ish generation that lived through acid washed jeans, leg warmers over high top (preferably LA Gear) shoes, puffy Princess Diana shoulders on all our shirts and the big haired perms (that are thankfully now back only in New Jersey) all joined together to see Bon Jovi on Monday night. They were awesome and it was a great night. Beth of Team Wade Advice joined us as did Mrs. Lesser. Fun night and great food and drinks!

Cherry Blossoms

Here are a few pictures from yesterday on the Mall. The Cherry Blossoms are peaking, and it is beautiful. Rad Brad said he won't drive us around the tidal basin on Sunday, something about huge crowds and all...figures! Anyhow the ones in the Quad at UW are a lot more pink, I could be a bit biased about it but I think they are prettier than the mostly white in DC. Either way, it is finally spring! Following Easter I will post the results from the annual adult mini liquor bottle hunt. Always a good time, especially with the swap of bottle afterwards!

Happy Pappy Strikes Again

Can it get any better than this? Happy Pappy gives another quote. Please remember this is comparing my swim practice attendance to some sort of free floating particle in space and a mutual friend that has made a few appearances at the pool as well:

"Guess who was at swimming this morning - Mei Mei. She said she has been 4 or 5 times lately. It was the first I had seen her. Had you seen her? I am guessing not. It is sorta like quantum physics in that at any given moment in time it is impossible to tell exactly where a specific particle is. One can only give percentage chances of location, etc. I think this is a useful construct to frame the difficulty in determining whether you will be at the pool on any given morning, thus making the odds of you being there when Mei Mei is there somewhat remote. (somewhat? give me a break!) HA!, didn't think I could tie all that together, did you???"

New: Quotes from the Happy Pappy

I have a new column to add, it, like the advice column from Team Wade Team Captain, Beth, will be sporatic as it happens. Today's quote, from Happy Pappy (he can also go by Sport) goes like this, for every team that wins at the buzzer there is a team that loses at the buzzer - you can write that down as fact.

This,of course, is in regards to the firt weekend of March Madness NCAA Basketball. How can you not agree with a statement like that? Gotta love ol' Happy Pappy.