What we've been doing on weekends instead of blogging:

We had a busy month of travel since I last wrote.  We traveled to Strasbourg, Paris and Lyon over the past three weekends, and really enjoyed each gorgeous, unique and exhausting city.  

Above shows the kids settled in on the TGV.  We have had comfortable, punctual, trips with our second class tickets that give us a family style booth with a table.  My only complaint is that the trip to Paris is only an hour, so one barely has time to get settled in!

We've used booking.com to get "family" hotel rooms in each city, usually costing about 120-130 euro.  Here is a picture of our favorite, an elegant place in lovely Lyon.

This was the living room with the sofa bed for the kids.  Bobby is at the window looking down at the beautiful street below.


The kids have been great sports.  We have been using the metros but walk many miles too.  I am so grateful that we are here with them at this age (rather than younger).   While they don't jump up and down with excitement at museums, they tolerate and often enjoy them, don't complain very much and help Scott and me appreciate certain aspects of each city.  Like the flood walls on the Seine and the Rhone, and the playgrounds we find everywhere, even in front of Notre Dame.

Lyon

Lyon

Strasbourg

Strasbourg Cathedral details

We saw this guy to the right for sale at a Paris pet-shop.  95 euros!!   Hmm, maybe there is a way I can use my work permit here...


We are spending Easter weekend in Lille, finishing taxes, resting up for our American visitors who are landing across western Europe as we speak!  YIPEE!!

The Costellos are coming to Lille from England mid-week, we meet the Nees in Normandy next weekend, see Peter and Laurie Frenzel in Bruges/Ypres on Monday and then fly to Nice to see Mike and Caroline W. Frenzel in Cannes.  We are very excited to see everyone and pleased they have not let recent events break their stride.

Next blog will be entitled "I get beeped at a lot: My weekday life in Lille"