September 3-5, 2006
Okay that title
is a bit cheesy... but it's hard to resist (smile).
CambridgeWe arrived in Stansted in the mid morning and were due to depart at 5 pm. It didn't make sense to drive 4 hours home and back so... we decided to catch a train to Cambridge. It was a place that Bryce has visited but not the rest of us.
The goal was to catch a punt ride along for a scenic tour of the univeristy. It was a very beautiful but blustery day. We were thankful that we weren't the ones having to push the boat!
But Jeanne chose a bad seat in front of the boat operator. The little bit of splashing wasn't bad... but halfway through the tour she got beaned in the head with the pole as it slipped out of his hands. It was quite painful! The lump was still tender to touch about two weeks after. So word of warning to others... avoid that seat!
Christina really enjoyed looking at the duck and the water pass by.
Another bridge of sighs
We caught the train back to Stansted and waited to meet Scott. The girls ran and leaped on him giving him hugs and kisses. And then we were off to Southern France.
We didn't arrive until evening, rented a car and checked into a super- cheap but not- so- nice hotel. Well, we only had to sleep there two nights. With our size group we technically need 3 rooms as most European hotels only sleep 2, and then Bryce would need to sleep alone. This one had a bunk bed for the third.
A surprise greeted us also when we checked into the hotel when we finally ran into a french-person who was nice when they didn't have to be! Actually, there were quite a few more nice people this trip than we've experienced in the past...so maybe rudeness is a Paris thing?
Monaco
The first day in France we had a goal to see Monaco and Cannes beach. Since we had landed in the Marsailles area it was about a 3 hour drive. But we were able to drive through the TINY country of Monaco.
The road system is incredible! Cliff top roads dive down into numerous tunnels through the cliffs. When we finally emerged from the tall buildings we were in one of the ports full of sailboats and enormous yachts.
We thought this luxurious Mi6 yacht was funny...
We decided to have some of Monaco's Pizza (play on Monical's Pizza back home)...but it wasn't nearly as good as back home.
Then we got out for a walk among the rich and famous. We didn't see any famous people that we knew, but we definitely saw some of the rich persons play toys. WOW! Christina decided that she wanted to buy one of those. And Madison promised when she got rich she would sponsor our whole family on a yacht vacation in the Mediterranean. This all sparked a very interesting conversation on wealth and trappings of money. It really was a great place to visit that we could have easily spent more time there... but it was off to the BEACH!
Cannes (pronounced CAN)
We drove up and down trying to find a parking place. When we finally located a great place overlooking the beach we discovered just how windy it was. Umbrellas were flying and sand was blasting us. But worst yet, there weren't
ANY public toilets. So we decided to continue looking. We finally found an underground parking place next to a park that we were certain would contain a toilet somewhere. And we found one. In fact it was so interesting, that a description is due. Although we unfortunately didn't get a photograph of it. It was a huge round cylinder. The sliding door opened and the exiting people barred us from entering giving all sorts of gestures. Come to find out that the door closes and the entire room is washed with disinfectant. So sneaking in after someone is NOT a good idea. After a two minute cleaning cycle money is allowed to be inserted and the door slides open to a nice clean toilet.
But it was time to get to the beach! Bryce has been looking forward to this for the entire summer! The wind was still quite strong, but we found a bit of a sheltered spot at the end of the beach.
The girls just loved playing in the waves and sand!
Bryce swam out to the pontoon which against the windy waves was harder than it looks!
Pont Du Gard
The following day was the highlight of our trip... Pont Du Gard near Nimes, France. Our first knowledge of the place came from (sad to say) the movie "Mr. Bean's Holiday". It is where upon a wrong number call that a man jumped from the three story aquaduct.
The goal was to climb around and hopefully float under the enormous bridge. First came the climbing part. As many of you know our kids just love to play in water and climb things. So we began with the water and catching frogs.
We then went on to climb under and around the rocks at the base of the bridge. We found out that the lower portion where we walk across is new-build and helps make a broader base for the aquaduct. The backside is the original structure.
Through the end of August they allow tours through the aquaduct on the third story... but we were there the beginning of September and it was chained up. Sigh.
Here is a video of the tunnel that the aquaduct took on the other side of the hill.
We located a company that rents canoes for the day and drove upriver to Collais . Usually they are booked solid and don't allow walk-ins, but since we were there in the last two weeks of their season, they had availability. We rented the canoes and floated downstream. Yea!
Finally we found a perfect place for our picnic lunch along the river. It was difficult to dock the boats, but the jumping off the rocks was great! Cold water for certain, but lots of fun!
Bryce and Scott Braving the cold water for a dip...
And Madison couldn't be counted out on the fun either...
After about 1 1/2 hours of paddleing and playing we came to the aquaduct. It was exhilirating to float under!
Jeanne took a chance that we weren't going to tip and took pictures. A bit scary with a digital camera... and definitely made her wish for a new waterproof camera! But no accidents thankfully and some great pictures...
From the underside of the bridge...too cool!
These pictures were all thanks to the steady rowing of Bryce!
It was a fantastic day!
After a rocky part (that Bryce and Jeanne slid through without being grounded...the only ones of many who attempted...brag.brag.brag.) we noticed that there was a large plane that was circling the area. It seemed odd. But then we saw that it was actually a firefighting plane that was dumping red liquid on a fire that was burning just around the bend. And we had to canoe past the fire!
It definitely added to some of the excitement of the day! But we made it past the falling ashes and smoke to our pick up point.
Sore and suntanned, we all had a GREAT time!
They were armed with an invisible ink revealing marker and a mission commander (adult) to help put word cards together in a sentence that told where to find the next clue. They walked to the town telephone booth, our house mailbox, the attic, behind the wheelie bins, inside a cannon lawn ornament, and in a locked treasure chest to make it to their goal...
