Paris

Caught the train from Amiens,  our friend Chantal said Au revoir.  She was an unbelievable hostess, her cat Gypsy even slept on our bed. Checked into Berkeley hotel, in Paris, thenhalf an hour walk to the Eiffel tower. Picked up hop on hop off tour bus and in two and half hours saw all the main Centre city historic landmarks.  Walked back to hotel, gin and tonic and a Pakistan curry.  Good night sleep. Up early to catch 7.30am,  five hour train trip to Bayonne, very comfortable and smooth, interesting countryside and lots of vineyards in Bordeaux. Plat du Jour, beer/red wine while waiting for train to Cambo les Bains.

Aachan - Dinant - Amiens

Ian did the tour of Charlemagne's dome chapel.  The tour was in german but got to see and touch Charlemagne's throne and the golden casket where his bones are.  Loma and Chantal window shopped.  Cuppa and cake in a german tea room, delicious cakes. Drove to Dinant on the river Meuse,  another historic town with strategic bridge and a fort overlooking the town.  Also this is where Antoine Sax is from; the bridge was decorated with colorful saxaphones. Drove back to Amiens through beautiful villages each with church spire which you could see for miles. The farmland was very productive.  Back through Albert and battlefields as the sun was setting.  Thepviel silhouette in the distance very eerie.  Yesterday tidied up a few loose ends, Ian had haircut,  walked through the mall/shopping area, very pleasant.  Another beautiful dinner followed  by petit fours and chocolate.  Off to Paris this morning by train.

Photos from today

Part of St Mary's Cathedral,  Aachen which Charlemagne designed.  We visited Lochnagar Crater Memorial near Albert, just out of Amiens.  Attaching two photos.  Had a delicious thai meal tonight.

Aachen

Took Chantal 4 hours to drive via Belgium in pouring rain. I complimented Chantal on her driving.  Checked into hotel 2pm,  quaint family,  host very Germany. Greek salad on our way to Aachan cathedral.  It is one of christendoms most important place of pilgrimage on a particular with Jerusalem,  Rome and the Compestella. Charlemagnes mortal remains are kept in a shrine, he was canonised in 1165 after dying in 814. We are finding Aachan very different to Amiens. We hope it stops raining tomorrow.  Ian going to go on a tour to see Charlemagnes throne, us 2 ladies to  check out the shops.

England - France

Caught bus from London to Canterbury.  Met our french hostess Chantal.  We went to the cathedral while Chantal shopped.  Ferry from Dover to Calais,  then 2 hour drive to Amiens.  Climbed into bed at 1am and woke at 10.30am.    After a french breakfast,  croissant,  baguette,  pain Au  chocolate and pain Au raison;  Chantal took us on a walking tour of Amiens including the magnificent Amiens cathedral.  On Sunday we went to Compiègne where the treaty of Versailles was signed on 11th November 1918.  Hitler had the original carriage destroyed and the one on display is an exact replica.  We also walked around  Pierrefonds Castle,  built in the middle ages.  Today it has been raining,  a good chance to recharge the batteries.  Tomorrow we are off to Aachan in Germany,  capital of Charlemagne the Great.

England

Our visit has been very relaxing.  Trip to Dagnall where Ian worked on a farm 39 years ago. Nothing stays the same,  small village,  post office shop closed,  as is one of the two pubs.   The Red Lion only opened after 5pm;  bit of a let down.  Train back to London and walked from Trafalgar Square to Whitehall,  Big Ben then a couple of hours in Westminster Abbey.  Yesterday Bruce drove us to the south coast, Chichester area where we caught up with Lynne and met Cathy.  Fish and chips for lunch.  Meeting Chantal in Canterbury today then off to France.

Goodbye New York

We had a short list of things to see in New York and did them all. Hotel was perfect, clean and safe and ssooo convenient.  Flew out 7.30pm and arrived 7.30am, Bruce was there to meet us.  Home for cuppa. Bruce took us to Richmond Park,  to see King Henrys mound where you can see Windsor Castle in one direction and St Pauls cathedral in the opposite direction.
Short sleep followed by a gin and Tonic before a delicious dinner cooked  by Ian

Meeting Emma

Four hours from touchdown we walked in hotel door. Next day Empire State building,  time square and lunch with Ian's old boss. Saturday morning watched All Blacks play Wallabies live in Australian Pub.  Statue of Liberty cruise, Wall Street and 9/11 Memorial.  Emma surprised us, Matt drove her from London,  Ontario.  Left them at midnight as they were going up Empire State building for night view.   Emma looks well and seems very happy, returning home September.

Walking Tour of French Quarter

Quick coffee before starting walking tour at 10am.  Guide was excellent.   Tour went for 2 hours;  she explained about the Mississippi River and the history of New Orleans as well as hurricane Katrina.   The French Quarter is only 6 blocks by 13 blocks.  She explained the architecture of the French,  Spanish,  and the sugar and cotton barons.  Lunch at Antoine's,  oysters, crab meat, pecan pie and a couple of cocktails each.  Back to hotel for nanny nap.

Summary of Grand Canyon

We already have done a blog of the Grand Canyon but it would not publish so briefly.......
Away from the hotel 18 hours. Took in the Hoover Dam, helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon,  amazingly incredible.  Words can't describe ones feeling.
We feel very privileged having this experience.   One of nature's wonders.

Cirque du Soliel

A more relaxing day after seeing the Grand Canyon.  Explored the Luxor, walked the strip, salad and guinness at Irish Bar and took in a show. Cirque du Soleil Zarkana wonderful.  Walked back along the strip to our hotel.  Very noisy throngs of people.  Packed our bags for early (6am) checkout.

Queen Mary, Long Beach

Another busy day, caught train to downtown area. Fish  and chips with a guinness in an Irish pub.  Back to train (day pass $5) to Long Beach,  passed through huge tracks of industrial areas.  LA is so vast it's hard to comprehend coming from Wellington.  Makes us realise we live in a paradise. The people are friendly and open to us and helpful.  Eventually arrived at the Queen Mary,  beautiful old vessel, it is amazing.  Guided tour with former ship's captain; he explained the complete history from laying the keel in Glasgow to its present berth here in Long Beach,  including her war years transporting thousands of GI's to UK.  The splendor and opulence of everything of how the wealthy traveled was incredible.  We would recommend a visit to anyone coming to LA.
Back to hotel late,  managed to do our laundry.

Visit to Getty museum

Left the hotel at 0800, took us 2 hours in public transport, 3 different buses to arrive at the Getty Centre and cost 65cents as we are seniors. Being on a local bus with all sorts of characters, hispanics, old hippies homeless who the driver didn't charge; interesting.  The Getty itself was incredible. We particularly enjoyed the vast section by the old masters.  Getty did not believe there were any worthwhile painters after 1900. We had a quicker trip back to hotel, express bus to the airport along the 405.  We both slept well last night. Attaching photo from yesterday's blog. Van Gogh Irises, Ian and tapestry of Don Quixote and Sanchez, and us with John Paul Getty.

LA Flight

Arrived in LA shattered. The 380 airbus fantastic, very smooth.  Checked into hotel and had 5 hour sleep.  Had beer and club sandwich in bar. 
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