Moving Day

Apartment Stairs

Paris apartment

Today is moving day.  We leave Paris and head to Brugge by way of Brussels.  

I had to give up on the blog as google did not recognize my sign in and wanted to send me a code via phone call or text message as verification.  I can't get either while in Europe so I'll continue to just email.  To be clear, nobody has to read my emails.  I write them mostly for myself as a journal of our travels.  You will not be tested on any of the material when we get home.

Our window view

We will miss our little apartment that we had in Paris.  I've included some photos.  We were five stories up on the fourth floor.  Floor 0 is the entry level floor.  There is a tiny elevator (comfortable for two people) that we ride when going up.  We usually walked the near 100 steps down when we left as the elevator was so slow. 

The subways in Paris are a good way to get around.  They are clean and seem to be safe.  However, there were times that we were packed in like sardines.  Seriously, if I had lifted both of my feet, I think I would have remained upright because we were squeezed in so tightly.  Also, while there are a few escalators and we even saw an elevator once however the norm is lots and lots of steps going down and coming up out of the subway.  I'm not complaining but even after we were in the subway we could walk half a mile before getting to our track.  The buses seemed to be more senior citizen friendly but slower.

I mentioned that we've tried to embrace the French culture by indulging in pastries, wine, cheese and bread.  I forgot to add that we decided to also take up smoking.  I've heard a lot of good things about it.  
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Kathleen’s Crown

We've arrived in Brugge today.  I'll write more about this city that is busting with old world charm later.  But I'lll sign off with something that Kathleen tweeted today,  " I am a tired New Yorker facing an existential crisis about my career. I was just dragging my roller board suitcase down a cobblestone road in Bruges and had to pull over to let a horse drawn carriage pass. If Hallmark has taught me anything, I will be a princess by Christmas."

Paris Day Three

 Today was another late start day which began with a subway ride to the Montmatre section of Paris.   Sacre Coure is a huge Catholic basilica

Sacre Coure, Paris

built on a hilltop in the Montmatre section of the city.  There has been organized prayer there every day for over 100 years.  The outside is alabaster

Stairs to Sacre Coure

white.  Beside being a spectacular church it is also known for its view of Paris from atop the mountain.  Some people will say the church was built on a mountain some would say hill.  As someone who walked up to it from the subway (300 or more steep cement steps) it's a mountain. The area surrounding the church is filled with cafes, bakeries and gift shops.

After leaving the church we walked to Moulin Rouge, known in its hey day as the place where

Eiffel Tower

the risqué can-can was performed.   It's surrounded by restaurants and seedy smut shops.

From there we were able to take a city bus to the Eiffel Tower.  While we had already seen it from a distance at night, it was even more impressive up close.  We did not take the time nor spend the energy to go up into it.  Nearby we found a nice cafe for a meal.

We got back on a city bus and got off at the

Champs de Elysees

Arc de Triumph.  Having already been to the Arch de Triumph, our goal was to stroll down the Champs de Elysees.  The Christmas lights along the famous boulevard were all lighted and twinkling.  We stopped at a cafe for a round of Chocolate Choud (hot chocolate).   It does seem like the wait staff didn't care how long we lingered even with such a small order.   We made it back to our apartment by about 7:30, in time to prepare for our departure tomorrow.   

Paris Day Two

 

Paris Christmas Market

Notre Dame

After sleeping for 11 hours we started our day with a subway ride to Sainte Chapelle, noted for the its stained glass windows.  The chapel was built to house the religious relics bought by the King and brought to Paris.  The relics are now housed at Notre Dame.  The spectacular windows are why one goes to Sainte Chapelle.

Attached to the Chapel is the Palace of Justice, the French Supreme Court.  Next to that was the Conciergerie, the last place visited by the 2400 people who were beheaded in the French Revolution, including Marie Antoinette. 

We walked from there to Notre Dame and were able to take a few photos of the outside of the church.

 Today our cafe lunch in the Latin Quarter of Paris was three courses for $14  which included baked French onion soup, beef bourguignon and a cheese plate for dessert.  My table mates enjoyed creme brûlée.

Sint Chappele 

Mona Lisa

From there we took a bus to the Louvre.  We spent about 2 hours in the museum as it poured out outside.  We were able to see the Mona Lisa about a half hour before closing.  The museum was even more than we expected.

After the Louvre closed we walked to an outdoor Christmas market.  I enjoyed a mulled wine while the others enjoyed hot chocolate.   We all had crepes.  
   

We limped home from all the walking.  We stopped at a market on the way and we are now sitting at our kitchen table listening to Christmas music, eating cheese and bread and drinking some wine.  We are doing our best to play into the French stereotypes.   

Paris Day One

Our trip has officially begun and we're exhausted!  The flight from Chicago went well but flying all night I've determined is for younger people.  We have basically been awake for two days.  

Arc de' Triomphe

 We made it to our rental at about 12:30 and it's very nice.  It's small, efficient, safe and in an old part of Paris called St. Denis.  We were able to drop our stuff off and leave.    

Gallaries Lafayette

 Our first stop was Galleries Lafayette, think, Macy's in New York.  It is as decked out for Christmas as any store in the world.  It also has access to a rooftop terrace the offers an incredible view of the city.

We love then made our way around the Paris Opera House, and before heading to the Arc de' Triomphe, we ate lunch outside at a cafe which included a cheese course.  

 Once we got to the Arc de' Triomphe we were able to take an elevator to the top instead of the 280 steps.  I have a bad heart you know.  Even then I had to walk 44 steps to the very top, down 44 steps to find Cathy, up 44 steps to find the girls, down 44 steps back to Cathy, then down 44 steps to find the bathroom and up 44 steps to reunite with Cathy and the Girls.  The top of the Arc de'Triomphe offers spectacular views of Paris.  I'll try to include some photos with this post.  Tonight was the lighting of all the Christmas lights along the Champs de' Elysees.  
 

Exhausted, we still managed a river cruise along the Seine.  We saw lighted historic sites including Notre Dame, The Louvre, The Musee D'Orsay and the Eiffel Tower.  Most of these sites we hope to return to for a longer time in the sunlight.   

Today's transportation included Planes, cabs, subways, tour boat, and walking.

Paris Opera House

Eiffel Tower

To Europe we will go

For the first time in a number of years all four of us could travel together so we (Kathleen) put together this trip.  That’s what we are telling people but the truth is it's been 50 years since I took High School French and I thought if I didn't use it soon I might start to forget some of it.   

I'm not sure how much we will blog.  Our itinerary takes us to Paris, Bruge, Amsterdam and London.   Erin will head home after the Bruge leg of the trip.

Home Again

We are home from Ft. McCoy.  After being gone for only three days and nights we arrived home on Saturday night and slept in our own bed for 10 hours.

   Before we write more I have to say I'm a little gun shy about posting photos.  While there we were asked to re-sign a media policy statement as to what we can share and what we can't.  Truthfully, we did not have access to any military secrets or troop movements.  However, it is a military base so we follow the rules.  

 We spent three nights on base at the Wisconsin Military Academy.  The accommodations were comfortable.  Our rooms very much like a simple dorm room.  Each had a single bed, frig, desk and TV.  There were common areas where we could gather.  It also has a cafeteria where we ate dinners. 

   We were very fortunate to have two of our former housemates there with us.  Dennis and Mike are truly very special people. All four of us missed Lori Ann and Savannah. 

   Many of the Afghan guests have left.  We were never told about numbers but the Green Bay Press-Gazette said there were fewer than 8,000 still on the base, down from 13,000.   

   All volunteers on the base had to wear masks which is a change in policy.  

   As we had heard before going, there is some daily closing of children's centers due to a lack of volunteers.  This is exceptionally sad as now that winter is here the children really need a place to go.  

   We continued to be inspired by the volunteers we met.  There was a large group of 17 from Woodland Church in Stevens Point, a group of 8 mostly from Nebraska that were associated with a Franciscan Order, a group of Mennonites, some Protestant groups and an LDS volunteer all pulling together to bring comfort to displaced children.  

   We were exceptionally inspired on Thursday when a drum showed up in the center (think Ricky Ricardo playing BaBaLoo).  An Afghan man from the community heard it and came into the center.  He asked to play the drum which he did very well  His singing ability was just as good. The reaction from the children was immediate.  Some sang along and some danced.  We watched.

   The children were with are simply children.  They need attention, want to be noticed and they need something to do. There is a LaCrosse librarian who comes to the centers on a regular basis who has the ability to completely grab and hold the Childrens' attention.  There seemed to be no language barrier when singing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" or when dancing to the "Hokey Pokey".  The resiliency of these children is amazing.   

 

   We were comforted by the knowledge that the Afghan guests' physical needs are being met.  Again from the Press-Gazette article, all have been given coats, hats, gloves and scarfs.  Their food is provided and the barracks, while not ideal provide safe, temporary housing until they are able to be resettled.  When driving down the street in the early evening we couldn't help but see the sheets hanging in the barracks that serve as walls to subdivide their space.  

   There are now more recreation centers opened which offer more "gym-like" activities.  There are also more learning opportunities for all ages since we were last there.   

   As winter moves in (snowing today) we know it will be harder for the Afghan guests.  Please pray and take action so that they may be all resettled soon in areas that will welcome and support these families.

   Thanks for letting us share our experiences with you. 

   Ken and Cathy 

McCoy 2.0

If you think you heard the last from us about Fort McCoy you would be wrong.  We both knew we wanted to make another trip to Fort McCoy, even more so when we heard from a friend that one of the three centers on the base was not able to open on a number of occasions because there were not enough volunteers. After a couple of calls and a few emails we worked it out that two of our four housemates from our first trip will be there during the same three days.  

 On this trip we will be bringing coats, toys, socks, gloves and scarfs.  So many people were polite enough to listen to our stories and without any prompting provided us with items to distribute to the Afghan guests.

 The Green Bay Diocese is no longer sending volunteers.  They have instead decided to focus their resources on resettling those Afghans moving out of Fort McCoy.  Because of this we won’t have the luxury of staying in the rental house and will instead be staying at the Wisconsin Military Academy on the base.  The rooms are austere and have only one single bed per room so we’ll have separate rooms and share a bathroom as will our former housemates.  

We’ll post again when we can.