Sneaky American Tourists Strike Again...at the Eiffel Tower!

5/13/2014

Bonjour mes amis!

It feels so nice to be back and sharing with you again.  I really need this today.  It's been a full day of "putting fires out", and I'm happy to relax a few minutes and think on happy times.

I'm happy to be very hopeful for another visit to Orléans, France this Summer.  In fact, when Dr. J got invited back by some Colleagues, I immediately told him that I would be going with him, because "I have people now"!  Yes, I do.  I have friends I've stayed in touch with...and can't wait to see again!

Infact, I even got a virtual cake on my birthday in April, from my dear friend, Eva who still lives in France!  Want to see it?

She can send me a Virtual Cake anytime!  It's Eye-Candy for me, with No Calories!

Today, I have an episode of Sneaky American Tourists for you.  It's from last June when my Dad was visiting us a second time in Orléans, France during our year-long stay.  My Dad and I purchased tickets online, in advance, to go to the Eiffel Tower, and then we got on the train, and headed to Paris.

Since the Eiffel Tower was our plan for the afternoon, we decided to just pick up some baguette sandwiches and drinks for lunch, and find a place to sit and eat, before our allotted time at the Eiffel Tower.  There's a beautiful, shady Park just along the side of the Eiffel Tower with benches and people taking a lunchtime stroll!  The best part was, that we were a bit removed from the pick pockets and ladies who ask you to sign petitions for things.  If you've been along the street by the Eiffel Tower...you know what I mean!

As we sat there eating, we talked over our upcoming visit to the Eiffel Tower, and then I remembered that we would have to go through a Security Check before we went up the Tower.  My Dad had a pocket knife with him, and oh my, what were we going to do?  They would take that away for sure!

Well, my Dad is a pretty smart guy, and he had a plan...

Kind of "Sneaky American Tourist"...

But not in a bad way!

He hid that knife under some bushes, under some leaves, and then we memorized the exact spot in the Park!

And guess what?

After wandering to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and spending a bit of time...

We returned to the spot in the Park...

And there was my Dad's Pocket Knife...

Right where we left it!

Sneaky American Tourists now happy American Tourists!!!  What a great idea my Dad had!  I need to remember this one for the future...

I gotta dash now, Friends!  Some friends are coming by for a little visit, and seeing my Fleur-de-Lis cake from Eva again reminded me that I better go prepare for my visitors!  No fleur-de-lis Cake...just store-bought cupcakes, but hey, three of the four guests are teenagers, and I'm sure they'll be thrilled to just have something to eat, right?

Until next time...
I wish you a "Jewel" of a Day!
Jan

Sneaky American Tourist #6 at the Sistine Chapel!

25/7/2013

Bonjour mes amis!

Yesterday, I realized I forgot to share one last photo from inside The Vatican.  My friend so kindly took a picture of Me and Dr. J and Jewelius...

We look kind of serious, don't we?

For today, I only have one picture from Rome to show you...

That I took myself...

I know it doesn't seem like much to post one photo...

and of a Sign no less...

But, it's the Sistine Chapel...

And, check out that ceiling!

If you've been following this Blog at all, you know that we've engaged in some sneaky behavior, and I've written about it...

But, this time, WE were not the "Sneaky American Tourists"!  Our friend was!

Did you see the Sistine Chapel sign?

NO CAMERAS!

Did that stop my friend, RuthAnn?

NO WAY!

The most Famous portion of the painted ceiling!

We stayed in the Sistine Chapel for quite a long time.  There's so much detail to look at!  So many stories in the painted walls and ceiling...

I don't even think RuthAnn coughed to hide the sound of her camera when she took these.  She was rather sneaky!

And, I'm so glad she decided to share these photos with me!  So amazing!

Thank you, RuthAnn!

Well, folks, that wraps up another Segment of "Sneaky American Tourists"!

See you tomorrow, my Friends!
As always, have a "Jewel" of a Day!
Jan

Let's take the Ferry & Sneaky American Tourists #5!

3/5/2013

Bonjour mes amis!

We had the most gorgeous day here yesterday!  Hope there's many more ahead.

Today, I wanted to start telling you about our latest Visitors.  We were scheduled for a pick-up in The Netherlands.  Jewelius' Grandparents flew to Amsterdam one week in advance to tour around, and then we were to meet them at distant cousin, Nel's house.  (I wrote about visiting Nel last November, so what a treat to have a repeat visit)!  The Goal was to visit with Nel and her Parents, and then bring the Grandparents to France for a Visit!

Nel is such a wonderful Hostess.  One feels so welcome in her home, and she loves to share all the Dutch Treats, give Tours, and talk until the wee hours of the morning.

We arrived kind of late in the evening, so we enjoyed a little time talking with Jewelius' Grandparents, and then "hit the sack", since we had so much planned for the next day.

After a good night' sleep, we were off...to the Bakery to buy some Bread...

Yum!

So different than the French Bakeries...

Then, we were off to the Countryside...

To see the Original Land owned by Dr. J's Ancestors.  They were Ferrymen. They transported people across the Water, and if you know anything about The Netherlands...there's lots of water there.

Pay special attention in the next few photos...

See that House out there?

And see the Canal behind Jewelius' Grandparents?

And see this Awesome Ironwork?

Though the house is not the original house, this was the original site for the first of Dr. J's Family Tree!  Isn't that exciting?  The canal is where they ferried from, and the Ironwork piece is original, but has been kept on the Property over the years...

More views along the way...

But, there really is quite a story to tell about our day.  The Gentleman who currently owns the Home with the Ironwork, is no relation to my Hubby.  Infact, I'm sure of it, because he was the rudest man...didn't even want to let us take pictures of the Ironwork on the house, and came out to tell us so...mind you, we were standing on Public Property.  It didn't matter that we were descendents of the Original Family.  He did not want us taking pictures...

Well, that's no trouble for us "Sneaky American Tourists"!  Dr. J got the photo and all is well in the world!

Here's a Three Generation Family picture, that includes Cousin Nel!  We were definitely having a good time together...

How far can you go back in your Family Tree?  It sure is exciting to stand on original family land, and think about what it was like many generations ago...

Have a "Jewel" of a Day!
Jan

Spring's Coming & Sneaky American Tourists #4!

9/4/2013

Bonjour mes amis!

How are you?  I hope you're enjoying some Springtime weather.  It's a bit cool here yet, but we can see that Spring is on its way!

I took a short break from blogging while my childhood friend, Elaine, was here last week.  We had a great time together, renewing our friendship, and talking about old times, and trying to remember names and details about people from our past.  I've known Elaine since I was five years old.  We went to the same Elementary School and Church while growing up, but then my family moved away in the middle of our High School years.  We've stayed in touch about once per year, since our birthdays are three days apart.  As soon as Elaine found out we'd be in France this year, she was out there looking for a Plane Ticket...and we had a really nice visit!

Of course, there are places here that I enjoy going to over and over, and there are some "must sees" that I take all Visitors to...not the least of which is Parc Floral.  (Well, first we stopped at Versailles in Paris, but with the Easter weekend, the line to get in was like none you've ever seen, so we opted to get to Orléans as quickly as we could to enjoy Parc Floral).  I'm seasonally showing you this awesome place, so today we will see what's happening as Spring comes to Parc Floral.  The flowers are a little late this year, since it's been cool, but it was pretty to me, nonetheless.

I even enjoyed the blades, when no flowers were showing yet!

Isn't this fantastic?  So beautiful!

Uh oh!  Now to my segment of Sneaky American Tourists...

Were we allowed to walk on the grass?  We HAD to get closeups of the beautiful blooms!  We didn't see any signs.  Oh!  Maybe we did in another section...but who can remember?  Oh well!  No harm done...and we got our photo op!!!

Check out this one!  It's so perfect, it almost looks fake!

The Château and Fountain are ready for Spring, but the flowers aren't ready yet...

There's a few flowers in pots...

The area around the Old Mill has some green growth, but no Flowers yet...

The Flamingos are still there...but, they were very quiet...

The Peacocks are looking particularly stunning...

The beds are prepared, and starting to burst!

I think I'll be going back again soon...to see the progress...and to take more Guests for a visit...

Elaine got a good night's sleep after that long plane ride, so we'll be out and about and sharing more fun with you this week!

Have a "Jewel" of a day!
Jan