Posting Comments to My Blog...

I am hearing from you, my friends, that posting to my blog is difficult. Only two were smart enough to figure it all out, so from my sister's instructions here are the points you need to know to post a comment. It will probably take me longer to type this than for you to do it. Good luck! (PS I prefer to receive your comments on the blog with the blog rather than sending them to me separately; more fun for my efforts that way. Merci)
To Post Comment

1. At the end of entry there is a place to post comments.
2. Click on blue link for "comments" and that will lead to the following page.
3. Write comment in the"Post a Comment" box. Hold down the "Select profile" button and choose Google Account (the commentor must have a google account, which is free)
Hit the "Post Comments" button
4. A new page will open. Review the message or edit it. Further down the page there is a "Word verification" box with a word in it. Type the word you see in the blank box. Hit the "Post Comment" box. Voila! That's it.

Comments encourage the writer to keep writing. Au revoir. Tasha

PS If I am not writing daily there is one of two reasons: 1. I am too busy, or 2. I am too busy. :)

Flowers at Giverney

At my friend, Leslie's request, here are some more photos from the gardens of Giverney. Enjoy!

Giverney Gardens, Cruise, The Eiffel Tower

Pictures speak more elequently than words...Enjoy

Step Aerobics Class at the Eiffel Tower

It is all Mary Kay's fault! She is the one who suggested it. Off we trotted from home to the Eiffel Tower not to take the elevator up like normal folks but to climb the 729 steps up to the second level. We still had to que and we still had to pay (although it is less expensive to walk it then to use the elevators.) Actually, it wasn't so bad; it felt good to get the exercise and it avoided the crowds as long as possible. The ques here are endless and one must accommodate that into the schedule for the day because inevitably it takes longer to see anything; you have to que and wait and wait and wait...Anyway, as we climbed higher and into the very heart of this enormous structure, it naturally got colder (even with the exercise) but provided a fun experience and wonderful views. And the Police were doing maneuvers on the Tower that morning, climbing (with safety ropes) on the outside and then repelling down to the ground. Sort of cool to be right next to them as they were doing this.
I have to admit. I am in love with the Eiffel Tower. I just can't get enough! To become one with it so deep into it you can see the wheels of the elevators turning is a moving experience. Almost intimate. Really! And they completed this project for the World Exposition in less than three years and under budget. And, to add, more fun to it, they periodically change the colors at night. See photos coming to you with Giverney Gardens...So much for our step aerobics class or so I thought...

Then came Arc de Triomphe and its 200+ steps. We visited there in the evening because that is just how the schedule worked out and MK wanted to see the Champs Elysees. Honestly, while it is impressive to look at from the outside, I was not overwhelming impressed with the view from the outside roof top. It was night and any of the information that was written for tourists was not visible so I didn't learn much about it. But up we climbed nonetheless hoping to work off all those French lunches....

We had planned to visit Giverney. It was my second time; I saw it in the summer decades ago and I was happy to oblige MK's request to take the train up there and visit the gardens. But we had absolutely no idea how exquisite the gardens would still be in October! It was just a WOW day. Neither of us wanted to leave. The caretakers of this must work all the time (although none were there the day we were) and I can only imagine that there are many, many volunteers who man the gardens in homage to Monet. Just magnificent flowers, endless rows of dancing flowers, plants, vegetation, weeping willows etc. And wisely they put loads of benches so the visitors could just sit and breath in the beauty. My words can not measure the peacefulness of this place. Because it was cloudy we decided not to bike from the train station to this tiny town but we did stop for lunch in the square of the town. We enjoyed that very much, as well. There is also an American School at Giverney which has its own, gorgeous flower gardens (although not competitive with Monet's) but still lovely to look at. Home we journeyed, happy, content and pleased with taking a day away from Paris to enjoy this worthwhile day trip.
Our final day was to promenade ourselves around the 6th, St Germain de Pres. This district is always a bustling, fun place to visit. We came prepared for the inclement weather, which changes momentarily, and because of that, while we were constantly concerned that we were about to be drenched, we were not. Inevitably, the sun came out and let us stop in the church, window shop the many boutiques, ending in the Luxenbourg Gardens. All leisurely paced and great fun. Then we trotted ourselves off to the reknowned Les Deux Magots cafe, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch, wine and conversation with others nearby. This cafe is the best for people watching. We watched them; they watched us. Great fun!
Mary Kay treated me to a dinner cruise on the Seine at Bateaux Mounches for our last night together. I remember the dinner as having been higher quality from a trip I took long ago, but still we again had great fun and it was an appropriate way of finishing off a wonderful visit. But pricey! 95 euros a person got you a small, narrow table on one of two sides of the boat with fantastic views as you slide along the Seine River. A very quick service took away a bit from the leisurely feel. But they did serve: Apertif, choice of starters: I had the Smoked salmon, MK had the Green Asparagus, a Choice of Main Course: I had the medallion of lamb, green beans and goat cheese, MK had Arctic Char, then a couple of cheeses, and a selection of desserts. My lamb was overcooked, which was a shame since it was quality lamb but still taste good enough to eat. They generously supplied two full bottles of wine to us and we advantage ourselves of that giggling more as the evening progressed. Both a "little" tipsy as we walked passed our beautiful Eiffel Tower to home we knew it had been an extraordinary week, packed with activities, sisterly bonding and great memories.
(photo of me climbing the stairs is the spiral staircase of the Arc de Triomph, not Eiffel Tower.)

Word of the day: sister - soeur (For me, it also means ami - friend)

My Sister Arrives in Paris!

OK, so I warned you I might not write while my sister was here. What a whirlwind week we had together and so much fun I will probably have to write it all in two or three segments as there is a limited word allocation (thank God, I hear you saying...)

The morning Mary Kay arrived she wanted to take off. I know the feeling. You are in Paris and regardless of a sleepless night on an airplane that is most probably trying to poison you with their cuisine, the adrenaline is pumping and well,
allons-y (let's go)!

We took our bagette sandwiches and walked over to see "my" magical Eiffel Tower to each lunch in the park overlooking it. Then we leisurely walked a bit and ended up at home for a simply cooked but delicious meal of Veal Piccata and French Green Beans with vin.

We tried on our last night to list our top five favorite things for the week and had a hard time trying as we pretty much loved it all. Here are the highlights:
We took the night bike tour with Sam's Flat Tires (strange name for a bike rental). Doing it at night took on an added dimension of "danger" weaving in and out of traffic as best a large group could, zipping by world-famous monuments. We stopped for brief lectures, took in the best ice cream in Paris (Berthillion) at the Ile de St Louis, then peddled on to the Pyramid of the Louvre for, admittedly, grainy photos (better than none) and on and on. This night tour has an extra dimension to it. After about 2-2 l/2 hours we finished at the Seine for an hour cruise and free wine. Our biking colleagues were all nice and international; we had a lovely time and it gave me an idea....(an wonderful, awful idea as the Grinch would say)...I could do this: I could be a bike/walking tour guide! Why not apply for a job? Come back and live in Paris for who-knows-how-long? More as that prospect develops. We also did a day bike ride but decided we much preferred the night bike ride.

We took a free walking English guided tour of Notre Dame the next day, but didn't make it through as it was very detailed and we had a hard time standing for a lengthy period of time on the concrete and old pavement. I will finish the tour on my own. Notre Dame Paris offers English tours on Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday (no reservations needed. Just show up). They really explain in detail the fascinating details of the exterior and history of Notre Dame.

My dear friend, Julien, graciously guided us on a walking tour of Marais, the 4th arrondissment. He has become a dear friend and Mary Kay immediately liked him. I will try to attach a photo she took of us in the boulanger (bakery).

Saturday night I took her to a restaurant called Au Vieux Paris d'Arcole. It is located one block from Notre Dame in an original street left in tact by the controversial Haussmann. It was charmingly furnished in such old world style and the people, owner were very friendly, however, the service was horribly slow, painfully, horribly s l o w. Forget the very high prices, I believe there was only one waiter who endlessly called me "Sweetie" even when I told him not to and the owner would be well advised to hire more help. We sat at the best table with a view of lite-up Notre Dame. We wisely ordered the house wine (the only thing we would pay a reasonable price for on the menu). Mary Kay ordered a seafood wrapped in paper. I have done this typically French method of cooking and it can be very authentic and delicious when done properly. In marches our "Sweetie" waiter with her entree in aluminum foil! I couldn't believe it! It was like what we cooked at girl scout camp, oh so many decades ago! There were four small pieces of fish and potatoes in this aluminum foil disaster. Go crazy, girlfriend! My filet of beef was good, abeit barely warm, my vegetables room temperature. We both elected to splurge calories for desserts @ 14 euros each (about $21) and they were good, as they should be for that price.

I had to get up to ask for water. I had to scout out "Sweetie" to request more wine, and then ask three times for it. I had to hunt down this waiter to get a check (they never offered tea/coffee etc). The tab was about $150. Avoid this place even though it looks good. It was like a pretty woman whose exterior is sometimes alluring but who lacks depth. I will have restaurant recommendations for you next week.

Contending with the weather: One day we decided, despite the rain, to walk to Orangerie, which I highly recommended to Mary Kay. They opened two hours late and there was a long que, waiting in soaking rains, to get in. We waited and waited. On we forged, holding our ground like mailmen through the rain, the snow, the hail...two determined femmes who would see this exhibition if it was the last thing....well, you get the idea. Finally, we moved up the que and were allowed in. As Mary Kay's favorite Paris museum is Musee D'Orsay (she saw it the next day) mine is Organerie at the southwest end of the Tullerie Garden. It is smaller, lesser known and is solely devoted to Impressionist art. Upstairs are some of Monet's final projects: Huge, oversized paintings piece mealed together surrounding two oval rooms that he is responsible for designing. Downstairs there is a variety of Impressionist paintings and a movie room on Monet, which we watched.

We attended mass at Notre Dame, which Mary Kay really wanted to do and she was thrilled; I was bored. I am not a Catholic. I do not speak French so I didn't understand a word and that awful incense was hideous. I wonder if that stuff can give one lung cancer...MK thought I was joking.

I purchased two concert tickets for Sainte Chapelle. The tickets were affordable (33 euro each) for a one hour seven piece classical music concert. Many of the numbers I recognized: Vivaldi's Four Seasons etc. The lights were shut off except for the altar area and this sweet, perfect flow of chords came drifting out of the musicians instruments into my heart. It was such a peaceful hour, directly in the heart of Paris with all its energy, people and happenings. These pearl moments are what I can carry in my heart when I leave. While MK wasn't really enthusiastic about attending she ended up loving it. Purchase your tickets ahead of time and you won't have to que up in line. This beautiful chapel holds more than 1100 biblical scenes in enormous stained glass windows. Just exquisite. I will get more tickets soon.
Coming up: The Arc de Triomphe, Climbing the Stairs of the Eiffel Tower, gorgeous Giverney, one last perfect day in the 6th and a dinner cruise on the Seine..

Word of the Day: music musique (mu zeek) It touches the soul

Korecksheon (opps) Correcshon (opps) CORRECTION

The last entry I had a few typos and one reference to "Rocky" running up the stairs of the Art Institute in Chicago. OK, OK, so it was the stairs of the Art Museum in Philadelphia. So I goofed. Sometimes when I write this blog I am very tired so forgive the typos, mispellings and inaccurate references. Hopefully, there will not be too many. I do my best, ma ami!

News Flash! Tasha is still alive! Very much alive!

Sunday evening October 4

OK, OK. I know I havenb't been as faithful to my blog as I should. But I am living in Paris, folks! Just a tad busy! :)

A week ago last Saturday I meandered over to the Opera Garnier to try to buy a ticket to, tada!, an opera! But the only tickets they had left were to a 3 l/2 hour opera (Mirelle) and I had to pass because of the length. I went from one long que to another to try to find out the program with a certain amount of French "attitude" that said they were not going to help the likes of me.

So I elected to plunk down my euros and take a self-guided tour of the Opera house. Ohmygosh! I don't know what words I can use to tell you the breath-taking scene that unfolded with each step I took. Opulence, decadence, detailed gold-relief ceilings, murals, flooring, stairwells. I was oohhing and aahing the entire visit. My photos cannot begin to show you how beautiful these rooms were. I have attached a few but, believe me, this all left me determined to get a ticket and experience some program at Opera Garnier. It remined me of the scene from "Phantom of the Opera" where they float down the stairwell in magnificent costumes singing "Masquerade!" Absolutely magnificent!

All this heightened my determination to get a ticket to at least one performance of something before I leave. This was accomplished when my best friend, Julien,finally took me to a ticket master-type place and we purchased a ticket to an upcoming ballet. I can't wait to get dressed up and attend!

Last Sunday, yours truly registered (after much ado) for a 16K race from the Eiffel Tower to Versailles. Me and 20,000 other participants from around the world. Off I hussled, without having trained at all, on my journey to ward off old age and renew my spirit. Since I was fast-walking and the vast majority were runners they humbled me as they charged passed me. It made me feel like I was going very slowly.

And then there were about 5 kilimeters of hills! Gads, up I hurried hearing the sounds from "Rocky" movie: tada dada dada da da, tada dada dada da da....when he was charging up the stairs of the Art Institute in Chicago. What happened was kinda cool. The runners speed kept me going at my maximum walking speed and I almost matched the marathon walking speed from when I trained for Leukemia's Team in Training twelve years ago! As the runners slowed down, I kept my pace up. Therefore, my friends, yours truly did not come in last even though I was one of the only walkers. I came in in about 2 l/2 hours, which I was very happy with. And, I got a medal for finishing! Tre cool! I have been asked why I did it and all I could think of was why not? When we aging baby boomers no longer work we have to look for other avenues of accomplishment. That is what that medal represents to me.

I am bowing now. Applause please!

Lots more to tell. My sister, Mary Kay arrived this week and we are rushing around like the devil is after us. When she leaves on Friday (or possibly before) I will be blogging about our whole week including: biking tours at night, crusing on the Seine, a walking tour with Julien of the Marais, climbing over 700 steps up the Eiffel Tour, church services at Notre Dame, several museums, a concert at Saint Chappelle, a trip to Giverney and a dinner cruise on the Seine! All of that is happening now. So you will excuse me if I collapse for a while and sleep.

Words of the day: Medal medaille
Accomplishment accomplissement a kom plez mon (in any language it is sweet)