Final Days in France...

Thursday evening we returned to the little Bouchon, this time with Matt and Laura.  The couple at the restaurant remembered us from the week before.  After dinner Doug and I walked around Bellecour.  

Friday Doug had a “sortie” with his class. After we met back and had lunch, we took the tram to the Hendrixes.  We enjoyed fresh raspberries from their garden and homemade whipped cream.  We were also able to use internet for a while and print of some confirmations for Paris.  Friday evening once we got back to the apartment, we were hot and tired and didn’t feel like making supper.  So, on a whim, we decided to go back to the bouchon one last time.  The man was very friendly and joked that he would give us a card so that if we ate there 10 times, we would get a dinner free.  Afterwards we walked around Vieux Lyon... we saw several people coming out of Cathedral Saint Jean, so we went in and there was actually a chorus singing... from California!  They were good, but Doug and I agreed that the DLHS chorus would have been even better.

Saturday, we went on an all day outing with the Hendrixes.  Pamela is as organized as Sarah Thomas, as energetic as Mrs. Branch, and as generous as Nana, so outings planned by her are very fun.  We drove east to Annecy, a little village and the cleanest lake in Europe.  It is in the pre-Alpes.  It is so weird to see water the color that we see in St. Martin, but surrounded by mountains.  It was beautiful.  We walked around the antique market in the old town and then drove to an inn for a very fancy lunch.  We then drove to an 800 year old Chateau.  The tour of the Chateau was theatrical… interesting and entertaining.  We went up to the top of a mountain and got a GREAT view of Mont Blanc.  It was a clear day, so you could see it really well.  

We had a “gouter” in the mountains and then headed back to Lyon.   It was sad to say goodbye to the Hendrixes, but we hope to see them in December while they are on furlough in the States.  And we have thought about coming back to Lyon next summer…

Sunday morning was church and goodbyes there, and then train to Paris.  After checking into our hotel in Paris (thanks to Dad’s Marriott points!!), we went to take pictures of the outside of Centre Pompidou and the Stravinsky (lips) fountain.  We also went to Place de la Concorde, but we couldn’t get too close to the Oblisque because they have already started setting up for July 14 parades.  We strolled through the Tuilerie Gardens before heading back to the hotel.

Monday morning we got up early to catch our train to Caen (which happens to be Nashville’s sister city).  We went to the Memorial/ Peace museum, which was very good.  We then took a train to Bayeux to see the famed Bayeux Tapestry (which is actually embroidery) and the cathedral where it was originally housed.  We unfortunately ran out of time to go see the American cemetery looking over Omaha Beach.  That will be on our list for next trip.  We took the train from Bayeux to Pontorson, and then a bus from Pontorson to Mont Sint Michel.  Mont Sint Michel was incredible… it can’t really be put into words!  We ate a yucky supper, but then spent most of the evening walking around and taking pictures.  The sun didn’t set until 11PM! 

Tuesday morning we ate breakfast and then caught the bus to Rennes.  From Rennes we took a train to Paris.  We ate some sandwiches in the garden by Montparnasse and then checked back into the hotel.  We did Rick Steve’s Left Bank walking tour in the afternoon.

We got cleaned up and then did Rick Steve’s Rue Cler walking tour.  We ate some hearty salads for supper and then went by the Eiffel tower before heading back to the hotel.

Wednesday was the Fat Bike tour of Versailles.  It POURED on us, but it was still fun.

Wednesday night we went BACK to the cafe on Rue Cler for supper and got two more hearty salads.

Thursday morning we flew back to ATL.  We unpacked, did laundry, and ate Moe's for supper.  We miss France already.  As we have NO food in the apartment, we are about to go get breakfast and groceries... will add more pics later.