Catch-Up

I am so sorry for the delay in posts. But really, can you blame me? If you had to walk 15 minutes in cold and wet to pay for 2 hours of internet, during which time you're catching up on all your emails and TV downloads and etc. how often would you post? So I do feel bad, but honestly, don't expect any better for the next few weeks. And be thankful for your little luxuries in life such as internet and cable and a dishwasher.

Now that that's out of the way... things here really are good (despite no TV, internet, and dishwasher). We've been in our place now for a few weeks, and have had a maintenance person over each week. But I think we're finally getting the little kinks (such as the toilet not flushing... eek) worked out. Tomorrow the cable person is supposed to come and install our satellite dish. So we could potentially have hundreds of channels and tivo after tomorrow and feel back to our normal 21st century selves! I'm not going to get my hopes up, though. We've already had the cable guys out once before... Our building can only get satellite tv, we don't have access to the digital kind in our area. And, the previous tenant already had the dish installed and left the cable box, so I was thinking, great, this should be simple. Nothing that involves service in London is simple. I'm not trying to hate; I'm very grateful for this opportunity and am having a great time. But they stink at helping their residents with any issue that would make one feel more comfortable here in London... so, apparently the dish we currently have installed is facing 2 average sized trees, and the guys told me that when those trees bloom, we won't be able to get reception. So of course I thought, well, the guy here before me was watching TV. And they said, that is unexplainable. And I said, so, how am I able to hold a tiny GPS in my hand and it manages to get reception no problem, regardless of trees. And they said, well, it's not the trees, per se, but the moisture that they trees hold that will cause the interference. And I said, really? I live in one of the wettest cities in the world. Forget the trees, what about the moisture that is ALWAYS falling from the sky?? They laughed awkwardly and changed the subject.

So, the next step is to install a dish on the roof, which is only accessible through the very top flat. So I had ask that tenant if the cable guys can trample around in her apartment tomorrow. She said only if she's home. So, the cable people will call and give me an 8 hour time frame in which they will be here tomorrow, and I just have to pray that it will coincide with the short time she's at home. So keep your fingers crossed everyone!

In happier news, Paris was wonderful! The city really is so beautiful. I went into it expecting it to feel a lot like London, as far as building architecture goes and all, but something about Paris just feels more elegant than here. And the food is incredible! I found that at every restaurant I would order something, and when it came out it did not look like how I had imagined it would or wanted it to be. So I would be disappointed, and then I would try it... and every time, without fail it was one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. They're just really good with flavors there!

We pretty much were on the go all weekend! We did the "chunnel" train thing on Friday, which we were excited about trying. But it was dark so we could never tell if we were underwater or whatnot, so in the end it was just like a really long, but more comfortable, tube ride. Coming home, though, we got first class tickets, which is totally worth it if you ride the EuroStar. Let me tell you, the wine really runneth over. They insist you keep drinking the whole time. It's great. I love the European attitude toward alcohol! :)

But anyway, so on Saturday we got up early and walked to the Museum D'Orsay, which was recommended to us by many people as easier to manage and just as enjoyable as the Louvre. After a couple of hours there we walked around more and saw the place where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned, and an absolutely stunning chapel (I can't remember the name right now, I forgot to bring my Paris book with all the names to Whole Foods, oops. I'll update later after I find the names), and then Notre Dame. This is where our camera ran out of batteries, and we argued our whole way through Notre Dame because I was in charge of packing and forgot to pack extra batteries or the charger. So, most people may find it hard to argue in Paris at all, and we managed to do it in the biggest sanctuary there. In hindsight we both think that's hilarious. So then we bought a really shady charger from a really shady tourist shop, but so far it's worked for us!

Saturday evening we did a boat tour down the Seine, and then had dinner overlooking the Eiffel Tower. On Sunday we started with Louvre, and just saw the highlights. The place is massive, and we aren't huge art fanatics, so we were only allowing ourselves a couple of hours there. We got to see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo and some other famous ones, but most of the paintings I recognized weren't currently there. That was kind of disappointing, because it is surprisingly surreal to look at the original copy of a piece of art that you've seen hundreds of prints of all your life, and I would have liked to have seen more, such as "Starry Night" and others like that. But that's okay! After that we head to the Arc de Triumph and walked all the stairs up and down it! No elevator for us! (Only because we didn't know there was an elevator when we started) Then we headed to Montmarte, which is supposed to be the most charming neighborhood in Paris. This is where the cafe that Amelie worked in (in the movie of the same name) is located. And it is a cute little place! It's also where they have the big square full of artists trying to paint you. It was fun, we walked around there for a couple of hours, then headed back to the Eiffel Tower for sunset, then took our first class train ride back home !

Inside the main hall in Museum D'Orsay

Inside the incredible chapel whose name I can't remembered. You are completely encircled by those stained glass walls.

Inside the Notre Dame. A service was going on while we were there. We felt slightly bad about taking pictures, but not bad enough.
The back side of the Notre Dame. I figured you are familiar enough the front side, and I think this is a pretty picture.

Outside the Louvre. That's right, we're those people.

In the starewell in the Arc de Triumph. Please notice what a long way down it is.

Adam being artistic with the shutter speed and the lights.

So pretty and sparkly!

There are just so many picture and not enough computer power to post on here! Maybe sometime later I'll post more! This weekend we are headed to Ireland for St. Patty's, so that should be fun! Part of our trip does include Northern Ireland, though, so naturally I'm a little anxious because we are going for the purpose of touring the opposing neighborhoods and all that, so the current news headlines have made me a little nervous. So we'll see how that goes. If it goes badly, blame Rick and Mindy Logsdon for really talking up this tour! :)