Archive | August, 2010
28. Aug, 2010

A Walk in Montmartre

A Walk in Montmartre

The Waller’s from Natick were in town last week to watch the World Badminton Championships. We were able to see them on several days and to meet Patrick’s parents as well.  On the last day Maria and Peter came over, and after tea (of course!) we took the Metro over to the Montmartre section of […]

26. Aug, 2010

Mini-Tour of Paris in Four Days

Mini-Tour of Paris in Four Days

When we arrived in Paris as an extended family of twelve people of all ages, we had a challenge. The Seattle Wilcoxes wanted a classic whirlwind introduction to the city of Paris, yet both they and the Newton Wilcoxes would be leaving in just a few days. At the same time we wanted to preserve […]

26. Aug, 2010

From Catacombs to Charades

From Catacombs to Charades

Recently had our relatives from the west coast and our grandparents visit us. The last part of the trip took place in Paris, and although I was sad to say goodbye to them, I had a very interesting last day. On our last day together, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Rebecca, Uncle Jason, Laura, Eleanor and I […]

24. Aug, 2010

Louis the XVI’s Garden

Louis the XVI’s Garden

We heard that Louis the XVI had an amazing garden! So the family decided to visit it. Our aunt, uncle, and cousins wanted to visit the castle (Versailles) first, so while they did that the rest of us including Carter, Mom, Dad, Grandma Grandpa, Nicholas (my baby cousin who is 3 months old), my other […]

21. Aug, 2010

Pausing in Paris

Pausing in Paris

Nous sommes bien arrivé! Apartment perfect… quest for favorite local bakery has begun… touring Paris with family. Next week Road School resumes and settling in begins. We are looking forward to living la vie Parisienne for the next few months.

19. Aug, 2010

Lascaux II

Lascaux II

Lascaux is a 17000 year old cave in southern France. We headed there with our cousins, aunt, uncle, grandpa, and grandma. We met the tour guide and headed inside with a couple other English families. We could not go in the real Lascaux cave because the carbon dioxide that we breath hurt the pictures. People […]

17. Aug, 2010

All the Ways to Die When Invading a Castle

All the Ways to Die When Invading a Castle

First of all, let me start by correcting a classic stereotype about medieval attacks. Armies attacking a castle were made up of a lord, knights, a few soldiers, peasant militiamen and any war machines you could afford. This means that armies were actually very small and victory was difficult if not impossible without the proper […]

16. Aug, 2010

Mini-Tour of the Dordogne Region of France

Mini-Tour of the Dordogne Region of France

We hopped a flight from London to Bordeaux, rented a caravan of cars, and drove into the countryside of southwestern France. This is Aquitaine, the region controlled by the British during the Hundred Years War, a period of time when related royal families in both Paris and London had a legitimate claim to rule France. […]

15. Aug, 2010

Where is Piggy in Southern France?

Where is Piggy in Southern France?

Surprise last week Piggy wasn’t at London Bridge. She was at the Tower Bridge that goes to the Tower of London. Congratulations to Rachel Kahn, Nanny & Poppa, Sam and Antony Sofianos, Abbie Fox and Emily Bendremer. And for last last week, the answer was the North Face of the Eiger mountain. For that, Beth […]

14. Aug, 2010

Interviewing Duncan at the Athenaeum

Interviewing Duncan at the Athenaeum

We checked in at the Athenaeum Hotel and wanted to go to a quick place for dinner. We went over to the concierge and asked if there were any good and quick restaurants. As he told us of some we learned that he was quite funny and had a great personality! I waited for my […]

14. Aug, 2010

Where is Piggy in London?

Where is Piggy in London?

Piggy was in London and she was having a hard time getting across the river to see the crown jewels. Which bridge did she use? UPDATE:   Piggy saw a Welsh Guard at the Tower

13. Aug, 2010

Mini-Tour of London

Mini-Tour of London

This week we met up with the Seattle Wilcoxes and the Newton Wilcoxes for a grand reunion in London. A few highlights: The Athenaeum – a superb, stylish hotel just across the park from Buckginham Palace and walking distance to the West End that loves kids – wow! The focus on children includes a special […]

13. Aug, 2010

A Day on a Double Decker Bus

A Day on a Double Decker Bus

My cousins Laura and Eleanor and their family were staying in London with us. Laura had been saying that she wanted to go on a Double Decker bus, so Mom and Grandma talked to the concierge and soon we had our own. We didn’t believe we had our own Double Decker bus at first, but they […]

11. Aug, 2010

London Theatre – Three Reviews

London Theatre – Three Reviews

      REVIEW OF SHAKESPEARE’S KING HENRY VIII My family and I went to this production on our very first night in London, so it was only my parents, my sister and me. The play was shown in an exact reproduction of the 16th century Globe Theater. The theater was about the size of a small […]

08. Aug, 2010

A Real Swiss Dinner

A Real Swiss Dinner

We were in Grindelwald, heading to a real Swiss family’s house for a real Swiss dinner. I know Mom is supposed to write about food, but this meal was too good to let the chance of writing it pass by. When we arrived we learned that our driver Bernard was a good friend with the […]

07. Aug, 2010

Walking on Sunshine

Walking on Sunshine

After four rainy days, the clouds parted and we laced up our walking shoes. The sun had apparently been on loan to the Mediterranean and we didn’t want to waste a moment now that it had returned. We were heading out for a hike in the Alps. To reach the starting point for our walk, […]

07. Aug, 2010

The Hair-Raising Rope Park of Interlaken

The Hair-Raising Rope Park of Interlaken

Yesterday we went to a ropes course in Interlaken. After missing our first train and taking several trains we arrived in Interlaken Ost. Unfortunately our directions were from the other station Interlaken West (!) but we did not realize that. We started towards the middle of the city looking for a quick snack. Eventually we […]

07. Aug, 2010

Where is Piggy in Switzerland?

Where is Piggy in Switzerland?

Last time Piggy was at the Viking Ship Musuem in Roskilde, Denmark. Before that she was at the Blue Mosque standing near the Hagia Sofia. For the past month the people who have guessed piggy right once are: Tessa Hyatt, Rachel Kahn, Nicholas Waller, Grant Kahn, Beth Altchek, and Sam McClure! For the past month […]

04. Aug, 2010

Sledding on the Roof of Europe

Sledding on the Roof of Europe

We are now visiting Wengen, a village perched partway up the slopes of the Swiss Alps, where there are no automobiles.  The only ways in are cog-rail, cablecar, or by foot.  Why here?  My family had visited Wengen when I was 17 years old and it made a lasting impact.  Now I wanted my children […]

03. Aug, 2010

Artisanal Cheese and the Heart of the Alps

Artisanal Cheese and the Heart of the Alps

We left Zurich early on Tuesday.  We were headed to Wengen, a small Alpine town nestled in the heart of the Berner Oberland region.  On our way, we were scheduled to visit a small family farm to see cheese making at its traditional best.  We were not disappointed.   In the town of Lungern, we met […]

02. Aug, 2010

Rain and Chocolate in Zurich

Rain and Chocolate in Zurich

We are just in Zurich for a day before heading off into the Berner Oberland mountains tomorrow.  Zurich is a quaint city and if you can afford to live here, offers an excellent quality of life:  a medium-sized city next to a lake with a mountain backdrop, 1200 fountains that spout clean water, two major […]