After the drive from hell, we managed to find our hotel and the rest of our time in Paree was wonderful. We walked, ate, drank and spent our way around the city and crammed an awful lot into 3 days. In a nutshell, we managed to see Notre Dame (yes all those steps!), Arc de Triumphe (another set of long stairs), the Louvre (too many old things for Jake), Musee de Orsay, the Eiffel Tower and all the other things in between. Susan and I had a magical night on our tour with dinner at Altitude 95, a (freezing) cruise on the Seine followed by a show at the Moulin Rouge. Michael and the kids went on the huge ferris wheel in the Place de la Concorde that night so all in all everyone enjoyed themselves. We found Parisiens to be helpful and friendly, not at all like their reputation. Jake and Daddy discovered a great musuem opposite the Musee de Orsay which has all weapons, uniforms etc from various civil wars so they were happy, while we girls checked out all the famous painters. Elly got into the French theme with her beret and really looked the part. We had hot chocolates on the Champs Elysees (and paid for it too) and even found a rugby bar for dinner and drinks which apparently is a favourite haunt of John Eales AND Gareth Edwards (photos on the wall to prove it).
Belgium was beautiful and surprising in so many ways. Things didn't go as planned hotel wise but ended up being even better than we could have hoped for. The Menin Gate was so moving and hearing the Last Post will never be the same again. Tyne Cot cemetery was also an incredible experience, reading row upon row of names along with all those without names. Ieper was a gorgeous town and the Flanders Fields Museum was well worth the drive!
Thought we should see as many games as possible at the famous stadium so got tickets to see Fiji V Canada. Allegiances were split, Elly went for our Pacific neighbour while Jake went for the underdogs Canada. Got to see the roof opening up after the game and an outstanding final try by Fiji. Obviously all the welsh were going for Canada, as they are all a bit scared of Fiji keeping Wales out of the top two in the group!!
What a wonderful experience today has been. Went to a museum which houses the original lantern that Guy Fawkes was planning to use, saw ancient Egyptian jewellery about 3000 years old (just goes to show good jewellery never goes out of style!!) Also had up close and personal views of some great art by Picasso, Von Gogh and Monet - so unbelievable and free!! This came as a shock as not much else is free here, especially parking!!
Had a great day today with Brendan and Nina. We spent the night at their place in Banbury then went on to Stratford-upon-Avon, then Oxford. Had a lovely lunch in a quaint little pub outside Oxford where apparently a lot of the Inspector Morse series are filmed. Funny that most of the staff there were Aussies!
Finally we made it to Cardiff and the long awaited game! Some tears were shed during the anthems and of course the right team won on the day!!!! Millenium Stadium was awesome and the crowd was very much a sea of green, gold and red. Our family was a hit with all in the streets and it was a day we'll all never forget!
