2006

TRAVEL LOGUE

GIGI - Dec 31: We went to the New Year's eve party last night. Pizza, soda, dessert and dancing. There was a high school from San Jose and one from New Canaan CT there. The dancing and musical tastes on the East coast are much different than those on the West Coast. I don't think there was much intermingling between the groups but each school had fun. Today is absolutely beautiful - Sunny, clear blue skies but windy. The metro is free which is fun as the shops are closed. We leave very shortly for the Trocadero and the music festival. After that it is the final banquet in the Montmarte district.

SUE - Dec 31: Oh what a day. Helped a gal as she had an asthma attack and no inhaler after the parade.  Got 7 Up for the sick kids and it did help a little but have four sick ones now. Doesn't help with all the running in and out of the cold and heat that's inside either. The buses are HOT and the crazy driving doesn't help either.  They have gas pumps in center islands as well as on first stories of buildings. Would hate to live over one with the fumes. They even have pay port a potties in center dividers.
SUE-DEC 30:The Kids did great today. Gabe,  Rory, Steven and Carl are all sick but they marched and played anyway. The chalet was awesome. We did a self tour and the kids enjoyed it. Very pretty! The kids are off to their party tonight so we get a break. Ya Hoo! Been so busy with them a few of us adults have had no down time other then to get a few hours sleep here and there.  Have had a crepe with banana, ice cream, whip cream and hot chocolate in it. Yummy! We have been eating a lot of McDonald's and Italian food (pizza, lasagna, spaghetti) as your group of kids are picky eaters. The food here at the hotel is not to popular with the kids.  The partridge last night was a topper. Told the kids it was chicken and found out later it wasn't.

TERRY & SUE - Dec 30: Woke up to a cool, rainy day. It was up early to a trip to Versailles. What an awesome place. Sure glad I didn't and don't ever have to clean it. There are 400 bedrooms. It's so BIG and MASSIVE. Someone could sneak in and live in it and you would never know it.  They had a concert this evening and they were awesome. Did a great job even being so tired as most were. Sure has been a busy, fast paced time. Seeing sites in record time as there are time lines from planned events for the kids and we have to hurry them from our free group time of seeing the sites of their choices.
   Doesn't look like anybody is coming back fattened up like most people do when taking such a trip. We eat and run. We are also so busy walking, racing for the metros, switching lines from one metro to another, walking some more and walking up and down so many staircases we're lost count.
   We will be off to Chantilly tomorrow morning. We'll tour the Chateau, have lunch and then the parade. Flags were lost in travel over (All lost luggage finally showed up, Ya Hoo!) so we'll have dancers instead. Girls will love dancing down the street. Then coming back for them to have a New Years Eve Dinner and Dance.
Well, it's off to some much needed sleep. Jennifer sends her love and kisses to her parents as well as the other kids whose parents aren't here.
GIGI-Dec 29: We've had a busy two days. Friday was a free day after rehearsal. Groups had from 10 to 7 to do what they wanted. The Louvre was on almost everyone's list of places to go. Ice Skating, shopping, Notre Dame also made the lists. The adults all received a 2-day Museum Pass which gave you access to special entry points (the Paris "front of the line" pass). Under 18 get in free to museums. Speaking of "front of the line" passes, Don Jordan's group went to Euro Disneyland. We all met near the Eiffel Tower at 7 for our Seine River Cruise. It was a very interesting way to see part of old Paris.

   Today we got to experience Paris in the rain. Today we went to Versaille. Versaille has a 30 person limit to group tours so we had some confusion with the ticketing but we finally all got a tour. The kids had a two hour rehearsal so the adults had some free time. Back on the bus to the hotel before dressing in concert wear and dining at the hotel. Then quickly onto the busses and off to the concert. The concert was very nice, Chuck Raybon shot a video so hopefully we can get some copies made or posted on the website. All luggage has been delivered, but still missing a bass clarinet, the flags and the mace. Tomorrow is Chantilly, hopefully drier.

GIGI - Dec 28: Everyone met up at the Eiffel Tower at 7:30 and went up to stage 2. Extremely cold here, even colder on the Eiffel Tower.

TERRY & SUE - Dec 28: Hi There from here in Paris. We are all having the times of our lives. It's so awesome here. Really cold and a little glummy yesterday but having fun. All went up the Eiffiel Tower last night. Only went up to the second level as it was foggy and oh so cold. People here have been so kind and helpful.

SUE - DEC 28: Having a wonderful time here! It's cold but oh so beautiful! The sites are just awesome and then some.
The Eiffiel Tower just takes your breath away. Went up to second level last night as it was very cold and foggy to go to the top. Also cost more. Sure is expensive here but so worth it. We also have been to Norte Dame. You just can't believe how BIG and awesome it is. Just BEAUTIFUL. Well off to another day of FUN!

If you want to include an email in the Travel Logue, please forward it to me at: maestrogroup@yahoo.com. 

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Arnie, Meagan, Julian

Connie & Kris

Chanitlly Parade

Gladura