Paris

We spent Friday and Saturday in Paris and enjoyed the city more than we ever have on our previous visits.  Again Brian had found a great little hotel, in the Latin Section.  We had a delightful walk to Notre Dame. The trees and blossoms were out and it was so fun to look in the windows and realize it is much the same as in Copenhage: lots of places to eat, little clothing shops, hairdressers, green -grocers, bakeries.  We tried out several of these during our stay...

 Notre Dame - Brian and Elizabeth went to the top while we tended Molly and Kate.

 Brian finally made it to the Louvre, it only took him three times in Paris to find it open.  It was a wonderful surprise when they took us to the front of the line because we had a stroller.  They really gave us special attention through the whole museum.

 We saw the famous "Winged Victory", "Mona Lisa", " Venus De Milo", but our favorite was a suggestion from our son-in-law, Randy, to see the "Code of Hamurabi"  It is the first known written laws- from the Persian/Babylonian Era.

These came from the palace of Darius, think Daniel of the Old Testament.  Fascinating.

 We did the Eiffel Tower to the Second Level..

 And had a grand finish at Laduree a famous restaurant/bakery on the Champs Elysee.
We went for their famous meringue cookies but ended up with a delightful Mother's Day lunch.

 This was just my order and it also included scrambled eggs and hot chocolate thick enough to be pudding plus fruit.

A great ending to a great trip.

Disneyland - Paris

Tuesday night we drove back into Paris, dropped off the van, and took a taxi to our BanB apartment within walking distance of Disneyland.  Brian had done a great job with all the accommodation.

It is owned by a couple who work for Disney from Bolivia.  He is in the Wild West Show and she dances in the parades.  They use it as an investment.  It had three bedrooms and was about a 15 minute walk.

 It was fun to have all the familiar things of Disney, but in different places which made it a new adventure. The only down side, cleanliness and upkeep wasn't up to the Disney standards you expect.

 The landscaping was beautiful

The Alice In Wonderland Maze was unique.

 Interesting Skull Rock with lots of caves to wander in.

New Ratatouille Ride was fun and we loved Cush's Coaster.

 

Don't know the lady, but a good shot of Walt and Micky and the Hollywood sign in the Walt Disney Studio Park.

Loved the Story Book Cruise.  It included "Peter and the Wolf", "Wizard of Oz", "Beauty and the Beast," "Little Mermaid", "Hansel and Gretel", Night on Bald Mountain", and "Repunzel" among others.

The fireworks/water/World of Color Show on the castle was fabulous and a perfect ending to a fun time.

France ..Normandy

We left immediately after Stake Conference last Sunday and flew to Paris.  The rape seed fields are just starting here in Denmark but they were much higher in France.

A closer look...

We rented a van and drove to St. Mere Eglaise for the first night.  The stories of the paratroopers and gliders are amazing.  Such courage to be the first ones in.

 We liked the Paratrooper Museum just across from the church very much.

  We visited all of the beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.  Though some got better coverage than others because of the rain.

Pointe du Hoch where they had to scale the cliffs to put out the big guns is so interesting.

Omaha Beach  with it's memorials. The US landed here and suffered heavy losses.

 We found our visit to the American Cemetery and the attached introductory museum sobering and emotional. We could have spent many more hours there.

I'm so grateful for the Plan of Salvation and knowing that those who gave their lives so willingly will yet have all the blessings and rewards they have earned.

 These were the boats the troops landed in and then had to take the beaches.

 Pegusus Bridge was a key point that had to be taken within the first few minutes of the invasion.

 We walked into the museum and found Kayla and Don Hansen, our temple missionaries, who were on a cruise they had booked a year ago to take during break, Amazing!

Our last stop was a world renown museum on European History in the 20th century.  It covered WW I, II, and the Cold War and was in Caen. Elizabeth, our daughter-in-law, was so good at keeping us informed on places to visit. Here again we could have spent many more hours.

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So Much to Do and So Little Time

 Today was Brian and Elizabeth's last full day to play in Copenhagen.  We made the most of it.  We rented a bike with a seat for Molly and Elizabeth and I had bikes and off we went.  Biking really is the best way to see the city.
  We started out at the Copenhagen Cathedral to see the Christus and came just as a huge confirmation ceremony was ending.  It was quite a cultural experience to mingle,

 All the girls were in white dresses. The confirmees sat on the chairs in the aisle and I guess were called up one at a time.  There were a lot maybe 25 or 30 and all of their families.  The busiest I have ever seen this church.

We walked down the Stroget(walking street) and found this free merry-go-round for Molly. Her favorite.  The bike seat, she wasn't so sure of,but loved it after we got started.

Papa was kind enough to tend Kate while we biked, but we came home thinking she was hungry to find her sound asleep on Papa's shoulder. So having a couple extra hours we went out to the Frilands Musuem.  It is a wonderful setting and they have moved  farm and country homes from all over the country from as far back as the 1600s

Everything was thatched roofed.  I want to spend more time and find the sort of home my ancestors lived in in Northern Jutland.

 We have Stake Conference tomorrow, so while we went to the Adult Saturday Night Meeting, Brian and Eliz finished the day at Tivoli.
  Tomorrow immediately after conference we fly to France.  The blog may be missing until next Sunday.  We will see if I have enough technology to do it from my Ipad....

Zoo Day

Today was a holiday in Denmark, Prayer Day.  Most of the stores were closed, but since the zoo is open 365 days a year, we went and enjoyed the animals  and a little rain.  Copenhagen has a fabulous zoo including:

 Seriously pink flamingos

One of the few Tasmanian Devils in European zoos.

15 day old baby Emus,

 Rhinos visiting across the fence about the new baby in the family

 an award-winning elephant enclosure and

a huge savannah area with giraffes, gazelles, rhinos , etc.

After dinner, we went out to Amager to try "the best ice cream in Copenhagen." We were not the only ones..