February 2014 – robinchartier

On my way

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Paris. Everyone said it was amazing, wonderful, magical, romantic, (add your favorite superlative here), but I didn’t think it would be my style. I always imagined Paris as too stuffy, uptight and formal for my taste, but in the name of stretching myself and trying new things at 40, I was ready to go. It also helped that I was traveling with several great friends so it wouldn’t have mattered if we were going to Timbuktu, we were bound to have a good time together.

Touching down in Paris! After all the planning and anticipation, it was crazy to think I was actually there.

Yep, really there.

See my purse with the straps hanging off of it? I had my phone, wallet, and passport all leashed to the inside of my bag to avoid being pickpocketed. It also kept me from putting my phone down on a table or counter and leaving it behind somewhere. I’m happy to report that I came home with all of my important items still in my possession. I saw several would-be pickpockets, but they were busy scoping out less vigilant tourists. (I may have gone a little overboard reading about various scams on TripAdvisor, but I saw them all attempted during our trip and was glad I was prepared.)

The Charles De Gaulle airport has escalators inside these giant hamster tubes.

On our way to pick up our luggage. In addition to the adventure of traveling to Paris, we were going to attempt to take the train and metro to our hotel instead of taking a cab. Why not start exploring right from the start?

Waiting for the train

A double decker!

Transferring from the rail system to the metro was easy — just follow the feet to the purple line

We emerged from underground to misty streets and a fresh fruit stand. Both signs of great things to come. A quick walk around the corner and we were home at our hotel, Relais Bosquet.

We finished the day with our first view of the Eiffel tower from our hotel room.

I couldn’t wait for Day 1 to begin.

From Paris to Bahrain and back again . . .

Paris, Paris, yes Paris! I’m dying to talk about Paris. But first the stories in my brain have to settle and I would actually like to look through my photos to jog my memory of everything we did. Even though I’ve been home almost 48 hours, I haven’t had a moment to peek at them yet.

So this post is about other mildly interesting news. The roller coaster otherwise know as “our life,” has made it’s way up/down/loop the loop and is headed back around the track to where we started. It looks like we’ll be staying right here for another two years. It’s not 100% — more like 90 – 95ish percent, but that’s pretty solid since in our world, nothing is ever 100%.

It came down to this: at this time in our lives, not moving sounds better than moving. A job where Josh doesn’t deploy is favorable to one where he does. Living near Europe allows us to travel easily even if we don’t actually get to live there. And one of the biggest perks of staying is Josie — a clean house, clean laundry and built in babysitting for two more years? None of the job choices on our list could measure up to that.

So for now, instead of searching for housing rentals and a second car and researching schools and processing veterinary import paperwork for the animals I can take a deep breath and reroot. And plan my next trip to Paris — I’m thinking Spring 2015, just Josh and me.

The first of many

I’m not going to call this getaway to Paris “the trip of a lifetime” because I optimistically hope I get to do this more than once!

We have been on the go from breakfast until late for the last two days and I haven’t had a more than minute to look at my pictures, let along blog. I’m falling into bed each night with sore legs and a happy heart and before I crash tonight I wanted to share one special thing from today:

We spent 6 hours with a French chef and with his guidance, we shopped, prepared and cooked a 4 course French meal. That’s me torching (to use a French technical term) the top of a candied ginger creme brûlée while Chef Patrick watches to make sure I don’t burn down his beautiful kitchen.

The best I’ve ever had.

Also the best? Josh — for taking care of everything at home and juggling both his job and mine to make all this fabulousness possible. I love you.

New Year’s Day

Our last day of vacation. Baby faced Josh had to shave before he went back to work. We rode in a funicular (2 metro-type cars that run on a cable/pulley in opposite directions) to the top Istiklal Street and Taksim square.

A stop for Starbucks — she was whining for a lollipop and I said, “No,” but the guy motioned her over a minute later and gave her one. She is constantly spoiled in this country.

A major shopping street, but much of the American branded stores were closed. Maybe taking a New Year’s Day holiday? We weren’t there to shop anyway, just to people watch.

Next a stop for authentic Turkish coffee from a tiny shop located up an alley. We went there two years ago and surprisingly found it again.

Why, yes! I would love some special orange tea that you brought just for me because I’m so cute.

In front of the Galata tower

Yes, I was on this vacation too.

This enormous Turkish lamp was almost as tall as I was.

Should have brought the Ergo.

We walked down the hill and back to the edge of the Golden Horn where we looked for a place to eat fish sandwiches for lunch. It’s a thing there.

Naturally, with hundreds of people fishing

This very nice fisherman let Camille “pet” the fish

Grilled fish fillets on fresh bread with tomato and lettuce. 6 sandwiches plus water was under $20.

It started getting chilly and misty

across the bridge back to our side of the Golden Horn

Metro back to our hotel

Of course it’s never too cold for candy. The different colors are different flavors (I was skeptical, but you really can taste the difference between red/cherry and yellow/banana) and he wraps the soft candy strings around a stick.

Then we headed to the airport and traveled home. Another fabulous vacation behind us.

Was he happy to see us?

New Year’s Eve

Back in Istanbul for another day of walking and sightseeing.

A visit to Suleymaniye Mosque — the largest and most visible mosque on the Istanbul skyline

a bit wet and rainy today

It’s almost 500 years old

Not as ornate in decoration as modern mosques, but it’s still beautiful

Next we walked down to the docks where we planned to take the ferry up the Golden Horn to the children’s museum.

We had just enough time for a cup of salep — a sweet milky drink made from orchid root

The children’s museum was closed for a few days for a special event, but our trip across wasn’t wasted.

Racing to the top!

We had a great lunch at a locantasi — no other tourists in sight.

Playing around on the exercise equipment while waiting for the ferry to return

Tea, always tea. It just tastes better there.

Then a walk through the Egyptian spice market so Josh could visit his Egyptian friends and buy more sesame pistachios and turkish delight. He’s drinking saffron tea.

Then Josh and I went out for coffee and dessert while the kids stayed in.

When we returned Josh took the boys in search of fireworks and some New Year’s Eve excitement while Camille and I stayed warm.

When the fireworks started at midnight, she was still awake so we headed up to the roof of our hotel to watch the shows (we could see them lighting up all over the city).

She was not a fan of the noise and kept burying her head under the blanket.

Happy 2014!