tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68802416716712496942024-03-05T09:34:42.441-08:00Thoughts....Things....and a bottle of wine.I wanted to start a blog that captured all of those great conversations that we seem to have over a bottle of wine. Why is it that with just a little focused time and a relaxing additive we can have some of the greatest conversations, with or without the wine I hope to share my thoughts, my experiences, my passions, my ideas and hopefully make people reflect, just a little.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-90636137487978863812014-02-10T09:14:00.003-08:002014-02-10T09:14:54.994-08:00Why oh why can't I stay......Sitting in Kauai wondering what more in life do you need, basic accommodations, simple food, the one you love sitting beside you, and beautiful sunsets... Makes you wonder what the daily grind is all about…<br />
<br />
Now back to reality.. Aloha…..<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qKSRZSl4KSq67_EEZxR-VZwwGC2b332uc4ryHrOfTslp2f7nemWQaAt5Hf-H28yhqTztqKHOk1dp6icxHqXjDweQLzTAxFcRfFfNeijYdnvYg2SVIrrFcX0FcZucf4Tx_gHvw8Tq1t39/s1600/DSC_1599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qKSRZSl4KSq67_EEZxR-VZwwGC2b332uc4ryHrOfTslp2f7nemWQaAt5Hf-H28yhqTztqKHOk1dp6icxHqXjDweQLzTAxFcRfFfNeijYdnvYg2SVIrrFcX0FcZucf4Tx_gHvw8Tq1t39/s1600/DSC_1599.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old school BBQ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55SUMX6gvIi1rSRWEDFSWdnxm42hKrt47K8oaHCH9kJrWOV3joKC4BEBg6WwrFPerYWEGocHkSHhLTkj_BuQJEghQ6Jd9ys9Vg18J5ksJC1sI3Sg9GxKfRWra4IAVHPFY3s705b73PrEm/s1600/DSC_1657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55SUMX6gvIi1rSRWEDFSWdnxm42hKrt47K8oaHCH9kJrWOV3joKC4BEBg6WwrFPerYWEGocHkSHhLTkj_BuQJEghQ6Jd9ys9Vg18J5ksJC1sI3Sg9GxKfRWra4IAVHPFY3s705b73PrEm/s1600/DSC_1657.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAyb3il9Q4LlwEiEapI-agJCVTQNIHDBWOHnQ2QB7KntTXQ8FxBzjYzyNecJRyVLjUgSM83jm7XJt7a996MRsD7GwAWU6YRY7Cd-bDyveXkxrBInG0pBvd_F8uuYP0elaOJMtRFuSMjtM/s1600/DSC_1690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAyb3il9Q4LlwEiEapI-agJCVTQNIHDBWOHnQ2QB7KntTXQ8FxBzjYzyNecJRyVLjUgSM83jm7XJt7a996MRsD7GwAWU6YRY7Cd-bDyveXkxrBInG0pBvd_F8uuYP0elaOJMtRFuSMjtM/s1600/DSC_1690.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great sunsets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZwU1DC24i28kT0FC_fl1MzCaV99LQ6BrGdaOiO2Z_yP1qKwh1ebdzmYT3B9oRkb-BsGCeaWHjkVzXNc-bQzfc7qkXxtRSzn23k5Y9XDbTduq3oYqeDPfx_BfCUlwwrjPiYyGRLyUVnYO/s1600/IMG_0311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZwU1DC24i28kT0FC_fl1MzCaV99LQ6BrGdaOiO2Z_yP1qKwh1ebdzmYT3B9oRkb-BsGCeaWHjkVzXNc-bQzfc7qkXxtRSzn23k5Y9XDbTduq3oYqeDPfx_BfCUlwwrjPiYyGRLyUVnYO/s1600/IMG_0311.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our sugar shack</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmd6GMb0hSB1em1gLblkHbakp4rCVTbUvSUWEg9ozbams9QP0w6N267IoFuwEIrxjKYMbEduUm4hb1t2rMhUIk4acJGOdeBtsSb-i1-hzuIDkzz8N2ZLyWZ5-cifpDiksh3oUREQNICza/s1600/IMG_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmd6GMb0hSB1em1gLblkHbakp4rCVTbUvSUWEg9ozbams9QP0w6N267IoFuwEIrxjKYMbEduUm4hb1t2rMhUIk4acJGOdeBtsSb-i1-hzuIDkzz8N2ZLyWZ5-cifpDiksh3oUREQNICza/s1600/IMG_0312.JPG" height="400" width="267" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHN342M4l1uvnB2afTk9V-_ft0MrItVKDn201cS_v_AMmBax2iPjnkZ7NS17Zpa4mbOUryrTBXGeovnOtHeUEtT2LnA-3l6f0cz5PVIWbWHOpbT_jGqp3JqBOGrD5RiSCd1QArAy_Ysex/s1600/IMG_0314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHN342M4l1uvnB2afTk9V-_ft0MrItVKDn201cS_v_AMmBax2iPjnkZ7NS17Zpa4mbOUryrTBXGeovnOtHeUEtT2LnA-3l6f0cz5PVIWbWHOpbT_jGqp3JqBOGrD5RiSCd1QArAy_Ysex/s1600/IMG_0314.JPG" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never anyone on our beach!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBKBS77qWvVCqg78HmvvWkQmUe14oXqniufVC26T0VODO7DGkZLt7DFlf0jtEYBqlduMELejc0MjgXBfvMbPuyeZd4EJ1N_rDqnYa4FHlfu7mxU4Debsu1kMWzNwvTLAOyBU9qA91v3ku/s1600/IMG_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBKBS77qWvVCqg78HmvvWkQmUe14oXqniufVC26T0VODO7DGkZLt7DFlf0jtEYBqlduMELejc0MjgXBfvMbPuyeZd4EJ1N_rDqnYa4FHlfu7mxU4Debsu1kMWzNwvTLAOyBU9qA91v3ku/s1600/IMG_0316.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Superbowl party</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUPyCH6x6gjwRbvKKCnFliLcGTKEaiyi1jGdT0mHn27G2q_0r1M_zbYJR0s-U7R2miRzSi9LiTxJ4FmuiEWTE4lhec_JGPtYyizOuvtDF9EAgde9-JILPn09FHETykLrYPMimVST6jpNI/s1600/IMG_0317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUPyCH6x6gjwRbvKKCnFliLcGTKEaiyi1jGdT0mHn27G2q_0r1M_zbYJR0s-U7R2miRzSi9LiTxJ4FmuiEWTE4lhec_JGPtYyizOuvtDF9EAgde9-JILPn09FHETykLrYPMimVST6jpNI/s1600/IMG_0317.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uDUAejDmKtoKYEPyqWF6YR3g8gLrHSnrbiGmyJggopm-b6tp8ZeFv4rqMvGZ9IRu6SmmuZRys1mV_MOgkLKsA5KcHidf32OW9kDWfYQcZgAKJZnl1R0jh2F3F0VozhF_dCIJxYnVAb4q/s1600/IMG_0326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uDUAejDmKtoKYEPyqWF6YR3g8gLrHSnrbiGmyJggopm-b6tp8ZeFv4rqMvGZ9IRu6SmmuZRys1mV_MOgkLKsA5KcHidf32OW9kDWfYQcZgAKJZnl1R0jh2F3F0VozhF_dCIJxYnVAb4q/s1600/IMG_0326.JPG" height="400" width="267" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2YQ5YRn06fQAnBYbB7D0FHbo7bwQ-59qJD9G6Iwe7bbVCO8okEFU7mCjzIrII0dtIPcNoPmFGqoIpvVW6RC6W7GFphk6qPLO4S13fD8LwEr9rxMtyliTiK_Dv5NC29L-eKBv6O8xrdxe/s1600/IMG_0327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2YQ5YRn06fQAnBYbB7D0FHbo7bwQ-59qJD9G6Iwe7bbVCO8okEFU7mCjzIrII0dtIPcNoPmFGqoIpvVW6RC6W7GFphk6qPLO4S13fD8LwEr9rxMtyliTiK_Dv5NC29L-eKBv6O8xrdxe/s1600/IMG_0327.JPG" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daily beach walk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZcjYDLADMVDlNQNIYVlZl7R1oRtce9-Ij86jrc1dxhSiJKMuvNJ0N_XWMxvqJOxqs9lyNNV7oec5bq6hv6mhT7eErvGzELOWnaLBlZMZd6hdCL-PpAc-XuKe66zTeQcvJOq7lN6R8_XD/s1600/IMG_0330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZcjYDLADMVDlNQNIYVlZl7R1oRtce9-Ij86jrc1dxhSiJKMuvNJ0N_XWMxvqJOxqs9lyNNV7oec5bq6hv6mhT7eErvGzELOWnaLBlZMZd6hdCL-PpAc-XuKe66zTeQcvJOq7lN6R8_XD/s1600/IMG_0330.JPG" height="400" width="267" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6880241671671249694" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6880241671671249694" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
Aloha……...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-80955780246552332052014-01-25T08:50:00.001-08:002014-01-25T08:50:36.442-08:00Sum's it up perfectly…...enough said……<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8MHqG4UiAEDHavZlcOxx07N1s0RPha9RcvVjxHQyd67j44xxTtEPrK-9R7yOdVoBpZ_VmOULZVO6-AfMBuLbw_6050hv-Hfbq_M5G57kQ10DTVVpPukhHgeLRB1Z1O592vk7uqHBdP6C/s1600/IMG_0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8MHqG4UiAEDHavZlcOxx07N1s0RPha9RcvVjxHQyd67j44xxTtEPrK-9R7yOdVoBpZ_VmOULZVO6-AfMBuLbw_6050hv-Hfbq_M5G57kQ10DTVVpPukhHgeLRB1Z1O592vk7uqHBdP6C/s1600/IMG_0296.JPG" height="187" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-77090016630095352252014-01-01T19:38:00.003-08:002014-01-01T19:38:54.999-08:00The loss of a Friend….. <br />
Today should have been a happy day, it should have been a day that made me feel optimistic about the year ahead and being the first day of the year, is the best day to be positive and think about the great days to come in 2014…. and you know it actually started out that way. I slept in, I had really good coffee and and about 10am I decided the best way to ring in the new year was to go for a ride… and thats when it all went awry.<br />
<br />
For those who have know me for awhile they will remember a day, long ago, when I had a bike accident during the Vancouver Triathlon and completely trashed my Bianchi, after the hospital it was on to get a new bike… I chose an Argon 18, she has been with me through a lot of good times and a lot of bad times, and even though I recently regulated her to my winter bike due to my new Colnago love, I still loved riding her.. and have been doing so all this winter.<br />
<br />
So what is this lengthy dialogue all about, well I awoke this morning, ready to spend a couple of hours alone in my head (aka on my bike) and yes.. the worst thing I can imagine happened, it was gone, stolen……… the bike that had taken me through so much was now likely deemed to be torn apart and sold to support a drug habit or worse, to some unsuspecting girl who thinks she is getting a good deal on a great bike, until of course I see her on it and go completely Haligonian on her.. which trust me is not pretty…..<br />
<br />
So I won't torture you any more with my grief, and while I know its not like loosing a life, it still feels like I have lost a friend…. RIP.. my girl.. until I find the %$^&% that took you and rip their heart out from their chest .. but really .. I'm fine… I'm Ok..<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA0GZ1DxB1LnY37CXyhjpQj39fIIhGLXOzOioVH-qycXzZJj8O5-yKkppGRTJaRrENPAtXXnEf8um4ZX2VaIdpdcNZA6kLndLYv_DLKar1ogXCm8J3sS985EcrdouZHYDrmp6RDPmoIKX/s1600/argon+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA0GZ1DxB1LnY37CXyhjpQj39fIIhGLXOzOioVH-qycXzZJj8O5-yKkppGRTJaRrENPAtXXnEf8um4ZX2VaIdpdcNZA6kLndLYv_DLKar1ogXCm8J3sS985EcrdouZHYDrmp6RDPmoIKX/s320/argon+close+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrUOVnYnrWnd8y5sNKU7xIbNKnpQvk4T9axs5nO8s4WTqfhLhsVw45oRni-Nc2ed2-bQg5iowSTEUvurfVQawy46MlPh3wkszWo20aldtK1oEAWY29JkrbOyZdmUDbLmTk2oSb_S9yzk9/s1600/IMG_0327.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrUOVnYnrWnd8y5sNKU7xIbNKnpQvk4T9axs5nO8s4WTqfhLhsVw45oRni-Nc2ed2-bQg5iowSTEUvurfVQawy46MlPh3wkszWo20aldtK1oEAWY29JkrbOyZdmUDbLmTk2oSb_S9yzk9/s320/IMG_0327.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-40152239295974513502013-12-24T09:02:00.002-08:002013-12-24T09:02:24.696-08:00Merry Ho Ho ... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my Family and Friends this holiday season........my Christmas wish.. to have a tree like this.. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGcqP8cZm1miup1IPoRt5EP41BLolrslwuSP3EYh2dvyoAT-cqgZ1hSckGDHe3lkXXZ955IZE_QilkXe7P5r_g51NNLe6PtMXckXR6ypili-Bh7JjeM16Xt99NKZajZuji4tY8oqGafmS/s1600/wine+xmas+tree.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_594568="null" gua="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGcqP8cZm1miup1IPoRt5EP41BLolrslwuSP3EYh2dvyoAT-cqgZ1hSckGDHe3lkXXZ955IZE_QilkXe7P5r_g51NNLe6PtMXckXR6ypili-Bh7JjeM16Xt99NKZajZuji4tY8oqGafmS/s320/wine+xmas+tree.jpeg" width="242" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-28703285471070227852013-09-22T19:29:00.003-07:002013-09-22T19:29:48.527-07:00Dwight's Top Picks for the 2010 Bordeaux Release!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvj613iUSxOmoN-mCBzG-1M6oQsMWxxO9i9Ca9-iTxNrWqydPVs_6fIJuvE31Z_Z_oMAhshLUHs3UR-N_kcKi0yCdvqjtwLrOtkzF10RmNIojr2r91pJFqck9jJ0ew0eI6r1qoWP6OXLb/s1600/Image+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvj613iUSxOmoN-mCBzG-1M6oQsMWxxO9i9Ca9-iTxNrWqydPVs_6fIJuvE31Z_Z_oMAhshLUHs3UR-N_kcKi0yCdvqjtwLrOtkzF10RmNIojr2r91pJFqck9jJ0ew0eI6r1qoWP6OXLb/s320/Image+1.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;">I thought I would be the conduit for Dwight's "FWS" insights into the Bordeaux release this year….. so….. below are his top picks for the left and right banks… a bit of an inside tip are the Fronsac. It is a really good value as the AOC, the area the wine is from, is right beside Pomerol, one of the more famous right back Bordeaux communes. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fronsac is a bit obscure, not popular because it is not well known and not well marketed.. so you don't see it very often. </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: large;">Fronsac has the same level of commune restrictions as Margaux or Saint-Emilion, meaning the French gov't regulations for the quality are exactly the same, which means</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: large;"> the quality is there for half the price.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dwight's value picks for the 2010 Bordeaux release! One of the best vintages in the last 10 years! (numbers are based on the catalogue from the BC Liquor Distribution Catalogue) </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Left Bank Bordeaux's - Cabernet Sauvignon based</span></u></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">#21 - Chateau Brown, Pessac-leognan $38.00 - Drink now or 2020 </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">#13 - Château Bel-veu, Haut-medoc $38.00 Drink now through 2020</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Right Bank Bordeaux's - Merlot based </span></u></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">#86 - Haut-Carles, <b>Fronsac</b> $38.00 - Drink now through 2030 </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">#154 - Chateau La Vieille Cure. <b>Fronsac</b> $38.00 - wait till 2015 then good for another 10 yrs </span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">#17 - Chateau Bourgneuf, Pomerol $68.00 - hold till 2015… and longer :-) </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">So Dwight is heading straight for the Fronsac's.. my job is to tackle the crazy people that get in our way!! Got to get my elbows out and go </span></span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.2em;">Haligonian</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> on them!!!!! :-) </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Ann </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-31500682629903703922013-09-08T08:52:00.000-07:002013-09-08T09:16:20.337-07:00What I did on my summer vacation! So I know it's been a long time, and I am sorry... I have signed up for Facebook and it seems to have become my defacto way of posting... So.. This array of images is from my most recent vacation. Which I would like to point out… was really wonderful, we really do live in a great country.<br />
<br />
It all started with the RBC Banff Gran Fondo, in essence a 145km bike race. Well they say its not a <i>race</i>.. But I knew better, and I did race it...and I am very happy with my effort, 4hrs & 54mins, 19th out of 171 in my age group and 37th out of 474 females overall... It might not sound that impressive but given the fact that I had been sick for almost 6 weeks and ended up on antibiotics two weeks before the race for bronchitis ... I thought it was not too shabby!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gQngKe5IK0hP6Adshdl2bHkZ2-o3xniqCKAiMwV_WwFy_qj7r61Q6WIQZ33JMX8ept_6o1BKbD-Jz6-3U5GqfxwTqS2iKbjCY0Ug8qdndFKGiOueLMaRoGwzqVS_FOuyM3oAzWi0Mikr/s1600/IMG_1038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gQngKe5IK0hP6Adshdl2bHkZ2-o3xniqCKAiMwV_WwFy_qj7r61Q6WIQZ33JMX8ept_6o1BKbD-Jz6-3U5GqfxwTqS2iKbjCY0Ug8qdndFKGiOueLMaRoGwzqVS_FOuyM3oAzWi0Mikr/s320/IMG_1038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I have to give some great credit to my coach Mike Neill from Human Powered Racing, while I did not get formal coaching this year, last year Mike not only coached me to prepare for the ride but during the ride as well! It was his support and guidance during the ride last year that help so much this year, I was able to pick myself up after getting dropped by the group I was with in the last 20km and talked myself into moving forward at the pace I needed to… thanks Mike, I know you thought you were being hard on me last year…. but you were not and it helped!<br />
<br />
The Trip…<br />
<br />
So three nights in Banff with a great visit from my sister in law and it was off to wonderful Chateau Lake Louise, 6 nights; hiking, biking, canoeing, eating... And yes wine.... I can not even express how wonderful that place is! We were in a 1 bedroom lake view suite, yes… it was that nice!<br />
<br />
Then one night in Radium Hot Springs, where we made friends with a waitress at the golf club that was sure we should do shooters, luckily we were sure we should not :) after a good nights sleep it was off to Nelson BC.... Historic, beautiful... But just a tad odd..... That's for sure...<br />
<br />
Now after a very scenic drive we are staying at a little slice of heaven in Naramata BC, vineyard views, birds chirping, and breathtaking sunsets....<br />
<br />
Want proof of all this wonderfulness? Here you go!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtdsOTxuU8xSiaaCPyB8y1J54WJI4os2iif2YEY_SQdiIiXVfNIYd9HjKcaZbIYxdaeEBledncRkkbu2zWPhE9yGvtVuybvGwX41uhcHJiFY3bgzCF7hh2IsLET5P5oqnrFlvSfsRR6Jz/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtdsOTxuU8xSiaaCPyB8y1J54WJI4os2iif2YEY_SQdiIiXVfNIYd9HjKcaZbIYxdaeEBledncRkkbu2zWPhE9yGvtVuybvGwX41uhcHJiFY3bgzCF7hh2IsLET5P5oqnrFlvSfsRR6Jz/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Lake Louise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVv51P3c6VmR2Zfz0NsjyntKyUk4IkRSYJDzEB4M1z10Qg-7WPEv3OIe-rxo4SbFUo9W9vsRYxKrVgyXud1TpbOjyMcKRVSxJRvI2RjyKSBuFFZdomgVlCMCFYyYyxRNTCFvTMwWBsYaIJ/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVv51P3c6VmR2Zfz0NsjyntKyUk4IkRSYJDzEB4M1z10Qg-7WPEv3OIe-rxo4SbFUo9W9vsRYxKrVgyXud1TpbOjyMcKRVSxJRvI2RjyKSBuFFZdomgVlCMCFYyYyxRNTCFvTMwWBsYaIJ/s400/image.jpg" width="346" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Its ok… he's just slipping...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8GzdvZE8fkrtiCQ6hSaMGoBe2XnMa7LOV-qVaTRaIaNs2d9lBwRr3p_4lkfdeeGdOSETnWnAbePv9USPI0Uv3AEF9EYt0ERnqpJZUh6_HBwgPhbXWBhXpW0gp5IjZXZUV6ZHxuMCCOgB/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8GzdvZE8fkrtiCQ6hSaMGoBe2XnMa7LOV-qVaTRaIaNs2d9lBwRr3p_4lkfdeeGdOSETnWnAbePv9USPI0Uv3AEF9EYt0ERnqpJZUh6_HBwgPhbXWBhXpW0gp5IjZXZUV6ZHxuMCCOgB/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up high over the Chateau!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZI0DjfalhOIKQlt3PXY7Fq53uDwt38SzWZ23_zxq0QwRA-6VZa4hoNJsPqq09e0xjomBcEXfbUantP3KCPPexf_5dAQvLMqugSEoKDdqpDRhoLLslzjJjYoSd9CSnZCL8YUhaBmdXUOE/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZI0DjfalhOIKQlt3PXY7Fq53uDwt38SzWZ23_zxq0QwRA-6VZa4hoNJsPqq09e0xjomBcEXfbUantP3KCPPexf_5dAQvLMqugSEoKDdqpDRhoLLslzjJjYoSd9CSnZCL8YUhaBmdXUOE/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QrADBmJmXCdUh3RSXKhc2q4DnGRqvzajT6Lci3D9wZwsTmcaKzVyAct7V-PhtixNhOSFNPCPBxIubYpbsV210UkEW53dGKDdFQh_GvCioplZ2JZahyRAv8vpAmi3y2K6lTBj6p5Lrfe6/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QrADBmJmXCdUh3RSXKhc2q4DnGRqvzajT6Lci3D9wZwsTmcaKzVyAct7V-PhtixNhOSFNPCPBxIubYpbsV210UkEW53dGKDdFQh_GvCioplZ2JZahyRAv8vpAmi3y2K6lTBj6p5Lrfe6/s400/image.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking through the trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0j6fZU7e8apK8dqFhfd5rpNvrj9N9oJ_6juGM2_fWPNWkKsppN9Kvhz-koR6VD4eKliUklg3BidRmQgpHLR6o0TXkG3FPWI_KdpnEDCCPTjajb3CeUxG6zyfI9tYN-2oWoQNsvOZ6-ik/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0j6fZU7e8apK8dqFhfd5rpNvrj9N9oJ_6juGM2_fWPNWkKsppN9Kvhz-koR6VD4eKliUklg3BidRmQgpHLR6o0TXkG3FPWI_KdpnEDCCPTjajb3CeUxG6zyfI9tYN-2oWoQNsvOZ6-ik/s400/image.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the beach in Nelson, BC! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimirMUR9AWQyio2JVkhAvHlvEGypFWEOiO9p49q5lrI6XBig5LI7yNzeO1p4U4K0iwlPHRtDQXDdR-Q1nHTKxjJHM3-qLiEq-ib_4cyMpfnQv7bwn4KFLPREhwqr2BJfbFtiC7C2ocZ5wP/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimirMUR9AWQyio2JVkhAvHlvEGypFWEOiO9p49q5lrI6XBig5LI7yNzeO1p4U4K0iwlPHRtDQXDdR-Q1nHTKxjJHM3-qLiEq-ib_4cyMpfnQv7bwn4KFLPREhwqr2BJfbFtiC7C2ocZ5wP/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top of the hike, Mt Fairview 9002 FT! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0reh2HA16bLrL1gvmwTfjjmeOOMbwxSGbDsqF8RJHuZfR0fk5vNWzJisc09Bz4OW58zvMtdSA2S5-rkM_b9DdXD8tg2lED6ljjb33Z_ew1EBl7OB6oOrxvkFE1UTVpiuP0aaRXIRPstPb/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0reh2HA16bLrL1gvmwTfjjmeOOMbwxSGbDsqF8RJHuZfR0fk5vNWzJisc09Bz4OW58zvMtdSA2S5-rkM_b9DdXD8tg2lED6ljjb33Z_ew1EBl7OB6oOrxvkFE1UTVpiuP0aaRXIRPstPb/s400/image.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iconic Lake Louise, we had dinner here! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-34MT-45UwNL8mErulK6B48KFvXxS0tRCNC8QpEdIVDs9nv8COOSreuctG8aBZTHUNbGuD1azaN7MMXbTPKrmqPBfe0T-ff15GMoNrjN49WUTLUKzXcCNopEMoHeBtgeuVDzwFs3_4L_f/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-34MT-45UwNL8mErulK6B48KFvXxS0tRCNC8QpEdIVDs9nv8COOSreuctG8aBZTHUNbGuD1azaN7MMXbTPKrmqPBfe0T-ff15GMoNrjN49WUTLUKzXcCNopEMoHeBtgeuVDzwFs3_4L_f/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little slice of heaven in Naramata BC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPiFuIt7eI9GahWCtwZBCtVUtuiJbnGPc4uHoIQ_xHz7BaajEc4M0j8JvRtQiBJpTsLPaYEWrC154ChHxjboyv_bvy5XB77UlvRdBe26V7adQzucqkjtOEX71SGRgAOo50S7XtlmUIYQk/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPiFuIt7eI9GahWCtwZBCtVUtuiJbnGPc4uHoIQ_xHz7BaajEc4M0j8JvRtQiBJpTsLPaYEWrC154ChHxjboyv_bvy5XB77UlvRdBe26V7adQzucqkjtOEX71SGRgAOo50S7XtlmUIYQk/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G3w4D-CzB6gvFQM8s1XZGwIHbWy-PWLa_5PadFjmvB-8foicr4id1-pBKeb5sX_2DYrdpPnN9Ik3gJenK7gbVIKjra5n9N6va7O7DcP6lNK_63i-avBdud0PDXtr3VaBQIHlXaGf_7yi/s1600/IMG_1082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G3w4D-CzB6gvFQM8s1XZGwIHbWy-PWLa_5PadFjmvB-8foicr4id1-pBKeb5sX_2DYrdpPnN9Ik3gJenK7gbVIKjra5n9N6va7O7DcP6lNK_63i-avBdud0PDXtr3VaBQIHlXaGf_7yi/s320/IMG_1082.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hume Hotel, Nelson BC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8pLpxfbfDGClLJKetclzN5ZawXeRTht60LnHzMq9PyjpJ1M7DMGhvyYKAPSD2o5azljcE4ARUEHE5fuCHiD2QrBmZxSo4q4ZBCv5uO0UCa_TZdgQbAlvnY6uBaFF7gbAFWqbLrn2vfZr/s1600/IMG_0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8pLpxfbfDGClLJKetclzN5ZawXeRTht60LnHzMq9PyjpJ1M7DMGhvyYKAPSD2o5azljcE4ARUEHE5fuCHiD2QrBmZxSo4q4ZBCv5uO0UCa_TZdgQbAlvnY6uBaFF7gbAFWqbLrn2vfZr/s320/IMG_0072.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Lake...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLC3g6p1tKKH9M-f3G2XQG_VnvtjtcoX0LyZM3MtJdLZwasu28vb1-ThUl1yX7cLuVp6w2AmYzaRFFpdCQZTo51P4BDKrd-S1IljaGBuLnGSp27z0k-wnSn3oPOIXDc33vKK1VnUH6d5C/s1600/DSC_1134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLC3g6p1tKKH9M-f3G2XQG_VnvtjtcoX0LyZM3MtJdLZwasu28vb1-ThUl1yX7cLuVp6w2AmYzaRFFpdCQZTo51P4BDKrd-S1IljaGBuLnGSp27z0k-wnSn3oPOIXDc33vKK1VnUH6d5C/s400/DSC_1134.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of the world! Mt Fairview 9002 Feet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwDgG8R4m00mx3bG_c1OST61_QLhmiKnI49fJNZl5BwYOSq2VLpne__f1ybKWzqZalyYCOjGMxnzQWM4wyInc47hENRlkdYXPwhLmzXFJspxOkD1YAPzoh7lieo8a7J-aM1AB5l3kE7BL/s1600/DSC_1139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwDgG8R4m00mx3bG_c1OST61_QLhmiKnI49fJNZl5BwYOSq2VLpne__f1ybKWzqZalyYCOjGMxnzQWM4wyInc47hENRlkdYXPwhLmzXFJspxOkD1YAPzoh7lieo8a7J-aM1AB5l3kE7BL/s320/DSC_1139.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incredible views… </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0YFGiCTWYxjKNpQ7gV-On4C1UfKkTtEZfqusKhI9-WEC9z4fJOA7a1nGukwHfPS7mBbACud0Uat2s6_8dMv7hKHLaaB_ACKkmTycBN0rusBpcO1w4ubfN9l58ZmxEV6TkPnfOFc9NU7M/s1600/DSC_1142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0YFGiCTWYxjKNpQ7gV-On4C1UfKkTtEZfqusKhI9-WEC9z4fJOA7a1nGukwHfPS7mBbACud0Uat2s6_8dMv7hKHLaaB_ACKkmTycBN0rusBpcO1w4ubfN9l58ZmxEV6TkPnfOFc9NU7M/s400/DSC_1142.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A couple of fun videos! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NC5bVKoId5M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/8qF_SJvnQwE/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8qF_SJvnQwE?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8qF_SJvnQwE?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I hope you enjoy…….!!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-62299857461113793532013-06-20T12:51:00.002-07:002013-06-20T20:47:41.079-07:00New Sport, New fun! Since starting my athletic life at 30 (ish) I have often wondered why I did not start sooner. I always thought I just liked learning new things... when what I really like is learning a new physical actitiy. I should have seen this coming, baseball with the brothers, loved being on my bike when I was a kid, taking dance lessons (this was very brief,, the tights were just too much!) all of it early indicators that being phyically challanged by learning a new sport was something that I enjoyed...so naturally when I entered back into this world again Triathlon was a great choice, lots of variety.. and LOTS to learn... but as some say.. been there, done that, and guess what... I am doing it again! Not triathlon however.... but a new sport, Rowing...... not the row, row, row your boat kind of rowing... in the club its called scullling. Now I can hear all the people that know me.... "of course you did!"<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfw7XUoYWjSuWcRNj8bneG_6jKWVKbO8eVQxwZbtQTjgJnQFnTPZH3NqKmds3v7236ivKH7OHb_mgvuDWvTTYbbCfZL-iqGNhxyJZevwgdDpdcCdlQPPqSp2dBvkASJw5TCMi54jc7pfO/s1600/Ann+Rwoing3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfw7XUoYWjSuWcRNj8bneG_6jKWVKbO8eVQxwZbtQTjgJnQFnTPZH3NqKmds3v7236ivKH7OHb_mgvuDWvTTYbbCfZL-iqGNhxyJZevwgdDpdcCdlQPPqSp2dBvkASJw5TCMi54jc7pfO/s400/Ann+Rwoing3.jpg" width="400" wya="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't I look happy :-) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, I am ... not only is this sport physically challanging, it mentally challanging as well. This is one of the most technical activities I have ever done... and for good reason, if you dont do it properly you end up very, very wet! <br />
<br />
I started last year... why pick this sport? Well there is a wonderful resturant called The Lift, yeah I know, wait for it, and it just happens to sit perched out into one of the prettiest harbours in Canada... sitting in the sun facing Stanley Park watching... yes you guessed it, rowers... they looked so at ease, so happy, so graceful.. I turned to Dwight and said.. I would like to try that some day. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievDNHK0ibypCirG8ukpfshe5bBMC_SY6fG3TSLOkPNw-NJ0B5eRHJoQkP8IYbZWNCJ4MDxxw5-0xCpF-SU1EeoivyEAr4wl3A5WNAk16hmH1iJWmoTXkZLsvtet-K9hYV0xxG5285jsFJ/s1600/HSW65_Lift_Bar_Grill_Vancouver_BC_08+-+good.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievDNHK0ibypCirG8ukpfshe5bBMC_SY6fG3TSLOkPNw-NJ0B5eRHJoQkP8IYbZWNCJ4MDxxw5-0xCpF-SU1EeoivyEAr4wl3A5WNAk16hmH1iJWmoTXkZLsvtet-K9hYV0xxG5285jsFJ/s320/HSW65_Lift_Bar_Grill_Vancouver_BC_08+-+good.jpg" width="320" wya="true" /></a></div>
And so I did.......<br />
<br />
I joined the Learn to Row program last year... level 1 & 2 - both done in two months.. September and October.. so I got a nice taste of "winter" rowing in October.. but I could not stay away.. worked hard over the last couple of months and finally got accepted into a program at the Vancouver Rowing Club out of Coal harbour. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItJHePlg0IdONxO8l6RdfyOixVK_dR2Gl8zLVM6RCsUXZo1WQ8jkDbgVoJMeGicotk29-oHgiaQLiCA8jbxb9-KnsGXc6aaAcDdja71BSlghnXOwBwdhp6Q_QGtYLNLC5oQdXE-tK9pak/s1600/VRC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItJHePlg0IdONxO8l6RdfyOixVK_dR2Gl8zLVM6RCsUXZo1WQ8jkDbgVoJMeGicotk29-oHgiaQLiCA8jbxb9-KnsGXc6aaAcDdja71BSlghnXOwBwdhp6Q_QGtYLNLC5oQdXE-tK9pak/s320/VRC.jpg" width="320" wya="true" /></a></div>
<br />
Some good news is that I have NOT flipped a boat yet! But they do say, don't worry.. you will.. everyone does.. at least once ! I would relate it to when I first started clipping into bike pedals... you just know that it is going to happen, that day that you take your focus away for just a minute, usually at a traffic light.. and down you go! <br />
<br />
So hopefully when it does happen, its warm.. and the water is clean :-) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8o4Siawgl8y1bD4wvQqNt7KlPsyD6MjMbYMm9FnSYb1A6DrKl8wkuSKdzs2D1QQjFOaeM8MeMNIfbkrz_RR-jaKEOrT-9ri8IitWH8Ju93iVOaP44_NLvgYHyWBqwPyQ_qyJ3wVWWCW_/s1600/Ann+Rowing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8o4Siawgl8y1bD4wvQqNt7KlPsyD6MjMbYMm9FnSYb1A6DrKl8wkuSKdzs2D1QQjFOaeM8MeMNIfbkrz_RR-jaKEOrT-9ri8IitWH8Ju93iVOaP44_NLvgYHyWBqwPyQ_qyJ3wVWWCW_/s320/Ann+Rowing.jpg" width="240" wya="true" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the learn to row prgram you start in an eight man boat "sweeping" so only one oar.. its really something to see, 8 brand new rowers trying to get coordinated and not go in the water.. I think I spent the first three classes with images of me swiming back to shore floating through my mind constantly... but we made it through and surprisingly we did not get wet, and we actually got to a point where we were.... if only a little.. rowing togheter. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The level 2 program has you in a four man boat "scullling" so two oars... that is even more interesting. The fact that I would be willing to rist my life with strangers on the water is knowing that I have a coach boat beside me... but I am not sure they would be so motivated to save us... at least not at first, its cold in the Pacific! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0S0zwjmgkHgYKoGvf71CuRjMx0TvB3kn4KGenIz3OsGjZfXqzwQPie4LGueIF5GJnkpzzjDK_pUF7sy-WiJ03CJUHZGqQhOuW6QRXI3jf42PxgKz_6zU1SMfDI_PtyHvARvIlT6yDtTI/s1600/VRC2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0S0zwjmgkHgYKoGvf71CuRjMx0TvB3kn4KGenIz3OsGjZfXqzwQPie4LGueIF5GJnkpzzjDK_pUF7sy-WiJ03CJUHZGqQhOuW6QRXI3jf42PxgKz_6zU1SMfDI_PtyHvARvIlT6yDtTI/s320/VRC2.jpg" width="240" wya="true" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So I have started on another learning journey.. I have always said I like to do activities that make me feel like a kid again... cycling, rock climbing, trail running... and now.. rowing.. its like being in a big bath tub with a great new toy! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFoabXev1rpH4CoQrKMQYQmFHxUjeEbOIBM0DySDbsZtVuoNY7hCUg0N608v4s2EG4IOz7fJ7wzqTjKZLcoobYSUcnyjU_HHkmd2BSt4lHSTXeKaakUbOvzJViQdikb9JQ-2U_RpDw20T/s1600/VRC1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFoabXev1rpH4CoQrKMQYQmFHxUjeEbOIBM0DySDbsZtVuoNY7hCUg0N608v4s2EG4IOz7fJ7wzqTjKZLcoobYSUcnyjU_HHkmd2BSt4lHSTXeKaakUbOvzJViQdikb9JQ-2U_RpDw20T/s320/VRC1.jpg" width="320" wya="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My New Playground!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Rowing is a sport that I expect to take a long time to learn, thats a good thing.. at least <em>I</em> think. So that brings me back to the question of ... why did I not start in sports sooner? The only answer that I have is.. I just didn't.. my path became one of smoking and eating potato chips.. with that behind me now I certainly have a passion for staying healthy and being fit.. its rather addicitve actually. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TthGjpduaPz3z_lDVsIXx7B1fXr5g5pV_AqgaVQhVqlXSqXRmkQpvTGwuw0zapaIMHbNBqB5cbi0BwPQa0MffqnlN2R8PMp5w5LauadwPlgFaYUsU07cHGKWJitxNhvHKsBKl4CiZjfn/s1600/Ann+rowing2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TthGjpduaPz3z_lDVsIXx7B1fXr5g5pV_AqgaVQhVqlXSqXRmkQpvTGwuw0zapaIMHbNBqB5cbi0BwPQa0MffqnlN2R8PMp5w5LauadwPlgFaYUsU07cHGKWJitxNhvHKsBKl4CiZjfn/s320/Ann+rowing2.jpg" width="240" wya="true" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hopefully I will be able to share some great stories of my new experiences here... and I might even get that picture of me<em><strong> in</strong></em> the water ....... some day... but lets say.. some day not too soon! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But for now I will enjoy my new adventure… and always..and I mean.. always… enjoy the post effort reward! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6FQWqT4fC2ffswI_2y9FzZraoqV5M4v5mHicDcw-PEaWVV-SB1Zy-y-Howxn3G4aHY_qReJggmh6WSJ7NGSyQAd7meocHbtd9r3SWWYTJtnG_P1B3AFxw13K-ig_TxGv5DJjgql6LKWY/s1600/IMG_0868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6FQWqT4fC2ffswI_2y9FzZraoqV5M4v5mHicDcw-PEaWVV-SB1Zy-y-Howxn3G4aHY_qReJggmh6WSJ7NGSyQAd7meocHbtd9r3SWWYTJtnG_P1B3AFxw13K-ig_TxGv5DJjgql6LKWY/s320/IMG_0868.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BDm_ymwNx9Fvjg5BxT7Jzp_aiIHy56BXLL-OE2RHWsv9l4MNyhtzxXnVdrjHH6eOz14leK68zBzWTo_x-N34NS0MhytMfse8iqeV1oGVg_BfbV5sj8EvbnpUyXqTk7If0PrKPcRaXZsC/s1600/IMG_0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BDm_ymwNx9Fvjg5BxT7Jzp_aiIHy56BXLL-OE2RHWsv9l4MNyhtzxXnVdrjHH6eOz14leK68zBzWTo_x-N34NS0MhytMfse8iqeV1oGVg_BfbV5sj8EvbnpUyXqTk7If0PrKPcRaXZsC/s320/IMG_0870.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Till next time......... Happy chatting......</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-72308347940546756922013-06-04T15:15:00.000-07:002013-06-04T15:15:43.509-07:00Surprise, Surprise, Surprise Was 2001 a good year? Would you know? Would you care? you should…..<br />
<div>
</div>
Why, because when you drink Bordeaux that is properly aged you will realize what the fuss is all about, trust… I didn't know until I did.. and now… I do…and I learned a lot... as you will see ! <br />
<div>
</div>
Dwight recently came home - yes remember the whole French Wine Scholar torturous classes he must attend.. yeah, one of those.. they spent time in Bordeaux… from that knowledge, tasting and experience.. I got to try… a <i>really</i> tasty bottle of Bordeaux.<br />
<div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfe96F50Xv_NORefHxXjSwNobmoDG2T6OEnV0MF5ssVhnRLpFC5sI3Im6ZU7743m978a4P8FPAZc8hQ3na4JGeS7xYdUAy097yMK6a9lfPI3c43ILFuosdRk1Esz2IpKm4Kles4Hedu49/s1600/wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfe96F50Xv_NORefHxXjSwNobmoDG2T6OEnV0MF5ssVhnRLpFC5sI3Im6ZU7743m978a4P8FPAZc8hQ3na4JGeS7xYdUAy097yMK6a9lfPI3c43ILFuosdRk1Esz2IpKm4Kles4Hedu49/s320/wine.jpg" width="239" yya="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this was it.. Yum.. Yum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
</div>
So up front you need to know that Bordeaux when its released it not meant to be drank, Bordeaux is made to age. It is expected to spend a considerable amount of time in the cellar.. or your closet :-)<br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjdLChnhfS2NlZBiKUCjvQdPyhW8hl8lBW1XQ9dtCTrgjZUoZm4PIG9XijWg_xEFJTAqBMl-IhxFNmJuaJqSdKqhfbE-2_6uJ5QrODb4aGazmBchGSU6oGb8btuaT1KQZ9bMlkQxBlH9g/s1600/nice+wine+cellar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjdLChnhfS2NlZBiKUCjvQdPyhW8hl8lBW1XQ9dtCTrgjZUoZm4PIG9XijWg_xEFJTAqBMl-IhxFNmJuaJqSdKqhfbE-2_6uJ5QrODb4aGazmBchGSU6oGb8btuaT1KQZ9bMlkQxBlH9g/s200/nice+wine+cellar.jpg" width="200" yya="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So if you have this........</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoBsIKpN9Qworb-gC0lhYzlMu4Xw483EwZRQjyY_4rQrjjUx4VysYQ4kwpWAWeuoNAvlEImYbIw3KIQdLwuFvgJeVfLsvMRNcqWnh1tw3wgYtHWpdclgx5E-HmGoNMBAXlpd6TMHPx09P/s1600/wine+closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoBsIKpN9Qworb-gC0lhYzlMu4Xw483EwZRQjyY_4rQrjjUx4VysYQ4kwpWAWeuoNAvlEImYbIw3KIQdLwuFvgJeVfLsvMRNcqWnh1tw3wgYtHWpdclgx5E-HmGoNMBAXlpd6TMHPx09P/s1600/wine+closet.jpg" yya="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">or this.... keep it safe! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
</div>
Most of our experiences with Bordeaux is that we drink it too young, this means it has some unsatisfying flavours… mainly; lots of tannin, jammy fruit, or its overly woody. All of these things are there all the time however they are there in an overpowering way when the wine is young, but meld into a beautiful bouquet when aged.<br />
<div>
</div>
The little number above is one that Dwight picked up to convince me that I would like Bordeaux…. I said.. bring it on.. I am not an easy push over… I might not be a FWS… but I drink A LOT of wine…!<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaZJdKAWREwk_-as6BVXo7Bs3S_-w0XfCuNBr1derlkM1Nj7NWbJQmBboGngzHax2uHBKWRZZHTu30iGdYD59Qz6o3NBiUbgW_MJZulaqb47DO2NQB-IBleVZkdemmzaijdbhd9TqdSK4/s1600/tasting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaZJdKAWREwk_-as6BVXo7Bs3S_-w0XfCuNBr1derlkM1Nj7NWbJQmBboGngzHax2uHBKWRZZHTu30iGdYD59Qz6o3NBiUbgW_MJZulaqb47DO2NQB-IBleVZkdemmzaijdbhd9TqdSK4/s1600/tasting.jpg" yya="true" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
So.. he did, and he was right…. it was awesome….without the education of the very scholastic language, I would say… it was smooth, it was balanced, and it most importantly for me.. did not have heavy tannins.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
Some tips about Bordeaux:<br />
<div>
</div>
$50 or less - hold for 5 to seven years, anything over this hold for at least 10 years.. (trust me it worth it)<br />
<br />
<br />
Always decant a Bordeaux, it has just been sitting for a long time, it will have sentiment , thats ok.. you just don't want it in your teeth!<br />
<div>
</div>
***as a note, the concept of "breathing" wines really only works well with young wines… oxygen is not a friend of old wines… decant to get the sentiment out.. then drink.. don't over agitate the wine… its not needed… its rather fragile.. and if I see you doing it.. I will hurt you…..<br />
<div>
</div>
The regions in Bordeaux are the Left bank and Right bank, there just happens to be a major river that splits them.. yeah I know.. picture yourself in cottage there… enough said. The vines on the left bank (south side) are predominately Cabernet Sauvignon based and the soil is mostly gravel.<br />
<div>
</div>
The right bank (north) are predominately merlot based.. and there the soil is mostly clay. Because of the terrior they both have a distinct flavour profile… again a situation where you have try to see which you like.. this may help!<br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6D8PnQ0D2g2iYNlQVsrajvv8Y3Ly_JJsIyQbcuvT8zsVS-I3RPwNxySS3cC0nvggw-4tfUk9J_DhdMhYxNQcJ1lE687FsdcTRXjrK_d2sObcU-f9j8Z9TakivfdhmD7jaccHOFpoeI5c/s1600/Bordeaux-Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6D8PnQ0D2g2iYNlQVsrajvv8Y3Ly_JJsIyQbcuvT8zsVS-I3RPwNxySS3cC0nvggw-4tfUk9J_DhdMhYxNQcJ1lE687FsdcTRXjrK_d2sObcU-f9j8Z9TakivfdhmD7jaccHOFpoeI5c/s320/Bordeaux-Map.png" width="320" yya="true" /></a></div>
<div>
</div>
I find the issue with Bordeaux is that we can't drink it… so waiting until its ready to drink makes it expensive, hard to find, and usually.. not something we pick up. For the finance people reading; they actually sell futures for each vintage… so every year the Chateaus will release tastings for the pervious harvest, these are evaluated to set a market price, the following year another sample will be released and again they will do another evaluation.. then a second price will be set…then just before they put it in the bottle the final price is set….... so the lesson of this economic story.. is know your wine! <br />
<br />
Yes, in case you have not already figured it out... Dwight right helped me write this … :-) Well, I kind of just typed !!!<br />
<br />
Till next time.. happy chatting! <br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-22484872034970606922013-05-13T19:10:00.001-07:002013-05-13T19:11:42.277-07:00Encouraging his Studies…..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DQLvCpVw742ldwFwjNiDWs6Kp_fkCRYrheC1L5en8YPbmDeTrybCFEIOypnU9L6mmj8NGer4Gl6Z7Pw_pBaPPb-ktcbVUie1w_c2xbfgRnlihusMARhWk3Qyl4-1uleTplQIbQCFfugC/s1600/34eflarge_Champagne_Cooler_Funny_Picture_42554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DQLvCpVw742ldwFwjNiDWs6Kp_fkCRYrheC1L5en8YPbmDeTrybCFEIOypnU9L6mmj8NGer4Gl6Z7Pw_pBaPPb-ktcbVUie1w_c2xbfgRnlihusMARhWk3Qyl4-1uleTplQIbQCFfugC/s400/34eflarge_Champagne_Cooler_Funny_Picture_42554.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
If you really want to torture me all you have to do is one thing….. drink wonderful champagne without me! I know that people say they like Champagne, but truly I think most just say that because they think they are supposed to like it. I, on the other hand LOVE Champagne, I have learned.. with Dwight's help, that there are so many different variations it can please everyone.. if you know how to drink it… so if first you don't succeed in finding something you like, try.. and try again! Its just so much fun…..! We have a little tradition for my birthday… I have a vintage champagne… every year it gets replaced so I can drink the one I have…… funny thing is .. now he has to buy me two.. one to drink and one to hold, I am just addicted to collecting this stuff……<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpj_sQp54XSuqxUk-4k8gAgtTmaBDFNdqd-O2POz628g7kyoCHkGdqVyEsdPC2yzDd14eEHKjFQbtOr6eLQe8JPKwPSnO3ftkduaeu44pMYu8v3NbcfgAAJsqroYtZ2vlJJrdLvGNTvUN/s1600/IMG_0843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpj_sQp54XSuqxUk-4k8gAgtTmaBDFNdqd-O2POz628g7kyoCHkGdqVyEsdPC2yzDd14eEHKjFQbtOr6eLQe8JPKwPSnO3ftkduaeu44pMYu8v3NbcfgAAJsqroYtZ2vlJJrdLvGNTvUN/s400/IMG_0843.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few in my collection….</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So Dwight did torture me one morning… his answer when I said.. "What is your French Wine Scholar class doing tonight?" His answer, yep, you guessed it… Champagne… I begged, let me come.. I will just sit quietly and drink the left overs… honestly…you won't even notice I am there… but no chance, if you are not already a "advanced wine scholar" you can't play.. what do they know.. do they really think they can drink Champagne better than I can!!! Really….. So instead of getting to taste two vintage champagnes, very small grower bottles.. and god knows what else.. I get to pick his brain about what he learned… Oh well… its not all that bad :-)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28z5beK_wpgn8r-BQzXnrCEcozIHK4XI8dM9VSfz0a76ymRRdp4TxZ_bwho8apFIr5cRBfT0KGjE5RJXv-vfQ_YbdDW_3Cgy3cxEs1Ar2yARBEuhBEoq7i1f1Tj4qXr72-utLPvsuMDMJ/s1600/IMG_0839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28z5beK_wpgn8r-BQzXnrCEcozIHK4XI8dM9VSfz0a76ymRRdp4TxZ_bwho8apFIr5cRBfT0KGjE5RJXv-vfQ_YbdDW_3Cgy3cxEs1Ar2yARBEuhBEoq7i1f1Tj4qXr72-utLPvsuMDMJ/s400/IMG_0839.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bottle that started my collecting, I still have it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So here we go…...<br />
<br />
The first you need to know about Champagne; it was an accident….<br />
<br />
a thousand years ago…or technically.. once upon a time, in the north regions of Europe they would make wine… because its a northern climate the yeast naturally goes into a dormant state because it was too could.. the early vintners would bottle the wine.. thinking it was done and come the spring the yeast would wake up… similar to how people in Vancouver respond sunshine, it already being bottled means that the yeast wakes up to finish the job.. or finish the rest of the sugar…. as we all know.. yeast eating grape juice.. produces two things: alcohol and carbon dioxide…. seeing how the CO2 has no where to go.. it dissolves in the wine…. so on first opening.. while a unexpected pop, frizz, and yum yum.. occurred.. they said.. wow.. this could be a good thing… I agree :-)<br />
<br />
So in the modern age.. we do things a little differently.. a few "differently".. meaning there are many different ways of making sparkling wine.. but there is only ONE Champagne.. lets explore what that means and why….<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMiykAdzsvUsJyr-TvG0GtqpAHkINi1C3sAhK1T7OXLMlRyDWcm5e5_nhhnn6mG_kIlqjFXuyiiUxwvI7YZQTddrytUj8UWPa3hO9ng4GYp5nyMsYQi8UbzcsOenmY_wVYl7v_5L_VgiD/s1600/IMG_0841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMiykAdzsvUsJyr-TvG0GtqpAHkINi1C3sAhK1T7OXLMlRyDWcm5e5_nhhnn6mG_kIlqjFXuyiiUxwvI7YZQTddrytUj8UWPa3hO9ng4GYp5nyMsYQi8UbzcsOenmY_wVYl7v_5L_VgiD/s400/IMG_0841.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another on my shelf, the difference is that this is a Blanc de Blanc, so no Pinot Noir in this.. just the Chardonnay grape.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Sparkling wine that is Champagne can not be duplicated any where else on earth. No other sparkling wine region posses this unique terroir. The chalk and kimmeridgean soils are very rare, the vineyards lay at the edge of viability for grape production. This cold climate produces wine with racy acidity. The wines are firmly structured, they are masculine or feminine.. but they are well chiselled regardless.<br />
<br />
There are three primary grapes used to make Champagne; one white grape, Chardonnay, and two red grapes, pinot noir and meunier…. most Champagne is a blend of these three.. they crush it very softly and free run the juices right away… which helps keep white, if they want rose they keep the skin in contact with the juices.<br />
<br />
Sparkling wines produced from around the world even when made from the same varieties of grapes, using the same method.. can not deliver the same product. Champagne terroir exists no where but champagne.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalyxad_t4xaIfea-JYl7WzpJP8brZa2rULJUZCL47EJ9QyRyL0tmtwCzfNshmtMQUIe2ZF_kyK2OaFSaLK2DHNvnhT943seg2eQFwrmi_m_7muQjmBF3dhiCOo9OcjoBLyhsgyYvgAlpj/s1600/IMG_0838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalyxad_t4xaIfea-JYl7WzpJP8brZa2rULJUZCL47EJ9QyRyL0tmtwCzfNshmtMQUIe2ZF_kyK2OaFSaLK2DHNvnhT943seg2eQFwrmi_m_7muQjmBF3dhiCOo9OcjoBLyhsgyYvgAlpj/s400/IMG_0838.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drinking bottle for my B-day this year… and a vintage for the shelf! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The single most important distinction is that there are two fermentations, and the second occurs in the bottle. Staying in France. the most common sparkling you will see are; Cremant, champagne styles made outside of the champagne region ..so you can have a Cremant D'Bourgnone .. meaning its made from grape from the region in a champagne style.<br />
<br />
The Price of champagne… why how why do I need to spend so much…!<br />
<br />
FYI:<br />
<ul>
<li>In France you can buy a 15.00 bottle of champagne, yes real champagne, from the grocery store. </li>
<li>In Canada champagne is considered a luxury item.. and priced appropriately. </li>
<li>Don't ever think that because you will spend over $100 on a bottle of champagne that its good.. sad but true, you need to know your champagne and what you like.</li>
</ul>
Some advice from my French Wine Scholar……<br />
<ul>
<li>There are two different marketing styles.. the big houses like "Verve Cliuquet" that strive to make the same tasting champagne year after year, so there predictable, and good. </li>
<li>The "grower" Champagnes, these are small producers that make the product from their own grapes, only from what they have available. This means that what the grower wants to express is important lending to unique vintages, unpredictable.. but very good. </li>
<li>Vintage champagne is only produced in exceptional years, so if it has a date on it.. its good!</li>
<li>It does not have to be expensive, you can buy "grower" champagne at good prices.. but you will have more variation in the product each time you buy it. </li>
<li>Don't drink Champagne with sweet food.. contrary to poplar belief Champagne does not pair well with sweet food, why we just drink it at news years is beyond me. </li>
<li>Go for, salty.. fatty type food.. oysters, <i>f<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">oie gras</span></i>, popcorn… and my absolute favourite.. Original Pringles.. (i am so serious about this.. try it!) </li>
<li>What to look for on label: </li>
<ul>
<li>NM: negociant-manipulant - these are the big producers that incorporate grapes from others into the vinification process. Most big champagne houses are NM.. this is not a bad this.. its predictable.. which in a global market is good. </li>
<li>RM: recoltant-manipulant - these are growers that use only his/her own estate grown grapes. </li>
<li>MA: margque auxiliaire - this is a private label registered by any individual, group or societally, the source for the private label could be any of the above. So in France.. this is what you would see in bottles sold in grocery stores or restaurants. If you are seeing this here in Canada…I would stay away, you can do better. </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
Till next time ..happy chatting<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQxDPz_MHGp3Vyrt1XxFasgIJpvRhjrH-tL1jPV65hZi9hGfP2R6LF5hVqp1zGOt-W-ZYPy1FFMqH5G_vbUUrwCGpRTAcidUqMf1YFPx-j_nja6s7dY_NjiJv1XIVVXojpf-Fjl4fSpCt/s1600/cheers.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQxDPz_MHGp3Vyrt1XxFasgIJpvRhjrH-tL1jPV65hZi9hGfP2R6LF5hVqp1zGOt-W-ZYPy1FFMqH5G_vbUUrwCGpRTAcidUqMf1YFPx-j_nja6s7dY_NjiJv1XIVVXojpf-Fjl4fSpCt/s1600/cheers.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-75115449672902769262013-04-29T20:46:00.002-07:002013-04-29T20:46:39.299-07:00My torturous wine life..... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVBjIYNEJLAbWLUCeu2NqADmXDx3BjlqfDb14eJ_7KddOqasdAREXGf3CF3D0bCyQz-Wgl2Sa0h_iHXdwLOmi4JD-GqJ4TqNOL5b8BIav50rUCdXo6gHc-MkHU-jkoNzRsO8omh7VZZny/s1600/humblug-wine-torture-privcy-potitics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVBjIYNEJLAbWLUCeu2NqADmXDx3BjlqfDb14eJ_7KddOqasdAREXGf3CF3D0bCyQz-Wgl2Sa0h_iHXdwLOmi4JD-GqJ4TqNOL5b8BIav50rUCdXo6gHc-MkHU-jkoNzRsO8omh7VZZny/s400/humblug-wine-torture-privcy-potitics.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Some of you may know, and for those that don't, my hubby has successfully completed his advanced wine studies with the WSET (Wine Spirits Education Trust) and can now be deemed a Sommelier.. what does that mean exactly.. well.. to him it means that he has tasted over 2000 different wines, explored how to drink it, taste it, look at it, and what kind of food to it with it.... what does it mean to me... Well.... some good and some bad... I get to learn about the wines he tries, I get a free wine lesson at least once per week, we always.. and I mean always.... have good wine... so what's the bad you ask? It is simply this... I don't get to try over 2000 wines! :-) <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Why should I tell you about my torturous wine life... I thought someone should hear about it... like the time that he had his Champagne class and tried, I don't even know how many different types of Champagne.. yes .. real Champagne, or the time when after the French Burgundy class they all sat and ate cheese, ham, crackers and pate... and of course drank the rest of the wine.. there was even a Gevrey Chambertin on the table.... its torturous I tell you! <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
But instead of whining........... I thought it might be a good idea to vent my experiences here... after completing the advanced program he has decided to move on to become a French Wine Scholar.. don't laugh.. its real a designation... and so while we move through France together I thought you might enjoy some of the moments.... which I will endeavor to describe here.. and I hope you enjoy………<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qbid8-skNK5zke6EQjsqShWieY_nd1VL0HjXwDdunGKDYfPdOvS2YghDsamosHQ9j-zB2y-7XR6JC1RY6JNA4YHrTRzuMmwGV_xWTGxw7jOFTX9Yz6StX54sGL3JrhRnIB8ZgnWOSrcg/s1600/hugel-riesling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qbid8-skNK5zke6EQjsqShWieY_nd1VL0HjXwDdunGKDYfPdOvS2YghDsamosHQ9j-zB2y-7XR6JC1RY6JNA4YHrTRzuMmwGV_xWTGxw7jOFTX9Yz6StX54sGL3JrhRnIB8ZgnWOSrcg/s320/hugel-riesling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span id="goog_1529312621"></span><span id="goog_1529312622"></span><br />
<br />
The first stop was in Alsace, where? Its in north eastern France across the Rhine river from Germany… so you might guess the speciality - Riesling… some highlights of what was being tasted.. a 2000 Grand Cru Riesling and a Grand Cru Pinot Gris. Riesling is a grape variety, as a matter of fact its one of the only non indigenous grapes grown in France, considered a "nobel" (this will be handy in later posts!) variety, it originated in Germany. Pinot Gris is the second most common variety in Alsace, you may know it as Pinot Grigio, it is the same grape although don't be fooled; it tastes very different, in Alsace the grape stays on the vine longer giving it a thicker more bold flavour.<br />
<br />
What makes a good Riesling? Fruity floral aromas of peach, apricot and citrus.. but what distinguishes it are hints of Petrol when aged… yeah.. I know.. Petrol.. What? Well actually its one of my favourite flavours and one of my favorite white wines for that exact reason… if you find a nice Riesling it can have so much wonderful flavour.. if you think white wines don't have depth.. try a Riesling!<br />
<br />
<b>Your first tip of the blog</b>…..Most people think sweet when they think Riesling..however the Alsace region produces whites that are less so, more "off dry" Rieslings come from Germany. Tip to figure out what's off dry.. and what's not… look at the alcohol content, rule of thumb is the higher the alcohol the drier the wine. So experiment, I like 8 to 9 % - which for some people would be way too "sweet", where 11% might suit them better. <br />
<br />
<br />
Don't be afraid to pick up a Riesling, but look for this when you do….<br />
<ul>
<li>remember the alcohol content… and experiment.. for me :-) </li>
<li>Alsace can be more expensive but you don't have to pay more than $25 for a good bottle</li>
<li>Germany is my favourite.. but remember they tend to be sweeter</li>
<li>Vintages to look for in Alsace.. 2007 to 2010 inclusive; are all excellent vintages</li>
<li>Serve at 8 to 10 degrees </li>
<li>Pairs excellently with German, French and Asian foods but really goes well with pork</li>
</ul>
<br />
Till next time…..Happy chatting.. and sipping<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsEa9pPBxhxG7IhYBVtBB_CujjrirhmlsG9lk7eVDlp5q3Eit73IsgzlzPQIgLJP6n3gIuWZcv3prrkYAxUctDv5rg-Srs1pZp1UprmI4PY_MNvs5PNuX8tR5h3aXKyZUscCdbZJZA9VD/s1600/cheers.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsEa9pPBxhxG7IhYBVtBB_CujjrirhmlsG9lk7eVDlp5q3Eit73IsgzlzPQIgLJP6n3gIuWZcv3prrkYAxUctDv5rg-Srs1pZp1UprmI4PY_MNvs5PNuX8tR5h3aXKyZUscCdbZJZA9VD/s1600/cheers.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-36810371897963742922013-03-23T09:54:00.004-07:002013-03-23T09:54:47.159-07:00Just for fun…..So I love reading something that makes me chuckle.. you know.. not one of those laugh out loud type of moments, something that turns the corners of my mouth up ..just slightly…<br />
<br />
Here are some interesting facts that made me do just that….<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">A pregnant goldfish is called a twit. </span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Blueberry Jelly Bellies were created especially for Ronald Reagan.</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Did you know that there are coffee flavored PEZ?</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Einstein couldn't speak fluently when he was nine. His parents thought he might be retarded.</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Hershey's Kisses are called that because the machine that makes them looks like it's kissing the conveyor belt.</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">"I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Hypnotism is banned by public schools in San Diego.</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Fortune cookies were actually invented in America, in 1918, by Charles Jung.</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">In Tokyo, they sell toupees for dogs.</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">"Kemo Sabe" means "soggy shrub" in Navajo.</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Los Angeles's full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula" and can be abbreviated to 3.63% of its original size: "L.A."</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">The phrase "rule of thumb" is derived from an old English law which stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Ok, so thats probably enough… funning thing is.. there are hundreds of these silly facts out there…true or not as long as they make you chuckle its worth having them around…. well, maybe one more…..</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQTkkTpWMzp3Fpnyl-vCcLQ5eca06Q7tos_DVdkJ8N0Lp5yLvudqmCfMSDJaS2UPULYGd8QgE_OdMEYcIEGQmzlALWNdjFDd1-6givHI01Cr9CRwf2EVYkxdy4DlYxsXOJ1JSj_6XPNq1/s1600/funnyvale-509262dc796a3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQTkkTpWMzp3Fpnyl-vCcLQ5eca06Q7tos_DVdkJ8N0Lp5yLvudqmCfMSDJaS2UPULYGd8QgE_OdMEYcIEGQmzlALWNdjFDd1-6givHI01Cr9CRwf2EVYkxdy4DlYxsXOJ1JSj_6XPNq1/s400/funnyvale-509262dc796a3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">till next time, happy chatting…. and chuckling… </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-74565720933967344662013-02-11T20:04:00.004-08:002013-02-11T20:04:43.706-08:00Sometimes fun just happens…..So no surprise that we took a little trip this weekend, we do have a tendency to go out and about on the weekends.. and this weekend was the new "family day" holiday in BC… so what did we do.. well we spent it with some family…… just not in BC :-)<br />
<br />
A fun trip to Seattle, food, wine, a little shopping, and A LOT of laughing…… take a peek…..<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQO6u7BwV53BHAtjHkWj3TJduD9Dn5kZy60mkCJB-KGvb3a-jMUaZRytHSdUaWVkI13A2DU9x13iTwwLJZBwlq3SmwxZzKJTisFnZZLFLn6pPvwZCfDJpXGy8C3f_FPIhchq9nKUKQ7_41/s1600/DSC_0364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQO6u7BwV53BHAtjHkWj3TJduD9Dn5kZy60mkCJB-KGvb3a-jMUaZRytHSdUaWVkI13A2DU9x13iTwwLJZBwlq3SmwxZzKJTisFnZZLFLn6pPvwZCfDJpXGy8C3f_FPIhchq9nKUKQ7_41/s400/DSC_0364.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1828JX_MLZXe81IjssnQ2J3GgatOuIl6og58KE1L6EAOOLRH0DaLeZAdYAWULtkmRHb8S2eJ2KQNduIdKZdkyLbxWaLFVNST902Mhws7803iTi-XUnERN9ZYgZ-BRQX0KKptTJwyZ0ej/s1600/DSC_0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1828JX_MLZXe81IjssnQ2J3GgatOuIl6og58KE1L6EAOOLRH0DaLeZAdYAWULtkmRHb8S2eJ2KQNduIdKZdkyLbxWaLFVNST902Mhws7803iTi-XUnERN9ZYgZ-BRQX0KKptTJwyZ0ej/s400/DSC_0373.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTWeDU40zw9RbS-s4m4wkrM9kJp7NKGcdcAGRF-hk8r6I5LhLbDNQHN8bZTz-W-ReR6i_w6dcPtkrhgAVL8tQuVuz-NVg78w5dKDpUEyppi7NaTpxS-VvpTZ09506T3IYcUAnrToSdTzO/s1600/DSC_0352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTWeDU40zw9RbS-s4m4wkrM9kJp7NKGcdcAGRF-hk8r6I5LhLbDNQHN8bZTz-W-ReR6i_w6dcPtkrhgAVL8tQuVuz-NVg78w5dKDpUEyppi7NaTpxS-VvpTZ09506T3IYcUAnrToSdTzO/s400/DSC_0352.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Now with some music…… and a little video…..</span></i></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyC_aBebkDw9K_rRRQUP9QntO6EYpFa4oFOezZ2xnaFz2mFr3FNexyiE7m9HscJiYnYzQZLXJ7qcomFz756Cw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
till next time….. happy chatting…...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-82098844541232137272013-01-13T09:08:00.003-08:002013-01-13T09:08:20.936-08:00Sunshine!You know when its nice here… its REALLY nice.. meaning when the sun comes out in the "winter" it reminds you how beautiful this area really is…. so we jumped in the car and went skate skiing…<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2Lxjm7xkIXwpymSvJQhAxvVkG5MILNHTVJscqtFH-m4vI2aaFUR2FLbZ1foW6jKSmR0TjkMZxHAyxY4Kpbcz3Yq6OM2vprqagCMXF1C3Qp4kr5ESB0bMMbw6e0kd97_51Otmk_hzz8rP/s1600/DSC_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2Lxjm7xkIXwpymSvJQhAxvVkG5MILNHTVJscqtFH-m4vI2aaFUR2FLbZ1foW6jKSmR0TjkMZxHAyxY4Kpbcz3Yq6OM2vprqagCMXF1C3Qp4kr5ESB0bMMbw6e0kd97_51Otmk_hzz8rP/s400/DSC_0299.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out the window you wouldn't think "skiing"!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5j89GJTAjiQbScDVTvaY9ceZ8FUO15PFfOGx8t288PMPrrst-W_mqArE6weV1obcpfktGt0roe8LrFFDZ6khCdAQ1vOWza-uJxV3BhA_7Ww_1HxijLg6jEpmXt2iN-qihbQOL46tSYCT/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5j89GJTAjiQbScDVTvaY9ceZ8FUO15PFfOGx8t288PMPrrst-W_mqArE6weV1obcpfktGt0roe8LrFFDZ6khCdAQ1vOWza-uJxV3BhA_7Ww_1HxijLg6jEpmXt2iN-qihbQOL46tSYCT/s400/IMG_0737.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going up the mountain and still… looks more like a cycling day….</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbGzHXeJxruX3_1hg_hI8SRNAdowwcg6-JdT1s8tfrTsTt9dgcl000UuW-npXVg5mIaTMXXAzPkPwegNcx12FD-DwfBS7GkoJlciGDUd5NhRv4gpPk-WrsxzXySp14oZ4NnmQSrKynBCm/s1600/IMG_0738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbGzHXeJxruX3_1hg_hI8SRNAdowwcg6-JdT1s8tfrTsTt9dgcl000UuW-npXVg5mIaTMXXAzPkPwegNcx12FD-DwfBS7GkoJlciGDUd5NhRv4gpPk-WrsxzXySp14oZ4NnmQSrKynBCm/s400/IMG_0738.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But then it starts…. from none….. to...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUD1nf4CoNe6BypBhJxegdxLn5Q8ztAd6-GcJmWH7dbHpLcitM0p41EbITdFXcAFs4F3_zxvn3SnJulgPT7sccoaf-RyGlnfTw4r17EfSkaNb4MnQiWWcNZjOVwxL4VPo3fvilluXfT5P7/s1600/IMG_0740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUD1nf4CoNe6BypBhJxegdxLn5Q8ztAd6-GcJmWH7dbHpLcitM0p41EbITdFXcAFs4F3_zxvn3SnJulgPT7sccoaf-RyGlnfTw4r17EfSkaNb4MnQiWWcNZjOVwxL4VPo3fvilluXfT5P7/s400/IMG_0740.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">almost 400 cm!!!! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwu8l43qX9ukrS4oj_7d7bn6ZZR9AbN4D9Bq0149sJcn85ND4qjMYei-iFSYlvW9Fn-FoY4ritkLfJwtM-jF6dy41YPrq0snylJoSItLigrZ0UnBOSHsqwTIJ_aM-wy1AF1X9lWX7aWUw-/s1600/IMG_0741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwu8l43qX9ukrS4oj_7d7bn6ZZR9AbN4D9Bq0149sJcn85ND4qjMYei-iFSYlvW9Fn-FoY4ritkLfJwtM-jF6dy41YPrq0snylJoSItLigrZ0UnBOSHsqwTIJ_aM-wy1AF1X9lWX7aWUw-/s400/IMG_0741.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice trails on Cypress Mountain.. 1/2 hour away from all that green!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3NSYLKWDEwIpjdnCAZRd6Hg0cDw_4uCyYtLnVpbO2j8IZ9F2p-_et1n6AJwiluKw83s0F3d56z1iNIl78bXs2rfT-jkdbmsGfsgPFVaqxGPVQSEXgzuGE3eTckBYO8mvn53SYZTBZuIx/s1600/IMG_0742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3NSYLKWDEwIpjdnCAZRd6Hg0cDw_4uCyYtLnVpbO2j8IZ9F2p-_et1n6AJwiluKw83s0F3d56z1iNIl78bXs2rfT-jkdbmsGfsgPFVaqxGPVQSEXgzuGE3eTckBYO8mvn53SYZTBZuIx/s400/IMG_0742.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloKB_djnTTEGwEUShA6UF_7FBSs2k9qe1_1kr5exDgg59GzO5Udy9MPVux32Qy18VPmQMN2TIj7CTaGrjcS3Gr8BvXYORz0KlnD9AH6cKxet9z-OiXB1JPunjJvv2QOJYrQwul6zmsD75/s1600/IMG_0743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloKB_djnTTEGwEUShA6UF_7FBSs2k9qe1_1kr5exDgg59GzO5Udy9MPVux32Qy18VPmQMN2TIj7CTaGrjcS3Gr8BvXYORz0KlnD9AH6cKxet9z-OiXB1JPunjJvv2QOJYrQwul6zmsD75/s400/IMG_0743.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First ski of the season… its always hard !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbmJv5_a_8kv9-yYOhMqASuXhiQ0GH7Rnh2_ygF7pz0GAM-O-eGmsKal7bEnh4fmpm2snPdGJ38rJ4SIBVp5_gmcjItXSVvowZWYlRWw1mnlreFW2SDwfczt114wnMdq18c38jK0QMYnh/s1600/IMG_0744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbmJv5_a_8kv9-yYOhMqASuXhiQ0GH7Rnh2_ygF7pz0GAM-O-eGmsKal7bEnh4fmpm2snPdGJ38rJ4SIBVp5_gmcjItXSVvowZWYlRWw1mnlreFW2SDwfczt114wnMdq18c38jK0QMYnh/s400/IMG_0744.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But fun! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The nice thing is that tomorrow I can go skiing, skating, running, cycling, or even golfing…! And we wonder why so many people want to live here!!!!<br />
<br />
Till next time, happy chatting…….Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-16013626190601596642013-01-02T19:22:00.002-08:002013-01-02T19:25:37.097-08:00Good intentions...So this time I have an excuse… seems that you can't post pictures with an iPad mini onto blogs.. well if you can I could not figure out HOW to make it happen.. so here we are, days after I promised some stories and pictures I have provided neither….so I will try to make up for it over the next couple of weeks…!<br />
<br />
So lets start with my family Christmas; a real one with kids, a dog, food... And more food, presents and did I mention food? I can't tell you how much fun it was to see my brother and his wonderful family.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt_okU5JjN-aIVbwn8kj4xfkqlSzE41p2L6CJrDCjqHKZuZlYUQkip7AwGezF0TtXNwjBgs54uGNYSVHFknG3N4VFWn3aW1eQbdTk6Os4kx5OrbrkvDD0-hE6CHflr7BOG3IW4ueYG26L/s1600/DSC_0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt_okU5JjN-aIVbwn8kj4xfkqlSzE41p2L6CJrDCjqHKZuZlYUQkip7AwGezF0TtXNwjBgs54uGNYSVHFknG3N4VFWn3aW1eQbdTk6Os4kx5OrbrkvDD0-hE6CHflr7BOG3IW4ueYG26L/s400/DSC_0164.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "this is awesome" gift response</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczfy_QVyqewqioAuqVbzPsvvssBri4d82c4PyTFEXyEACc1lUOa2goaHuRPPPLmhEu8OwasAb-QjR65DGpOTX3EGpLnHpqvoVhoLY-P9SNyY5fKel2VdpzLOUY20HNoYr_vKP63r-gUxg/s1600/DSC_0216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczfy_QVyqewqioAuqVbzPsvvssBri4d82c4PyTFEXyEACc1lUOa2goaHuRPPPLmhEu8OwasAb-QjR65DGpOTX3EGpLnHpqvoVhoLY-P9SNyY5fKel2VdpzLOUY20HNoYr_vKP63r-gUxg/s320/DSC_0216.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "I don't know what it is but I can cut off my nose with it" response</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0seuk1ooIEgLulG57qYBkX4ctZHZkpic_VbCnhqJ4Aa7_vtTf9jN_l9acbAmbRrX9eViIHktYANqp9ajx2he1zPo8cQPKklz4JHrvC13zUtzQA94Y8fDVIPN2JiKIsnNezU954iupJeL/s1600/DSC_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0seuk1ooIEgLulG57qYBkX4ctZHZkpic_VbCnhqJ4Aa7_vtTf9jN_l9acbAmbRrX9eViIHktYANqp9ajx2he1zPo8cQPKklz4JHrvC13zUtzQA94Y8fDVIPN2JiKIsnNezU954iupJeL/s320/DSC_0219.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the "I love being a little girl" response</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I am not sure I mentioned that my brother lives in Winnipeg, as most people know its rather cold there… how cold is it you ask? Well try -28 on for size and with the "wind chill" -34! Yes a tad different than my Vancouver days of +5 in the dead of winter…. I wish I could tell you that it was great, it was not that bad…. or even that I got used to it…. unfortunatley not!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7Ed8D5mytNVvoY0IvrPZOzAgGkYN2Fgyvp1wf6ZGoG2WfYD74m9i8vduJldOs5zDi0TKEwTupmMIikuAfbLBeHBpDqhU5KVq4IFcHkW7jhHlxxfLxlBwNdtm5ECNXF1HdAj3Yq5PXBmQ/s1600/DSC_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7Ed8D5mytNVvoY0IvrPZOzAgGkYN2Fgyvp1wf6ZGoG2WfYD74m9i8vduJldOs5zDi0TKEwTupmMIikuAfbLBeHBpDqhU5KVq4IFcHkW7jhHlxxfLxlBwNdtm5ECNXF1HdAj3Yq5PXBmQ/s400/DSC_0092.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the facial covering…. exposed skin freezes quickly!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRje_v18B_bRSxtgVO9VLAy2Oph4I6BkAdIhxOcCUgptRHKpnEVgfwy_h7DRVShyphenhyphenfnk7f5NUC2vzApsUU2Z2vOP0dJdAxG398caFUXIW97f_hyRM1Lifjr75HOu8WwX_NnYUAaUgxjHday/s1600/DSC_0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRje_v18B_bRSxtgVO9VLAy2Oph4I6BkAdIhxOcCUgptRHKpnEVgfwy_h7DRVShyphenhyphenfnk7f5NUC2vzApsUU2Z2vOP0dJdAxG398caFUXIW97f_hyRM1Lifjr75HOu8WwX_NnYUAaUgxjHday/s400/DSC_0093.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A leisurely walk… well a walk thats fast enough to keep you warm!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcYGniwScjhTGvC_GZfwrV_B8hr6PEdoJEGFmcMQcQrSv-LRdt-FZbhct_9FtCBlP9RaAZ-WrAwB3_0L7zgiiBHudMJkzqGY3e91D6TqXbFEEqVmcmt9jPmuXjaKsvNiuYGfXgKddOjnM/s1600/DSC_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcYGniwScjhTGvC_GZfwrV_B8hr6PEdoJEGFmcMQcQrSv-LRdt-FZbhct_9FtCBlP9RaAZ-WrAwB3_0L7zgiiBHudMJkzqGY3e91D6TqXbFEEqVmcmt9jPmuXjaKsvNiuYGfXgKddOjnM/s400/DSC_0090.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vancouver Winter jacket versus a Winnipeg Winter jacket!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<img src="webkit-fake-url://70BBC0DD-9784-4100-AA6C-0BAA59101A82/imagejpeg" /><br />
<br />
I poke fun but even though the weather was extremely cold… it wasVERY sunny everyday.. and most importantly I got to spend time with family………<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxFV-11KK51U8lOMiQtEAQca6PgEsbZypYlHU7EXZJMJ8WUagUkFHU96efDWKv2dHW1TGht2XxIO__FZ-YG7SWn4qQ0wQRfasEuIiH56LdBU5iluCPIPWzKZqKNrT3rCpViFY0mXdA8su/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxFV-11KK51U8lOMiQtEAQca6PgEsbZypYlHU7EXZJMJ8WUagUkFHU96efDWKv2dHW1TGht2XxIO__FZ-YG7SWn4qQ0wQRfasEuIiH56LdBU5iluCPIPWzKZqKNrT3rCpViFY0mXdA8su/s320/DSC_0242.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it was very hard to leave…..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We then shifted gears and headed to Lake Louise in the Rockies for some relaxing and some skiing….the weather was perfect, sunny everyday, -10 average, snow was dry and there was lots of it….. did I mention we were staying at the Fairmont Chateau… yes it was that nice!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNAvkriCtKkgMTV98XnJGq7Ue0Q8aCKan9SPKwNUiq5clCZDs-WdfrniZs20B4gDgaN3ok-XMCSJ1_50EWNcXKMxAij6TcfcFgViN7HS5oSr8lw0CBEpZNoAvIZBowfMePjnxj-lBgRBd/s1600/DSC_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNAvkriCtKkgMTV98XnJGq7Ue0Q8aCKan9SPKwNUiq5clCZDs-WdfrniZs20B4gDgaN3ok-XMCSJ1_50EWNcXKMxAij6TcfcFgViN7HS5oSr8lw0CBEpZNoAvIZBowfMePjnxj-lBgRBd/s400/DSC_0259.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night view from the lake after a nice night time skate!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBeglLER7hExMS07qWICCKGU2jRLzS0hnnFYlg-rHKwubPHcJJixQ_neKjVt9Kui3RIQGqba0FGpGN20Rxz5SgltrWz6YMuONxE1gcMF_UdA1LMi287PDGThnQNzqmSA1wo76Q1-HtlHS/s1600/DSC_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBeglLER7hExMS07qWICCKGU2jRLzS0hnnFYlg-rHKwubPHcJJixQ_neKjVt9Kui3RIQGqba0FGpGN20Rxz5SgltrWz6YMuONxE1gcMF_UdA1LMi287PDGThnQNzqmSA1wo76Q1-HtlHS/s400/DSC_0273.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the suite...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcHmTlxbzm3J-nNTCT4rcC88PuHZyZfvjHo4kog50y40WSJ03q8I71FPRz-jcl6-6jYGRr_uT23728-6fj0nB-f3-oGz56_mPCz1it8lU8zoroIegPrrssOPGhCEUM4OTE3TXSRxtQYhl/s1600/DSC_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcHmTlxbzm3J-nNTCT4rcC88PuHZyZfvjHo4kog50y40WSJ03q8I71FPRz-jcl6-6jYGRr_uT23728-6fj0nB-f3-oGz56_mPCz1it8lU8zoroIegPrrssOPGhCEUM4OTE3TXSRxtQYhl/s400/DSC_0289.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand staircases everywhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCmb-Fc9dKsF4ie14uTgYgWcAfv998YU18CAsDByccJphHzhiAuyDrWXysbNvIz8ctkUPSrHJ_ggZhwcx5CJmUiL9fDzBdv0A3cz9aGLAqI8cNnIPFLeq-KbHFopPiclXW4MSVnDodWAG/s1600/DSC_0291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCmb-Fc9dKsF4ie14uTgYgWcAfv998YU18CAsDByccJphHzhiAuyDrWXysbNvIz8ctkUPSrHJ_ggZhwcx5CJmUiL9fDzBdv0A3cz9aGLAqI8cNnIPFLeq-KbHFopPiclXW4MSVnDodWAG/s400/DSC_0291.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tribute to Charlie Brown… how awesome!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3_bHW6-9NR11F6geXrCALT86CLipBoLGXx3Y_0HjpSFLlfDbFvWCUo6M3WqFOaCDpPcA7LutRX8Ld2SwHRVSASzehpQCeBrD8ivneNcRYIyZyOt4yXmSfbdzYuQPpc1ZaFEqTHlrl0e-/s1600/IMG_0719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3_bHW6-9NR11F6geXrCALT86CLipBoLGXx3Y_0HjpSFLlfDbFvWCUo6M3WqFOaCDpPcA7LutRX8Ld2SwHRVSASzehpQCeBrD8ivneNcRYIyZyOt4yXmSfbdzYuQPpc1ZaFEqTHlrl0e-/s400/IMG_0719.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I mention the Ice bar…? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then we started skiing… one day on the skate skis and some awesome trails then three great days going up and down the mountain!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQEcj0dh69XNd2QxkoKWT3Jt-9f2kDS1dJzAobdgf3JkfgKFHgaIEYNDQW_nxXnQt1R734wrawHjm5wOgmqhctcYoISW4Z9neQbG4wbStAJwoh6j2o31S2YybN5FlW5vMqDa9Kk9f4yD4/s1600/IMG_0723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQEcj0dh69XNd2QxkoKWT3Jt-9f2kDS1dJzAobdgf3JkfgKFHgaIEYNDQW_nxXnQt1R734wrawHjm5wOgmqhctcYoISW4Z9neQbG4wbStAJwoh6j2o31S2YybN5FlW5vMqDa9Kk9f4yD4/s400/IMG_0723.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views, views and more views</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9476YJIhZnOazg0mO7UNErdRMlNE2mxtUTfyHt8eRCtzJs38JchWLfUbueG8RxT57MSqBguQrxg6R6I9X0Ghu2E10Bl0ChvjDpN_woMo8pDkjSbdhG17OHm-PFqPpdK3LU_A2gHivtmj/s1600/IMG_0725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9476YJIhZnOazg0mO7UNErdRMlNE2mxtUTfyHt8eRCtzJs38JchWLfUbueG8RxT57MSqBguQrxg6R6I9X0Ghu2E10Bl0ChvjDpN_woMo8pDkjSbdhG17OHm-PFqPpdK3LU_A2gHivtmj/s400/IMG_0725.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBu3aJXJovLnyicXvi3-SzTJz0OSscT2a6F_1HzWnUu42vhiKgq9G4XOkphc5GuF7qKoTy6D2yL8H3ZnUvP8B8VVHT6yyqCxZ14s2Eg0mQ4zSAKtJJj75L0itjELe0keL-CTuBeOYDM8w/s1600/IMG_0726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBu3aJXJovLnyicXvi3-SzTJz0OSscT2a6F_1HzWnUu42vhiKgq9G4XOkphc5GuF7qKoTy6D2yL8H3ZnUvP8B8VVHT6yyqCxZ14s2Eg0mQ4zSAKtJJj75L0itjELe0keL-CTuBeOYDM8w/s400/IMG_0726.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim91e39vZNhl3TGrWBDJtHq1nVqhbVAoX2UTEU2lRW1CsbPD5uuH2d078TfMX_Z4NcbpU1iUhvfpFmfB6JO4mfCHhWgA-J_BxBKE8-t_8GFkoLuaBQbhZl3hRFhnCUqUR-u7Lu_Cl5E27E/s1600/IMG_0704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim91e39vZNhl3TGrWBDJtHq1nVqhbVAoX2UTEU2lRW1CsbPD5uuH2d078TfMX_Z4NcbpU1iUhvfpFmfB6JO4mfCHhWgA-J_BxBKE8-t_8GFkoLuaBQbhZl3hRFhnCUqUR-u7Lu_Cl5E27E/s400/IMG_0704.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
So all in all I think I can say this was one of the best Christmas's I have had…. I got to spend some wonderful time with my niece and nephew, went skiing in the Rockies, and came home all in one piece!!!<br />
<br />
Till next time happy chatting…….<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-36096999584937072882012-12-18T08:56:00.002-08:002012-12-18T08:56:39.203-08:00NO Excuses!Ok, so I have none, not one excuse to give you for not posting sooner... I would say I am sorry.. but... <br />
<br />
So now that's done, what's up... well in case you have not noticed its Christmas next week! Since moving into the condo in downtown Vancouver we have not celebrated Christmas to a great extent..just a ornament hanging from the TV takes up too much space.. so no decorating that's for sure. We did do some presents last year, not a lot.. and we did head out for a family Christmas dinner. <br />
<br />
But this year is different... still no decorations in the tiny condo, and only one big gift for the both of us..A trip to Winnipeg! (yeah I did that on purpose!) And then to Lake Louise for some great skiing. Why Winnipeg.. ? well, there are childern there, not just any childern... my niece and nephew... and I can't wait to see them! and their parents of course :-) <br />
<br />
A wonderful traditional family Christmas with childern, you can't get any better than that. Then off to 5 nights in Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for some wonderful skiing, eating and relaxing.... <br />
<br />
So if I have not lost of of my followers from by disappearance get ready for some updates, photo's and maybe even a video or two in the coming weeks............<br />
<br />
Happy Holidays... and heck, lets be poticially incorrect and say Merry Christmas!!!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuff4jK0AyHGpEdKNPwu5peP0i13IbNhG0Hm-y3zC6ja62c0iHQr0WOwTv_YvML2QqnLTHXcMgDm6qcQyTK9SCNmDEslbJy28IzcXEIcDYctkfn1FWO88vtwt8yIVQAJBmGnMU7ZJ_031/s1600/xmas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuff4jK0AyHGpEdKNPwu5peP0i13IbNhG0Hm-y3zC6ja62c0iHQr0WOwTv_YvML2QqnLTHXcMgDm6qcQyTK9SCNmDEslbJy28IzcXEIcDYctkfn1FWO88vtwt8yIVQAJBmGnMU7ZJ_031/s400/xmas.png" width="256" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-2025787248514764542012-10-08T19:09:00.002-07:002012-10-08T19:09:56.098-07:00My new addition.. Don't say it, don't even think it…. the answer to your question is.. yes.. I needed a another bike! Well.. ok, so maybe not <b><i>needed</i>..</b> but certainly <i><b>wanted</b>.</i>.<br />
<br />
So here is the big reveal, my Italian dream, my new love, and I have already spent more time with her this weekend than with Dwight :-) For the bike geeks out there….. full carbon, Shimano Di2 electronic shifting, weighs 15 lbs with my old heavy pedals, and most importantly… understated sexy!!!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A quote… <span class="huge" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.</span> Exactly! Which is why I am so happy today, I bought a new bike under my own power.. and made myself soooo happy….. who said this.. the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial;">Dalai Lama, maybe not what he meant.. but hey, it works! </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvm8P_Zb3Sh5EDwXZ2TMqvtiMYYtNSRb3MDPtnly53D0q7NitDv6I5fUufkqYdCDIu5HPwXlvwFJy3n5SHGHoULsZkaIKpth1exgrALyihsqYiVvrwmmsXrU0i5K4RXhyqrsqcbHVczZh/s1600/IMG_0650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvm8P_Zb3Sh5EDwXZ2TMqvtiMYYtNSRb3MDPtnly53D0q7NitDv6I5fUufkqYdCDIu5HPwXlvwFJy3n5SHGHoULsZkaIKpth1exgrALyihsqYiVvrwmmsXrU0i5K4RXhyqrsqcbHVczZh/s400/IMG_0650.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderful curves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnpmN95mm3XvSRz368gV8BZQcTC4WgVtSV2e0BzwOTo-K8Ddw7UD15FCoSo-Ih8nIpxv_zCRmss24w2qjHKg5-rUtY2rp92nIUmEe0cTSbtErIRQfS8VFn4BkG_-U8WRWpytAtRqgiF15/s1600/IMG_0651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnpmN95mm3XvSRz368gV8BZQcTC4WgVtSV2e0BzwOTo-K8Ddw7UD15FCoSo-Ih8nIpxv_zCRmss24w2qjHKg5-rUtY2rp92nIUmEe0cTSbtErIRQfS8VFn4BkG_-U8WRWpytAtRqgiF15/s400/IMG_0651.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great legs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiml4qOWyFQbTcHIXz7u3w3w-Bn3WKjEHBJx9T-LXTDkt2u3pTtYroYyRQk3JFK-WY9P9kudv4d5axVGplRkDbR23F_2HbwjMYpUESGFAp2_1lvGLjPJ3c5FEDr54p3xnTcfFZ8Cg1Wo1/s1600/IMG_0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiml4qOWyFQbTcHIXz7u3w3w-Bn3WKjEHBJx9T-LXTDkt2u3pTtYroYyRQk3JFK-WY9P9kudv4d5axVGplRkDbR23F_2HbwjMYpUESGFAp2_1lvGLjPJ3c5FEDr54p3xnTcfFZ8Cg1Wo1/s400/IMG_0648.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of muscle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial;">Her, and I in our natural habitat…….</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19HUoDJtHuVkXFp-M0u6GRGmom41cNByzN9pp-wpH0jSQ8SzOFpeg1Y2ZVTp7n2RIOMHpGS0lDCIAI9z2NUCy7JN0EMwww01Td4zNU-FEk1UG9SDPYgjHX0TVrNJKTEDqElsjmWlrDVTl/s1600/IMG_0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19HUoDJtHuVkXFp-M0u6GRGmom41cNByzN9pp-wpH0jSQ8SzOFpeg1Y2ZVTp7n2RIOMHpGS0lDCIAI9z2NUCy7JN0EMwww01Td4zNU-FEk1UG9SDPYgjHX0TVrNJKTEDqElsjmWlrDVTl/s400/IMG_0654.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="bodybold" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000aa; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000aa; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And finally… the most wonderful day to be on the bike……………! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRjA-iKxl4cdKotoy-09OIiois4hIfYPT9AesEegOYvZ44NZvG6nFjpNK8nyIOMflNJC5LzC8hkujuobxmgntdx3vVyhdCP-nCrN2fEo3F7DJIcIvfWvc83mCel3edaE39Rkp0uIAHwlK/s1600/IMG_0647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRjA-iKxl4cdKotoy-09OIiois4hIfYPT9AesEegOYvZ44NZvG6nFjpNK8nyIOMflNJC5LzC8hkujuobxmgntdx3vVyhdCP-nCrN2fEo3F7DJIcIvfWvc83mCel3edaE39Rkp0uIAHwlK/s400/IMG_0647.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="bq20" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
Sorry.. that's all for now.. got to go… and I am sure you can guess where………! </div>
<div class="bq20" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="bq20" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
Till next time happy chatting…….</div>
<div class="bq20" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="bq20" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 16px; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-18963745852655633552012-09-13T17:05:00.001-07:002012-09-13T17:05:11.268-07:00What I did last weekend…...The same thing over six thousand other people did…..I participated in the…..<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtdrkTIwFBId4PKiNCfwuAVpToDn9Fs3oMUYRhdEyp0jjn9mkaIUxx-cvbKwpLjtltCw0kFGVTdsPN1DioXrgKuNS1SW8z9OSjhJN7_sDzfX8eXJhi61_xlzd1m1N1r9odVqq282YicJL/s1600/whistler_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtdrkTIwFBId4PKiNCfwuAVpToDn9Fs3oMUYRhdEyp0jjn9mkaIUxx-cvbKwpLjtltCw0kFGVTdsPN1DioXrgKuNS1SW8z9OSjhJN7_sDzfX8eXJhi61_xlzd1m1N1r9odVqq282YicJL/s1600/whistler_logo.png" /></a></div>
<br />
What the heck is that you ask? Its a cycling event….Gran Fondo translate to "Big Ride" in italian.. so I jumped into a pack of over 6000 riders and headed up to Whislter….. I was lucky for a couple of reasons… the first is that I had done this ride twice already this year.. by myself, so I was really looking forward to drafting… and two.. I had Mike, my coach, my friend. WIthout him the last 20km would have been like walking my bike… his support and enthusiasm was lifting.. and much needed!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-HwnYbIkFu5xjEsZCSsFQt1QmDx926cIlKQHafsgfd1GEd82bpsFaJuibXnob9QtDtj9FSpEH9nYMb-HiM6t_2uf68YTbgRPzmf4Ex0aN5cBn91BEH_o8jXjZgvI-2HBa1g8soVsvB9B/s1600/IMG_0633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-HwnYbIkFu5xjEsZCSsFQt1QmDx926cIlKQHafsgfd1GEd82bpsFaJuibXnob9QtDtj9FSpEH9nYMb-HiM6t_2uf68YTbgRPzmf4Ex0aN5cBn91BEH_o8jXjZgvI-2HBa1g8soVsvB9B/s320/IMG_0633.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJrOmZ4hAGQooW8T2AhZXG3p8B0shX3-oJUtqqsZUT2WrgLsUY0zlAX1h9cx-g40BOYgM8Fhsb1vBFhP_m4RwF7DLWENr_9oSYrk8EQBRgvljArqJPBhtqJd7LWmXSh-njyhWE-OmfG5S/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJrOmZ4hAGQooW8T2AhZXG3p8B0shX3-oJUtqqsZUT2WrgLsUY0zlAX1h9cx-g40BOYgM8Fhsb1vBFhP_m4RwF7DLWENr_9oSYrk8EQBRgvljArqJPBhtqJd7LWmXSh-njyhWE-OmfG5S/s320/IMG_0632.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
I had a blast… the day was warm, some of the roads closed, and coming over the Lion's gate bridge at 7am with the sun rise was priceless….. a memory I will have forever…..and this one… because I must admit…. crossing this finish line was SO cool!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNaA9yW_yLJ0bdgAoKVobiAiNit_4SLpgUCmUq6ijj_e92SQJhbOc_i7z3Y8vSNjxJh8w6Vys8fpb762I2nLeoSvM9yFQQvSCK7-_JKD5dhcF1Sc5BDMXSAJxyqWi9iVzl0hHH0ke2e1p/s1600/IMG_0634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNaA9yW_yLJ0bdgAoKVobiAiNit_4SLpgUCmUq6ijj_e92SQJhbOc_i7z3Y8vSNjxJh8w6Vys8fpb762I2nLeoSvM9yFQQvSCK7-_JKD5dhcF1Sc5BDMXSAJxyqWi9iVzl0hHH0ke2e1p/s320/IMG_0634.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So again, thank you Mike for your unwavering support before, during, and after the race…… much appreciated!<br />
<br />
Another next year… absolutely.. just have to pick which one!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-48183294167739693372012-09-01T20:39:00.002-07:002012-09-01T20:39:15.525-07:00Bike gear.. why oh why do I need more? So most people know that I like to shop….but I self declare that I love to shop for new BIKE GEAR! Why? I wish I really new the answer… jersey's, kit's, helmets, god… even socks…..! I just can not get enough… but given my new space restrictions I am bound by the one in one out rule… and its sooooooo hard!<br />
<br />
So here are the new purchases…..I just have to say.. super cool.. I am very happy with my recent mail order experience……!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgal-hxtpHn2gP2ed5i93dbnd38zooZict6aqsOLEgu1wVJywburWwyCVmRnsTWDofhGtmUkF_weDkYFLrxmKqGlUPiuIHYNscPBTZ2ut8qlJHNN0VUqLd5Q2rrV-11vD93Uc_dCEEA5F8P/s1600/IMG_0630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgal-hxtpHn2gP2ed5i93dbnd38zooZict6aqsOLEgu1wVJywburWwyCVmRnsTWDofhGtmUkF_weDkYFLrxmKqGlUPiuIHYNscPBTZ2ut8qlJHNN0VUqLd5Q2rrV-11vD93Uc_dCEEA5F8P/s400/IMG_0630.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very swish.. continental tire bike kit! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVzjKlijAqwxEDA7hms_8LSfmjd2JGP7Fo2sCEEVvLjnHvRxnoCkVPnCvqjDQInb8ZqKI0cYUC3xXBowiJCqHPh789KqSozfx3eybkI9SxAmlGDlJEE3znPHMD0p3mgsQCLnzEYkSBnRP/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVzjKlijAqwxEDA7hms_8LSfmjd2JGP7Fo2sCEEVvLjnHvRxnoCkVPnCvqjDQInb8ZqKI0cYUC3xXBowiJCqHPh789KqSozfx3eybkI9SxAmlGDlJEE3znPHMD0p3mgsQCLnzEYkSBnRP/s400/IMG_0631.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super kool BBB bike helmut! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Whatever your passion, I am sure you can find it on the internet! Of course I am speaking only shopping.. really how different is on line shopping to the whole Sears catalogue experience I grew up with?<br />
<br />
Long ago.. well.. I am not going to tell you exactly how long ago, we used to wait for the Sears catalogue to show up at the door… man was that a day…. we would take turns leafing through the pages, picking out all the things we wanted…. cloths, bikes, baseball gloves… it seemed to have anything you wanted and you knew that all you had to do was pick up the phone and tell them you wanted it….. the difference now.. you just don't have to talk to anyone…and well I guess you could say there is a little more selection.<br />
<br />
But the best time was when the Christmas wish catalogue came! OMG…! Toys, toys, and more toys…more toys than any of us could imagine. So in retrospect…its not even on par with what the online world has to offer…but then.. and remember we are not saying exactly "when", it was exactly the same.. it offered a world of possibility, of dreams, of new stuff… So is this my problem? Did I grow up with a propensity to "mail order"?<br />
<br />
Well, I like to shop, I don't mind the convenience of on line shopping, I seem to have some good success, but can it replace the thrill of the moment when you find something you really want, you struggle with the thought.. should I? shouldn't I? Well…….I think its best to leave that for me to struggle with…..or not…its all how you look at it!<br />
<br />
Needless to say… I will likely always have more bike gear than I really need.. but at least its not a car fetish…its hard to keep a hundred of those!<br />
<br />
Till next time…. happy chatting……….<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-11015791425359258382012-08-12T20:36:00.001-07:002012-08-13T07:38:49.163-07:00On the road again...Anyone that knows me knows that I don't sit still for long.. and that goes for staying home as well… not two weeks back from a trip to France I could not help myself… we took a short trip to Whistler! I don't really consider Whistler a real trip… it is only an hour and a half away… and we are going up so often now it feels like a second home.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This trip including some cycling and a wonderful hike in the alpine trails at the top of the Blackcomb mountain…..</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskG3u6GUnHNq1ANM89fEkDNsuEWcj0aG6Rdr_AKMoV6yEgjlPQDlg4FBsjBAllGyAZ_N0MHCUZe53BR-C6tfsBD7l68CLfLCbbnE_BtKSIwaENHwsTj8dx2i8KLpHn0h5Zu_che86_NY5/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskG3u6GUnHNq1ANM89fEkDNsuEWcj0aG6Rdr_AKMoV6yEgjlPQDlg4FBsjBAllGyAZ_N0MHCUZe53BR-C6tfsBD7l68CLfLCbbnE_BtKSIwaENHwsTj8dx2i8KLpHn0h5Zu_che86_NY5/s400/IMG_0616.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpFyqLwowJgfG9Zw5R3VJdjxPNVchBk2fzSO8bHoCdaKcFsgJgNle4oB0cpIHkwFYQkviRf-uGrblJaJ4ZZu7ifNezxKeTL6ru1d5s2zQBL8nSkeQd6r4uwvwiRYrq_NeOuaQI3JaXqWx/s1600/IMG_0603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpFyqLwowJgfG9Zw5R3VJdjxPNVchBk2fzSO8bHoCdaKcFsgJgNle4oB0cpIHkwFYQkviRf-uGrblJaJ4ZZu7ifNezxKeTL6ru1d5s2zQBL8nSkeQd6r4uwvwiRYrq_NeOuaQI3JaXqWx/s400/IMG_0603.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can you not be in awe of where we live…..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghm26DoJRtg8_Of0Nb_KDCFBe70S0wkBj-xuS33kIZ_J7JTdVGSjo2EWgOf1jVPQ1fYk5dy-RkRQQViLCNUabpxpMPVzMTQPsYekDXQhl7-ouWt68ZwL9cHmxEtOPtRDf5WdQXvR2icLls/s1600/IMG_0608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghm26DoJRtg8_Of0Nb_KDCFBe70S0wkBj-xuS33kIZ_J7JTdVGSjo2EWgOf1jVPQ1fYk5dy-RkRQQViLCNUabpxpMPVzMTQPsYekDXQhl7-ouWt68ZwL9cHmxEtOPtRDf5WdQXvR2icLls/s400/IMG_0608.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild flowers in full bloom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRctNS2KfGkB-wVOAp_JM-9oX6B6nAl9eIKzmzOOtX6l9m2jTBngammHbS4oMooBLEfjk5iTOJWAp7ZyBGUDTY0GilNLY6_39_GJxg6-BH7QNfRQ7agq5rpNFbeSpE7VnSYFm1Xk1XI-o/s1600/IMG_0612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRctNS2KfGkB-wVOAp_JM-9oX6B6nAl9eIKzmzOOtX6l9m2jTBngammHbS4oMooBLEfjk5iTOJWAp7ZyBGUDTY0GilNLY6_39_GJxg6-BH7QNfRQ7agq5rpNFbeSpE7VnSYFm1Xk1XI-o/s400/IMG_0612.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course…. still snow at the top!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigN2FFJ6l86iERykkyMhrIzDXgTGPK_qMKcNqrRYLZUDWOt-0Ji_i-3s0KjPsiF8k6sNdmovQ_C02yTQNbjvxIQrx_Fbfqv1a1qDac4xKTb5U44Pxf5ZZjucuP8xWNm9DCASGxlLmpwGOg/s1600/IMG_0617.MOV"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Db540b339e1e069e0%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1347460569%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D25F0E451C88C4CF4895C16A1BF7794377CC01226.B27A20CB4614F636832920BF371353F12351A316%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Db540b339e1e069e0%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1347460569%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D25F0E451C88C4CF4895C16A1BF7794377CC01226.B27A20CB4614F636832920BF371353F12351A316%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
The Crankworks festival was in full gear…! 20 somethings, 30 somethings, and even 60 somethings… all on mountain bikes… doing some pretty extreme things, fun to watch.. but I like keeping my rubber on the road.. well… at least as often as I can…..<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoa-E8pURqkPrsNEY36hFgQi3zVopboAvqHJNPKvtAztSSeiKsN9GwKzmWOI7xeQkzCh30heBJHZJXd5jxUsyQu9ZXMWd1cZBhyphenhyphenDfaCbllaJK_2i-etbNZ3Hv7amJuAPFgdIUor-A3LI_/s1600/IMG_0623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoa-E8pURqkPrsNEY36hFgQi3zVopboAvqHJNPKvtAztSSeiKsN9GwKzmWOI7xeQkzCh30heBJHZJXd5jxUsyQu9ZXMWd1cZBhyphenhyphenDfaCbllaJK_2i-etbNZ3Hv7amJuAPFgdIUor-A3LI_/s400/IMG_0623.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx8vJqh7MnbqgNnK4Q_oczTX_WjKIS16sT3uh05i37keapM6h8nk-PH7W0AtHoBS9ZfoOZ2GCSH1Oih0GjdouDt9soS0U58tT_9QqqcEXrq3KmSPJuONktqeleaIyEtB2pGp9MCLC-jg6/s1600/IMG_0624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx8vJqh7MnbqgNnK4Q_oczTX_WjKIS16sT3uh05i37keapM6h8nk-PH7W0AtHoBS9ZfoOZ2GCSH1Oih0GjdouDt9soS0U58tT_9QqqcEXrq3KmSPJuONktqeleaIyEtB2pGp9MCLC-jg6/s400/IMG_0624.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
A couple of other notes….. well I have given in and started a Twitter account… two actually.. one for just my to do's.. and the second was motivated by what I seem to ask myself every day…. its called "So I have a question…" and its meant to be a place for me to make questioned observations about the world around me….. stuff like, When did ankle socks and sandals become ok? and How are jeans with a zipper that's one centimetre long actual supposed to fit?<br />
<br />
Anyway… I have added to the blog for those downtimes between posts :-)<br />
<br />
Till next time, happy chatting…..</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-57561989541729349792012-07-27T23:31:00.001-07:002012-07-27T23:35:27.876-07:00Images de la France…….So as I wrap up my last few days in France I am forced to ponder when I will be back. You know that feeling when you travel, when go someplace new, you have those great expereinces… you just don't want to leave. You start wondering how quickly you will fall back into your daily routine..off to work, come home exercise, read, back to work… etc etc… while I like my life at home I have visions of myself travelling all over the world…living, experiencing, maybe even writing a blog ;-)<br />
<br />
But, reality is reality and I must face it…. so because I can not stay here in Paris, or the south of France and have my morning coffee, explore cities and towns for hours, and at end the day sit in a cafe having a glass of Champange…. I have taken pictures to remember what it was all about and given the fact that I have already been sharing them with you…. I thought it would be a nice way to finish up the posts of the trip….. so here are <i><b>my images of France</b></i>…in my day I was a rather budding photographer and I think I still have the eye however I did not bring the equipment on this getaway.. so I apologize for any lack of creativity that might show through……….I hope you enjoy….<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3ywSNgP4LFadUYjAWN-5x5LSj7LkvlZSQLEjO55xjW47V00RD-WIcBxg9Xkzwbppjej3Q8Gk_aEOZ_8I4I3tEy9giPyMKK0wVCX6w2XzTGP5phaRq1pJ8Eu7gVrqbYtH2q-QbHsaLoQ_/s1600/DSCF2861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3ywSNgP4LFadUYjAWN-5x5LSj7LkvlZSQLEjO55xjW47V00RD-WIcBxg9Xkzwbppjej3Q8Gk_aEOZ_8I4I3tEy9giPyMKK0wVCX6w2XzTGP5phaRq1pJ8Eu7gVrqbYtH2q-QbHsaLoQ_/s400/DSCF2861.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch spot in Chateauneuf!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrzEVoBhPutbyq-r2f550bpJHG_xWoOxm44n6U2naHLRAcVr-7NTc7jjrYTtxr_T-f2_pZAPNOmwBKWOgBeifMgIyhRpab_qnsKAsBAFxGVLStJPqjihZXotdWAlIUhsw6GpEgPniWiNg/s1600/DSCF2873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrzEVoBhPutbyq-r2f550bpJHG_xWoOxm44n6U2naHLRAcVr-7NTc7jjrYTtxr_T-f2_pZAPNOmwBKWOgBeifMgIyhRpab_qnsKAsBAFxGVLStJPqjihZXotdWAlIUhsw6GpEgPniWiNg/s400/DSCF2873.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy with the barrels of wine! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8aetFgxvYDktKnMhjfH2vPaKHv0gLSUm-FUgxHCJyf4zO-xruqYHrEiGdTboOKDgMCgzJv76wuqRJAsEm19Eqm4Av9JxJmsNuoE65whmhLKPOd9MFoV2vcCiMEoY9EMIZgTR0uR46ae2/s1600/DSCF2819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8aetFgxvYDktKnMhjfH2vPaKHv0gLSUm-FUgxHCJyf4zO-xruqYHrEiGdTboOKDgMCgzJv76wuqRJAsEm19Eqm4Av9JxJmsNuoE65whmhLKPOd9MFoV2vcCiMEoY9EMIZgTR0uR46ae2/s320/DSCF2819.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And you have to taste it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl38BQQLrkF51lLCBBpZXSWGYyAv7RVm5eAuCUAXXVtYk1NXlQziTaYVLgH8pgg_H_FON9Lt5cOygehrJLCgm5bwPC4U8K02uOfS757u59TSbLPbB3YoM5S-DH_XvsBrAp592HkYjkhGWy/s1600/DSCF2889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl38BQQLrkF51lLCBBpZXSWGYyAv7RVm5eAuCUAXXVtYk1NXlQziTaYVLgH8pgg_H_FON9Lt5cOygehrJLCgm5bwPC4U8K02uOfS757u59TSbLPbB3YoM5S-DH_XvsBrAp592HkYjkhGWy/s400/DSCF2889.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning about the limestone….</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy1LeFjhmfhZ7BMBrVeXc2ZgMdKx1jS0sCDZMQUxw8YMfWeJxYtL6M27LlORD3ZJoLq42YMX7Ne9Nhq9vlB2JYs6D8AS6NsFREbMV8yDKoIUeIOOFr3Ug-yjzOisBTOuWEYsQAfGJkgOJ/s1600/DSCF2774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy1LeFjhmfhZ7BMBrVeXc2ZgMdKx1jS0sCDZMQUxw8YMfWeJxYtL6M27LlORD3ZJoLq42YMX7Ne9Nhq9vlB2JYs6D8AS6NsFREbMV8yDKoIUeIOOFr3Ug-yjzOisBTOuWEYsQAfGJkgOJ/s400/DSCF2774.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">its definitely not flat!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCe0yMmizMwBP5dLO0Fe5HvcO0lgtid8oikdJTalMekRMUujElq7a-r2xjIbJd_9nadnMwPLVpMXWHtC8GfcQ3yPfYgKt1MaRTQG6oBqBAgJzgX04uX-2ohVDV1qzixwAE8KCYK3yL0T4z/s1600/DSCF2748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCe0yMmizMwBP5dLO0Fe5HvcO0lgtid8oikdJTalMekRMUujElq7a-r2xjIbJd_9nadnMwPLVpMXWHtC8GfcQ3yPfYgKt1MaRTQG6oBqBAgJzgX04uX-2ohVDV1qzixwAE8KCYK3yL0T4z/s400/DSCF2748.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the old winding streets of Provence… </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nx6oeltjaXvd1DPZ-OE_o5HJSygNzFjaBCAoZIKxbEekWFQ5p5Z8lYDA-ZHTX7fyjKzKm-qr4im9Nstv2sDfIObBq8LZB3jQ-IEY22QkSmRNfgBWWfVnT-ndA6HtwONhUdaWVrZNFktI/s1600/DSCF2749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nx6oeltjaXvd1DPZ-OE_o5HJSygNzFjaBCAoZIKxbEekWFQ5p5Z8lYDA-ZHTX7fyjKzKm-qr4im9Nstv2sDfIObBq8LZB3jQ-IEY22QkSmRNfgBWWfVnT-ndA6HtwONhUdaWVrZNFktI/s400/DSCF2749.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and fountains everywhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmZybNnqPTnygDzGb2IR-a3PdAVMUwMV8FPIZ1vO310QsrS1UtZ2uMXbklZ3gAZcoZrtU44oFuefvsuTOgw0fj5dg4BD_j-Nwca1SeJlexT4aY7acqrVj0TOW6S7LEHr6HV8tRyf1R7AY/s1600/DSCF2804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmZybNnqPTnygDzGb2IR-a3PdAVMUwMV8FPIZ1vO310QsrS1UtZ2uMXbklZ3gAZcoZrtU44oFuefvsuTOgw0fj5dg4BD_j-Nwca1SeJlexT4aY7acqrVj0TOW6S7LEHr6HV8tRyf1R7AY/s400/DSCF2804.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the towns were so picturesque! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNq44e9zaMUe_Yp-Q98OOgEoN1NTfCqUNtmocOuE2_FhPlrpDeE3XJFM0lM-pAdMbb0KWExcSn11fJKn7QIZCpYEH_f_2S8abU78yJXT0PZ82LOrNknehiZRv2iUXRNPcyM-HDUCHGDcf/s1600/DSCF2808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNq44e9zaMUe_Yp-Q98OOgEoN1NTfCqUNtmocOuE2_FhPlrpDeE3XJFM0lM-pAdMbb0KWExcSn11fJKn7QIZCpYEH_f_2S8abU78yJXT0PZ82LOrNknehiZRv2iUXRNPcyM-HDUCHGDcf/s400/DSCF2808.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coast was so beautiful! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGGlCFzH2YmEVotF6_TEKF16KjCH9scm_E8oVWonNI9aYSpL5kpnsxvJFAhpbJyFexjAe8IPzHo0YGPZXL9x5aChTh8I-kIjhW9QcCG7EJXAuQfX7POvgBSdNAb8zNGrElAfeZhqUfKX5/s1600/DSCF2912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGGlCFzH2YmEVotF6_TEKF16KjCH9scm_E8oVWonNI9aYSpL5kpnsxvJFAhpbJyFexjAe8IPzHo0YGPZXL9x5aChTh8I-kIjhW9QcCG7EJXAuQfX7POvgBSdNAb8zNGrElAfeZhqUfKX5/s400/DSCF2912.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everywhere you look.. vineyards!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fA9z_6hPvWPY3WdGc5EKs52WGqVGLkxZvy4oRHxshSuwNdghv7bcTDTcTD89qgRAGq0NrByQnM69Ix7OlmYbUwgv5ZsriWPO2UzDmNeFE-iGes-fMqQguppqnitbZpnKJmUsCeRnG9aK/s1600/DSCF2913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fA9z_6hPvWPY3WdGc5EKs52WGqVGLkxZvy4oRHxshSuwNdghv7bcTDTcTD89qgRAGq0NrByQnM69Ix7OlmYbUwgv5ZsriWPO2UzDmNeFE-iGes-fMqQguppqnitbZpnKJmUsCeRnG9aK/s400/DSCF2913.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How is this for a spot to live</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Champagne.. Reims.. the most wonderful place on the planet.. and the birthplace of my favourite wine in the entire world!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf2LffFKzQwKMfKqDuXDVZ-8hvr3Llw6sDrnfVlBh9K5fLonmPyKYZjsURkVEI2vo9xkTtC9hRmnpBVClCL97RXLe04JAgh8D1QGfHIBijZf9GSf-lgmmEv1IW5kp1W1x3aF5IyRQbTxd/s1600/DSCF3166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf2LffFKzQwKMfKqDuXDVZ-8hvr3Llw6sDrnfVlBh9K5fLonmPyKYZjsURkVEI2vo9xkTtC9hRmnpBVClCL97RXLe04JAgh8D1QGfHIBijZf9GSf-lgmmEv1IW5kp1W1x3aF5IyRQbTxd/s400/DSCF3166.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathedral of Reims… more history than Canada, on one sight...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQx0m7Mfi_z9tmHn-24ENFni1ZRYwi78g9bTrPHy5_GLRQPrTqbrMN2Pi3d4Ip1qcBnTWDdR2mG_KjE3_vVhdZ912tnTgFfTtAa3LjExguu926Bwhj4cJ6zGlrrhF5b6_9AZmIlm58guwS/s1600/DSCF3175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQx0m7Mfi_z9tmHn-24ENFni1ZRYwi78g9bTrPHy5_GLRQPrTqbrMN2Pi3d4Ip1qcBnTWDdR2mG_KjE3_vVhdZ912tnTgFfTtAa3LjExguu926Bwhj4cJ6zGlrrhF5b6_9AZmIlm58guwS/s400/DSCF3175.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the inside...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFrTgJuRULOc3Fwb2gwZVF4ICwBBuMmPRHXSe4Hd72AQ9MyE0vc8ypKUQ7pgfD4CKWT4g43C1rlGKw-fFapW6LzavVO3Mu0a-eMCPX49__OqEigZqig5JduQa9ErpkYHJl_iPJHyqFv72/s1600/DSCF3194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFrTgJuRULOc3Fwb2gwZVF4ICwBBuMmPRHXSe4Hd72AQ9MyE0vc8ypKUQ7pgfD4CKWT4g43C1rlGKw-fFapW6LzavVO3Mu0a-eMCPX49__OqEigZqig5JduQa9ErpkYHJl_iPJHyqFv72/s400/DSCF3194.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
My favourite part of Reims.. Real Champagne, in a real French bistro from the 1930's.. at lunch! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7AV_IjF15-1pR7KzVeXQLH9ABkUlVtjsrXyhgZSXbtSzJYOEQhmVO4lfB9esCdTbtUaF8VVv6okSJCy4tGkikjdae3OM8GWyS_iyDqmt7NFjO0On5gVBfActGH9PnHZBWJOHr7y4mCDx/s1600/DSCF3212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7AV_IjF15-1pR7KzVeXQLH9ABkUlVtjsrXyhgZSXbtSzJYOEQhmVO4lfB9esCdTbtUaF8VVv6okSJCy4tGkikjdae3OM8GWyS_iyDqmt7NFjO0On5gVBfActGH9PnHZBWJOHr7y4mCDx/s400/DSCF3212.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the beautiful view from the wonder tour of the upper area…...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>And there is nothing like Paris!!!!!!</i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrN0w4_oLg-yR40gaWkeyJ1XpP2el_GS40JfHln_OHW52wIdjakkqSeFU3wBjoBj5nIztBA2DpGzlCss5XKE1cXlz9jzhaaVXVd1cZkR7FgpEgYNRP0JBio0GSELG_6pGuYGQPPF-SI_BP/s1600/DSCF3048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrN0w4_oLg-yR40gaWkeyJ1XpP2el_GS40JfHln_OHW52wIdjakkqSeFU3wBjoBj5nIztBA2DpGzlCss5XKE1cXlz9jzhaaVXVd1cZkR7FgpEgYNRP0JBio0GSELG_6pGuYGQPPF-SI_BP/s400/DSCF3048.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dwight on the Velib, a bike rental system all through Paris! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZetc7MWdVVrh1Pjc1CRoBlE16jjxnHH_DF4O6imbTUO1iuzAe_-FwTWKuA3F8FH_j164MnQ7-lFJufNEn93J3ltptUAwNsDldHA96aJgPeStClex5QHQhWEJ4cKPdWB8gfNj7ImzfkB6C/s1600/DSCF3098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZetc7MWdVVrh1Pjc1CRoBlE16jjxnHH_DF4O6imbTUO1iuzAe_-FwTWKuA3F8FH_j164MnQ7-lFJufNEn93J3ltptUAwNsDldHA96aJgPeStClex5QHQhWEJ4cKPdWB8gfNj7ImzfkB6C/s400/DSCF3098.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art Everywhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenv9zyXrCCxDt_oPtCDAWPVtPG50lvNWccGjtwci4i3utVR7J3tmAnXgB86Wus1LBt2NLUFM2dfWqqdcTnKepqVkr1Q28K5EF2rZZws2EJZM0muL-A1VFojAVfeTTs1KVcSPXVt5LonWL/s1600/DSCF3140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenv9zyXrCCxDt_oPtCDAWPVtPG50lvNWccGjtwci4i3utVR7J3tmAnXgB86Wus1LBt2NLUFM2dfWqqdcTnKepqVkr1Q28K5EF2rZZws2EJZM0muL-A1VFojAVfeTTs1KVcSPXVt5LonWL/s400/DSCF3140.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our morning runs in the Jardon de Luxenburg!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYbOQwfmFl8B7erzKdZSORkj9V3XucDaGjiHB2rxqfF8-Znn8da9k_3vETJ4vrTvCMqjdAGVIMwCYQjKs4aAnDW4vdN5Y6uG3dzxppSTas820qgKqBgszkSTZSfBghQkNPj38eENIGZ87/s1600/DSCF3104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYbOQwfmFl8B7erzKdZSORkj9V3XucDaGjiHB2rxqfF8-Znn8da9k_3vETJ4vrTvCMqjdAGVIMwCYQjKs4aAnDW4vdN5Y6uG3dzxppSTas820qgKqBgszkSTZSfBghQkNPj38eENIGZ87/s400/DSCF3104.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PbHBHx4R0AiKNxLqEBdWhNogBGIrIJAuUYSNsyNhCeuxr6gufke6jCzNgRsy9BYJO2cObGnx36jl3IhZcvz7_BRI1OMITEnAuHlAm8nWYrWQHvsgMNVEy_ujj46xtCw8u1J3sNVt5zQh/s1600/DSCF3249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PbHBHx4R0AiKNxLqEBdWhNogBGIrIJAuUYSNsyNhCeuxr6gufke6jCzNgRsy9BYJO2cObGnx36jl3IhZcvz7_BRI1OMITEnAuHlAm8nWYrWQHvsgMNVEy_ujj46xtCw8u1J3sNVt5zQh/s400/DSCF3249.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Would you believe a game of street hockey!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And then there was our time in the Lourve…. yikes, there are not enough hours in the day!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKpcYZ9Yco9JkL7wyCsXw5x2oegp8HY1keTOvicJ8AJdJKWWrojjRUQB49i2C4UhvpIGc5vXqNfiV05fjiF3L8ImPzYqaOJaijMVXU4aoRX2n6rpw87ROTOOLTkvz8V2D4RG7baDD9L6c/s1600/DSCF3041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKpcYZ9Yco9JkL7wyCsXw5x2oegp8HY1keTOvicJ8AJdJKWWrojjRUQB49i2C4UhvpIGc5vXqNfiV05fjiF3L8ImPzYqaOJaijMVXU4aoRX2n6rpw87ROTOOLTkvz8V2D4RG7baDD9L6c/s400/DSCF3041.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting here was more difficult than it looks…!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyLIQ87A0xVAEjutKCZYJiJGmDirfBQer0-eOHS4-28ynhxrru6t_8sBjFsjLqJ5zTG5yryO2JxYinqStVV3xZgRm06uoMuauYqo2rorCaR_j25oHQYjk7-8tqVggW6BdKl0kS34w0S8E/s1600/DSCF3262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyLIQ87A0xVAEjutKCZYJiJGmDirfBQer0-eOHS4-28ynhxrru6t_8sBjFsjLqJ5zTG5yryO2JxYinqStVV3xZgRm06uoMuauYqo2rorCaR_j25oHQYjk7-8tqVggW6BdKl0kS34w0S8E/s400/DSCF3262.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the famous glass triangle…..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-b7g61sbNGKK26ZWJXSjhkukj3rX254J1yXLFwWEb1ElBOE9h-dhTHHFS9QqTyYMcfWy75IscULkCLpC5VH6KSAKAWLTfFcCiJOzi-VhngjUHrWY0DdukQ9XbBGN2mxpICQkZk9IeLb0/s1600/DSCF3268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-b7g61sbNGKK26ZWJXSjhkukj3rX254J1yXLFwWEb1ElBOE9h-dhTHHFS9QqTyYMcfWy75IscULkCLpC5VH6KSAKAWLTfFcCiJOzi-VhngjUHrWY0DdukQ9XbBGN2mxpICQkZk9IeLb0/s400/DSCF3268.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">did I mention the beautiful art already… </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN7e6PY9_RBBa51iEwbHIkgNdzS7GJWLesfDdOL9X3_2AyfKplm1gw7kt1qml8yJ3NSGOmeC3x9vEJeWDu8OiX8AxSB-hofjIG-gNOvVy0fpir2YxxuH6OJWQl31_fHV2LKtlP75Pple_/s1600/DSCF3270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN7e6PY9_RBBa51iEwbHIkgNdzS7GJWLesfDdOL9X3_2AyfKplm1gw7kt1qml8yJ3NSGOmeC3x9vEJeWDu8OiX8AxSB-hofjIG-gNOvVy0fpir2YxxuH6OJWQl31_fHV2LKtlP75Pple_/s400/DSCF3270.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah… I think I did…. how sensual is this…in marble none the less! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD9l-Xo1vvcDKTQgfxXXGBeuiEAOA_9dlyX0kGR_qrtD8zxuUGbfTgCODNL3_lgrFV-EDcJWpYbXE9h2cgWa4_q3n4vh72qnblOF6ztFaqy3YcvjdFIe9dh1ndoh3zOmHqKtHOPXkF1qY/s1600/DSCF3271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD9l-Xo1vvcDKTQgfxXXGBeuiEAOA_9dlyX0kGR_qrtD8zxuUGbfTgCODNL3_lgrFV-EDcJWpYbXE9h2cgWa4_q3n4vh72qnblOF6ztFaqy3YcvjdFIe9dh1ndoh3zOmHqKtHOPXkF1qY/s400/DSCF3271.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They had a new artist displayed.. very wonderful…</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMZJPI4Uhc1-ctIwbxlBqYZ8wW59OfRlc6ubRuDAAB-33YYO0KGAML3cegiEO7UO3PEnQxvEOLSo4c9PC3T1sXE4qVplsnLi2rviSO-V9FYv8-K3ERyb2uSLZ8cCJGOY-xSnbsE1zRTi6/s1600/DSCF3276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMZJPI4Uhc1-ctIwbxlBqYZ8wW59OfRlc6ubRuDAAB-33YYO0KGAML3cegiEO7UO3PEnQxvEOLSo4c9PC3T1sXE4qVplsnLi2rviSO-V9FYv8-K3ERyb2uSLZ8cCJGOY-xSnbsE1zRTi6/s400/DSCF3276.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here he is……….check it out online.. really wonderful!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sxG5FfeT7C615HY0kzmtj3myz1AIRteU6qxfCdrL6HW69raSyLP8JvJbnlM0QOHio6KkyQ2GqFF6nwarFoCM47ZMILm9Y3YawkWAmADj0zS-vcEcySzWHdpmZijlVjV_kTGkVV2OAC_s/s1600/DSCF3279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sxG5FfeT7C615HY0kzmtj3myz1AIRteU6qxfCdrL6HW69raSyLP8JvJbnlM0QOHio6KkyQ2GqFF6nwarFoCM47ZMILm9Y3YawkWAmADj0zS-vcEcySzWHdpmZijlVjV_kTGkVV2OAC_s/s400/DSCF3279.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">its a really, really big place.. a good thing I have my map guy with me! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And of course the food and wine made for wonderful evenings……</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTMh48trhyphenhyphen8r946UQHhiowl7SKuUi4jMLhA-yO4ZDDuf1uNGIKMEX1Moqm82Z0fbdT66Hj375TiG3AMb1cJeZpublzMA2gm4P35dFOM7OzLOTR9l59eNmwEsmOURAQ6gIjw1TDOvqdpKQ/s1600/DSCF3251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTMh48trhyphenhyphen8r946UQHhiowl7SKuUi4jMLhA-yO4ZDDuf1uNGIKMEX1Moqm82Z0fbdT66Hj375TiG3AMb1cJeZpublzMA2gm4P35dFOM7OzLOTR9l59eNmwEsmOURAQ6gIjw1TDOvqdpKQ/s400/DSCF3251.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MPf7kDLamVmvZFGmVd-FDeHVNj4aAiVN6yUEawDzUUkh0v-M1DmW4Bp0REne8zlDX7wukJ4lpy2SqyZjcuauQNAuP0VxhbzcBjlWz2HqSj48GbA4T5KQETwXlzJfgXbjlBu1tAJw0Xlg/s1600/DSCF3252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MPf7kDLamVmvZFGmVd-FDeHVNj4aAiVN6yUEawDzUUkh0v-M1DmW4Bp0REne8zlDX7wukJ4lpy2SqyZjcuauQNAuP0VxhbzcBjlWz2HqSj48GbA4T5KQETwXlzJfgXbjlBu1tAJw0Xlg/s400/DSCF3252.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOmzmki0JVSzWbVz793IINeWkwDBn3VP3KC5uOM1Ihq-5cDaxfn6lKGCsTc-Zkzyeh-LJuPOCIcUxiLCBopND5INd1PDXlbAc3VzniOAzazX13bOctvT4jQtE8JZeW_Z_5rkvnJqVrwQ_/s1600/DSCF3126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOmzmki0JVSzWbVz793IINeWkwDBn3VP3KC5uOM1Ihq-5cDaxfn6lKGCsTc-Zkzyeh-LJuPOCIcUxiLCBopND5INd1PDXlbAc3VzniOAzazX13bOctvT4jQtE8JZeW_Z_5rkvnJqVrwQ_/s400/DSCF3126.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The BEST restaurant in Paris…! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEycyqgLWz0qOcVcHTN7PQLGNP_7Zg1fIig1JTwgRO0TAp5bQO5YjDUEcKI-U_D601vAJ95xv6aUR8EIHDoTln8RzkLND9bBRHhiERj94n6aIqwjXGUgFPjZYngx2PIFwiOTAbZ99alW7O/s1600/DSCF3255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEycyqgLWz0qOcVcHTN7PQLGNP_7Zg1fIig1JTwgRO0TAp5bQO5YjDUEcKI-U_D601vAJ95xv6aUR8EIHDoTln8RzkLND9bBRHhiERj94n6aIqwjXGUgFPjZYngx2PIFwiOTAbZ99alW7O/s400/DSCF3255.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did have an elevator.. well..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaNKNtLOQAOn0cAqUkLoeG-IVyM4p2nxTAenaznpKZYgwji-R-ITidi_rPzUAa882_T_b4czycFzFCq4a8UK528GHfJAeeCzKLlK5tT5IkAvqOoYYJYZ6irnNF_hSuRW24e5-7qGqDm4N/s1600/DSCF3256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaNKNtLOQAOn0cAqUkLoeG-IVyM4p2nxTAenaznpKZYgwji-R-ITidi_rPzUAa882_T_b4czycFzFCq4a8UK528GHfJAeeCzKLlK5tT5IkAvqOoYYJYZ6irnNF_hSuRW24e5-7qGqDm4N/s400/DSCF3256.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Room for two only!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I hope you enjoyed the blog over the last few weeks, I certainly have enjoyed France. The people, the places, the food, the wine…..they have all contributed to some wonderful memories that I will always have……….</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
till next time…….happy chatting…….</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-19953589621066954662012-07-22T13:48:00.000-07:002012-07-22T14:07:55.392-07:00Paris, the city of lights..and bikes!We arrived in Paris a couple of days before the last stage of the Tour de France, and we did this for a reason… we thought the city would be consumed by the event. Like any other big event we have been too, usually the city becomes so focused on what is happening everything else takes a back seat….not in Paris…… we did a ton the two days before the TDF!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtysWB9NFE0dN67DS9xIbPwW4CCvI5a3yXfdhdGkqT5Yri0Im8mdSljEZd63dG2sNNXpbHo5Ht-kEzXSWm_nPmS-W8Hwu1V-Pomv9pPY3nQxkH-X5prZV9QZr5XDe4LKS187wH7vNH8tQ/s1600/DSCF3009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtysWB9NFE0dN67DS9xIbPwW4CCvI5a3yXfdhdGkqT5Yri0Im8mdSljEZd63dG2sNNXpbHo5Ht-kEzXSWm_nPmS-W8Hwu1V-Pomv9pPY3nQxkH-X5prZV9QZr5XDe4LKS187wH7vNH8tQ/s400/DSCF3009.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to our apartment in St Germain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0IDSmnxLvUtVpbmVKR4XPrUzxNIpg3JdU3ZeSMMypBusqSAIGE0Xv8lDSnvf3FYF8NKnLQ9l9YiQj2KsS0pkvTA9fcJYAZQ45WOL2O2T6juix1IMWHgvB2ih9ERh_86eyWfxkGP1xMgZ/s1600/DSCF3055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0IDSmnxLvUtVpbmVKR4XPrUzxNIpg3JdU3ZeSMMypBusqSAIGE0Xv8lDSnvf3FYF8NKnLQ9l9YiQj2KsS0pkvTA9fcJYAZQ45WOL2O2T6juix1IMWHgvB2ih9ERh_86eyWfxkGP1xMgZ/s400/DSCF3055.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iconic Paris</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PHl3sWSt7F2ZnkqwZZK5M9ksQHb6GqcPOfFXNqMNfGevsNuEEqzsJSfEsD62gzojuS_oxD8t8aOcWudLSDGnllf12lpM7kHtbUL44QQNrPAwhiLDXWLB8m-U2undG9MYL_-N1GIIV_6E/s1600/DSCF3010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PHl3sWSt7F2ZnkqwZZK5M9ksQHb6GqcPOfFXNqMNfGevsNuEEqzsJSfEsD62gzojuS_oxD8t8aOcWudLSDGnllf12lpM7kHtbUL44QQNrPAwhiLDXWLB8m-U2undG9MYL_-N1GIIV_6E/s400/DSCF3010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our evening walk the first night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0nIQtThVI1UahiXHvO83ZIo-ADoTQCLoME_mN4Jf7lbQO9kVokN7aWT4ZSQFRVq1c8cZ6tLSlOQ9oHUQfG8m9aIoAddAN3aJ7Rf5KXfNjU24pSkREP9MIjmifcXn-r9yyn33ax_M5m40/s1600/DSCF3013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0nIQtThVI1UahiXHvO83ZIo-ADoTQCLoME_mN4Jf7lbQO9kVokN7aWT4ZSQFRVq1c8cZ6tLSlOQ9oHUQfG8m9aIoAddAN3aJ7Rf5KXfNjU24pSkREP9MIjmifcXn-r9yyn33ax_M5m40/s400/DSCF3013.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Pont Des Arts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUt9dvJoEZPtzwps8jPERHQYgPlvUEGEoVAbD23rrhQqA5_2qflLA0muwBRyPn_9syBxsRogju_f5wsbzZvvJ72E8SdjFwIatg4ox4vtcDPA8-Zm-JUWNa_6OpujnNvmqURorL11txLpT2/s1600/DSCF3027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUt9dvJoEZPtzwps8jPERHQYgPlvUEGEoVAbD23rrhQqA5_2qflLA0muwBRyPn_9syBxsRogju_f5wsbzZvvJ72E8SdjFwIatg4ox4vtcDPA8-Zm-JUWNa_6OpujnNvmqURorL11txLpT2/s400/DSCF3027.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love locks on the Pont des Arts… fascinating.. and in Paris very controversial..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1lNCTUMh7zIHg23kXpMxmY0z99o6o3kNy4N206b2eIgSUXZpfkNj90p9Y5UpWA3kT_4CICCFUzdjIXT4HG9IhhdXdR6DFqA3sHJ1Ux_zZ0eXTkMTqK6RcyNMkqHwoRdA5dYo8B96STeX/s1600/DSCF3018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1lNCTUMh7zIHg23kXpMxmY0z99o6o3kNy4N206b2eIgSUXZpfkNj90p9Y5UpWA3kT_4CICCFUzdjIXT4HG9IhhdXdR6DFqA3sHJ1Ux_zZ0eXTkMTqK6RcyNMkqHwoRdA5dYo8B96STeX/s400/DSCF3018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Pont Neuf</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsABTwcJlWiaOzb6CBvrHrWRqffbTZ3FwXcMMOrO9mptr3P9Q-57xgUSmtKRkX_ZStnEGXstKzg_fisCHTb-1V90m9y-UECZgqsPolFdTmPpA-RxVv7PU0ijgW5_FDXgFfp32WJUemx6J/s1600/DSCF3022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsABTwcJlWiaOzb6CBvrHrWRqffbTZ3FwXcMMOrO9mptr3P9Q-57xgUSmtKRkX_ZStnEGXstKzg_fisCHTb-1V90m9y-UECZgqsPolFdTmPpA-RxVv7PU0ijgW5_FDXgFfp32WJUemx6J/s400/DSCF3022.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And no first evening could go by without a stop here.. doing Canadian in Paris.. interesting..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
Seriously… have you ever seen a espresso machine in a Canadian pub..? It might be a good idea :) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_jM4f1nTEunL1I-z3JuZvdn30U5m06Ovk9ZLVKd5J2o89dMcLxtZx4Sw7xVCImOkZmqPv5e5I_goGL8xdDiqf27shqv5Qgt3pvl4dJuHTw-8cTcExGVWinSibtmDFNt1SCRA7wjdPWql/s1600/DSCF3023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_jM4f1nTEunL1I-z3JuZvdn30U5m06Ovk9ZLVKd5J2o89dMcLxtZx4Sw7xVCImOkZmqPv5e5I_goGL8xdDiqf27shqv5Qgt3pvl4dJuHTw-8cTcExGVWinSibtmDFNt1SCRA7wjdPWql/s400/DSCF3023.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great Canadian Pub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTn_0D83J6-x8YYH3XoU8WOVAnqBqzR_7TlWeclnR9sm9GhjQTjO9YSEkQps98fC369rVxkYlfyhX8O-0a2HuU36j8b3UfP-3RS4jqjK767Vraic4Z8hyMwqqsBiLARSXkBs3-dHxb1PG/s1600/DSCF3034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTn_0D83J6-x8YYH3XoU8WOVAnqBqzR_7TlWeclnR9sm9GhjQTjO9YSEkQps98fC369rVxkYlfyhX8O-0a2HuU36j8b3UfP-3RS4jqjK767Vraic4Z8hyMwqqsBiLARSXkBs3-dHxb1PG/s400/DSCF3034.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time in the gardens..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlPde6SqoFrtQWtZ_bovtefmxllNFsp4YaLx4wJz1iuriqwwLIbSqmmjTWwbfDivfyAptihhRfVaS0AFf10KWkQHioOeosETtOGHeuc-JByISA5L35KRXl0gydTnzfP8-h-3PnH3rj3OG/s1600/DSCF3040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlPde6SqoFrtQWtZ_bovtefmxllNFsp4YaLx4wJz1iuriqwwLIbSqmmjTWwbfDivfyAptihhRfVaS0AFf10KWkQHioOeosETtOGHeuc-JByISA5L35KRXl0gydTnzfP8-h-3PnH3rj3OG/s400/DSCF3040.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little shopping …and a walk through the Louvre…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakpoA5sBuB9ZigiA4EsKidijPFZ8vFC8X1BdsmaKgyklEhEUDTsm4zFBoe6H7PeBkQMNKgTXaCxd0va_IuUxQ8wVvoLNN0XqvwNRYVcM4D9dLbyjr4O64Mh8RGP4-n6DLzM1AqbYlcBkz/s1600/DSCF3036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakpoA5sBuB9ZigiA4EsKidijPFZ8vFC8X1BdsmaKgyklEhEUDTsm4zFBoe6H7PeBkQMNKgTXaCxd0va_IuUxQ8wVvoLNN0XqvwNRYVcM4D9dLbyjr4O64Mh8RGP4-n6DLzM1AqbYlcBkz/s400/DSCF3036.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
These pictures can not go without a little explanation… As you might have guessed Dwight and I like wine, ergo we like wine stores… but Dwight on the other had has learned enough about wine to really understand what he is looking at… I would use the analogy of someone who loves shoes (me!) being in a store that has Jimmy Choo, Stuart Wizman, Fluevog, Channel, Kate Spade, oh yeah and lets not forget….Christian Louboutin! Can you imagine how long it would take me to get of there……..well.. welcome to my world when Dwight finds a wine store like this one…<br />
<br />
It was called Lavinia ( www.lavinia.fr ) It had three large.. very large.. levels, mainly French wine. What they called the Sommeliers cellar which you had to be escorted into… and we went in…bottles in there were upwards of $4000 Euro…but outside of that exclusive area you could find a selection of wine that we certainly would never see… I spent most of my time in the Champagne section… which was enormous, can you even fathom Champagne for $25.. good stuff.. we soooo need to change our import taxes!!! Another unique thing they had was a wine tasting enomatic machine set up in ever area..you use a card and sample wines they have for tasting … we even saw a Nuis St Georges… no light weight in the wine world… How civilized! There was even a small cafe where you could get any of the wines they sold at the price there sold it at and a light lunch…. Trust me.. I didn't think I would ever get him out of there…..<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Y_L2PRTZ_2wotQJz0iVcXo0lJQmyyBRWQmzGdt99VvGSeUWwXTaAt-GMkeyNR7ArVYG7IEjivSXhwOBNCk-TcOAQOkjeHAoueWWXg-zkYpHJgTbR9NrdmfDNa5yKvLhyQ9c1Qy-TPK_Z/s1600/DSCF3037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Y_L2PRTZ_2wotQJz0iVcXo0lJQmyyBRWQmzGdt99VvGSeUWwXTaAt-GMkeyNR7ArVYG7IEjivSXhwOBNCk-TcOAQOkjeHAoueWWXg-zkYpHJgTbR9NrdmfDNa5yKvLhyQ9c1Qy-TPK_Z/s400/DSCF3037.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seats, tables, Champagne.. in a wine store.. why would I leave! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
And after only being in Paris for three days I have already done so much.. and topped it off today with something that I have dreamed of doing for a long time…..I watched the Tour de France.. and wow what an expereince…..so I mentioned that the city did not shut down for the race.. well more accurately it lets the Tour take place in the city… it does this by making sure its held on a Sunday.. an absolutely do nothing day for the Parisians, it mobilizes more police for the event than I have ever seen in any city I have ever been in … including New York! And finally…..Parisians come out to watch the race…..what a wonderful thought… most events like this force the locals home, not wanting to handle the crowds.. and OMG.. there were crowds! No.. they love this event as much as the world does, they are proud to host it and they embrace the chaos that accompanies it…. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
it all starts with the most amazing parade I have seen…. they call it the Caravan! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How fun is this………we were set up right under the flame rouge! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHcV_O7pFfElysV6isZTKhNAhr-fnLQrCl2JP1W9Z29kG7b53i7_938r_VgRe4JJwo8tIKz4nnXdbGoHhHk3_B9Nnm1EKnTa0BeILcexh4x0ntd7fi9eTZsvoTshNEgTSg3yKevvt6F6Y/s1600/DSCF3059.AVI"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D1f9af375d812f69b%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1345582669%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D90CB9EEA21BEBBE21501679AA7D3210535BCCA76.5B66AA945BC090DEF9135D0C4386D93D155EC1D5%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D1f9af375d812f69b%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1345582669%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D90CB9EEA21BEBBE21501679AA7D3210535BCCA76.5B66AA945BC090DEF9135D0C4386D93D155EC1D5%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRJCd0vy3aNYkNfWeBVr-mFvZv1ll6b1V8xj4WMBGD7Fc9mFlaxUcasEQbXnK5wUw8PI1UnHjdz_1SM_yhJj_WW9PoPL9gnQCU5CelteZQqpOujP_7Fdad381Nu3bJ0k_q0BO9mQ_efUA/s1600/DSCF3080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRJCd0vy3aNYkNfWeBVr-mFvZv1ll6b1V8xj4WMBGD7Fc9mFlaxUcasEQbXnK5wUw8PI1UnHjdz_1SM_yhJj_WW9PoPL9gnQCU5CelteZQqpOujP_7Fdad381Nu3bJ0k_q0BO9mQ_efUA/s400/DSCF3080.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French soap company…I like french soap…. :-) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOP0623or5eMCUrZOPNCdaOSXVTR6SKi4OLhuUpuRBQ1dHIBSbOYKaVqU3j0xP3riSU1A8-E3UJZs2mQRXWrF2Kf2S43i5dboFFYi59_B_SSqmklzTpJ7NCLw1DgspMeLR3ck_cTBUrwH/s1600/DSCF3074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOP0623or5eMCUrZOPNCdaOSXVTR6SKi4OLhuUpuRBQ1dHIBSbOYKaVqU3j0xP3riSU1A8-E3UJZs2mQRXWrF2Kf2S43i5dboFFYi59_B_SSqmklzTpJ7NCLw1DgspMeLR3ck_cTBUrwH/s400/DSCF3074.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Have I mentioned I love Thomas Voeckler, our new PD jersey winner!</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Finally the race comes and goes by so quickly you almost miss it… but it was wonder to see what I would call my hero's doing what they are so good at!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwCn7mP8OPGjNKe1PlQ4YHWSE8R65u1jcuiB7GENuYIQxEhx2UvC_0GokaRCh6HKNjak-FDvXy_qziyuEpWg9Xew30PCHyS4vLD5Sxic4HOV3g3E9m56gMbhERwloVpk_w9OCpev62W7M/s1600/DSCF3091.AVI"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Da3b2e45e7d6b684a%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1345583192%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D31AA92A34E1C6FEA4FE47BF9D65717D129B19DE1.44FAB0281E6D66B2620D32904464DB2BD5007F9D%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Da3b2e45e7d6b684a%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1345583192%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D31AA92A34E1C6FEA4FE47BF9D65717D129B19DE1.44FAB0281E6D66B2620D32904464DB2BD5007F9D%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKe578GJ9dgHAfnGKFIGy_SaABo4sI2lIheZI9ry7OnKr80hA-0VzIi2D1O5iJkZGwGOa60XbK2MiQM-6SDw2qWbvyO-nt0c_KlhjzF3lkWN7mM3CK2ORulycE6UNQQAGR7A1qj4XJcyCH/s1600/DSCF3092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKe578GJ9dgHAfnGKFIGy_SaABo4sI2lIheZI9ry7OnKr80hA-0VzIi2D1O5iJkZGwGOa60XbK2MiQM-6SDw2qWbvyO-nt0c_KlhjzF3lkWN7mM3CK2ORulycE6UNQQAGR7A1qj4XJcyCH/s400/DSCF3092.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the yellow jersey!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1bYeOY9VEsAjYjQJoMLL8G_fopp2n4RfhGQ1eC2CjvxSKx5YWcHeGFfkjnp-jWutaX_BUW75QhpXbf1OqkoOUhUyVw_OPyTZ-yZhqWaT9PW3cJRYFoXJObeuTa4exp7s2fsL4eSSoQX6/s1600/DSCF3094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1bYeOY9VEsAjYjQJoMLL8G_fopp2n4RfhGQ1eC2CjvxSKx5YWcHeGFfkjnp-jWutaX_BUW75QhpXbf1OqkoOUhUyVw_OPyTZ-yZhqWaT9PW3cJRYFoXJObeuTa4exp7s2fsL4eSSoQX6/s400/DSCF3094.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They move SO fast! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The rest of the week has us focusing on Paris.. Champagne and Versailles .. I can't even think about going home yet!……………<br />
<br />
till next time, happy chatting…….</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-62017851681179937502012-07-18T09:43:00.001-07:002012-07-18T13:10:39.892-07:00Hello from Alsace, bonjour d'Alsace, Hallo aus dem ElsassWe arrived in Alsace expecting it to be the most active part of our trip and unfortunately, some would say fortunately, it has not turned out that way. As in Provence the plan was to rent road bikes however there were difficult to find on the internet before the trip so we were advised that the person greeting us would have information that would direct us to a local place for what we needed, well lets just say these bikes were not only not fit for roads but I would not even take them in a parking lot for a spin!<br />
<br />
Needless to say I was extremely disappointed… this area is fantastic for cycling and try as hard as I could to find another location that would get me what I wanted, I could not… I now know what business I can start if I moved here! Note to self, bring my own bike next time...<br />
<br />
So after some significant pouting, a little pornographic language, and some running to expel some energy.. I have accepted the new focus of our time in Alsace…… which is what you ask? Well, morning runs through the miles of local vineyards, afternoons in hill top villages visiting the history and shops, early evenings on Cafe patio's with a glass of local Cremant..and dinner.. well… sometimes on our wonderful little patio… and other times in Michelin star restaurants… ok..ok… maybe I should not be so whinny.. but seriously.. if you could see the cycling opportunities around here you might just have thrown a little temper tantrum….its like being starving, having the best meal in front of you, and not being able to eat it!<br />
<br />
Here are some images of our time here so far………<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4w-KznNOur1UASms9FDxFeWDuYLTgUGA9ARg1QFw7ZLFT14pujlsBcoAmYwUVMpQqKJ5li38gSPmuDG_5mm_34R_igsOpCRowQyGZOLUgfNPfAO6Oj4zf7Vcq4IJZXQONodpAOX77Jj-b/s1600/DSCF2912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4w-KznNOur1UASms9FDxFeWDuYLTgUGA9ARg1QFw7ZLFT14pujlsBcoAmYwUVMpQqKJ5li38gSPmuDG_5mm_34R_igsOpCRowQyGZOLUgfNPfAO6Oj4zf7Vcq4IJZXQONodpAOX77Jj-b/s400/DSCF2912.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little village...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOHy_OYVBtI4EdCqFfIXE5sdM26y7UlZvDLBnts73zefc6wajhDIZZnHbXyZ0knIh7V_WnGecgVgBhb2fC8zBjo6rJ77g4CnG2TgRFKSeL_CzwmP4xGHZA2VlnTwkav5ZzD9r7xSYTff5/s1600/DSCF2893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOHy_OYVBtI4EdCqFfIXE5sdM26y7UlZvDLBnts73zefc6wajhDIZZnHbXyZ0knIh7V_WnGecgVgBhb2fC8zBjo6rJ77g4CnG2TgRFKSeL_CzwmP4xGHZA2VlnTwkav5ZzD9r7xSYTff5/s400/DSCF2893.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our apartment ready for breakfast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAKsbRmtRr4YdaZ7zKDjS6lxJvMQVNN2fm_NDP9KeMCALjxXOLeAlvxe_Pm6yosQJ5TZzLDM-z9eRFh5nWChMmMHbvLFbCspUZ3scYIqp5Fd-q0K42oizujtiaaWK3l-DCSslLge624uZ/s1600/DSCF2898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAKsbRmtRr4YdaZ7zKDjS6lxJvMQVNN2fm_NDP9KeMCALjxXOLeAlvxe_Pm6yosQJ5TZzLDM-z9eRFh5nWChMmMHbvLFbCspUZ3scYIqp5Fd-q0K42oizujtiaaWK3l-DCSslLge624uZ/s400/DSCF2898.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the Grand Cru vineyard from our balcony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NdY_e9yUEcgnSQlvPciEuNeGgL9U8qJ-qv2lW66Sun2i6KxOANK79MU5ySk5-qcbSSQuLd3-qQYmMQzjrmlZIVU5UP_MWUh0uDVfH6OfnusRb7PMkxK5PsXVxGnYcjrePmE5rS9d38Pg/s1600/DSCF2920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NdY_e9yUEcgnSQlvPciEuNeGgL9U8qJ-qv2lW66Sun2i6KxOANK79MU5ySk5-qcbSSQuLd3-qQYmMQzjrmlZIVU5UP_MWUh0uDVfH6OfnusRb7PMkxK5PsXVxGnYcjrePmE5rS9d38Pg/s400/DSCF2920.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castle vist</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI9m0J9uI0qpS2aVt9lpDl68pEPYqVPGCd5_CbnaXcKuTlNAj7X9NqSy69Vkeyp1pqZ_NeFMUhaVIdSZFxVLQeYxOncbxII3w_jHxEoLRjF1n3WlXo2u4l24bwiUlZ3-BF9xcsGwC25Bg/s1600/DSCF2926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI9m0J9uI0qpS2aVt9lpDl68pEPYqVPGCd5_CbnaXcKuTlNAj7X9NqSy69Vkeyp1pqZ_NeFMUhaVIdSZFxVLQeYxOncbxII3w_jHxEoLRjF1n3WlXo2u4l24bwiUlZ3-BF9xcsGwC25Bg/s400/DSCF2926.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second floor, she is a beauty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-Ib5oMvDsZwWCXFt1pu1453m1J7R7JE3s7oypSPz0cL-WF4vHOlvQ8sTET0K6Hx65O5DXX6umet1WqKNto5ZOna145ho3QNQ7sTycGVc5QTvC235ReFWDr5IBo39IY07NRnVEHj-XNbY/s1600/DSCF2944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-Ib5oMvDsZwWCXFt1pu1453m1J7R7JE3s7oypSPz0cL-WF4vHOlvQ8sTET0K6Hx65O5DXX6umet1WqKNto5ZOna145ho3QNQ7sTycGVc5QTvC235ReFWDr5IBo39IY07NRnVEHj-XNbY/s400/DSCF2944.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An evening dinner on our little terrace...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aR9wCKtnXkhn1khaeAIa_NR1PrPTApPb5YqOJwgSFVh9sl9lMz-mXc6CqIng5vv3bxSEVVo29qqSim74MEC9Kn9IYHe1Z2MM5iljgzmF4miuO_Ww6bkPpwLReUNYMDD46KU97Biv7-EK/s1600/DSCF2934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aR9wCKtnXkhn1khaeAIa_NR1PrPTApPb5YqOJwgSFVh9sl9lMz-mXc6CqIng5vv3bxSEVVo29qqSim74MEC9Kn9IYHe1Z2MM5iljgzmF4miuO_Ww6bkPpwLReUNYMDD46KU97Biv7-EK/s400/DSCF2934.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colmar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y3RJK_mj7rCRIyfQCHosO21ODxqEF7t5VJKrM6WEvelFdWBHyVYd_rl_hl3vgYpOcYIBS34n7VJu-38b7cQVmFUduQl4OSXBKx-_LNG1n4dGdC8MPekYR6leq_zFkKwqtG354QU2dHWR/s1600/DSCF2953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y3RJK_mj7rCRIyfQCHosO21ODxqEF7t5VJKrM6WEvelFdWBHyVYd_rl_hl3vgYpOcYIBS34n7VJu-38b7cQVmFUduQl4OSXBKx-_LNG1n4dGdC8MPekYR6leq_zFkKwqtG354QU2dHWR/s400/DSCF2953.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vineyards as far as the eye can see! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This region, known as Alsace, has<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> always been densely populated, Alsace is famous for its high number of picturesque villages, churches and castles and for the various beauties of its three main towns, in spite of severe destructions suffered throughout five centuries of wars between France and Germany. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Mostly however Alsace is famous for its vineyards, along the 170 km of the <i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Route_des_Vins_d%27Alsace" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Route des Vins d'Alsace">Route des Vins d'Alsace</a> </i>that is highly travelled. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">You may noticed the distinctly German character of the villages, well the area has fallen under a number of different kingdoms. Thank's to Wkki and a little help from Dwight here is the resulting chronology..it certainly makes it a very interesting place to visit………..</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<table class="wikitable" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: black; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">Year</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">Event</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">Ruled by</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">Official common language</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">847–870</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Verdun" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Treaty of Verdun">Treaty of Verdun</a> gives Alsace and Lotharingia to <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothar_I" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Lothar I">Lothar I</a></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Francia" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Middle Francia">Middle Francia</a> (Carolingian Empire)</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">Frankish, Old High German</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">870–889</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Mersen" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Treaty of Mersen">Treaty of Mersen</a> gives Alsace to East Francia</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Francia" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="East Francia">East Francia</a> (German Kingdom of the Carolingian Empire)</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">Frankish, Old High German</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">889–962</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">Carolingian Empire breaks up into five Kingdoms, Magyars and Vikings periodically raid Alsace</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Germany" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Kingdom of Germany">Kingdom of Germany</a></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">Old High German, Frankish</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">962–1618</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_I,_Holy_Roman_Emperor" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor">Otto I</a> crowned <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Roman_Emperor" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Holy Roman Emperor">Holy Roman Emperor</a></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Roman_Empire" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Holy Roman Empire">Holy Roman Empire</a></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_High_German" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Old High German">Old High German</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_language" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="German language">Modern High German</a>(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alemannic_German" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Alemannic German">Alemannic</a> spoken widely)</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">1618–1674</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XIII_of_France" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Louis XIII of France">Louis XIII</a> annexes portions of Alsace during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Thirty Years' War">Thirty Years' War</a></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">Holy Roman Empire</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">German</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">1674–1871</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XIV_of_France" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Louis XIV of France">Louis XIV</a> annexes the rest of Alsace during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Dutch_War" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Franco-Dutch War">Franco-Dutch War</a>, establishing full French sovereignty over the region</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">Kingdom of France</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">French<br />
(Alsatian and German tolerated)</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">1871–1918</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Prussian_war" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Franco-Prussian war">Franco-Prussian war</a> causes French cession of Alsace to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Empire" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="German Empire">German Empire</a></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Empire" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="German Empire">German Empire</a></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">German</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">1919–1940</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Treaty of Versailles">Treaty of Versailles</a> causes German cession of Alsace to France</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Third_Republic" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="French Third Republic">France</a></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">French</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">1940–1944</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Nazi Germany">Nazi Germany</a> conquers Alsace</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Nazi Germany">Nazi Germany</a></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">German</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">1945–present</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">French control</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">France</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;">French</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 19px;">
</span><br />
<h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: black; font-size: 19px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0.17em; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 19px;">
<span class="editsection" style="-webkit-user-select: none; float: right; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 5px;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alsace&action=edit&section=9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Edit section: Tourism">edit</a>]</span><span class="mw-headline" id="Tourism"></span></span></h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 19px;">
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> I must admit the trekking here has been great.. with the lack of bicycles I have been making Dwight walk everywhere.. yes, run in the morning.. trek all day to the neighbouring villages.. I know, I know… its sounds like a lot of exercise but seriously.. how else am I suppose survive the food, wine and beer I am consuming on this trip!!! </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Now for more pictures……. :-) </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKOWWGhZ9p5rv8uOH4JuB0cOAq9hN22RXD5Gnn69lhvLi2VHf1R4OlU0gfINQKtq7cI6wmxNrcABtEpWe3yC_OA9HWZ-NxGJf296Z4tPmQLEL23utRQ6OEBcd0gM-EJgp7s-8l4vUFqbs/s1600/DSCF2965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKOWWGhZ9p5rv8uOH4JuB0cOAq9hN22RXD5Gnn69lhvLi2VHf1R4OlU0gfINQKtq7cI6wmxNrcABtEpWe3yC_OA9HWZ-NxGJf296Z4tPmQLEL23utRQ6OEBcd0gM-EJgp7s-8l4vUFqbs/s400/DSCF2965.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Cru Vineyards everywhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufZz31EVm0qe58C9uinbS4FnL9r_grY0DqUU-LBcWHjvsCxhAOINByMEqGqEf95_hf6gSvslVScnibyO9I21kdpxJxxsUDv2cHRaZ975pi0HqDve8j-BPca85o0XsvEcfq6uhMnXxSX3w/s1600/DSCF2975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufZz31EVm0qe58C9uinbS4FnL9r_grY0DqUU-LBcWHjvsCxhAOINByMEqGqEf95_hf6gSvslVScnibyO9I21kdpxJxxsUDv2cHRaZ975pi0HqDve8j-BPca85o0XsvEcfq6uhMnXxSX3w/s400/DSCF2975.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old wine press...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIo1fs5uwhntipIY0zEZVabZXJP4rytYNJraN_bVWEncJR3dF5AvPVSa9BFLqnTTXlC405Ilkvj8dlfoyUjmOL1zUwljnmyi6O0Doct4WqdSSeK_Owi3ao9oCXwAaWDILYA4iMgW8-7WO-/s1600/DSCF2979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIo1fs5uwhntipIY0zEZVabZXJP4rytYNJraN_bVWEncJR3dF5AvPVSa9BFLqnTTXlC405Ilkvj8dlfoyUjmOL1zUwljnmyi6O0Doct4WqdSSeK_Owi3ao9oCXwAaWDILYA4iMgW8-7WO-/s400/DSCF2979.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dwight exiting the wine press! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i>Ok.. a few more then I am done…….</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9y9jY5j_-ZdFWd82nS17l191Bi6W8BRUVB2pMp5W9Y0IeF-VP0RdhWmQMdc20MGBqNqREf1PTqTBzerxHNWc0T4avokTVt7QaV2sElls3ENNGcfN3WmGDq-a5KP763qVjkAYzud8qC-vN/s1600/DSCF2960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9y9jY5j_-ZdFWd82nS17l191Bi6W8BRUVB2pMp5W9Y0IeF-VP0RdhWmQMdc20MGBqNqREf1PTqTBzerxHNWc0T4avokTVt7QaV2sElls3ENNGcfN3WmGDq-a5KP763qVjkAYzud8qC-vN/s400/DSCF2960.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vineyard view from our hilltop town, yum yum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4HhNw4f-RFVJP6o9C5dKvI9qderBB1gj3iZmzTLxXbXt9ivkL4wE7jRLtJgWSDZaGgJ6AZ_nuRq9b8LSCW1hJkHlble1_yiiF0GKwenUwFm2nxYkBBbdb5GLKsxGGk8eTfdoi6ywxYqI/s1600/DSCF2961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4HhNw4f-RFVJP6o9C5dKvI9qderBB1gj3iZmzTLxXbXt9ivkL4wE7jRLtJgWSDZaGgJ6AZ_nuRq9b8LSCW1hJkHlble1_yiiF0GKwenUwFm2nxYkBBbdb5GLKsxGGk8eTfdoi6ywxYqI/s400/DSCF2961.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not ready yet….<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbl5c1-JWSeqn1MfOkI2eHbA0FYmj-cwFnKkzaVdlPsRx9hu3nheAS2gie7Y1fyc0aq2RQ0VzamCKnKWqjy4bu5K-t0oUgPMi0CeC_3SHtv1jzIR8vs0wQq4Q_hTrjGP3n5NPnABQBxiE/s1600/DSCF2963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbl5c1-JWSeqn1MfOkI2eHbA0FYmj-cwFnKkzaVdlPsRx9hu3nheAS2gie7Y1fyc0aq2RQ0VzamCKnKWqjy4bu5K-t0oUgPMi0CeC_3SHtv1jzIR8vs0wQq4Q_hTrjGP3n5NPnABQBxiE/s400/DSCF2963.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dwight giving me his wine lesson of the day...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcV6tKMUrzN275k3zi_bQKlO-gxkuWrNepMeTMYRaF1FsG4gbVGHuu8gonS-waxlOdRcXiBBc4F7fGF_vtEuj352vrNhR1ZBSBtPPDuLG_cn2bipro28BRlTZanIdG9BqXMiJbcMs-F4pQ/s1600/DSCF2973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcV6tKMUrzN275k3zi_bQKlO-gxkuWrNepMeTMYRaF1FsG4gbVGHuu8gonS-waxlOdRcXiBBc4F7fGF_vtEuj352vrNhR1ZBSBtPPDuLG_cn2bipro28BRlTZanIdG9BqXMiJbcMs-F4pQ/s400/DSCF2973.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our town at night.. much quieter!! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
I do know that this should stop… Alsace wine marketing, I can explain the stork later.. but yikes!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjribMGheMfH9HWKsZ3RELRgp6wcpI7ofZrJGDht-hSBCkxLrf0JB5LaOWgpMWgyu_1NI01Wb9OtzlYZ1NFPPyuph-SrmjPLmCwQBN_SzR3Y29bBmWiagwU5BA4gdnbCco4S2h4CvL6w5WI/s1600/DSCF2991.AVI"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Dc9521d5cd9170c55%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1345234003%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DB5F04DD9617FD274304F8C0ACA21509137A42ADE.2855F3177C9B43C8227D83E856758C7AB6CFB070%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Dc9521d5cd9170c55%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1345234003%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DB5F04DD9617FD274304F8C0ACA21509137A42ADE.2855F3177C9B43C8227D83E856758C7AB6CFB070%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Thats all for now.. off to Paris in a couple of days……. should be exciting to see the end of the Tour de France… not to mention being in Paris… so much to do!! </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Till next time, happy chatting..</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><br />
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-27350920123993467572012-07-15T09:33:00.000-07:002012-07-15T09:41:22.673-07:00French lessons in Chateauneuf du Pape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-WEU5Rg45Bo5icKFFo1z9Xw5JyGNSd5VjYcOY3TBzdKghlH_1k2KSNPvtNn-Jj7J9wx1GxT0hoCAnv09WjuvwiF9Ax8Op5o0XKuvC5tpSfp-K1HgXfCEznscbKqHkKJsYJglRQUGA-et/s1600/CDP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-WEU5Rg45Bo5icKFFo1z9Xw5JyGNSd5VjYcOY3TBzdKghlH_1k2KSNPvtNn-Jj7J9wx1GxT0hoCAnv09WjuvwiF9Ax8Op5o0XKuvC5tpSfp-K1HgXfCEznscbKqHkKJsYJglRQUGA-et/s320/CDP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
There were so many wonderful things that happened on this excursion that I don't really know where to begin…. Some of you might know that one of Dwight's favourite wines is Chateauneuf du Pape.. and that unfortunately it is very difficult, and expensive, to get in Canada. Well we were staying in Aix en Provence which is about one hour and thirty minutes away from the famous small village.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYM6T-1AtSB59rrawbzKkvgwqMtYY2C7HdlpCjaIVBxTkUgivjl-dW-2KMv8D-J61yY2hiPn46LQaGvW1twVLpnLyNmYur9LBILNiUi5adaudWJgK9XZ5aZSgvS2O4Yuty9WRaIkzPaa96/s1600/Vue_d%2527ensemble_du_vieux_village_Cha%25CC%2582teauneuf-du-Pape.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYM6T-1AtSB59rrawbzKkvgwqMtYY2C7HdlpCjaIVBxTkUgivjl-dW-2KMv8D-J61yY2hiPn46LQaGvW1twVLpnLyNmYur9LBILNiUi5adaudWJgK9XZ5aZSgvS2O4Yuty9WRaIkzPaa96/s320/Vue_d%2527ensemble_du_vieux_village_Cha%25CC%2582teauneuf-du-Pape.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We had a couple of options but decided that because this was a special place we needed a special tour… so we found one.. and OMG was this a great day… let me explain…..<br />
<br />
We contacted a company that not only offered tours of the area but where you could also hire a private guide… well that's exactly what we did.. and for a price :-) we were picked up in a Mercedes S class sedan, driven to Chateauneuf… had wine tours with just the two of us, lunch at a castle, and shipped home a case of wine! I can't wait to tell you all about it……<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYpca2SwGMZjOqqpEfixwWbb2YfQfGf-5LMOr_M4wE7fWvnj6Aqzrpzklbv7GRZq12CSIG0ImgKstyJSeZrxICWgT191d0m3ezZwO1yvb4U3zjNdSgll4gfSjE5KFppm-tFZN1A2zMzom/s1600/DSCF2862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYpca2SwGMZjOqqpEfixwWbb2YfQfGf-5LMOr_M4wE7fWvnj6Aqzrpzklbv7GRZq12CSIG0ImgKstyJSeZrxICWgT191d0m3ezZwO1yvb4U3zjNdSgll4gfSjE5KFppm-tFZN1A2zMzom/s400/DSCF2862.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch location… yum yum….</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It all started with the introduction to our guide.. his name? Jean-Baptise.. yes, I know … I could not believe it when he told me his name. His history, he grew up in France, travelled the world and has now settled back in France, his wine background… taught by his Grandfather at the age of 7 years old how to taste wine and pair it with food he has been in the wine business for years. He has been a wine broker, worked in the vineyards, ran a winery with a partner… but most of all he is the most passionate person I have ever met when it comes to wine! Boy did he and Dwight have a lot to talk about! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDLkmGN_1crwwMaqvgpzoGovFUsBhScfrDlhABDUXsJq7FE3vC5zmTde4xFjgWtUZEyyJiU9JjRFkva28u6bHEGToduW1XhBc0Qx07iriCTJHdxTlxbo7iHly1tCimBiVXcKdIJLPoZj3/s1600/DSCF2885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDLkmGN_1crwwMaqvgpzoGovFUsBhScfrDlhABDUXsJq7FE3vC5zmTde4xFjgWtUZEyyJiU9JjRFkva28u6bHEGToduW1XhBc0Qx07iriCTJHdxTlxbo7iHly1tCimBiVXcKdIJLPoZj3/s400/DSCF2885.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dwight and Jean-Baptiste</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He tells a story that I only wish I could capture as well as he articulated it… it was a time when he was first learning about wine, around the age of 8 years old… he was at a restaurant with his Grandfather who order wine and asked JB to tell him the variety, age, and maker… which he did… but when his Grandfather asked him what food he would pair with it JB got it wrong! And his Grandfather hit the roof… saying that you can be good enough to taste the wine but to really understand it you must be able to know what eat with it… ! JB has learned from the best, he said that his Grandfather would even send back wine if the Sommelier would not pair the food properly with the selection…! Yikes…! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The first stop was at a winery you may know; Ogier, it is a well know producer in the region and has a special blend that he really wanted us to try. They have taken the grapes from each of the different Terroir in the area and create a line of wines call The Expression de Terrior… made up of, red sand stone, limestone, pebbles, and sand .. they make it to represent the different soil influences, and you could really tell the difference……not to mention its Chateauneuf de Pape wine.. YUM!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrB0FY3liN3dlIm-ZevhKtuIY3ffWjilXoyNnErgxRTFH2g4TsFhdUPXLD-NqolBXK4fjTyGOzmi3HgNsnKmsxtASgTrKdaJDrdqf0uj1-INynL6iJeGv1rC2g73Qf-i8T5mNM4j2atMy/s1600/DSCF2822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrB0FY3liN3dlIm-ZevhKtuIY3ffWjilXoyNnErgxRTFH2g4TsFhdUPXLD-NqolBXK4fjTyGOzmi3HgNsnKmsxtASgTrKdaJDrdqf0uj1-INynL6iJeGv1rC2g73Qf-i8T5mNM4j2atMy/s400/DSCF2822.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Expression du Terrior</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimq6SxAqZU530ZnIy9ww-qfejD3WXq9g2dKxI8Cs6RxpFqsXpqBU3hG73vDdrzqClyaJ9meuSOUW6_5181f4Cj8cl0majpyR9Rk5qwlCaJNgJpiuqke1OBrSFtZaWM3nzL6n6amEzuM0om/s1600/DSCF2817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimq6SxAqZU530ZnIy9ww-qfejD3WXq9g2dKxI8Cs6RxpFqsXpqBU3hG73vDdrzqClyaJ9meuSOUW6_5181f4Cj8cl0majpyR9Rk5qwlCaJNgJpiuqke1OBrSFtZaWM3nzL6n6amEzuM0om/s320/DSCF2817.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIh_RvWKEIRfEyPcibXkOcq8OluuNPRNyYQtSG_8MCFB5mXrVq4paF7rDeabg7p0vf2zSMUsOYeZHO5G8VIhCgAQJ_96WtmFsvEyvtWqsyQjppshO_6jeE0ZVWai-KN7BSG_KBkW4FuJq/s1600/DSCF2819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIh_RvWKEIRfEyPcibXkOcq8OluuNPRNyYQtSG_8MCFB5mXrVq4paF7rDeabg7p0vf2zSMUsOYeZHO5G8VIhCgAQJ_96WtmFsvEyvtWqsyQjppshO_6jeE0ZVWai-KN7BSG_KBkW4FuJq/s320/DSCF2819.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
Then we were off to lunch, lamb, greens.. and of course.. wine!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiut3Tj4HieKn4r2MDHIY55qJMFZ-bWqhdwv8hj98ALyEOxNxlE1WaRJ7cTL-L7h6l7N_CEcZu0nNPnxGEMDg8gV6BGPhIwFkjY3Q9ODU_27_mI7hHQFwZOwognaZmQw7iZ3k8F_aR6yJ1s/s1600/DSCF2847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiut3Tj4HieKn4r2MDHIY55qJMFZ-bWqhdwv8hj98ALyEOxNxlE1WaRJ7cTL-L7h6l7N_CEcZu0nNPnxGEMDg8gV6BGPhIwFkjY3Q9ODU_27_mI7hHQFwZOwognaZmQw7iZ3k8F_aR6yJ1s/s400/DSCF2847.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from lunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSrAvwaIBq_JiUhIY7rMAoiFvPVZPhKC_qx8ndVg__9OgWIqcLSwlCzWLv9NZgBGUqpN862Z8GKBRyzl_5cTIIMMwjy-4zFPnFO8gfc7L9KXhEaA_9_Jw5zIe20mPGHK2MlAl4qr3kuKs/s1600/DSCF2851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSrAvwaIBq_JiUhIY7rMAoiFvPVZPhKC_qx8ndVg__9OgWIqcLSwlCzWLv9NZgBGUqpN862Z8GKBRyzl_5cTIIMMwjy-4zFPnFO8gfc7L9KXhEaA_9_Jw5zIe20mPGHK2MlAl4qr3kuKs/s400/DSCF2851.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dwight and JB</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The next part has to be the best.. well.. I think so.. Jean-Baptiste took us to a private cellar… not his.. although he does have over 3000 bottles himself, his 7 year old son also has a collection (started by JB of course) that includes two bottles of 1947 Chateauneuf from his Grandfathers cellar!<br />
<br />
We went to Guy's place.. and let me tell you.. what a treat, as soon as he found out that Dwight not only liked wine but also knew what he was talking about he immediately started pulling out the good stuff! I tried a white Chateauneuf du Pape for the first time, OMG it was good!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrfdVvw0z4m87S7rBI-fj_K-JAui9lEej2d7A31lVAYyyeuYeqqsBpIGn1eTfoOBMDV_jm4GbY2MxH1ZMkhLb9YAkQzkoOCUJPwgH-Orbk2ZWiNsI5VikMlv2WPnM1jJ6o1Y-KLsj9VyE/s1600/DSCF2827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrfdVvw0z4m87S7rBI-fj_K-JAui9lEej2d7A31lVAYyyeuYeqqsBpIGn1eTfoOBMDV_jm4GbY2MxH1ZMkhLb9YAkQzkoOCUJPwgH-Orbk2ZWiNsI5VikMlv2WPnM1jJ6o1Y-KLsj9VyE/s400/DSCF2827.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inconspicuous entrance, thankfully we had JB</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisb6iyZNSthL8SnGjBV1Kk3xT6EeG9qHEeJo8r80WGf6NMKVO7rGHGVJsvN1QX3zjd6SoLhjEeOl1P4NPm6Hc1gFVsSopuQbby5-io8dDwRnZuSVGAd54SZZwHjQfPlqBW8waoZeFn-syT/s1600/DSCF2829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisb6iyZNSthL8SnGjBV1Kk3xT6EeG9qHEeJo8r80WGf6NMKVO7rGHGVJsvN1QX3zjd6SoLhjEeOl1P4NPm6Hc1gFVsSopuQbby5-io8dDwRnZuSVGAd54SZZwHjQfPlqBW8waoZeFn-syT/s400/DSCF2829.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have you ever seen him with a bigger smile! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE-CgBAfldkQ5J1YQTXf72xwqeRs0iPrMF8kPrPh0oAnpfEdsd8g_31RkHEPe_R3YiFc0x0N6lvxlCegmos3kAvJ7qnDaT9JlGNX1VmF9TmsRpZGWypxfwR3EspmvU8BQHsIyuS-r-E0T/s1600/DSCF2828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE-CgBAfldkQ5J1YQTXf72xwqeRs0iPrMF8kPrPh0oAnpfEdsd8g_31RkHEPe_R3YiFc0x0N6lvxlCegmos3kAvJ7qnDaT9JlGNX1VmF9TmsRpZGWypxfwR3EspmvU8BQHsIyuS-r-E0T/s400/DSCF2828.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OH MY! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7-DLIKR3lFd9ztwIdGheK4_SGA19pxG9Chzi3tyHAXVQzl4-00Y8Nl5VNVouZ9CFiAIbcLCDe1R0c1QAV-o3mrVQ8MyC2jwnZVePRE57VLm1LVUinOKLiIcDITohfXdHmLLECbqSwElt/s1600/DSCF2832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7-DLIKR3lFd9ztwIdGheK4_SGA19pxG9Chzi3tyHAXVQzl4-00Y8Nl5VNVouZ9CFiAIbcLCDe1R0c1QAV-o3mrVQ8MyC2jwnZVePRE57VLm1LVUinOKLiIcDITohfXdHmLLECbqSwElt/s400/DSCF2832.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Guy was just as passionate about wine! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrnqYYBXCMeBYYJ5nrHAMZjASzSb5TyQkBMzo7QBWULgWOZte6j2WIeG0RenXcIaBd31e_btrNQtM6EgBCeTGif5gyuvCil8l4ghuNLmy4sB34b3CUiEGhZNwZndPjz-p2pdVXxpnkxsV/s1600/DSCF2835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrnqYYBXCMeBYYJ5nrHAMZjASzSb5TyQkBMzo7QBWULgWOZte6j2WIeG0RenXcIaBd31e_btrNQtM6EgBCeTGif5gyuvCil8l4ghuNLmy4sB34b3CUiEGhZNwZndPjz-p2pdVXxpnkxsV/s400/DSCF2835.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegpDMNvUTvcbgvy8JLGs3KpnJw0JHaRK590iHGfUkZsQJhu5gV1kB6Dr2cVjKqalQ1r8h0Y7SMIWm56z4h6QaOOltCUsFZ3KjwWho9LkFAMLPz68b6JOQbb3gTelfSWQeTxyacdOCYg1a/s1600/DSCF2838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegpDMNvUTvcbgvy8JLGs3KpnJw0JHaRK590iHGfUkZsQJhu5gV1kB6Dr2cVjKqalQ1r8h0Y7SMIWm56z4h6QaOOltCUsFZ3KjwWho9LkFAMLPz68b6JOQbb3gTelfSWQeTxyacdOCYg1a/s400/DSCF2838.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a small part of the cellar, cases and cases of Chateauneuf!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQPqBOb2Se55-PR_E5LqY-HyJxApiCpKIwGh0HFIj5VgDgAYahu3ycBJqoECNeNJRe6U_p4jtSvFfkcb95ssC2g7p-IVhw4eVStT_kMecw4eL3_b06immbQthyphenhyphenim-ywGS8BtWJihjSiUL/s1600/DSCF2840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQPqBOb2Se55-PR_E5LqY-HyJxApiCpKIwGh0HFIj5VgDgAYahu3ycBJqoECNeNJRe6U_p4jtSvFfkcb95ssC2g7p-IVhw4eVStT_kMecw4eL3_b06immbQthyphenhyphenim-ywGS8BtWJihjSiUL/s400/DSCF2840.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And cases of Chateau Beaucastel stacked 4 high!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQ_zd25BzwMqTzVhcoYyoRjEaSETgAY1u-EvP9umSfkisdURSVy70UKtvy_RMgvGqU46UeO8KTYkSkajX_WtUfEIow34QVEqeaaBvpYRTdtVNX5PxEQYvqj4nl1C5ElSlmp-mklpbxr77/s1600/DSCF2841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQ_zd25BzwMqTzVhcoYyoRjEaSETgAY1u-EvP9umSfkisdURSVy70UKtvy_RMgvGqU46UeO8KTYkSkajX_WtUfEIow34QVEqeaaBvpYRTdtVNX5PxEQYvqj4nl1C5ElSlmp-mklpbxr77/s400/DSCF2841.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And now we have his email address! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
Shipping wine to BC is impossible, something that made Guy very angry… he says the Canadian market is the largest in the world and is the most difficult to work with… to quote.. "you let ONE person decide what wine you drink!, in France it would be cause for a revolution!" He encouraged Dwight to go home and start supporting his cause by lobbying and refusing to buy the crappy wine! And so you know what we are missing Canada, we tasted wine from this region that we will never see, that the French want to send us, and that cost less than a case of beer! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We did ship a case - destination and details are to be kept secret in case the BC liquor distribution board reads blogs… but I can not wait till we get it at home! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So we ended our time in southern France with this wonderful experience… and have arrived in Riquewihr, in the Alsace region.. where some some of my favourite wine is… Riesling.. and one of my favourite foods… Foie gras not to mention we are very close to Champagne :-) ! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Will blog again soon………… </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Till next time happy chatting………..<br />
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-78700107267016995122012-07-12T23:47:00.000-07:002012-07-12T23:47:12.098-07:00The Côte d'Azur, soleil, la mer, et moi!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2haTg97Vxeh2RtgHK-TrjToPE05jmsk1r_Eks7bL7mJScC_a90OoWWdBl0rfFc6GrwLIc-JTqzqH9bJidW_NlWVZ2oHlKLccDrVoL6gX3LJJGoIRZddjOcCTdnb3-p0O1GtjLSlP1M1el/s1600/DSCF2800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2haTg97Vxeh2RtgHK-TrjToPE05jmsk1r_Eks7bL7mJScC_a90OoWWdBl0rfFc6GrwLIc-JTqzqH9bJidW_NlWVZ2oHlKLccDrVoL6gX3LJJGoIRZddjOcCTdnb3-p0O1GtjLSlP1M1el/s400/DSCF2800.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCSv0f2h6fIUGlVEnA6lyUjMAkaU84ad8ZNrqFiHw-EIX5swv7ILZjtsoOCnNitLZFf-JmiCY4-qH8jSaeu6BW-rZir75dGte1V-m1CWlnuEvjilHgaLPQ292MOAXxfdRIrmvL6ySuDFX/s1600/DSCF2802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCSv0f2h6fIUGlVEnA6lyUjMAkaU84ad8ZNrqFiHw-EIX5swv7ILZjtsoOCnNitLZFf-JmiCY4-qH8jSaeu6BW-rZir75dGte1V-m1CWlnuEvjilHgaLPQ292MOAXxfdRIrmvL6ySuDFX/s400/DSCF2802.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We spent the day on the French coast today, all I can say is another wow… what a beautiful place! The first part of our journey was on the train.. yes I made Dwight take public transport yet again, secretly I think he really enjoys being with strange people packed into moving cars while travelling! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Actually taking the train in Europe is very pleasant, its roomy and quiet and you get to watch the country side go by… we were even to bring our bikes! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxRPSpBuPvqb78vlPAz4PmS_ufUlxGgK5-bMdVbWM9oZThycbp9cElw9UflUIjIH3a86jr8KdTEqS8BrFEgaNOwL0USH4aqXU0brNru1oD6B4IqN_MR7jM4D1QQID3f_T9Zal5HoPtxLT/s1600/DSCF2788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxRPSpBuPvqb78vlPAz4PmS_ufUlxGgK5-bMdVbWM9oZThycbp9cElw9UflUIjIH3a86jr8KdTEqS8BrFEgaNOwL0USH4aqXU0brNru1oD6B4IqN_MR7jM4D1QQID3f_T9Zal5HoPtxLT/s320/DSCF2788.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RVF7n0BQbgXoZDCpYxmucNDDYeAswMEDxOgJ6msZA9bw2OL0oWOZLgnYtQlW-coB09JWoJXn-8dIvh2JBS0DZfZMoj-50cvLkb-A5fZX_XDmoe5w7NJV-XvrURZtSojCWcfIflz2_0qk/s1600/DSCF2793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RVF7n0BQbgXoZDCpYxmucNDDYeAswMEDxOgJ6msZA9bw2OL0oWOZLgnYtQlW-coB09JWoJXn-8dIvh2JBS0DZfZMoj-50cvLkb-A5fZX_XDmoe5w7NJV-XvrURZtSojCWcfIflz2_0qk/s320/DSCF2793.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The two small towns we focused on were Bandol and Sanary sur -mer.. barely noticeable on the map and wonderfully quiet… these are the French Rivera towns that the mass tourist crowds don't know about.. but I also don't think you are going to run into Tom Cruise in any of them either…. for us it was perfect. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jules Verne, the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial;">French</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> author who pioneered the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial;">science fiction</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> genre spent some time in Bandol.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> You would know his novels </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial;">Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial;">A Journey to the Center of the Earth, I can see why he wrote about the sea…. Bandol also has vineyards surrounding the town, they are spread all along the coast and produce some of the best wines in Provence.. not that I tasted any :-) </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WzsfO5DzKeX-NzoAgeljjfNCERDaDLHghNN9V9eOu701RQb2cyC_MluVcokdCp-L1qhC2XGY-gtn5zj2S4v3AyHIoys9AHax6cYnO8S-VhINEkVmYOODgyhkhif9dEkawJvabaUcxQDS/s1600/DSCF2805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WzsfO5DzKeX-NzoAgeljjfNCERDaDLHghNN9V9eOu701RQb2cyC_MluVcokdCp-L1qhC2XGY-gtn5zj2S4v3AyHIoys9AHax6cYnO8S-VhINEkVmYOODgyhkhif9dEkawJvabaUcxQDS/s400/DSCF2805.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Bandol we jumped on the bikes and followed the coast down until we got close to Toulon… its a rather large city so we avoided it and focused only on the villages along the way. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favorite town by far on the way out… and back… was Sanary sur-mer.. a small fishing village right on the coast, filled with bustling french fisherman selling their catches and a local market where everything was so fresh, we stopped for a quick lunch on the way back…..but not your typical lunch...</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-LwG-AygCFbH6PVDa5R2eOW_YpVsm2snZyZXjf1pvVAPjxQoYefnmXpAj4SHQWWUtjrbkPIZRU7FTDwGh6JfVxoxVJqI4PdNMKA6Qw8d-wHHW0Tux8TLvOfd6vX95dtT8kq-pUHyr5Nc/s1600/DSCF2809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-LwG-AygCFbH6PVDa5R2eOW_YpVsm2snZyZXjf1pvVAPjxQoYefnmXpAj4SHQWWUtjrbkPIZRU7FTDwGh6JfVxoxVJqI4PdNMKA6Qw8d-wHHW0Tux8TLvOfd6vX95dtT8kq-pUHyr5Nc/s320/DSCF2809.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3vuwA-DTQwy7TpLSZ6ZD6VSHTXs88Yhy85lnM3xxtWZs0SIfHd7l7ZsYzUe22DSJ8Ro3B9XOhLd1OzEAICRylkB7eOx2ZTpXRwPueLV_SoMmaTAcaO3ETGgevTvMmEYOKSC_OdORMovS/s1600/DSCF2807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3vuwA-DTQwy7TpLSZ6ZD6VSHTXs88Yhy85lnM3xxtWZs0SIfHd7l7ZsYzUe22DSJ8Ro3B9XOhLd1OzEAICRylkB7eOx2ZTpXRwPueLV_SoMmaTAcaO3ETGgevTvMmEYOKSC_OdORMovS/s400/DSCF2807.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I know that this picture does not look all that appetizing but I can assure you it was..! We went to the market that was set up right by the sea and bought some local nectarines (I have to tell you that these have been wonderful!) and a small chicken……or at least we think it was chicken :-) </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlO2wapLDpGagT9V6ozOHYzHiu1Y05M-DsjtkdhiAiAR3SZ1448vydx6wbMNNwl2EagT3pEOqUOU9vfyO6On7zdQToQHDkqP-E7VNUPoMHhFw2EVbWZHdTtkAoqf0PdKDZSM9gvwpt7TxJ/s1600/DSCF2811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlO2wapLDpGagT9V6ozOHYzHiu1Y05M-DsjtkdhiAiAR3SZ1448vydx6wbMNNwl2EagT3pEOqUOU9vfyO6On7zdQToQHDkqP-E7VNUPoMHhFw2EVbWZHdTtkAoqf0PdKDZSM9gvwpt7TxJ/s320/DSCF2811.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Actually roasted on site, small delicious roast chicken in a bag, OMG this this was so good! Dwight was not licking his fingers he was gnawing on them! I think they marinate it in butter for hours before they actually roast it…..</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After our ride we headed back to Bandol where we spent a couple of hours sitting in cafe's and watching the national sport…..well it may not be a national sport but it sure is popular around here!!!! </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The game is B<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">oules</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> where the goal is, while standing inside a starting circle with both feet on the ground, to throw hollow metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">cochonnet</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> or jack. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The game is normally played on hard dirt or gravel, and the people we were watching took it very seriously! They use measuring tapes to determine points and spend a lot of time discussing the distance of one ball versus the other…… absolutely entertaining! There were at least six different matching happening when we were watching and every one of them was great!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xywnBIJ3HurEElO-0nvG61rPSS9O1zEbbSFEvBbZa9A8J7OZ6rv9cZ7fJZxR_wVgMI_3atbktn4nw7VcqX8jQLoacBbBcAO5IAwA4tHE3Py8png0pG5vde7JzcMDq_deuwsUkyEy0-CQ/s1600/220px-Boule.kugel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xywnBIJ3HurEElO-0nvG61rPSS9O1zEbbSFEvBbZa9A8J7OZ6rv9cZ7fJZxR_wVgMI_3atbktn4nw7VcqX8jQLoacBbBcAO5IAwA4tHE3Py8png0pG5vde7JzcMDq_deuwsUkyEy0-CQ/s1600/220px-Boule.kugel.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgspVJMzL0FkAYw30Q0Y0IuKLj1xSfxeO9VCNtfLLN2GjWDkOG4JT1ITlpTuQrk2dftvHdQPs1aViQ0e1kMLHomDdFGKfOplkS9UMCBSfj01P4-BLVSHMvoOw2I4ansXxWywj4TJ_32b0p/s1600/300px-Pe%CC%81tanque_players_in_Cannes_(France)_2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgspVJMzL0FkAYw30Q0Y0IuKLj1xSfxeO9VCNtfLLN2GjWDkOG4JT1ITlpTuQrk2dftvHdQPs1aViQ0e1kMLHomDdFGKfOplkS9UMCBSfj01P4-BLVSHMvoOw2I4ansXxWywj4TJ_32b0p/s1600/300px-Pe%CC%81tanque_players_in_Cannes_(France)_2003.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day ended with us catching an earlier train than we were originally booked on, Dwight being the law abiding citizen he is was already feeling uncomfortable with breaking the rules…. but hey.. it meant that we were going to get back to town sooner and that meant a glass of wine was in front of him sooner…. so I won! </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only one small glitch in the plan… our connecting train in Marseilles…well we were not completely sure it was the one we needed, it was a commuter train and not a whole lot of english was being spoken…. the notice said we were going to Gap… which Dwight was pointing out, <i>AFTER</i> we got on the train, was near the Swiss border! You should have seen the look on his face… I almost could not stop laughing…..Well with some broken French "est ce train d'aller à Aix en Provence?" we got a qui… so we waited and hoped for the best… turns out they new what they were talking about and we did make it home….. I would point out however that the train was going to Gap, lucky for us Aix is on the way! </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jusqu'à la prochaine fois .. heureuse sur le Chat!……….Till next time.. happy chatting! </span></div>
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880241671671249694.post-53142405446990179722012-07-11T00:51:00.001-07:002012-07-11T00:57:35.533-07:00Doing something I love in a wonderful place!Bonjour et merci pour lire mon blog!<br />
<br />
We headed out cycling today, all I can say is WOW! Its exactly how I imagined it would be, rolling single lane roads, vineyards forever, small towns everywhere….I didn't however anticipate the climbs..I am ok with them but its the one part Dwight didn't like much!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37RWDo7C-2put2zMZE0724295tgT1dZN4hbMgORQU3iufpqkyVslaP6-tQ0DUPy56w6S02NTrAC19G8tFV3pBF2LG6hDdITdDiQFwRqA3ZeKdTemAIQSUFfybGhydkzQ7Stqqsp_oFLC7/s1600/DSCF2770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37RWDo7C-2put2zMZE0724295tgT1dZN4hbMgORQU3iufpqkyVslaP6-tQ0DUPy56w6S02NTrAC19G8tFV3pBF2LG6hDdITdDiQFwRqA3ZeKdTemAIQSUFfybGhydkzQ7Stqqsp_oFLC7/s400/DSCF2770.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OInRFamTND11l42NGkADnsGecOuBFAV8JVbv3vU6i9MP1Xhn6LjaRkHO63d1WzdaercrH4fszak6RNRstkR5kwCE34IN4Qz1BFMGEG3hVMS4o43MB5eKT3DCxv3XSjC8TsG_F3upqF9C/s1600/DSCF2781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OInRFamTND11l42NGkADnsGecOuBFAV8JVbv3vU6i9MP1Xhn6LjaRkHO63d1WzdaercrH4fszak6RNRstkR5kwCE34IN4Qz1BFMGEG3hVMS4o43MB5eKT3DCxv3XSjC8TsG_F3upqF9C/s400/DSCF2781.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXyeUPmqS_-B-X-6UCuPRPMQxAXbE0vjrdV6aNjAMBxQlhZB6Z1rMV0j6ecMugebOydo3NUhrFS0RQ1xFiBXENFwZ0MwYgdcYKtp3fJusEprNSWXiOAz2Q2LhEWx3sOBK0wlIf-76Y6jT/s1600/DSCF2784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXyeUPmqS_-B-X-6UCuPRPMQxAXbE0vjrdV6aNjAMBxQlhZB6Z1rMV0j6ecMugebOydo3NUhrFS0RQ1xFiBXENFwZ0MwYgdcYKtp3fJusEprNSWXiOAz2Q2LhEWx3sOBK0wlIf-76Y6jT/s400/DSCF2784.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
There was one thing that made the day pretty tough, and that was the heat… after 4 hours in 30+ degrees and humidity that makes even my hair frizzy we were both rather spent…. coming from a place that sees less sun and heat than the inside of a cave it was a real shock. We drank lots of water, and stopped regularly to enjoy the surrounding but the climbs were definitely draining…once at the top we were treated to a wonderful view of the country side.. that is of course after I resuscitated Dwight..<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BTxJhfif8R_CaFL45fQiMyEw1zCq_srdRTVhR1h16Kzu7ThUHdPWIyxLv4kMFMZFlNXFEI-qcOYnW3VnhbzvmNmB9ADAYWPYeVyvbEn43XTZ0N8CDV3gZ-inwB1dzfbV_o_TNhicGQMQ/s1600/DSCF2786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BTxJhfif8R_CaFL45fQiMyEw1zCq_srdRTVhR1h16Kzu7ThUHdPWIyxLv4kMFMZFlNXFEI-qcOYnW3VnhbzvmNmB9ADAYWPYeVyvbEn43XTZ0N8CDV3gZ-inwB1dzfbV_o_TNhicGQMQ/s400/DSCF2786.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV_Q34Uyb-0mifXl6bSb15ghyphenhyphenrFG4M9YKLjYXS_5RgdQ3riQOv48mawi8MipXA2PMAW5LbEU7hIOTc31a_Oe5FP54EH03ryTgPb290zihKR-YsNgbSFsfn5yKBzTUUrkdDfexf6lbaVeY/s1600/DSCF2787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV_Q34Uyb-0mifXl6bSb15ghyphenhyphenrFG4M9YKLjYXS_5RgdQ3riQOv48mawi8MipXA2PMAW5LbEU7hIOTc31a_Oe5FP54EH03ryTgPb290zihKR-YsNgbSFsfn5yKBzTUUrkdDfexf6lbaVeY/s400/DSCF2787.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn7WYiU_RIs1ehZN0K47rZ4tWsegqcVDOERcFruG8vi3NuL0UZrZNUlIK6h-TlLkZYcynnpcajtDvkOrRUJ5yk94lT-0m7nxk7Uk_07Pv0de7Oo4xmuj3gu3WSTuDziBR-kEa-tJBLdNc/s1600/DSCF2785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn7WYiU_RIs1ehZN0K47rZ4tWsegqcVDOERcFruG8vi3NuL0UZrZNUlIK6h-TlLkZYcynnpcajtDvkOrRUJ5yk94lT-0m7nxk7Uk_07Pv0de7Oo4xmuj3gu3WSTuDziBR-kEa-tJBLdNc/s400/DSCF2785.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
All along Dwight provided the commentary, who needs a tour guide when I have my own Sommelier with me…. the primary grapes they grow in the region are Cinsault and Grenache, its the G in GSM and these are the grapes used for making their famous Rose', which by the way is delicious. The country side is scattered with vines, Dwight tells me the are growing them a specific way…. its called VSP, Vertical Shoot Positioning, so I hear you… what? and Why do I care? Well its the way they make wine and anything about wine is important!<br />
<br />
They prune the vines so the new growth goes up the trestle creating a canopy for thats covers the fruit and they use it here to provide shading for the fruit from the hot sun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_0e9CJTKSkbBGqVcXz-TACVD7WQNYm99keknR7-pFXcUqDAJQMGOywvt0CiYRfs3i0PRIh4ynUe1-mZkk8xNAMJglTXy_ROiMudFsaVN_VMvjvgURBO3GKs2ozMLFbaphiIsQFL9Bm6E/s1600/DSCF2782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_0e9CJTKSkbBGqVcXz-TACVD7WQNYm99keknR7-pFXcUqDAJQMGOywvt0CiYRfs3i0PRIh4ynUe1-mZkk8xNAMJglTXy_ROiMudFsaVN_VMvjvgURBO3GKs2ozMLFbaphiIsQFL9Bm6E/s400/DSCF2782.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
And the donkey? Well, I just thought they were cute :-)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3EXT2Jojj3TGBEh7YGDIAGUvXs6EVrheuePOUTo7uoF0L5gfNGq1FF5NFUW1N0h0evkLWAlDL1OmCjdUXWtZpBGHU_pbul7ne7O3Alh5ZzdBTa8X7uLp8VNCY4gzWFvVQOqEgxiDhIDF/s1600/DSCF2773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3EXT2Jojj3TGBEh7YGDIAGUvXs6EVrheuePOUTo7uoF0L5gfNGq1FF5NFUW1N0h0evkLWAlDL1OmCjdUXWtZpBGHU_pbul7ne7O3Alh5ZzdBTa8X7uLp8VNCY4gzWFvVQOqEgxiDhIDF/s400/DSCF2773.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
c'est tout pour le moment, jusqu'à la prochaine fois heureux chat …<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2