We have Crossed the English Channel !!!

We have arrived in Paris!

The ferry from Dover to Calais was one of the highlights of our trip thus far.

It was nothing great (by cruise line standards.) But, for boaters like us, it was time on-the-water that we enjoyed.

There were beautiful cliffs in Dover, England overlooking the ferry port. They were topped with an historic castle -- with quite a view from its perch.

We set sail just before sunset, and we saw the best (ONLY) sunset over the water while underway. The ferry was nicer than any of our typical American ferries. It has nice lounges, with bartenders, comfy sofas, and such.

The sun had just set as we approached the French coastline (it's only a 90 minute ferry ride, but you cross a date line enroute and lose and hour coming this way.) The lights of the French coastline were welcoming and tranquil. I think this was a much better approach to France than the Chunnel or a plane.

By the time we secured our rental car, it was completely dark outside. With our MapQuest directions in-hand, we set off (without knowing more than about a half-dozen words of French) for Paris.

While it was indeed dark, we could still see that some of the terrain was snow-covered. But, we seemed to pass through the snow line about halfway to Paris. Although, I think it would be a wonderful gift to see Paris under a blanket of fresh snow...

Also about halfway here, to made a pit stop for dinner and toilets. Between our 12 words of French, a lot of finger pointing and charade-like hand gestures, and their 12 words of English, we successfully ordered dinner and drinks. (I guess we won't starve.)

While we are talking about our intermission during our drive, let me take an intermission moment to discuss ROCKS & SHELLS!

Somewhere along her life, my loving wife has developed some sort of amateur-collector passion for all things ROCK and all things SHELL. Initially, it was just an occasional keepsake rock or shell (e.g. here's ONE rock from the Plymouth rock shoreline for my collection. Or, here's ONE shell from our Florida family vacation to Coral Gables.)

But, somewhere along the line, her brain SNAPPED!

Now, she has "callings" to collect EVERY SHELL IN SIGHT!!!

Case in point: During our final day/s in Florida, as we were preparing to depart, Kelly said she needed a beach day -- to watch the sun set and say goodbye to the beach for awhile.
She also told me that she might pick up two sea shells to bring to each of the kids that Amanda is caring for in Germany. It's nearly the Christmas season, I figure this is "sensible" -- right?
WRONG!!!! The girl comes back from the beach with a BUCKET-FULL of shells. She says that they "called to her" and told her, "take us to Germany."

Yes folks, she cleaned and prepped the entire shoe box FULL of sea shells for our travels -- and I have carried them through the customs offices of three different countries now.

You would think that I would learn... She had BOXES and BOXES full of rocks and shells that she had me move from FL to CA -- and back again!

I'm here to tell you that rocks & shells are HEAVY!!!

Then, as we toured the Natural History Museum in London, and walked through an ancient Egypt exhibit, she nearly broke down into a puddle of joyful tears.

Why? Did she see some sort of mummy coffin or ancient hieroglyphics that moved her???

Nope. Among the necklaces of precious metals and jewels, she say a necklace made of shells -- then another. She was overwhelmed with joy. After all, if they were good enough for the empowered Egyptians, they must certainly be of value to us/her!

Then, we walked through the ancient Rome and Greek exhibits. Here again, more shell necklaces!!! Then, the Scotland historical area -- and STONES!!!! Then, the more modern British hallway/library has HUGE/TALL, beautiful floor-to-ceiling bookcases. And, nearly 1/4 of an entire wall's shelves were populated with HUGE shells behind glass-cased fronts.

Naturally, she turned to me and said, "Know I know what you can do with that blank dining room wall." -- implying that she wants some sort of floor-to-ceiling shell showcase of her own...

What can I say folks? I have loved her for 25 years, and I still love her (even as she loses her ever-lovin' mind!) ;-)


Back to Paris road trip:

We arrived in Paris around 10:30 tonight. After staying nearly a week in a bed & breakfast in downtown London (with only a tight shower stall, no bathtub, and two VERY TRADITIONAL single-beds pushed together); I "Americaned-out" and secured a Holiday Inn Garden Court room for us during our stay in Paris. It has a king-sized bed, and as Kelly says, "the best tub she has ever had." It's DEEP, and the water doesn't drain out, and the back has a good slope -- not too steep.

So, night all for now. Tomorrow, we head to the Louvre, the Sein waterfront, Notre Dame, Isle St Louis, and the Eiffel Tower for sunset.

Au revoir,



Nick.