Traveling Disers are lost and adrift somewhere?

[deadheadbelle]

Oh boy, France!!! I've never been to France.

France

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Bob Weir, Mickey Hart

Recorded by the Grateful Dead on "Shakedown Street" but never performed live.

Way down in the south of France
All the ladies love to dance
Kick their heels up in the air
Snap their fingers for romance
While the gentlemen compare
Blonde or black or auburn hair
Check the motion and the style
Oh you know they take their while

Hey to make the motion more complete
Yeah to make it more a treat
Club d'Jour is where to go
Come on down and see the show
When the rhythm's really right
You can burn it down tonight
When the singing's really fine
Sweet as Spanish sherry wine

When the club can't contain the beat
It just rolls out in the street
Spills on down the avenue
Bringing dancers to their feet
When it's good as it can be
It gets better, wait and see
Oh these folks don't ever sleep
Till they're passed out in the street

Way down in the south of France
All the ladies love to dance
Clap their hands and walk on air
Yeah the feeling's really there
Won't you take a little taste
Raise it to your charming face?
When the rhythm's really right
You can burn it down tonight

When the singing's really fine
Sweet as Spanish sherry wine
Go on take a chance
The ladies do love to dance

 

[castlegazer]

Bonjour everyone! I am still buried but France remains my favorite country. I studied French for 13 years - yeah and it got me that Bonjour and that's about it. But I also studied France as a whole so I love going there. Its not often I get to discuss France anymore - kinda faux pas, nes pas?

I have never been to Le havre. I a kickin up my heels here imagining the Dead signing to us while we eat breakfast. Thanks DHB.

Oh, the tour guide Ed rustled up for us just showed up to guide us on our way:

I think we all need to find our own guide for us women. Won't be hard - and there is nothing like a French Accent spoken softly into your ear...... Um, OK, back to work now.

 

[suzannen]

Okay, I've finished my Petit Déjeuner of Café au Lait and a croissant. I'm ready for a tour now. I do hope we get a cute French garcon along with that little jeune fille that castlegazer signed up. But as long as we get a wonderful lunch, I'll follow anywhere.

 

[deadheadbelle]

Là où est la bibliothèque. Or something like that. 3 years of French in high school & all I remember is how to ask where the library is

 

[edcrbnsoul]

Our first stop the limo is making on our way to Paris is at Montivillers

The former “Monasterii Villare “, which gave its name to the town, is amongst the greatest monastery establishments of the 7th century in the lower valley of the Seine.

It was there that Saint Philibert, the founder of Jumièges, created a women’s monastery in 684. It was later destroyed by the Vikings and was only rebuilt at the beginning of the 11th century. It was thanks to the granting of the Charter of Exemption by the duke of Normandy, Robert the Devil, which provided the abbey with its autonomy and its own means of existence, that the construction of the main church started in the second half of the 11th century. It was an excellent example of Norman architecture at the time of William the Conqueror.

Throughout the Middle Ages of the abbey enjoyed considerable prestige and contributed to the prosperity of Montivilliers, which reached its peak during the 16th century thanks to the trades such as drapery and tanning, as well as the port and shipbuilding, trade and banking.

In the 15th century the parish of Saint Sauveur, which had already had the first seven bays of the nave of the abbey church built, had the north side gallery pulled down and a second large gothic nave put in its place. From the 16th to the 17th century the abbey continued to enjoy great power and influence, notably under the abbess Louise de L’Hospital. Monastery life ended here in 1792. The abbey became the headquarters of the district, and of the Société Populaire, and later a prison, and then a garrison. In the 19th century it housed a cotton mill, then a sugar refinery and finally a brewery. It will have taken nearly 200 years, and a number of missed opportunities, to set up a project to restore the site to its original splendour as a major centre in monastic Normandy.

 

[castlegazer]

Knew it wouldn't take long. This guy was hanging around outside the limo and I asked him a few questions and next thing you know, here he is, our new guide - he says he knows the bars in Paris really well too!

 

[suzannen]

Oui, Oui, Oui!!! Great choice, castlegazer!

 

[edcrbnsoul]

I had the staff pack a lunch I alway wanted to have Picnic in the French Country side

 

[deadheadbelle]

My ankle is still sore from when I sprained it, so Jean-Luc, our guide, volunteered to carry me up to the picnic site. What a sweety.

 

[castlegazer]

I am starving. Stop the Limo!

Must eat BAGUETTES!

and for desert:

 

[castlegazer]

Oh, um sorry, guys, took me so long to post that I missed that we had already stopped.

Well, lets just say that's what' on our picnic menu - and there' wine for you Goofy4Tink - lots of it!

 

[TLinden16]

What's that I spy? Is it a big loaf of bread, some cheese, and some chocolate mousse? Yummy. I'm here.

Karen

 

[castlegazer]

WAKE UP!

 

[deadheadbelle]

Geez, was that really necessary?

 

[edcrbnsoul]

Next on trip toward Paree is ROUEN

125km northwest of Paris, the former capital of Normandy and today of the Département Seine-Maritime, is the seat of an archbishop, the most important river harbor of France, and next to Marseille and Le Havre the most important sea harbor. Inspite of the heavy destruction during WWII (reconstruction complete), Rouen is still a most favorite tourist destination because of its magnificient gothic churches, museums and rich cultural and historical heritage.



City of art and city of history, this large town of 105 000 residents is also an economical metropolis with a port and a commerce very active.

Already important during Gallo-Roman times, Rouen became part of the Kingdom of France in the 12th century. Witnesses of the past and of the present are everywhere closely linked and bring to the city its charm and life.

Rouen took on new luster during the XVIth century and again during the Industrial Age.

Among the most marvellous monuments:

the Cathedral, rebuilt from the XIIIth to the XVIth centuries,
various churches,
the Old Clock,
the Palace of Justice,
the Old Market square,
the church of St-Maclou
the abbey of Saint-Ouen.




G. Flaubert

The city is known for its museums, among which

the Museum of Fine Arts,
the Joan of Arc museum
the Wrought iron museum "le Secq des Tournelles" unique in the world,
the Ceramic museum with its famous "faïences" of Rouen.
Golf de Rouen La Forêt Verte
Golf de Rouen (Mont Saint Aignan)

 

[edcrbnsoul]

 

[TLinden16]

Can we go on one of those boats on the river tonight? Can we? Please? I promise not to throw Ed over.

Karen

 

[edcrbnsoul]

As we arrived in Paris
Tomorrow we will ride the Canals Karen ( and no showing up just for the cool destinations!)

 

[edcrbnsoul]

I guess while in france....

 

[edcrbnsoul]

After Breakfast what is first on our Paris adventure? Louvre? Eiffle tower? Notre Dame?