Unfortunately for everybody who has been waiting to see the picture of the 180mph train taken from another 180 mph, the computer said it was too fast for it. So in its place we have put the much slower window from the Matisse chapel in Vence. We have found Vence to be charming and tomorrow we go to Nice to see a couploe of museums and then take the overnight train to Naples.

Paris Flowers

We came from Paris to Nice by High Speed train. For those of you who have never seen a picture of a train going 180 mph(?) taken from another train going 180 mph (?) in the opp0site direction, you have a great treat coming. But you will have to wait until tomorrow (more computer problems.) In the interim, some more pretty flowers, taken by guess whom.

Luxemburg Gardens, Paris

Our last full day in Paris in the Spring, which we spent at Montmarte and the Luxemburg Gardens. Tomorrow, on to Vence and Matisse's work at a Chapel there. We are scheduled to take a cruise out of Athens on May 10, but everything from Vence to Athens is up for grabs, except that we will go to Naples from Vence and spend a couple of days seeing Pompeii and Herculaneum. If anyone has suggestions for other places, please send them on.

The Eiffel Tower at Night

We started at the Louvre this morning and then followed the suggestion that came yesterday and had a late lunch at Pompidou followed by a journey through several of the galleries there. The Louvre is magnificent and huge, but the Pompidou has more of the art that Marge appreciates. We ended the day seeing the Eiffel at night, and thus the picture. We decided today that we are glad we are taking this trip at an early age because it would be more difficult if we were twenty-five years older.

We missed an entry on the blog yesterday because of another cataclysmic computer catastrophe. Marge has missed some of the most magnificent computer repair shops in Europe with her fascination and concentration on art.

Versailles was great, and we will finally get to see the Louvre tomorrow.

Paaris Tour

We did all kinds of touristy things today including a Seine boat ride, lunch looking at the Arc de Triomphe, seeing the Eiffel Tower and getting lost in all parts of the town despite maps, maps, and more maps. It is discouraging that when we show the maps to the Parisians and try to ask where we are, they not only don't understand our feeble French, but they don't seem to be aware of what we think the maps are trying to show. Nonetheless, we did manage to reach the Rodin museum (most interesting) and will try to find our way to Versailles tomorrow. If there is no message here for a few days, be aware that getting to and from Versailles was more complicated than expected.

Paris Museum

Today, a trip to the Museum d'Orsay, as in the picture. Fred was amazed by the length of the line to get in, which was longer than any line he had ever seen. Strangely, Marge found the art to be of greater interest than the size of the line. Do you think that these two with such different viewpoints will ever be a ble to make it around the world together?

Paris 1

After a high speed ride, we made it to Paris from
Brussels in just over an hour. Paris weather cooperated well and our first few hours of walking around were enjoyable, and we were unanimous (unlike our usual 50.00001% to 49.99999% voting) that we really like the town thus far.
Thanks Simplicitus for the suggestions and we are always looking for more in all the places we will be visiting.

Brugge

We went to the charming and ancient city of Brugge yesterday where the buildings are older than those in most of Sarasota.. Now today it is on to the ancient city of Paris. The weather yesterday was somewhat warm (not by Sarasota's standards) but rain is predicted for today. We have decided that we should have come to Europe about one week later, but that seems to be an error that is difficult to correct at this point.

This was just before she pushed me into the canal. Obviously, too much togetherness already.

On to Brussells tomorrow. If anyone has any suggestions about Brussels or Bruge (?) or Paris (on Monday) let us know.

Tulips and Us.

Tulips

Day 2 Museums in Amsterdam

Just to let you know about our current disasters. The first is that one of us dropped the computer, which explains why there has been no blog until now. (We have agreed not to mention who dropped it nor what his name is, but the machine has now been repaired) The second calamity is that the temperature has not gotten above 55 and our Florida blood did not realize temperatures ever got down that low. Strangely, the folks in Amserdam go about as if this were not not a hopeless situation. That climate problem has not been rectified. The nuseums have fascinated Marge and even Fred feels they are interesting. The attached picture is the entrance to the Rijksmuseum. Marge's jet oag alloowed her t9 fall asleep looking at one of the materpieces on our first day here.

The Day Before

Tomorrow we GO

The bags are almost packed. The three you see are going with us. They are not very large but I have packed lots of soap!

We will be in Amsterdam for one week. more or less. There will be visions of Van Gogh and tulips dancing in my head. Who knows what will be dancing in Fred's head.

Then on to Paris on the 21st.

Up Up and Away!