FLIGHT TO NICE...BUS TO MONACO

Monday, March 9th, 1992 Nice & Monaco for the Day...sleep in Paris

Yep…after a nice breakfast of bread and coffee we moved to American/French Holiday Inn about two blocks away. Inside the hotel you could be in America. Even American news in English. “CNN” on the TV. Jim negotiated a rate of 570f (about $95.) per night. Worth every franc! (Today that same hotel rents for 225 euros and up...that's $300.+ per night! Wow...and we try to keep our hotels under 100 euros (under $150.) a night when we travel now...retirement does make a difference!)

Left our bags in the room…used the toilet IN OUR ROOM! Then left for Orly to return the car. Filled the tank, we’d used about ¾ tank (126 f ) total for the week. Two trips around the block and we found the return area. Got it done and then found the departure line for Air Inter for our day trip to Nice.

Left at 10 am and arrived at 11:20…found the bus to Monaco and we were on our way after only a short wait. Huge bus…direct route and we were the only passengers for the 45 minute trip. Helicopter would have been 350f; taxi about 700f and the bus was only 75f each. Such a bargain. We went high into the mountains for an exciting ride to Monaco. We returned on the same bus several hours later with only one additional passenger. A nice gentlemen in his 50s who spoke excellent English. He was a German who had worked and lived abroad for years and is now consulting only. Said he didn’t speak French too well??? He has lived in Monaco since 1987 with an apartment in Rome. He told us all about the history of the area: talked about the route of the Grand Prix and that it starts on Ascension Thursday every year and runs through Sunday. All racing is set on that calendar. Also about the Roman Ruins, the golf course high in the mountains and the new tunnel that will eliminate much of the scenic road we were traveling between Nice and Monaco. Also, that the bus we were riding was a new route (the only direct one that they have) and that it will probably be eliminated if more people don’t start to ride the bus.

While in Monaco we walked to and around and in the casino. I lost about $5 in a slot machine. We looked at all the shops. Armund Thiery was a very expensive men’s shop. Suits were $1000 plus. The Tourist info station was very helpful to determine where and when to catch the return bus. It was different from where they left us off. We had time to sit at an outside café for fromage (cheese) omelets and cokes. They gave us bread also. It made a very nice early dinner for only 86f. Even used the public toilette which was very, very clean. Arrived back at Nice airport and spent an hour there doing postcards, etc. Jim splurged on two milky ways…$1.00 each!

The plane was a 747 and packed compared to the morning run. Home by 7:30 PM and back to the Holiday Inn. A nice shower and repacked the cases and listened to the TV news in English! Also, called home.

American Companies that we’ve seen in France to date: Kaufman Broad, Disneyland, Coco Cola, Canon, Citi bank, Berkley Bank, MacDonalds and Holiday Inn, Hilton and Ibis Hotels.

RINGING THE BELLS AT NOTRE DAME

Sunday, March 8th, 1992 Still in Paris

Laid awake several hours last night, Jim read to me about the places we’d been to and were going to today. Many of the stories bring back his college days with Albertson at Loyola or Ira at the Junior College. He loved his French Classes...had thought about a year of study here until he met me...opps. He tries to use his French but hasn't had much luck being understood or understanding them. He's dressed with tie and all, so people we meet on the street think he is French until he opens his mouth. They have their own linguistic twist to the language that is very different from what they teach you in school in the USA.

Items to note, old buildings, thin walls, twin beds. Lots of dogs…most were on leashes but no pooper scoopers! Need to watch your step!

We’re packed and off to Notre Dame for church and then to the airport to check on air service and Holiday Inn rates.

What a day! Mass at Notre Dame was a high Mass complete with choir and organ. Communion bread was a thick brown wafer. The sounds of music were ethereal! After Mass we went to the North Bell Tower (it had been closed since we arrived for painting) and trouped up 255 stairs to the haunt of Quasomoto fame. A view of all Paris and then a trip inside to stand next to an actual bell while the history was told in French and the other bells were ringing. The guide selected two women – jep- yours truly was one of the two chosen to have our hand guided in making the bell sing! With just a stroke of metal as you move it to different areas, the tone changed! Must have been the broken arm that singled me out!

Then we climbed about 50 more steps to the top of the South Bell Tower where a fellow from St. Louis offered to take a picture of us together. (Yes...you finally see a photo of me today!) Another fellow was from Chicago. Hard to find Americans and four of us were together at the top of Notre Dame.

We stopped at the grocery on the island and got orange juice, two bananas and water. That with the biscuits we had from breakfast was brunch; then off to the airport. We found parking, went to Ceile (our car rental agency) to check on the car return and then on to Intra Air to schedule tickets for a trip to Nice on Monday. We leave at 10 am and return at 6 PM.

This is the first of our flights using the Intra Air...a division of Air French Airlines....on a Jet Vacation Package that Jim had found and purchased before we left home. For $500. the two of us can travel as often as we want, within the country of France, on seven different days spread over the remainder of our trip. Multiple trips in one day are permitted.

Then we checked on the Metro and found a charming French girl who spoke excellent English so I asked her about the hotels, in particular Holiday Inn. She said the ones near the airport were very expensive, some nearly 300f a night. I didn’t tell her we’ve been paying 900f on the Isle. She then began telling us about Formula I…sounded like a youth hostel but the cost is unreal…up to three people in a room for 130f plus for 20f per person a continental breakfast. You share baths and showers. You get into the hotel by paying first…there is only an attendant part time. But for $23 who cares…we’re going to make do until Wednesday night if possible. We checked in before leaving the area.

Back in the car and off down the highway to Chartres to see the cathedral famous for the one of a kind cobalt blue glass. Very, very old and only partially restored, but very much in use currently. As you’re driving towards it you suddenly see the cathedral looming in the skyline…the light rain also created a mist to further enhance the spiraling steeples; each different and beautiful in their own way! It was a very cold walk up a narrow passageway from the parking area but well worth it.

Dinner…well, McDonalds what else! Two Big Macs and a chocolate and ferais (strawberry) shake for the big fee of 50f …we saved money by eating outside so we dined in the car! Then back towards Orly and our new abode at Formula I.

Well, Formula I is something else…no one speaks English, the bed left a lot to be desired but we did have a TV. But, all French stations. Finally got up together at 4 am to toddle down the hall to the privy! But, since they were booked solid we HAD to go to a different hotel…Holiday Inn here we come! This was our home when we were in Paris for the rest of our trip.

OFF TO SEE VERSAILLES

Saturday, March 7th, 1992 Paris

Jim arrived just in time to see me wince as they pushed and pulled the arm in fitting a plastic base for a cast. Ouch! But it worked and we finally left the hospital by noon. I was told that I had to return on Wed. 11^th between 9 & 11 am for an x-ray before they would release my records to take home. The insurance company will not pay for any future medical expense on the arm done in France. Should be home for the removal of the pins. A change of plans as we'd not planned on staying in Paris this long.

Lots of aspirin and off we went past the Eiffel Tower and out to Versailles. Took a while but we found our way there. As we went in to the Palace, a couple turned around and said how great to HEAR English. They also were doing it on their own; but, on subway and train. He was amazed that Jim is driving and loving every minute of it. The place was great but since it was late afternoon, the mirror room was not quite as stunning as it could have been. We then walked through town and had a coffee and our own pastry croissant in a tearoom. Back to the car and off to Paris. ( At that time we didn't even think about touring the gardens...we thought the Palace was it.)

We drove to the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Elysees, the circle was great fun for Jim. Then on the hill in the distance we spied the white church…Montmartre; also known as Sacre-Coeur. Off we went to the top of the hill. The view was great but the battery was running low on the camera.

We decided to find the Moulin Rouge and it took some doing but finally arrived at the famous red windmill…parked in the center of the street to take some footage!

It was quite a feat finding our way home, another trip around the Arc then zip down the Rue de Charles to the Louvre and home. Jim picked up 1 pizza and 2 pieces of quiche. They were yummy. Then he washed my hair before I showered with plastic on my arm. Aaah…clean hair at last. Jim then went for a walk while I watched the batteries recharge and finished my postcards. As I continued to write this Jim has returned with info on time for mass at Notre Dame for tomorrow.

Time to say goodnight…PS: No TV here. Jim gave me another piece of jewelry tonight........... the bee ...... he's such a sweetheart! I wonder how many of these he has with him??

TWO DAYS IN A FRENCH HOSPITAL.....

Thursday, March 5th, 1992 (written on Saturday evening the 7th)

The day started out uneventfully. Slept late and didn’t really get going until nearly noon. After showers, we made hot water for coffee. It was our first experience with electric plugs. Jim figured it out after I nearly burned the heating element out with the wrong converter.

We drove around to McDonalds in the Sorbonne area, the Latin District. After which we walked the area around the university and into a park surrounding a beautiful palace (across from the Big “M”) that was built by Marie de Médici, widow of Henry IV, in the image of her childhood home in Florence: the Pitti Palace. We then got back into the car and headed towards the Eiffel Tower. It started to rain and of course we’d left boots and umbrellas at the hotel; it was a light rain so we continued. I videotaped the traffic as Jim drove and sure enough…we were running out of film by the time we arrived. Never fear…we backed up the film and only lost some driving time. Yep, you said it…troopers to the end we hiked up the first level and then on to the second...who needs an elevator! It was raining pretty well by now but we didn’t have our raincoats on. One of the best items of clothing that we brought with us was our raincoat.

Continued to view the sights of Paris from above…had café and hot choc and split a croissant at the mini bar. Then we left. Jim suggested we ride the elevator down, but you know who said no? Just before we descended; Jim stopped and snapped a picture for two American girls! Had my hand on Jim’s shoulder from second to first level. Took a while to find the down staircase from the first and just plain got careless. When my wet tennis shoes slid down three steps in a row….I landed on my tush but broke the fall with my left hand! Opps, I knew immediately that it was either a very bad sprain or broken.

I held my wrist with my right hand and proceeded to bottom. We were headed for the car when Jim decided we should look for first aid there. Sure enough they called the fire department. They came…put the arm in a plastic blow up cast and off we went to the hospital. Me and three young firemen, only one of which spoke very broken English. But, really nice boys. I told him that I also had a son who worked as a fireman…brought a big smile to his face. The sirens were loud as we raced through the streets of Paris

At the hospital, Hopital Boucicaut, they immediately taped it to a board and off I went to x-ray. First inkling of trouble was second set of x-rays and a chest x-ray just in case they had to do surgery! About that time Jim arrived. He’d had to find the hospital on his own after retrieving the car from the parking lot. Not an easy feat for anyone but especially not for an American on his third day in France for the first time!

Definitely not a sprain; they said they had to put pins in the bone. I pleaded my case but in vain. Before I knew it, Jim was off to admitting; with passports and a credit card. When he returned they said two days as surgery was full for the night. We walked outside and to the next building and two orderlies showed us the room. Into bed with still no pain pills and TV with only French. That was my companion during the night. Mostly because I couldn’t find the right button to turn it off.

Jim ate the dinner…I wasn’t hungry…and finally left for the hotel. He also called home for the first time, as we needed insurance information for the medical papers for the hospital. No...they were not billing the Insurance Company...we had to pay with the credit card...thank goodness for socialized medicine! Eventually, our Insurance Company did reimburse us for the cost after we were home. He spent the last night alone in our beautiful hotel. We'd planned to leave the next day but now he had to find another hotel.

Friday, March 6, 1992

It seemed like an eternity as I had no watch and the metal shutter on the outside of the window totally blocked the light. Finally I could smell and hear the breakfast but knew I wasn’t to partake. About ten they came in and cut off the bandages; brought in the gurney and off I went. Down the elevator through the basement, probably 300 to 400 years old. Peeling paint and all! Then up to surgery. Fortunately the doctor did speak some English. They gave me a local in the armpit which eventually knocked me out before they did the surgery. But before I went they kept picking up the arm and dropping it to see if I felt any pain so they could tell if it was working.

By noon I was back in my room. Lunch had come and gone while I was away. Jim arrived with news.

1) He’d had to move to a new hotel…St. Louie; a block away as ours was full. Said he hadn’t realized how much luggage we had. But, he liked the room as well if not better than we had.

2) Had two tiny pieces of chocolate that he had saved for me. They’d been on the pillow for our last night at the hotel, thank God…food at last!

3) Conversation from home was about some new lawsuit; otherwise they were fine and had contacted the insurance company; which should pick up all the cost of the hospital eventually.

He stayed for several hours, we mostly both slept…he in his chair and me in bed. Neither had slept well the night before. I finally sent him on his way to hopefully go see some sights on his own.

At about 7 PM dinner finally arrived. I was famished! The main coarse looked like Lasagna…tasted more like chili…green salad, a great small French roll, great slice of bland cheese, great vegetable. It was something that grows in the ground; they use it green in salads and when it gets white they cook it. It tasted something like cabbage and looked like corn husks. The dessert was some bland pudding. Ate half of everything and was delighted to have it. None of the nurses speak English!!

Also just before Jim left, the guy came by to collect a fee for TV. I said “NO”. I can’t understand it anyway. Slept the day and night away thanks to aspirin from Jim! They finally gave me something to take also. But the medicine was very sparingly given.

Note: In the photos of the hospital information you'll see a "pin"...that was one of the three pins....this one had worked its way out of my arm "before" we left for home. The other two were removed in a hospital surgery after we arrived home....that cost more than putting them in because of the socialize medicine available to everyone in France....medical procedures are very inexpensive compared to the USA.

DINNER AT LA TAVERNE DU SERGENT RECRUTEUR......

Wednesday, March 4, 1992 Paris

Breakfast at our hotel…a must per the tour book…croissants, jam, juice and coffee…very elegant. I got upset when Jim ordered 1 juice and 1 coffee…they brought two juices and a small pot. I wanted coffee…finally Jim went to the kitchen and returned with the waiter who showed me the coffee! Jim then surprised me a small necklace he’d brought with him as a gift..(.throughout the trip he kept surprising me with small pieces of jewelry that he'd brought with him....truly a romantic man.) Then on to the Louvre…walked along the street through the market with open stalls with fish…live chickens and geese for sale among other things on the way there.

The Louvre was never ending and full of art treasures. We were there until about four o'clock when we started back for the hotel. On the way back we happened by the small Sainte Chapelle. A royal chapel located inside of an old palace. Downstairs was very plain...but in the upstairs there were breathtaking stained glass windows. Really worth the tour price and climb up the winding steps to the upper Haute Chappelle.

Picked up postcards on the way back to the hotel. We had a lovely dinner out at La Taverne du Sergent Recruteur, a unique, casual restaurant guaranteed to induce indulgence. Stepping inside you are transported to a Gothic renaissance era. The space is dotted with wrought iron chandeliers. And, it is located across the street from our hotel on the cobbled streets of L'Ile Saint-Louis We had a bottle of white wine. Jim had beef and I had Salmon. There was a party of Briton’s across the way. Half loaf of bread came off the ceiling rack along with a basket of sausages and one of vegetables for the salad. Kind of a make your own. They also gave us each a slice of pate to spread on the bread. A lovely meal in a warm and mellow atmosphere. Afterwards we walked the river Seine to Notre Dame; down to the shops and back again for over an hour. Absolutely breathtaking. ( I fell in love with Paris on that day and it's continued to be my favorite city in all of Europe ever since.)