Vacation is truly over

I saw Midnight in Paris and absolutely loved it!!! It made me want to go back and realize that I did like Paris.
So the week I returned I was contacted by the San Diego temple. I had an interview and I am now working there.
Last Thursday was my first day and I can not begin to tell you how amazing it was. I want to thank my friends who have been a positive influence on me and have been a shining example to me. I may not always do, say or chose the best things but I recognize that and I try to be better. Sometimes I forget and have to try again so thanks to those who have the pure love of Christ and understand and have patience with me.

Sunday, July 3, 2011 Full Day in London

Shsss don't tell anyone but this day I woke up super early and walked around the corner from my hotel and took The Big Bus tour. It was the first bus of the day so I got the prime seat. It was amazing. I couldn't believe I was in London. I toured around on the bus, got off walked around and took pictures got back on.
I went from a recorded bus tour to a live commentator tour. That was fun but I felt I was missing something.

I walked from the National Museum down to Westminster Abbey. It was down this long street. Yes, I could have taken the bus but what fun would that be right? I saw the Women of World War II Monument and thought of my brothers mom, Esther. I took a picture of this because it made me reflect on how women are so vital to human life in all phases of life.
I went to Buckingham Palace and honestly I just don't get all the fuss about it. Guess cuz I am not a Brit?

I did get back on the Big Bus and eventually made it back to Kensington Palace. I went and walked and saw the memorial that some folks had put up for Diana's 50th birthday. At that point I did get teary eyed. Well I thought of my mom and how much she enjoyed watching anything to do with Princess Diana and I thought of how both these women died too young and had some similarities in that they were both teachers and well just some other things.

I then walked to this one street which is where no pictures were allowed but I took one or two.
Then I went in search of the park in Notting Hill from the movie Notting Hill. I walked and walked and walked my way out of Notting Hill and then had to walk back. I then went up a street and down another and found a park but I am pretty sure it was not the right park but by then I was sweaty and tired. I had kept telling myself you have to do it for Jon if not it will be something you will never live down. So I searched until I could walk no more and found a little park but I am sure it was not the one from the movie so I guess I will have to go back one day.

I then stopped and got a Panini and water and walked back to Hyde Park and ate my lunch there. I sat on a bench and watched families with their Children at Princess Diana's park or something like that. It was nice. As I walked in Notting Hill and Hyde Park I felt as though I was walking in areas that my niece Laura walked at any given time. I felt as though she was there with me (even though she was really in Budapest).

I then went in search for the Peter Pan statue in the park. I had to see this and document this for my friends Cindy and Sarah. As I looked for this area in the park I kept telling myself I had to find it and not give up so I could show Cindy where we needed to go back and take our picture together. I finally found it and there was all these kids around - including me.
I eventually then walked out to the street and found the stop for the Big Bus and boarded when it arrived. I took the tour again but this time it was recorded so I stayed on again. I had missed some interesting facts so I was glad.
I was about 8 stops from my final stop when they announced we had to get off as the bus I was on was going to divert East and there would be another bus coming shortly to take us to the end of the tour. No problem right? Wrong, the gentleman at that stop said all the buses were done for the day and he had to coordinate another bus to come get a bus load of people that needed the final stops. As buses stopped by more people came off so that is how we got a bus load. This gentleman was very calm in the mist of all these tourists questioning him and wanting to know if a bus was coming.

We finally got a bus and I was grateful. I was ready to walk through another section of Hyde park and just suck it up and walk back to my hotel but I was tired.
When I finally arrived at my bus stop I got off and thanked the driver for his willingness to work later. I bought a sandwich and went to my room to shower. I was tired but after my shower woke right up. I watched Maid in Manhattan and eventually fell asleep. I had to be up at 4 am to get to the airport the next day. Needless to say I kept waking up every few hours.
I was sad to leave London for various reasons; the main one was that I didn't get to see my beautiful niece Laura and London is beautiful but did not have enough time to soak it all in. I can speak their language and the people are pleasent.

Below is a link to the photo album for this day.
https://picasaweb.google.com/EldredAM/July2London?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOu94MXSqpm3Ow&feat=directlink

Saturday, July 2, 2011

So I let myself sleep until 9 that morning. I got up showered ...had already packed from the night before and checked out of my room. I had a cab pick me up and off we went to the Gare du Nord. It was busy and hectic and I had no clue where to go or what to do. I stood in a long line at the information booth and then was directed to the upstairs and checked in.
I had my passport in hand and was ready to go. The french lady quickly recognized my last name of Michaud as french and mentioned that. We  had a lovely conversation about my name and my visit and she wished me a safe trip. Which reminds me when I arrived in Paris and went thru customs I was delayed. The individual checking my passport did not understand why I did not have a visa and why I was there and could I prove I was going to leave the country in a few days. Kind of scary to think I made it all the way there and was having issues with this.
So I had to wait an hour for my train. During this time I started to worry that my niece Laura may not be there or she may be out and forgot I was coming.
I rode with some students that were going to study English in Englad for two weeks. There was this cute little girl diagnolly across from me that was trying to say water but asked for a glass of pool.
I arrived, and found a cab and off I went to Laura's flat.
Laura was not there. The security guard called her and this of course was after I explained her last name was with an E not an A.
I finally gave up on waiting and started to look for a room and there was no room at the Inn so when I found what I thougth was a bargain I booked it and off I went. It wasn't until a couple of days later that I found out how much of a bargain it was NOT.
I walked up and down Cromwell and then had dinner at a cafe and had me some Fish and Chips. Not bad. I then went to bed as I was tired as I had an early day.

July 1, Final Full Day in Paris

This day I woke up early and packed up all my things into my suitcase and made the decision to leave a pair of shoes behind and pants. They had served me well in the USA and on my trip but I needed room for souveniers and I did take a small suitcase (intentionally).
I finished the route I had not taken the previous day on my tour. I went and did that and saw the sights. It overlapped some of the areas I had seen but it was nice to get one last look at Paris as I am unsure when and if I will ever go back.
In the mid morning I stopped at this metro station and it was by the Louvre and there was a McDonald's. I figured why not have a real american meal only to regret it a bit later. I was sick to my stomach and rushed to the bathroom. There was no line. This was the only time I saw no line in the bathroom later that day I rushed to the bathroom and there was line after line. I also saw a lady butt naked washing her pants and undergarments. I felt so bad for her and knew that could easily have been me earlier that day.

I went into the Louvre and found the Mona Lisa. It was incredible how many individuals were there around a picture. Granted I have never been a fan of this painting. Yet I was in there so I had to see it right?

I walked the streets of Paris all evening and eventually made it to my favorite metro stop that took me to my hotel. I was walking there when all of a sudden I heard some music. I stopped and found a musician by the metro. There was a cafe there so I sat down and had a sandwich and once again just soaked in the atmosphere and sounds. It was truly amazing how relaxing it was to listen to some music outdoors and hear traffic, people walking and greeting each other as they met for a Friday night out on the town. While I was sad I was alone not able to enjoy this with a friend or family member; I was sad to know I was leaving Paris.
The people who did speak to me in English were helpful and kind.

It is amazing how traffic flows thru some of the narrow streets along with motorcycles, bikes and pedestrians. While I am not a big fan of Paris I do appreciate all it's architecture, beauty, and history. I hope one day I will be able to share this city with a friend or family member.

Below is a link to some pictures

https://picasaweb.google.com/EldredAM/July12011LastFullDayInParis?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIvbnvne-7nXMg&feat=directlink

June 30, 4th Day in Paris

So after enjoying the sites by going on a boat and metro I woke up early. Because not only does the sun go down after 10 pm but it rises very early.
It was so hot in my room that in the middle of the night I opened up the windows to my bedroom to let the air in. It was weird but hey I wanted to have fresh air.
The previous day I purchased a two day tour on the bus. So I took the metro to the Louvre stop and boarded a bus. I went up to the top deck and off we went.
It was cool at first and then it got warm. The sights and sounds were incredible. I still could not believe I was in Paris much less alone. I took as much in as I could. It was amazing to hear all the different languages and have to be honest my ears would perk up if I heard English or Spanish.

I think my most favorite part of this day was when I saw the monument near the Bastille. It reminded me of the Angel De La Independencia that is in Mexico City. I couldn't get enough of this monument as I think it is beautiful.

We also drove past the Louis Vitton store and I thought it would be fun to walk in but when I saw the line wrapped around it I said forget it...only if Laura was with me would I do that.

Then I came upon the impressive The Arc de Triomphe. It was truly impressive. I wanted to go to the top but this is something I will have to go back and do with Spencer. 

I did a lot of walking this day and was amazed by the beauty of the sights of Paris. I also had my one and only crepe and ate it by the Eiffel Tower and thought of Cindy A.

That night when I reached my hotel I was exhausted. I took a quick shower and went to bed. My legs were throbbing and I felt I was going to fall asleep right away. 

See the link below for more pictures
https://picasaweb.google.com/EldredAM/June304thDayInParis?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKmfsLzvu8GHowE&feat=directlink

Day Three in Paris, June 29, 2011

Oh so I let myself sleep in and checked out at 10:30 am and took a cab to my new hotel. My cab driver did not speak English but luckily he knew Espanol. So blessed to know two languages...my key french phrases I managed to learn were helpful.
I drove to the outskirst of Paris and he took the scenic route and we saw Notre Dame the Louvre.
I checked in and left my luggage in a closet and off I went to see Paris on my own. Luckily the metro stop was around the corner from my hotel.
When I got off at the Louvre station I made sure to buy a 2 day visitor metro pass. I then started walking around by the Louvre and somehow ended up by the Opera House found a place to purchase my two day tour bus and a one day cruise on the Sienne River and stop and hop off type thing.

I then walked back to some monument took the metro to the Trocadero stop and walked down to Sienne and boarded the boat. I enjoyed the scenary and this day was a lot cooler than the previous two days - there was a slight breeze. I stopped off at the Notre Dame stop and walked around the grounds. The lines were incredibly long and I just wasn't sure I wanted to stand in a line.
However, the thing that stood out the most this day is the following: I purchased my first Panini in Paris and immediately thought of Cindy and Melissa. I walked from where I purchased my Panini and sat at the end of the bridge between the Sienne river and the Eiffel Tower.
I enjoyed my Panini and water and wished and imagined that Melissa and Cindy could be there and experience what I was experiencing.

There is something about having a nice lunch in the outdoors taking in the sights and sounds of Paris and soaking it all in. I hope and wish that one day I will be able to go back there with some of my friends and family; or that they at least get to experience that day on their own.
I thought of many of my friends an family members during this trip but that moment was about the Panini, good friends, an incredible sight and experience. Follow the link below for more pictures from this day.

https://picasaweb.google.com/EldredAM/3rdDayInParis?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIK1q4ik-K7R0QE&feat=directlink

Paris June 28, 2011

It really was 9:30 pm

I forgot to mention that the night before I was surprised that when we got back to our hotel it was about 8:30 ish and it was as bright as daylight...nobody warned me. So we talked a bit and then headed to our hot rooms - there was no AC; and it was the hottest most humid days that Paris had experienced during that time in a few years. I couldn't get the wake up call setup from my room so I was in 1/2 of my pj's wearing my Girls Camp tshirt from last year and put on my jeans again.
I of course bumped into my GM who was waiting for our CEO and Quality Director (who are both French) to go to dinner and invited me to join them. I of course had to decline as I had eaten a couple of hours earlier and feared I would oversleep as I didn't get any sleep on the flight.
So now to Tuesday, June 28.
We met in the lobby for our metro tickets to be issued and off we went to our meeting. It was fun to take the metro and then we began our walk. It was nice and exciting. Our morning session went by fast we had a group photo taken and then lunch. Now those of you who know me well know I prefer to eat boneless skinless chicken breast and of course we had boned skinned chicken.
The afternoon session was rough and then we headed back in groups to the hotel. Some individuals had tried to get rooms at the Marriott by the airport but we were prisoners of our hotel accommodations.
So a large group from the Torrance facility went to eat at a nice restaurant with AC (or so we were told by one of the team members from the UK who ate and drank there the night before). Personally I think he drank too much and imagined he had experienced AC because there was no AC in that place.
The dinner was blah but I hear the bill was ouch!!!
After dinner some of our group stayed behind to drink and a few of us went for a walk. It was fun to be in Paris walking around with people.
We went to a store and walked around, then to a church we saw and somehow we managed to get the right street to the hotel. We saw lightning and thunder and had light showers when we were almost at the hotel.
Again we sat in the lobby for a bit and then we all went to our rooms. Most people were flying back to the US early the next day and I of course was checking out of that hotel to my other hotel to begin my adventure.

The church we decided to walk to