Abbynicole’s first Trip Report: Venice was just like I’ve always dreamed, the French Riviera was sunny and relaxing, Paris was like seeing an old friend, but I lost my heart to Austria!
Aug 28th, 2005, 05:21 PM
#43
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Hey everyone - sorry to leave this next installment so late. I was in Edmonton for a wedding this weekend.
Here goes!
Sunday June 26th - We got Mobilis passes for the day (the most economical option when you’re staying way out in the suburbs) and headed into Paris. Our first destination was Versailles, and unfortunately while we were riding the RER out there, a thunderstorm blew up. It was pouring rain when we got off, and we made a mad dash through the streets towards the palace. It was more expensive than we were expecting to see the grounds (let alone the inside) so we wandered around and saw as much as we could before grabbing a bite to eat and heading back into Paris. By this point we looked like drowned rats, so we made a quick run back out to the suburbs to change, before heading to the Opera Garnier. It was unfortunately closed for renovations or something, which was a huge disappointment since it is my favorite building in Paris, and the one thing that Heather really wanted to see that day! So, we had a bit of retail-therapy in the Chatelet mall, and then went over to the Notre Dame area to find a restaurant for supper. It’s a highly touristic area to eat, but it’s the only place I know of where you can get traditional French food at great fixed-price menu deals. It was my birthday dinner, since Heather was leaving the next day, which was my actual birthday. Heather had raclette (at my urging – I love raclette) and I had trout with almonds, and for dessert we had crème brulee and profiteroles aux chocolat. After dinner we climbed the stairs up the Eiffel Tower (it’s cheaper and you don’t have to wait in massive lines for the elevator) which was a workout but not too bad – it helped that we were at the end of our trip and in much better shape than at the beginning! When we got back down we sat on the grass and watched it light up for the evening, and then headed back home.
Monday June 27th – I went with Heather to the airport and saw her off. In the evening my friends that I was staying with made me a nice birthday dinner, and we ate outside in the garden and visited for a long time.
Tuesday June 28th – I met my missions team at the airport – this is the transition point from vacation to ministry.
Quick summary: we spent the next 2 weeks in Esbly, a suburb of Paris, helping a church run a kids club. The kids were so much fun, and our team (there are 6 of us – we all went to the same college in Canada) loved the people of Esbly so much.
After Esbly we took the train to Nantes and worked with an organization there for 2 weeks, running international nights with young Christians from all over the world.
Ok, now back to travel-related stuff: During our stay in Esbly, we got to spend a day off in Paris, so I played the tour guide again. Leah and Lacey have both never been overseas, so they were fun to watch all day – they were absolutely awestruck.
At the end of our stay in Nantes we spent a day seeing the city. The castle there is quite nice, and the Jardin des Plantes is just beautiful. Ok now here’s the surprise event I was saving: my boyfriend Chad was the leader of our missions team, and Chad and I had been planning to take some date time at some point in the afternoon, to get away on our own. So, all six of us were just about finished exploring this beautiful park, and Chad started to suggest that we take off for our date time and then come back to the park later to sit on a bench for a bit. I was confused and told him that it didn't make any sense to go all the way back to the center of the city and then come back to the park - so if he wanted to sit on a bench, why didn't we just send the others on ahead of us and stay there for a bit? So that's what we did - the others left and we arranged to meet them later in the city square, and then found a bench to sit on together. We chatted for a while about various things, including his horrible French pronunciation and how I was helping him with it. So all of the sudden Chad says, "Actually, there's one more phrase that I would like you to help me with," - and IMMEDIATELY, I knew what it was! He pulled out a piece of paper as I said "Are you serious?!" (yes, I really said that) and then sure enough, when I opened the paper it said "Veux tu m'epouser" (Will you marry me), I said yes, he pulled out the ring, and I am right now wearing a beautiful white gold ring with a princess-cut diamond in the middle and two princess-cut pink sapphires on the sides.
Now, some of you may be a bit confused, since I referred to Chad as my fiance in a couple of posts before I left – it just seemed easier that way since we already knew we were getting married. We’d been ring shopping and picked a date already – I just didn’t know when he was going to propose. Anyways, now we are really engaged, and getting married next May in Calgary, Alberta.
The rest of our trip was fairly uneventful – we had a connection through London and spent the night there, and an afternoon exploring London. Chad stayed behind and spent 3 weeks travelling Germany, but he is back in Canada now, and we are busy planning our wedding. I am going to school (taking travel & tourism – big surprise there!) and working part-time.
Well, thank you all again so much for your help in planning this trip. Your advice and conversation is much appreciated.
Here goes!
Sunday June 26th - We got Mobilis passes for the day (the most economical option when you’re staying way out in the suburbs) and headed into Paris. Our first destination was Versailles, and unfortunately while we were riding the RER out there, a thunderstorm blew up. It was pouring rain when we got off, and we made a mad dash through the streets towards the palace. It was more expensive than we were expecting to see the grounds (let alone the inside) so we wandered around and saw as much as we could before grabbing a bite to eat and heading back into Paris. By this point we looked like drowned rats, so we made a quick run back out to the suburbs to change, before heading to the Opera Garnier. It was unfortunately closed for renovations or something, which was a huge disappointment since it is my favorite building in Paris, and the one thing that Heather really wanted to see that day! So, we had a bit of retail-therapy in the Chatelet mall, and then went over to the Notre Dame area to find a restaurant for supper. It’s a highly touristic area to eat, but it’s the only place I know of where you can get traditional French food at great fixed-price menu deals. It was my birthday dinner, since Heather was leaving the next day, which was my actual birthday. Heather had raclette (at my urging – I love raclette) and I had trout with almonds, and for dessert we had crème brulee and profiteroles aux chocolat. After dinner we climbed the stairs up the Eiffel Tower (it’s cheaper and you don’t have to wait in massive lines for the elevator) which was a workout but not too bad – it helped that we were at the end of our trip and in much better shape than at the beginning! When we got back down we sat on the grass and watched it light up for the evening, and then headed back home.
Monday June 27th – I went with Heather to the airport and saw her off. In the evening my friends that I was staying with made me a nice birthday dinner, and we ate outside in the garden and visited for a long time.
Tuesday June 28th – I met my missions team at the airport – this is the transition point from vacation to ministry.
Quick summary: we spent the next 2 weeks in Esbly, a suburb of Paris, helping a church run a kids club. The kids were so much fun, and our team (there are 6 of us – we all went to the same college in Canada) loved the people of Esbly so much.
After Esbly we took the train to Nantes and worked with an organization there for 2 weeks, running international nights with young Christians from all over the world.
Ok, now back to travel-related stuff: During our stay in Esbly, we got to spend a day off in Paris, so I played the tour guide again. Leah and Lacey have both never been overseas, so they were fun to watch all day – they were absolutely awestruck.
At the end of our stay in Nantes we spent a day seeing the city. The castle there is quite nice, and the Jardin des Plantes is just beautiful. Ok now here’s the surprise event I was saving: my boyfriend Chad was the leader of our missions team, and Chad and I had been planning to take some date time at some point in the afternoon, to get away on our own. So, all six of us were just about finished exploring this beautiful park, and Chad started to suggest that we take off for our date time and then come back to the park later to sit on a bench for a bit. I was confused and told him that it didn't make any sense to go all the way back to the center of the city and then come back to the park - so if he wanted to sit on a bench, why didn't we just send the others on ahead of us and stay there for a bit? So that's what we did - the others left and we arranged to meet them later in the city square, and then found a bench to sit on together. We chatted for a while about various things, including his horrible French pronunciation and how I was helping him with it. So all of the sudden Chad says, "Actually, there's one more phrase that I would like you to help me with," - and IMMEDIATELY, I knew what it was! He pulled out a piece of paper as I said "Are you serious?!" (yes, I really said that) and then sure enough, when I opened the paper it said "Veux tu m'epouser" (Will you marry me), I said yes, he pulled out the ring, and I am right now wearing a beautiful white gold ring with a princess-cut diamond in the middle and two princess-cut pink sapphires on the sides.
Now, some of you may be a bit confused, since I referred to Chad as my fiance in a couple of posts before I left – it just seemed easier that way since we already knew we were getting married. We’d been ring shopping and picked a date already – I just didn’t know when he was going to propose. Anyways, now we are really engaged, and getting married next May in Calgary, Alberta.
The rest of our trip was fairly uneventful – we had a connection through London and spent the night there, and an afternoon exploring London. Chad stayed behind and spent 3 weeks travelling Germany, but he is back in Canada now, and we are busy planning our wedding. I am going to school (taking travel & tourism – big surprise there!) and working part-time.
Well, thank you all again so much for your help in planning this trip. Your advice and conversation is much appreciated.
Jun 20th, 2006, 03:27 PM
#47
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Hi abby,
I know it has been almost a year but I have been dying to know how the wedding went since you mentioned May...
I hope it was absolutely beautiful and I cannot wait to hear about y'alls' future European adventures
Jill
I know it has been almost a year but I have been dying to know how the wedding went since you mentioned May...
I hope it was absolutely beautiful and I cannot wait to hear about y'alls' future European adventures
Jill
Jun 26th, 2006, 08:15 PM
#51
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Hi! Thanks guys. Actually we went to Bahamas and loved it. I'm working part-time at a travel agency (I have one year of school left, then I'll be a certified travel counsellor) in Calgary. Trying to plan our next trip for next summer, after I graduate.
Jun 27th, 2006, 12:37 PM
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Hi abbynicole,
Thanks for the update. So happy to hear the honeymoon was wonderful. I envy you in your choice of careers (alas, I chose accounting). Have fun planning your next trip and I know I speak for many when I say that we can't wait to read the report
~jill
Thanks for the update. So happy to hear the honeymoon was wonderful. I envy you in your choice of careers (alas, I chose accounting). Have fun planning your next trip and I know I speak for many when I say that we can't wait to read the report
~jill
Jul 2nd, 2006, 07:22 AM
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I found ur comments very helpful and appreciate your spirit.I am going to austria end of august and am looking at websites extensively. I have some questions and there will b many more as the trip nears. I am planning a 15-18 day trip and intend to take your route from Vienna to Salzburg through Hallstatt. But that is only 3-4 days. After that i intend to go to innsbruck and then on to various mountain resorts and areas as that my base for the next 10-15 days. Out of these 10-15 days, i am thinking i cud maybe do 3-7 on an organized hiking / trekking tour through the mountains near zell am see, badgastien, lienz, Glossglockner itself and maybe all the way west towards landec and st. anton. I am still figuring it out and I'll haev questions for you in the next week or so. Thanks.
