Ira's Visit to the UK and France
Nov 16th, 2013, 08:02 PM
#123
ParisAmsterdam - it wasn't QI, promise! [i think it was something in the Guardian online, but i can't remember - it's my age]. BTW anyone who is seriously interested in Winston S Churchill should go to Chartwell in Kent, where he lived most of his adult life, including during WW2 when he wasn't in London. You can see his pictures [not as good as the Impressionists and others he collected which are hung side by side] and his famous wall, which local myth says was tidied up every night by the local builders who just happened to be doing some work on Chartwell while Winston was playing brickie. Best of all it's a beautiful area called the Weald of Kent which I strongly recommend for people wanting to get out of London but not wanting to drive too far.
Ira - thanks for the link to the tirel guerin. the prices seem remarkably reasonable for the standard of hotel; I've added it to my to do list for Brittany where we go for a short break at least once a year, as we can get there on the Brittany Ferry service from Plymouth to Roscoff. you are right about the service on these boats - it''s very good. on our last trip we had an outstanding meal in the silver service restaurant, and an excellent night's sleep. Sadly on some boats they now have only self service which is nothing like as good.
no way am i taking your bet on where Ira and his lady wife are going to be staying in Paris, parisamsterdam!
Ira - thanks for the link to the tirel guerin. the prices seem remarkably reasonable for the standard of hotel; I've added it to my to do list for Brittany where we go for a short break at least once a year, as we can get there on the Brittany Ferry service from Plymouth to Roscoff. you are right about the service on these boats - it''s very good. on our last trip we had an outstanding meal in the silver service restaurant, and an excellent night's sleep. Sadly on some boats they now have only self service which is nothing like as good.
no way am i taking your bet on where Ira and his lady wife are going to be staying in Paris, parisamsterdam!
Nov 18th, 2013, 06:58 AM
#124
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Hi all,
Two things I forgot to mention:
Dinner onboard the ferry was very good, and we had priority status,
The gentleman at the Europcar office at the train station didn’t charge us extra, even though we were 1:08 hr late.
Now, I know that there are those who will deride me for staying, once again, at the Bonaparte, but I did (I really did) try to find (a) a better place for the money, (b) the same quality for less or (c) a much better place for up to 20% more. I failed.
Upon arrival at the Bonaparte, Roberta was fussed over and taken up to the room by the desk clerk while I was left to handle the luggage. By putting one carryon on top of the large suitcase, the second carryon in my arms and the camera bag on top of the second carryon, I was able to do it all in one trip.
Within minutes of arrival, my Lady Wife was under the covers and one of the women had brought her a cup of tea.
An added note, as part of the ongoing renovations of the hotel, our room had been very recently redone – it still smelled of paint. A very big “merci bien” you to M. Lemaire.
The nursing worked wonders, because the next day she was able to go out for dinner, and on our last day we went to the Trocadero – beautiful views, nice crepe Bretonniere and a visit to the Musée National de la Marine (www.musee-marine.fr/ ) – a surprisingly interesting exhibition of the history of the French navy, including the barge Napoleon III used when he welcomed Queen Victoria to Cherbourg (http://tinyurl.com/losvxk8 This is not the picture at the museum, but it shows the barge.)
We flew home on our usual Delta flight to ATL. Of course our US cell phone wasn’t working, so I couldn’t call the driver who was waiting for us. Wait – an Information Desk. I explained my problem to the woman, and asked her to call 706 – xxx-ssss.
“706 is not a Georgia number”, says she.
“It is m’am. I live in Ga. It is my area code”, says I.
Apparently, I looked too much like the profile. She absolutely refused to make the call.
Fortunately, a member of the staff overheard us and offered to make the call for me.
At last, we reached home.
I immediately succumbed to whatever Roberta had had and spent a very miserable week getting over it. The day after I was able to perambulate, some #%$^&% little kid coughed on me - and the rest is history.
Hope you’ve liked my report.
I’ll be happy to answer any questions.
Two things I forgot to mention:
Dinner onboard the ferry was very good, and we had priority status,
The gentleman at the Europcar office at the train station didn’t charge us extra, even though we were 1:08 hr late.
Now, I know that there are those who will deride me for staying, once again, at the Bonaparte, but I did (I really did) try to find (a) a better place for the money, (b) the same quality for less or (c) a much better place for up to 20% more. I failed.
Upon arrival at the Bonaparte, Roberta was fussed over and taken up to the room by the desk clerk while I was left to handle the luggage. By putting one carryon on top of the large suitcase, the second carryon in my arms and the camera bag on top of the second carryon, I was able to do it all in one trip.
Within minutes of arrival, my Lady Wife was under the covers and one of the women had brought her a cup of tea.
An added note, as part of the ongoing renovations of the hotel, our room had been very recently redone – it still smelled of paint. A very big “merci bien” you to M. Lemaire.
The nursing worked wonders, because the next day she was able to go out for dinner, and on our last day we went to the Trocadero – beautiful views, nice crepe Bretonniere and a visit to the Musée National de la Marine (www.musee-marine.fr/ ) – a surprisingly interesting exhibition of the history of the French navy, including the barge Napoleon III used when he welcomed Queen Victoria to Cherbourg (http://tinyurl.com/losvxk8 This is not the picture at the museum, but it shows the barge.)
We flew home on our usual Delta flight to ATL. Of course our US cell phone wasn’t working, so I couldn’t call the driver who was waiting for us. Wait – an Information Desk. I explained my problem to the woman, and asked her to call 706 – xxx-ssss.
“706 is not a Georgia number”, says she.
“It is m’am. I live in Ga. It is my area code”, says I.
Apparently, I looked too much like the profile. She absolutely refused to make the call.
Fortunately, a member of the staff overheard us and offered to make the call for me.
At last, we reached home.
I immediately succumbed to whatever Roberta had had and spent a very miserable week getting over it. The day after I was able to perambulate, some #%$^&% little kid coughed on me - and the rest is history.
Hope you’ve liked my report.
I’ll be happy to answer any questions.
Nov 18th, 2013, 09:03 AM
#126
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Very interesting and good report. Sorry to hear that your wife was so ill, never fun but awful on vacation.
Good to hear they are rennovating the Bonaparte.
If the cat is gone, I might give it another try. Do you mind sharing the room rate?
Good to hear they are rennovating the Bonaparte.
If the cat is gone, I might give it another try. Do you mind sharing the room rate?
Nov 18th, 2013, 10:28 AM
#127
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