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paris - day 2

I'm very behind in blogging - especially about my trip to Paris in April.  (Can't believe it's already August).  Anyway I'm catching up now.  I'm home sick w/ a cold and will probably call in sick tomorrow.

More on Paris:

 View from the top of Notre Dame. 

We also went to the David LaChapelle exhibit at the Monnaie de Paris. 

 The Musee D'Orsay was crowded and my sister and cousin didn't have their Paris Museum Pass  yet, which I highly recommend you get and which helps in bypassing the very long lines. So we went to the Musee Rodin.

  Rodin's signature.

 The Thinker.

  Napoleon's Tomb at the Army Museum.

Anne, my sister, and cousin in the middle so you can see how big the tomb is.

La Tour Eiffel...

 

We walked so much on Day 2... from the Notre Dame, along the Seine River, to the Paris Mint, to the Rodin Museum, to the Army Museum, and then finally to the Eiffel Tower.  After that it was such a treat to ride in a taxi back to our hotel.

paris - day 1

So now I'm finally sitting down to show and tell about my trip to Paris, with my sister, my cousin from Hawaii and my friend and cousin-in-law Anne.  Anne and I spent 7 days in Paris while my sister and cousin did 5 days then trotted off to Italy. This is day 1.

The first picture of the Arc de Triompe on our way to the hotel.  The taxi cab driver heard the click of the camera and told us to wait because we could take better pictures later and because it was so close to the hotel.

 

The improved view and close-up view:

 

This is the view from our room at the Prince de Galles Hotel which was just off the Champs-Elysees: 

  

Anne and I arrived first to Paris before my sister and cousin so this was our first stop after dropping off the bags and sort of freshening up after the looooong flight:

Laduree:

The goodies inside:

  

 

Laduree was a quick jaunt from the hotel so it wasn't far at all.  This is what we feasted on:

 

I should say we took it easy this first day.  After tasting some of the macarons and waiting for the rest of our traveling party to arrive we walked to the Arc de Triompe, took a myriad of pictures, then got ready for dinner.  We treated ourselves to a nice dinner at Les Bouquinistes upon the recommendation of Anne's sister who said that this was the best place she ever had fois gras.  While I'm not a fois gras kind of person, the sample we had was smooth and soft like butter.  This experience made me eat it two more times in Paris and nothing did compare to what it tasted like at Les Bouquinistes.    

back from hawaii- part two

So a little more on our vacation since I have some time now.  In Maui, we drove two hours to see the sun rise at Haleakala.  Cousins from Oahu flew to Maui to spend the weekend and play tourist with us (they also haven't see the sun rise at Haleakala) and we all did the drive starting at 3:00 a.m.  It's like people who live in San Francisco and who haven't yet been to Alcatraz.  It was freezing cold, almost like being back home.  It was 44 degrees up there and windy.  Here are a couple of pictures:

The sun just about breaking out and peeking through the clouds...

The sun...

Afterwards we went to eat breakfast at Cafe 808. Great local food!

 

We also drove to the lavender farm: Ali'i Kula .  We got lost going there but finally found it.  Once a month they said they offer free shipping so I suggest you sign up so you can get notified on when that free shipping is and get yourself some plumeria lavender spritzer.  You can use on your body or home fragance.  It smells so good.  We used as a home freshner and it's great!

 Then off to Oahu: View from our room:

Getting ready for the beach...

On the beach...

Guava macaroons =)

Macky's Shrimp Truck  - our first choice was Giovanni's but by the time we got there they were sold out.  Macky's was just as good though and they even give you salad and a piece of pineapple!

  Shot of the kids on our last day and on our way to the airport. It was fun for them.  Jason loved playing on the beach and playing in the water.  Ava loved playing with the sand.  I was worried about traveling with small kids on the plane but we had help from my sister and her husband.  The plus side was that you get to board the plane first! 

back from hawaii- beach pictures for now

We're back from Hawaii.  For now, some beach pictures from Maui.  We stayed at the Westin Maui for four days before heading to Oahu.  My cousin works for the Starwood hotels and we got an unbelievably good discount from her. These are pictures from the beach behind the resort:

 

san diego

We're back.  We went to Legoland, Sea World and the San Diego Zoo.  It was tiring...the drive and all but fun. Here are some pictures:

Ava & Jason posing on a pig made out of lego.

Jason was scared to ride quite a few rides but gladly rode this one.

Ava at Sea World watching the dolphins.

Star Wars lego for Jason (not age appropriate but he wanted it).  Did I tell you that a couple months ago my sister gave him age inappropriate lego and he put one of those tiny ones in his nose?  It was scary but once it was safely out, you had to laugh.

Jason eating a shortbread brownie from Extraordinary Desserts.  I must say that was one of my highlights of the trip.

I'm glad we're home. The heat was getting to me.  I think I would rather go through security in an airport than drive.  Coming home was fine but going there we hit traffic and it took 11 hours. 

hawaii

So I came back on Monday from Hawaii.  A very short trip. I don't think I did too much--eat, see family,eat, shop a little, and eat again.  My cousin works at the Sheraton Waikiki so the "mainland" cousins stayed there with her family discount.

Here's a view from our room of the pool:

A sunset:

and leis the hotel gave us:

Another cousin took me and my sister-in-law to Eggs n Things - a small place with very good french toast (which we ate) and very good pancakes:

Also ate here before shopping at the swap meet.

We also ate Aoki's shave ice-w/ ice cream (preferred over Matsumoto's)-- and we also drove quite a way to eat Giovanni's shrimp. I would have taken pictures but my hands were a bit greasy with butter and garlic--plus I would have brought attention to myself with my huge camera (didn't want to do that)...

The last time I went to Hawaii my niece was still in my cousin's tummy. I've only seen her in pictures but I finally got to meet her and all my other nephews & nieces that were born over here--

I'm glad to be home now. I missed the kiddies.  Before I left, this little eggling, that I bought for my son, had no hair but when I came back, he had tons--