Paris Photo Link click there: ——> Paris

We had all the time in the world to prepare for our trip to the UK for our nieces wedding. We had checked into Fort Du Base Marina several days early. The marina we found it to be an excellent facility with free electricity and water, amazing showers and a great laundry. After the 1st few days everything that could fit in a washing machine had been washed and line dried. Aeeshah was scrubbed and polished, life was good. I’d received an email from Air France telling about a flight time change, which I had noted was a 2-hour difference, thinking it was 2 hours later I had put off checking it. I’d had a hair appointment on the day we were to fly, it lasted a record 3 hours, and then John and I had a burger before returning to the boat. I then thought I’d better check the departure time and was shocked to see that OMG!! We were due to fly 2 hours sooner than scheduled not 2 hours later! We had 20 minutes to finish packing, ready the boat and get to the airport. Well it was panic stations, grabbing what I could remember we needed, changing clothes, emptying the cockpit, checking the lines etc. but we made it and checked in even with time to spare, but I’d forgotten the undies. Air France is a wonderful airline, probably the best we’ve flown on. The flight left at 5:30pm arriving in Olay at 6:50 am where we got a taxi to our hotel. After a short rest we were off exploring Paris. Our hotel was not the best but was in a great area and right by the metro station. There were wonderful little shops and cafés which we wandered through before deciding to head into down town Paris. The lady at the front desk gave us directions as to where to get off the train and where to get on the next metro to take us to the Eiffel Tower our first destination.:

Deputies Colombes

Direction Gare Saint-Lazare

Justus a Gare Saint-Lazare

Correspondance 8 mins

Deputies Havre-Caumartin

Direction Pont de Sevres

Justus a Trocadero (As written by her – and we were able to understand, our immersion course seemed to be working) We were very proud of how we navigated the metro, the stations and the walks between; as we had not been in civilization for quite some time we felt it was a real achievement. Plus just learning to speak and read French we were feeling smug about our accomplishment. Arriving in the center of Paris next to the Palais de Chaillot we started exploring the area walking across the Seine River towards the Eiffel Tower. As we walked around the tower we were both amazed by its size and the fact that it had been built piece by piece without the mechanics or computer aids of today. Plus the size of the tower is quite astounding. We continued walking along the parkway called Avenue de la Bourdonnais in the direction of Ecole Militaire we saw how even the trees had been “sculpted” every walkway and flower bed was immaculate, there were small cafés and petit venders selling sweets, people relaxing all around in the sunshine. We walked back to the Seine River deciding that it was the perfect base from which to explore Paris the next day. Our return journey on the metro did not go quite as smoothly. All we had to do was reverse our previous track, but that proved to be quite confusing when it came to changing stations. Plus it was during the height of the evening commuters traveling home moving at a furious rate as a thick stream of automated workers. Our luck was with us in the form of a young student. He saw us struggling and tried to explain where to go but decided it was easier to take us to our correct train. He save us from an evening of wandering the metro! The next day we set off with our newly purchased Paris tour book, took the metro into the Eiffel Tower, (taking careful notes for our return trip), where we started our walking tour. It was just wonderful, the sun was shining, spring was blooming all around, and we were free to wander where ever. From the Eiffel Tower metro we headed along Avenue Kleber towards the Arc de Triomphe. The shops were amazing all types from Boss to a Toyota racing car store, all was very sleek and clean, just so French. From the Arc we followed the Avenue Des Champs-Elyeese to the Grand Palais then onto the Petit Palasis through the Place de la Concorde to the Grand Louvre. At the Obelisk in Palace de la Concorde we had a young man stoop down at our feet and “find” a gold ring. He exclaimed that it was his lucky day and then tried it on. On finding the ring did not fit he offered it to John and it proved to be his size. He then sighed and said that it must be our luck day instead. After some protest John accepted the ring and put it in his pocket. No sooner than we walked 3 paces the fellow was saying, excuse me sir, as you have had some luck would you help a struggling Romanian who has no legal papers to work…well of course. John pulled out a 5-euro and then the guy said how about you give me that 10 and I’ll give you back the 5euro that way I can eat well today. The con was so good and slick that he was long gone across the road and over the hedge before John realized he’d been messed with. Now later in the day we were approached by 5 other Romanians playing the same scam. In the end we would just laugh and hold up the ring and say look we already have one. There were also West Africans selling masses of cheep Eiffel Towers. They would run off as the law approached. Then there were the girls asking for sponsorship for their starving children. It all was just a bit over whelming. It really is a wonderful city, the architecture amazing, the major sites were more than we expected and we had clear blue skies with warm weather, all the spring flowers blooming, just perfect. The sheer size of the buildings, arches and monuments plus the straight long avenues with manicured gardens and walkways makes for a wonderful picture everywhere we would look. We just fell in love with the city of Paris. The pyramids of glass in the Louvre were so contrasting to the old architecture, the grounds with all the amazing sculptures and through the other end of the Louvre past the intricately carved arches and the absolutely massive buildings we were both just enthralled and drawn further on. From there we wandered to St Germaine l’Auxerrois a very old church where we were fascinated by the gargoyles and the stained glass windows. Onto the Tour St Jacques we found ourselves just drawn to see more amazing architecture. We crossed the Seine between Palais de Justice and Notre -Dame to walk along the side of the Seine looking at all the fabulous sites/sights. Back across the Seine over a bridge covered in locks left by thousands over time. As we headed along the Seine we could hear sirens and saw streams of cops in vehicles, we also heard the roar of bikes. On reaching The area near the Eiffel Tower we were amazed to find a rally of Harley Davidson bikers, literally hundreds of them gathering below the tower. We stayed to watch them leave, the roar of the engines made our ears ring, the fumes from so many revving big bikes looked like smoke rising. It was an amazing day and I highly recommend Paris.

Click there for UK and Wedding photo link —–>> In the UK and at the Wedding

We flew out via Easy Jet arriving in Luton where we picked up a car and gradually made our way to Ware. Once there at Ware we enjoyed a pub lunch and checked into The Feathers a wonderful inn. We drove back to Ware and walked along the river Lee enjoying the beautiful English countryside in full sunshine with blossoms everywhere. The whole trip had been wonderfully sunny and bright, spring was in full force, the flowers were out everywhere, fields of yellow Rape along the roadside, blossoms covering trees, daffodils and spring flowers along the lanes, side gardens were beautifully displayed with blossoms of all types and colours. – Just perfect to set off my allergies. The next stop was Boots where a kind pharmacist loaded me up with the necessary drugs, drops and inhalers so I could function. (I’m still suffering the over abundance of pollen) However it was really very beautiful. We managed to fit in several other walks along the River Lee as far as the locks. The ducks, geese and swans were looking for mates along the river and several courting geese couples had neck-to-neck combats, river barges were moored and the reflections were just lovely. That evening we met up with Helen and Martin for dinner and from then on it was flat out ……. I had 4 days of wedding preparations awaiting me. I sat in front of a
sewing machine and stitched bunting by the meter. Over 2000 pieces were needed to
decorate the barn and dairy plus the walkway between. (Helen wanted it double sided, stitched, turned inside out and then stitched to the bias tape, phew!). Helen had made everything for the wedding, hand painted blown eggs, (which I labeled with everyone’s name), hand painted wooden labels in the shape of eggs, she designed the centre piece for all the tables, she made literally hundreds of candles in decorated jars to go everywhere and miniature snow globes with bunnies inside for all the guests. Yes, she really went full out and I was very happy to be able to contribute my efforts.

Gavin, Kate and her bf Jae arrived on the Wednesday, Chrissie, Ivan (her man) and Katie – Gavin’s other half, arrived on the Thursday

and so it was a wonderful family reunion at the Feathers Inn where we were staying. Well Kate and Jae spent their 1st night there and then moved a short distance away to a grand mansion called Fanhams Hall an old English estate, as they wanted their 1st time away to be special. We enjoyed our time catching up We also managed to meet up with my cousin Ali at the Feathers for a lovely lunch. Plus we spent a great 1/2-day in Cambridge on the Saturday. We wandered the streets, admired the architecture and enjoyed the market. Plus on Good Friday Alan, Pat and Harry hosted a family get together where we had a wonderful few hours catching up with family, eating excellent food and Kate, Jae
and Ivan managed to fly kites in our traditional Bermudian way. Then it was Easter Sunday – Wedding Day. That was when the rain arrived too, but it did not dampen the day and evening in the slightest. The location was a farm – South Farm is a self-sustaining operation, they grow all their own foods raise the animals and fish you eat there and is a beautiful old farm setting. John and I had a gypsy caravan to stay in. Sounds romantic and without the rain a gypsy caravan would be, but with the need to cross a wet field to the toilets and showers plus no room for luggage, it was a challenge but we had fun and comfortable. We arrived around 10:30am and
helped with all the setting up. It was a mammoth task; every one of us was employed. There were 101 different tasks, but we made it in time to dress and help with the seating. The wedding started at 3pm. Helen looked amazing, the girls looked fabulous, the theme was 50’s retro look with an Easter by-line which really made for a different look that worked fabulously. The ceremony was touching as Helen and Martin had written much of it. Following the ceremony there was the drinks and nibbles, even dark and Stormys, ice cream cones for the kids and not so young too. Then on to the dinner or Breakfast (93 guests) as they call it in UK. It was an excellent meal that started after the speeches which were made by Martin, myself, Chrissie, Sotos and Abe.  This was followed by after dinner drinks, tea and coffee. The rest of the guests arrived for a carvery, (pig roast), live band and dancing, a photo booth, a tattoo booth, a cartoonist, a sweet table all Easter and 50s themed, really quite an amazing wedding. And Helen had made most of the decorations, designed the whole look and the activities. It was particularly great as nearly all the U.K. family was there too. We really had a great time and it will be a night that is always remembered – Thank you Helen and Martin.

At breakfast the next day we said our goodbyes, and then packed, met up with some of the family for a last time and we were on our way. Back in Guadeloupe the boat was perfect, just as we had left her. Now we are back to normal and headed to another French island: Marie Gallant.

If I had one piece of advice to pass onto you Helen and Martin, it is in this quote from Fawn Weaver “The greatest marriages are built on teamwork. A mutual respect, a healthy dose of admiration, and a never-ending portion of love and grace.”