Pics from the Combe de Savoy

I've added some pictures from our time in this valley (combe). This area is very beautiful, pictures can't really capture it, but I'll keep trying. Sometimes I mistake mountains in the distance for clouds. Mountains can't be that high up there can they? But there they are. The larger cites (Albertville, Chambery, Grenoble) are in the valleys, by the rivers, and the villages inch their way up to the mountain passes.

I've posted some pictures in the Picasa web albums to the right.

Remembering Paris...

Paris...I don't think you can really compare it to anything else. It seems to be a city where history is around every corner, where they pay attention to detail even when designing the stairways down to the metro stops, and where you will see great wealth and poverty. When we first arrived at the Paris airport, we were excited about the day ahead. We got off of the plane and immediately knew we were in a different country. It just feels different. The way they design hallways and bathrooms is different. The people dress differently. We got our bags (a miracle of sorts!) and headed out to hop a train to the city. Before we went we needed money. One problem. After double checking with our bank TWICE and making sure that our bank card would work, they were both rejected. Luckily, we had a credit card. We did end up getting our cards working about 2 days later, but we were so thankful that we had another emergency plan!

We stayed in the artist's district in Paris. Montmartre is a beautiful part of town with cobble stone streets, old men carrying bagettes and groceries while walking their dog, and a slower pace than much of Paris. We ended up staying at what our guide book described as a low-end budget hotel. We didn't mind. It was clean (for the most part) and had a bathroom in the room for the bargain price of 35 euros a night. That is a steal in Paris. Mohammad, the man who runs the hotel ended up being a huge blessing and was always running out to ask us how we slept or if we needed something. There are pictures of him in the Paris album of our picassa picture link. check it out!

While in Paris, we saw the usual. Look at the pictures, they are wonderful! we stayed out late one night to take pictures of the Eiffel Tower at night (Ivy's mom's request). At about 10 pm the whole tower sparkles and shimmers with lights. It looks like a sparkler at the fourth of July. I knew it lit up, but this was amazing! It must be a gift to those who stay out late.

Paris did prove to be extremely expensive. We, on the other hand, are extremely thrifty so we ended up eating mass amounts of bread and cheese. Not that we're complaining. If you must eat that all day....France is the place to do it.

One last reflection. On the way over, we had the amazing blessing of being able to sit next to a French woman about our age named Solene. We must have talked for 2 or more hours about French culture and American culture. We also even had the opportunity to talk about our faith and our Hope! Solene had just spent a month in California with a friend, and her English was great (much better than our French). She was a joy. It felt as if the magic of the trip was starting even as we were on the flight over.

Voila!

After a few days in Paris, we have traveled to Albertville, in the southeast of France. We spent 4 nights and more euros than we expected in Paris. C'est tre cher! We stayed in a dive of a place, but the management (Mohammed, from Algeria and Eric from Poland) was very nice and helpful. It was a good time, but we were ready to leave the crowds and very high prices. Now we are in Albertville, where the prices are high instead. ;-p

See pictures from Paris on the Picasa link to the right.

Being with the Newports is like a breath of fresh air, when we've had a lot of 2nd hand smoke. Don't get me wrong, Paris was great, but a familiar face (or 8) has done a lot to encourage us. It has been good to "live it out" and to understand what it feels like here and then come to see them.

They send greetings and love back to those at Berean.

Hello All...

As we are packing up, and will leave on Saturday, I wanted to squeeze this last post in. This is mostly a re-post of stuff you may already know, but here's an overview of the blog:

• to stay in touch and share some pictures
• to introduce you (sort of) to the people we meet
• to share the history, culture, language and quirks of the places we visit
• to boast only in how good God is

Hope you enjoy it!

Los Caminos se Diferencian

For more information on El Camino de Santiago, here's a link to wikipedia.

For more information on another type of El Camino, here's another link.

Musica Gallega

From Milladoiro, a Galician folk band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ5NtUSQX4E

Sounds like Celtic music, doesn't it? Looks Irish too. Yet Spanish, as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EmoVmHoFnM

Bagpipes?

I think I get it, its not Celtic or Spanish, but its a little of both. It's Galician.

Just when I think I've got something figured out, it turns out to be richer than it first appeared.

Test Hike

On July 26-27 we went on a "test hike" to see how our gear and joints would perform on El Camino. From Cades Cove, we went up Gregory Ridge trail to the AT and stayed at a shelter at Mollies Ridge. We did 10.5 miles out and then back for a total of 21 miles. We averaged about 2 miles per hour. Click here for a map of the park. (Cades Cove is to the west.)

Some highlights:

• Lots of quiet and peace, time to think
• Good time together
• Many wild blueberries and blackberries
• No rain, some breeze
• Giving ourselves trailnames (Bean Burger and Tofu -- BB&T)
  

And some lowlights:

• Being really sore
• Sleeping on a cutting board (shoulda brought a pad)
• The shelter's water supply having dried up (we had enough to make it back; more inconvenient than dangerous)
• Forgetting to tell anyone our trailnames!
  

It was a good learning experience. Next time, we'll take less stuff, more food and water.