Re: Video Assignment

Everywhere I went in Europe from the day trip I took to Windsor Castle and watched families enjoying the water on the Thames near Eton- to Lake Kontanz in Germany, water offered enjoyment for the Europeans in the summer. Unlike where I live in Florida where it is basically summer ever day, the Brits, the Parisians, and the Germans were celebrating summer. I saw them order ice cream or gelato every day. Stores are generally not open on Sunday's, so instead of fitting in Walmart shopping and getting the oil changed in the car, they are relaxing as a family.
I rode on severals ferries, as those on the Mississippi in America--- Water flowing down the mountain near Fussen, the home of Ludwig's castle- the prototype for Walt Disney for Disney World in Orlando. Monet's home offered the quiet of the stream with bird calls in the background.
Even though I chose a Jazz tune from Creative Commons, I wanted to hear the rush of the water in the background, the children laughing, and the water splashing to the ground.

JULY 12 SUNDAY- The VERSAILLES

It is hard to imagine the courtyard of the Versailles crowded with gawkers, vendors, and wanna bes... and yet there are so many instances of us as Americans doing almost the same thing. In Hollywood, in New York City and via the Inquirer, the habits continue. The amount of time and preplanning to create the magnificence of the Versailles Palace is overwhelming to me. I can't get a grip on that. Then when you add the amount of money and time in creation, it definitely does need to be still enjoyed by many people world wide. The gilded walls, furniture, and accoutrements was really pretty phenomenal.
As many others stated, the crowdedness of the summer throng made it very hard to enjoy. I have lots of pictures of ceilings and upper walls.
After returning to Paris, I instant messaged one of my former students on Facebook. She gave me hints of places that would be open on Sunday. So I left our District 4 and travelled across the Road to District 3- to discover the free Museum, Cartelet- a family park named Louis XIII, an opera miming transvestite performer and a shop where Claudio sold vintage clothing and shoes dating back to the 1930's. I would love to have gone upstairs to look at 1930's dresses, but acknowledged that 500 to 1000 Euros was not in my budget, so settled for conversation instead. My wanderings in that neighborhood were so much fun!
Then on the way home I ran into Nate, Stephanie, Michele and Joanna on their way back. I saw the poster advertisements for movies and could not resist making this my picture to post with this post.

July 11 Saturday Giverny

Laurie and I shared breakfast in the dining room and then were off to Giverny. She knew so much about Claude Monet that I loved listening. Everyone on the train, and on the buses spoke in muted voices and it helped to create a quiet, graceful day.
What a nice change from the metropolitan city of Paris. I could very comfortably live in that town and ride the train to Paris for shopping, culture and diversity. We could have easily needed a new media card just for the pictures. The gardens are beyond breathtaking. Even at the turn of the last century, that home was built with windows on all rooms facing the gardens and pond. The aura in the home made it possible for me to imagine Claude entertaining friends on a joyous happy evening.
The kitchen made with artificial products would pale in comparison to the cobalt blue tiles that completely covered the walls.
For all of you cookers out there, the stove would make you yearn to create an omelet or cup of tea on the unique pot warmer with spigot- not forgetting a rising pumpkin bread to accompany a latte.

July 10 The Louvre

As I said on Facebook, Carolyn and I spent the day in the Louvre. We first made a mission of finding the sculptures and accomplishing the task of the day, and then we headed off to paintings, of which there are a few in the museum. The various rooms as well as the numbering of -1, 0 and 1 helped to throw us off in our Compass directions.
We each liked such different art that it made the day very interesting to get a different point of view. And then of course we constantly had the dreaded mistake hanging over us that we might "ignite" the flash on our camera unintentionally. We could not read the captions in French, so that helped to speed us along for the 5 1/2 hours, but limited our understanding, so we would create the annotated description ourselves. LOL The only other place very near to there that I would have liked to have seen again was the d'Orcy Musee, but you can't do it all.
The crowds at the Museum were not bad, and that contributed to the enjoyment. My principals' administrative assistant gave me money to buy her a scarf...so I bought the first one in an Indian Shop in Salisbury. In the Louvre shop I bought a silk scarve packaged elegantly and labeled and now I have spent the entire sum of money and when I can get photos to upload I will send you the picture of them. Very pretty.
Louvre Museum
If I lived here, I would often go on a rainy day say like on Winter Break as a teacher and be able to once again stroll leisurely.

July 9 St. Pancras Train- 9 3/4 wall-British Library

After the nice visit to the British Library, we headed back to the Study Center to retrieve our luggage and head to the International EuroChunnel to France. Compared to so many things in England that date back to what seems like the dawn of time, as opposed to America, the library in London seems almost anachronistic....but to draw today's digital natives, we surely can not have the musty smell of old books, or the scuffle of brown and orange carpet. So after sipping on tea and munching on freshly warmed cranberry muffins, the patrons can wisk their new acquisitions into a specially marked clear (of course) plastic bag from portage to their next stop- even if it is the Apple Store.

I took lots of pictures of the countryside of France while I personally listened to an audio book on my ITouch that I downloaded in Ft. Lauderdale from the Broward Public Library site with OverDrive.

The trip to the Eiffel Tower was a marvelous as the first time I went. However, that time I went in the morning and this time Darkness set in at the early hour of ten PM. All of my new found skills on my camera keep coming in handy as I explore settings and options. I would have left it on the red box for "Auto" my whole life, if I had had my way. I have pictures from all four compass directions- nord, sud, etc. And I must seem like the person to ask to take your picture, as last night 8 families or people asked me to take their picture....and then as we left the last steps one of the young men in the grey suit offered to take my picture without me asking...what a nice surprise!!!

I am hoping to load the picture of the Gendarm catching the Eiffel Tower Key Chain Selling Bad Guy , if the internet will allow me.

July 8-London Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park and Harrod's

As we walked around Hyde Park today, I predominantly used my Flip camera. I am trying to learn how to use it and hoping I will have some time on the Internet in our room in Paris to see if any of my filmings have turned out. Since the park was originally set aside by Henry VIII, I find it almost unbelievable that it is still preserved for the beauty of the city and has not been made into high rise buildings. For whatever reason that happened(that will be another thing for me to look up when I have time), it is very good.

The variety of flora and fauna in the park boggles the mind. The animal life is drawn to the deliberate plantings partially I am sure, but also to the areas that are left to fallow. I did not see Eucalyptus today, but it was planted at Windsor Palace and I saw it in the gardens yesterday.

I went to Harrod's mostly to say that I had. I looked at things I could never afford, just so I have an idea of what must be in the homes of people who are wealthy. A young man in the silver settings section and Lladro Porcelain asked me if he could help me and I replied...."Oh, I am just looking, I am a teacher and on my salary I have to just look, but it is so beautiful to look at..." And he replied, " Yes, madam, I am sure it is." People are so polite here to me and that is very pleasant.

Now it is late and we are still packing...off to Paris during tomorrow!!!

Last night I had the pleasure of being with a Blue Badge guide and 18 other of FSU's Study Center Students, when we saw remains of the Roman Wall while learning about Jack the Ripper!!!

July 7-Hampton Court-King Henry VIII-Palace Jumper

Merle had the most delicious looking chocolate croissant the other morning, that I decided that I had to have one. So this morning I went to the Small restaurant on Bloomsbury, and I should have been buying my coffee there as it is 50 p. cheaper than where I have been going. Did not get the croissant, but instead I chose a granola type bar TOTALLY COVERED WITH CHOCOLATE.  I had it with my lunch and Merle it rocked. Thanks. 

The audio tour definitely helped with the knowledge of the Castle. Carolyn and I went to the Religious Tapestry showing where they lit up the gold and silver threads of this one of eleven religious tapestries King Henry had commissioned. 

The technology to do so had taken them 5 years to develop so it would show in a darkened room, because over the years the gold and silver threads had tarnished and would have appeared blackened to the guests. Queen Elizabeth liked it so much that she had it moved as she travelled. The huge wall covering tapestry took less time to make by an all man team from Brussels who spent two years, than the technology took to show it.  The tapestry is over 500 years old and the technology to view it will be ancient in six months to one year.  Situational irony right?

Carolyn and I had fun in the kitchen before we left also Dillan. The pretend "Boiling Soup" and the "Chopping of the knives were quite realistic.

 

July 6 London-Regent's Park/Primrose Hill/Abbey Road

As we dashed between the showers at Regent's Park here in London, the flowers bestowed many of my colleagues with the opportunity to capture pictures with dew dripping from the petals.  So many of the posting today were really some of Nature's finest, caught on the cameras of my FSU classmates. I still have no luck flying a kite, but watching everyone on Primrose Hill was really quite fun. Picnicking and then watching the romping around after so much time rushing, was a pleasure. I did not take great pictures of the kite flying, but I have enjoyed seeing the pictures of those who did. 

And then the thrill of traveling by foot through the really nice homes to get to Abbey Road. I wrote my name and the year I saw the Beatles on the wall and my room mate Kat took a picture for me.  Laurie took my picture up by the steps of the studio. When I was young, my girlfriend Susan and I were Beatles fans-her favorite was George and mine was Paul.  I ironed my clothes and my hair every morning, and now everyone uses a ceramic straightener.

Before heading off to the theatre, I went down to the Victoria Station early and roamed around the neighborhood, and the little local restaurants.  Most of the buildings in that area are large corporate offices etc it seemed, but there were many small hotels and B& B's. I found my daughters canvas bags with Twiggy's picture on them.

The play "Billy" was really great entertainment. The young character "Michael" was definitely a great example of comic relief. A feel good show....YouTube has quite a few great looks.

The London Eye Podcast

Sunday- I spent a beautiful summer day inside between the Lab, the Library, and the Conservatory that does not pick up Wireless. Ginger was monitoring the Library and she is very nice.

I did go out for a Traditional English Breakfast at a very pretty cafe near the British Museum this morning.

Saturday morning, July 4th in the USA I would have been preparing some kind of food or goodies for a family outing. I love to cook, especially varieties of Ethnic foods from other cultures. I once asked my students what they thought “American Food” was. And the Survey revealed they thought it was hot dogs and hamburgers.
Since I eat mostly fresh foods, that left those mostly out of my diet. But I do love fresh corn on the cob, watermelon, collard greens, and sliced Beefsteak tomatoes. Instead in the UK, I had a brunch of a Traditional Pasty. Nice and warm and fresh. 
The Audio tour enabled me to learn a wealth of information in a site that has a lot of wealth.
I think the guest room that the Queen has for visitors down stairs is approximately the square footage of my whole house, and lo and behold the visitor needs a “Dressing Room” so there will be enough room for the servant to help her dress. And people think my forty pairs of shoes is too much. I know that the “Trunk Room” was...

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London-July 3, Friday- The British Museum-and Chinatown

Well, in our Flat the earliest any of the Goldengirls Rose or Shined :)

was after 8:30 A.M. An exciting day in the Flat was had by all 5 anyway as we tried to catch up on things. Laurie flew the coop and headed off to Brighton. Tomorrow, Jeannie and Sheila(alias Quinton) are headed to the White Cliffs of Dover. Every time I was going to leave the British Museum, I would see the next room that I wanted to check out. It was still not enough time for me to read very much.  I continue to experiment with my camera and that is exciting to do something besides the RED camera for Autofocus.

I learned several new things for me while in the Museum:

- the British did not have silver jewellry, but only gold instead

-the Nubi in Africa buried their dead in a fetal position 

-the Irish had a bridle and bit for their horses that no one else in the UK used and the archeologists don't know why

-the Ankh does have its origins from hieroglyphics, but has been over time readily accepted by Christianity.

Then, I took a walk to Chinatown. "Take away" Shushi for dinner and Chinese Golden desserts.

July 2- Bodleian Library, C.S Lewis Home and Church

Two Subways, one train and some brisk walking brought us to the Oxford University Bodleian Library. As a reading teacher and future M.S.(actually I wish we pronounced it like they do-libreeery), I was in awe of the thought processes, planning and actual commitment to such a grand undertaking, as creating the very unique library.  I had no idea about anything that was there...chained books, a conveyor belt to move them and a "No Loan" Policy. No ink pens, No Borios(I asked and they are Ball Point Pens), no fire for lanterns, no food of course, and no bags. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200. Go straight to Jail, if you attempt to exempt yourself from these rules.

Cataloguing thousands of books every week seems impossible to me.

Kathy was so extremely nice to us and gracious in our travels all over the University and then to C.S. Lewis's home. In a country that deliberately preserves its past and culture, I found it strange that the home was sold, and then rented actually. The volunteers renovating it was almost like 

Habitat for Humanity. 

Everywhere there were beautiful gardens, book stores, the aura of academia, and hallowed halls of learning. The inscription donated in the Quadrangle has gold in the letters so as to show the value. The student's education and the University's devotion to manuscipt books and those printed since Guttenberg were definitely visible as very important to the mission of the University.

The board of numbers was used by Lewis to let the housekeepers know which room of the house he was in to serve afternoon tea. Although it is no longer operational, it is a decoration right over the door way. Along with the Argos Coal Burning, it is a kickback to a time gone by. 

National Gallery/St. Paul's/July 1, 2009

Today, the photo focus was deliberately blurring a moving form of transportation.

Oh, this one doesn't work, as I guess this guy isn't moving anywhere!

During our free time at the Galleries, I visited the Portrait Gallery first. Every place that we can not take photographs, I journal in my Moleskine. One floor has this year's BP 2009 winners- that I only wish I could take as nice a photograph as these winners created with different media for portraits. Gertrude Stein, my personal favorite Beatle (Michael's brother) and Dame Judy Dench to name a few.  I bought National Gallery pencil sharpeners for two high school students who draw with pencil... they are stars who deserve these two Star sharpeners.

The SuperTour around St. Paul's Cathedral was just that.  Janet was loaded with knowledge and personality. I went to the very top in the Stone Gallery, The Dome and the Golden Gallery which only opened in July. Lucky me today was July 1. At the first level, my pictures were still good and then after that at the third level, they became a little foggy. However, I loved the whole experience. 

After departing the Tube, I found a street with several "Vinyl Shops," so I could buy my son Christopher a Reggae album as he is a collector.