How cute is this bench? No wonder the French like to read. This was just in a cute little park with a cute little fountain. Love it!











Doesn't it just look like Autumn? Also, please note that Ben is smiling and he doesn't have a coffee in his hand. Paris IS amazing.











Just look at the Metro stop. Can you imagine a BART stop looking this cute? I am sorry, you cannot.












I know, I know, I DO look pious.











And here is the real me, drinking hot wine mulled with spices. Now that is cozy!

Rainy Day in Paris

Hi all,
Today is a very sleepy rainy day in Paris. It really seems like autumn now. We tried (unsuccessfully) to rent bikes to zip around the city. Maybe the bike machine knew that we just weren't French enough.
So, we lifted Ben's spirits with a coffee. He really is quite easy to please. Later we are going to walk around and find a post office to mail our zillions of postcards. Sounds thrilling, right? I am certain that we will round out our busy day with drinking wine. Not too shabby.
Last night we went for a walk and heard a little band of drum and horn instruments practicing on the Seine. So, we sat right down on bench after we had our ice cream and listened for a while. I sure wish we could play an instrument, it looked like so much fun. We took the tiniest bit of video, and once we figure out how to play the video, we'll post it so you can share in the fun.
See you soon!
R

More Photos, you know you love it!

This is our self portrait in the Louvre. I thought that my lack of lipstick really brought a realism to the image. The two central figures...... maybe we have listened to too many audio tours.


















The front door to our apt. It is enormous!!!!















Seriously, this is me trying to eat butter. God bless, this is the best butter I have ever gotten close to. Can you bring butter on a carry-on in the post 9-11 world? You should be able to, people would be so much happier.










Breakfast. Well, actually, a late morning snack. Croissant, Pan de chocolat, and beignet.
Good lord, I am going to gain weight after this trip.
But seriously, this all cost less than 5euros. How are the French so thin?









Ben looks happy again. Could it be
(a) he loves the Musee D'Orsey.
(b) he loves being with me.
(c) he loves the coffee in his hand.
(d) all of the above.

Paris, and Louvreing every minute of it!

Get it, Louvreing every minute of it?!!? God, I truly do crack myself up.
Here is Ben, smiling because
(a) he is in Paris.
(b) he is with me.
(c) he has coffee.
(d) all of the above.












Hello, Croque Madame! I love you, mon cheri!


















At least I was trying to look holy.


















Ben and I at Notre Dame. No hunchbacks at all. What a bust.













This was just about to tip over, so I put it back on the stand.

Paris!

Ahhh, Paris! We got a little sidetracked and didn't have internet (oh horrors!) so I am just getting back to my little cult following. I mean, you guys! We spent the last couple of days hanging out with Ben's friend from CT, Greg Gothman. He lives in Barcelona and so we got to see parts of the city that we just wouldn't have seen had it not been for him. We also went to the Park and walked, and walked, and walked, and walked.
We had quite an adventure when we realized that our ATM and credit cards had been turned off and we couldn't pay for anything. Ben wasn't too bothered, but I had visions of us sitting on sidewalks asking for change. We finally got a phone card and called our bank and got it all straightened out. Phwew.
So, we caught a plane Paris and are in a super super super cute, fancy, busy neighborhood, St. Germain. Compared to Parisians, Americans really are not stylish or classy at all. There, I said it, and it is true. Except for Ben and me and our blog-reading inner circle, of course.
We are crazy tired, so we just had a crepe and are taking it easy. That means a nap, Dad.
Enjoy some photos from earlier in the week in Barcelona.

This is Sagrada Familia, then the inside.
Mom, there have been tons of changes since last year. One thing that stayed the same is that I still couldn' t find the images that the audio tour was telling me about.















We took the elevator allllll the way up and it sure made me nervous...again. Also, there is a picture of Ben with some new buddies.

Holy Cow, it is late!

Hi! I can't believe how late it is here, and then I check email and see that Julia has written a comment! I love this world wide web! I have lots of pictures to put up tomorrow, but my computer time is up and I had to actually work (at 2am!)
We went to Sagrada Familia today...Park Guell tomorrow!
R

Ding Dong, My Work Is Done!

So, today is the last day of my conference. Phwew. Now I am ready for some real fun. I just got back to the hotel after 'working' (yes, I am using that term quite loosely!). Ben is out with his buddy Greg from high school who is living here in Barcelona. Later on, we are going to head out to see some sights and take some photos to add to the blog. We decided that we are both terrible photographers and that our camera is the pits, but we are determined to take some photos to prove to you that we are really in another country!
We made it out to dinner last night at 11:00ish, and didn't get home till late. Both Ben and I could really get used to this. I wish you could all be here with us, we should try to do a big family trip sometime to a European city, it is just so different!
We will be here until Sunday, and then we fly to Paris until the following Friday. Man, we are sooooo lucky!
Wish you were here!
Rachel

We are here!

Hi everyone!

We are here and I already had to work last night. Ugh, that hurts. While I was at the opening of the bookfair, Ben walked through Las Ramblas to the beach. I am jealous, and I was here! I am adding a few pictures of Ben doing what he loves most, drinking coffee!

More later!

Rachel

On the road again...

Well, today is the big day! We are heading out in a few hours, and in true Taraborelli-MacNeilly form, we have packed an enormous bag of food for the plane. I mean, who knows how hungry we might get? We even packed some delicious spicy Japanese crackers that mom loves sooo much.

We also just dropped Panda off at the Kennel. Now I know how parents feel on the first day of Kindergarten. Although I am not sure that parents worry if there child will devour a classmate. The staff at PetCamp assured us that doggy's first kennel trip is really only traumatic for the owners, and said that Aunt Lainey can have visitation. Or anyone really. You can see here everyday online at their Camper Cameos link. Let's hope we don't see any pictures with another dog's tail coming out of her mouth, shall we?

But I digress. We are super excited for our trip, and will post when we have internet access. We are even bringing our video camera, but since we never remember to actually film anything, I wouldn't get your hopes up!

Loving you all, see you in Paris! You can Skype us, we are RachelandBenandPanda!

Almost time for our big trip!

Hi all!
Just had dinner with Elaine and Christian, and can't believe we are heading out in two days for Barcelona and Paris. I mean, how lucky are we? I just wish there were a way to travel without having to do laundry and pack. Is that possible yet with modern technology?
Ben and I are just hanging out and trying to see who will cave in and take the dog out so that the other person doesn't have to do it. I vote for Ben, personally. Isn't life in the big city thrilling?!?!
More soon!
R