"Melba's Jammin'" > wrote in message
...
> I'm ba-a-a-ack! Got home late Monday night. Ooh-la-la.
>
> Trip highlights were at the beginning and end of the tour: Beginning:
> had my diamond tennis bracelet removed from my wrist at Windsor Castle -
> just keep your remarks to yourself about my wearing it in the first
> place, OK? O K ??)
>
> End: Went to the top of the Eiffel Tower on our last night before
> heading homeward. We were on board when they lit it. Spectacular view
> of the city.
>
> AND encountered 4 young Slovaks there - they were with a singing group
> and two were singing a song. At first I thought po Russky and the young
> woman just smiled. I listened more and asked, "Slovensko?" She nodded.
> I chatted them up and we sang a song together. How cool is THAT?
>
> Best Treatment by Staff in French Hotel: Being upgraded to a corner
> room with balcony after first going to my previously-assigned closet -
> er, room - but to discover that it was already occupied. I looked in
> the shower for the guy but he wasn't there. Dammit. Foiled again.
>
> Best Souvenir: A tote bag from Monet's gardens in Giverny - it is
> quite beautiful. And the two small butter dishes I stole from two
> restaurants.
>
> Best Gift: A 750ml bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Domaine de
> Bournissac) and some homemade soaps from Mme. Charlet.
>
> Best Man: Messr. Charlet. He and Anne took me to a dingy restaurant
> supply store where Julia Child is purported to have traded. Tres cool
> and off the tourist routes. I purchased only two things. When Anne had
> to split for another appointment, her charming husband accompanied me to
> the Galerie Lafayette for a bit of shopping. It was an act of
> generosity, compassion, and kindness on his part. I popped for lunch
> atop the Galerie Lafayette as an expression of my gratitude.
>
> Stories and pictures will appear on my webpage sometime in the future.
> I have 700MB of photos to sort through. Le Chapeau de Cornichon was
> photographed everywhere. :-)
>
> OB Food: Ohyeah!
> --
> -Barb, <www.jamlady.eboard.com> Sam I Am updated 5/30/04.
> Only 9 days until my birthday. "Shop early, shop often, shop
> big." Good gin and cheap chocolate preferred. Or is it cheap
> gin and good chocolate? I can never remember. . . .

What a great trip (except the bracelet part). I'll be going to London next
summer, for the first time and can't wait.

Welcome back

Suzan