Josiah Beach, 4x4 Excursion, Tortola - Aug 9

Josiah Beach, 4x4 Excursion, Tortola - Aug 9
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

Seriously, this is the beach where Catherine and I were 'stranded' during our tour. I think this may be the start of my jigsaw puzzle picture taking career.

Catherine & her Bud (yuck), 4x4 Excursion, Tortola - Aug 9

Catherine & her Bud (yuck), 4x4 Excursion, Tortola - Aug 9
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

You can go with either headline, really: Beer, it's not just for breakfast anymore OR Budweiser the Breakfast of Champions!

The Islands

Not to be ungrateful...but...when you've been to St. Thomas as often as my family, there really isn't anything exciting to see and do. In fact, if you ask me, when you've been to the Caribbean as often as we have, there isn't much left to do anywhere down there. Aside from a few really remarkable locations...if you've seen one...

That said, we weren't took surprised by St. Thomas. We were well versed in the location and its offerings. Coral World was kind of interesting and kind of run down simultaneously. If you've been to Sea World, there's no need to go to Coral World. Stick with Shamu!

The next day we were in Tortola, which was new for all of us and what sold us on the cruise. We were all looking for something new. While we had a nice time, we didn't see anything new. It was the same island tour. This time the family split up. Catherine and I took a 4x4 Land Rover tour, which wasn't very much of a Land Rover tour. Mom stuck with the tried and true bus tour, hoping for some A/C. It's August folks, we were all hoping for some A/C. In the end, we lucked out. While neither had A/C, our stop had beer! Check Catherine out with her breakfast of champions!!!

Waters of St. Thomas, USVI - Aug 8

Waters of St. Thomas, USVI - Aug 8
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

Here we are on St. Thomas in August. With a cold beer in your hand, life ain't so bad!

With the ship having left the harbor, we are on our way for eight days. We won't be back in the States until Aug 13. The ship is really nice, and best of all...we have two days at sea before we get to any ports of call, which really just get in the way, if you ask me.

With two days at sea, a balcony and a knitting project is necessary! We've come prepared for breakfast room service - it's the best. We have the same routine on every cruise:

1. Room service at 6;
2. Walk a Mile/Gym;
3. Breakfast in the Restaurant;
4. Mass if offered.

You'll notice it's activity - eat - activity - eat :)

I finished the yarn for the project I brought, which was upsetting. Then I had to spend more than I wanted in New York on yarn for a new knitting project. Just what I need, another unfinished knitting project, but that's for another blog.

Ahh...life at sea. Reminds me of "Failure to Launch" when Matthew McConaughey says to SJP:

"Holy Crap! That's a big wave."

Sailing from New York City to St. Thomas, the family begins to relax finding time for craft activities (needlework for mom and Catherine, knitting for me) and reading our books from the ship's library. Now I'm hooked on Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Guess I'll have to rent the movie, now! Catherine had finally broken down and was reading The Da Vinci Code.

Oh, man, land's in sight. I hate that.

Mustering with NYC as the Backdrop - Aug 5

Mustering with NYC as the Backdrop - Aug 5
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

The roadtrip finished, it was time to sit back and relax on our summer cruise. We took the Norwegian Spirit out of New York for eight days with stops in St. Thomas, Tortola, and Bermuda.

'PlayHouse' at Boldt Castle, Heart Island, NY - Aug 2

Mom in 'PlayHouse' at Boldt Castle, Heart Island, NY - Aug 2
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

Visiting Boldt Castle on Heart Island in the Thousand Islands. I love this photograph!

HOT! HOT! HOT! Oneida, NY - Aug 1

HOT! HOT! HOT! Oneida, NY - Aug 1
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

Driving around Oneida Lake in New York; it was freakin' hot. Just to prove it...I took a photo of a time & temp board!

Philadelphia & Western New York

WooHoo! Family roadtrip. Mom and I on the open highway, looking at the map in the morning to see where we'll end up that day/night. LOVE IT!

Over the next week/ten days we drove to Bethlehem, PA where we had dinner with my grandmother and down to Philadelphia for a long weekend. Checking out my old 'hood and city was fabulous. So many things hadn't changed; yet, so many things had. The best part was catching up with an old pal and recently retired president of the Philly Gator Club.

With our visit in Philadelphia at an end, mom and I wound our way back up to Bethlehem, crossed in to New York and over to Brewerton on the edge of Oneida Lake. We wound our way around Oneida eating at Grazziano's in Canastota often. Honestly, it's the best Italian I've eaten in a very long time.

We then worked our way up to Thousand Islands following the coast of Lake Ontario until we came to the St. Lawrence River. The coast and island area is really quite nice and quaint, almost untouched.

Then it was time to return to Syracuse to collect my sister from the airport just in time for our cruise out of Manhattan!

Entering NY State - July 31

Entering NY State - July 31
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

My piss-poor "Welcome to New York" picture captured from the car coming from Penssylvania.

Back in the States...Safely

Landing safely at JFK and making my way to Raleigh; my roommate and I finished packing up our apartment. We moved from one apartment to another within the complex that Monday and Tuesday so we can enjoy a patio during our final year of study. It was 100-degrees outside, but we got it done.

Immediately following, I left with my mother for a three-week roadtrip and an eight-day cruise. After which, I would leave one family to visit with another, my girls in NYC.

Here I'll post the stories...

First, mom and I drove to Mechanicville, NY (outside Albany) to take an elderly grand (?) aunt to a variety of doctors. We drove from Greenville, NC to Mechanicville, NY over the course of two days. While in Mechanicville, we took a trip around Great Sacandaga Lake. A few days later we headed back to Greenville for our own doctor's appoitments, a family birthday party, and to play with the kittens.

Who Could Be Happier I Ask?

Who Could Be Happier I Ask?
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

Finally...drinking with friends for our last night in Paris. Can you tell how happy I am? we are?

Up The Eiffel Tower's Skirt, so to speak

Up The Eiffel Tower's Skirt, so to speak
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

This is just a great shot.

da_mere on the Champs du Mars

Mere, MFABT, 15 July 2006
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

Riding along during Mike's Fat Ass Bike Tour.

Please don't end, Paris...I love you

Talk about the best birthday. Saturday arrived. Our cameras were still missing. The first party-girl was leaving to return home. The end was nearing.

By Saturday we were really tired and couldn't bring ourselves to do much...so...we set out on a fruitless adventure to the Bois du Bologne, but gave up once we got to the neighborhood. We simply weren't prepared.

We returned to the Latin Quarter and ran our various errands. I sat down for a last meal of mussels. Some of the group ran about then returned to join me.

At 6 or 7, I can't remember, we all met under the Eiffel Tower for what we like to call Mike's Fat Ass Bike Tour. Simply, this was the greatest tour I've ever taken; I can't recommed it enough. If they have one in the city you are visiting - GO!

We rode around Paris for a few hours taking some great photographs, then hopped on a boat for a cruise up and down the Seine. The tour provides some wine, but that wasn't enough for us...so we picked up 20 or so beers at a nearby stand. Good times, good times.

We drunkenly peddaled the rest of the way to the tour offices. Then, with new friends from the tour, we headed back to the Latin Quarter for some late night drinks and dancing.

Somehow, miraculously, I awoke Sunday morning about the time we were supposed to be collected for the airport. That was the fastest packing, cleaning, and exiting of a flat by four people (3 girls!) I have ever witnessed!!! But we made it downstairs and to the airport. Sadly.

Aside from a few snafus, mostly the loss of our cameras and pictures, this was the greatest week of my life. In the meantime, I've been on a few roadtrips, used a few disposable cameras, and bought a new, slightly fancier, camera.

I'll write more when next I have Internet access.

The World's Greatest Fireworks Display

Fireworks Ballet IV, Champs du Mars, Bastille Day 2006
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

You'd have thought you were at the ballet. It was the perfect birthday...Thank you to all of my dear, dear friends!!!

It's Here - The Big...Bastille Day, ofc

Wow. It's here. Bastille Day. I've waiting years for this day. I'm not sure what that says about me...but it is what it is, as an ex would say.

I awoke early, showered, and ran out the door. I didn't think the Louvre would be open, but it was. It was my understanding that the metro system would be extremely limited and that business and cultural institutions would be closed due to the holiday. That information was wrong. I took a bus to the Louvre, which was free.

I couldn't believe how giddy with excitement I was. I hadn't anticipated such emotions. I ran through the Louvre with my AudioGuide thrilled at every turn. Well, thrilled at every turn aside from all the people. =D

I saw all the requirements: Mona Lisa, Winged Nike, and Venus de Milo. Then I also saw things that were important to me, largely Mesopotamian, such as the Code of Hammurabi! WOW!

I had to run back to the flat to meet Anna. We were meeting up with Aussie Paul and his friend Aaron at their hotel then heading to the Eiffel Tower/Champs du Mars to picnic and watch the fireworks. We knew Aussie Paul was lying when he told us it was a ten minute walk, but we didn't think it'd be closer to a 45 minute walk.

We found a spot, moved a few times, and settled in for the long haul. We had a great spot. A little boy and his family sat next to us and we played football/soccer with him. As the sun set, the crowd fell silent. The celebration had begun!

These were the most amazing fireworks I had ever seen! It was more a ballet than a display of ammo. WOWZERS.

All was pure bliss until we began collecting our belongings to go home. Anna's camera was missing! I said, we'll use the flash on mine to find yours. Mine was gone too! Our cameras had been stolen!!! For me, the loss of pictures was intense. For Anna it was really intense; the camera was brand, spanking new.

Thankfully others had cameras, and have shared their pictures. But we are largely without pictures from the beginning of the week. We had to drown our sorrows. Thanks for the drinks and shots Aussie Paul!

The Girls & Aussie Paul

The Girls & Aussie Paul
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

The wait over...we're all on the Champs du Mars awaiting sunset and fireworks over the Eiffel Tower. 14 July 2006

Waiting, and waiting, and waiting...

Thursday came, and I was exhausted. I had been unable to sleep the night before because I was anxious about Susan and Matt finding each other at CDG then making their way to the apartment. Finally, I took a xanax so I could get some rest. The remainder of the house (Thanda and Anna) had been asleep for hours.

As usual, I was the first to get up and leave the house. Anna and I met over coffee and yogurt at Le Croissanterie across the street. Then we started off for Notre Dame, Saint Chapelle and Musee d'Orsay.

Armed with my museum pass, I cut all the lines and never paid a dime. Anna, however, didn't have a museum pass, which meant I basically waited in line while waiting for her.

Notre Dame was everything I expected. It was perfect. Normally you spend your life hearing about something and your expectations are way to high...so when you get there you are nothing but disappointed. Not so with Notre Dame. It was just right.

Then we crossed over to Saint Chappelle hidden in the Department of Justice. It is the most glorious thing I have ever seen. I mean, we have nothing on these people. When the aliens come down from the heavens and are judging our civilization...they will think this is the height of all of our accomplishments, even though it was built during a time referred to as the Dark Ages. Simply Stunning.

A quick run through the Musee d'Orsay and I had to head home. Susan and Matt should have arrived from CDG around 11.45/noon. No such luck, they were both delayed on their outbound flights because of weather problems in New York. Of course, neither knew that or could communicate with the other, so they took individual taxis when they still could have shared a ride. Oh well. Such is life. At least they both arrived safely. In the meantime I sat in the apartment watching German and UK MTV from about 11.30 until 3 pm.

Matt and I left moments after his arrival. We took in the Pompidou Center, which I had been wanting to see since I was an undergrad, and the rest of the Musee d'Orsay. We then met the girls for dinner out on the town.

Susan, in her infinite wisdom and extensive past with Paris, took us to an Irish bar in Paris' Bastille region where she had first had Strongbow cider. It was a HIKE. It was like being on the Upper East Side and then deciding to walk to a bar in the Village for an after dinner drink. No joke.

Susan, God bless her, got us our drinks for free...almost free. Ahh. Nothing like having your best friends around you. I am freakin' lucky!

Bastille Day 2006

Alit at Dusk, Champs du Mars, Bastille Day 2006
Originally uploaded by da_mere.

Ok, so we didn't see the Eiffel Tower until late in the week, but this is, after all, why we went. To watch fireworks over the Eiffel Tower.