Christmas in Paris - 2011

We FINALLY took advantage of the offer of Rod's customer, Jeff Loomis, to use his corporate apartment in Paris over Christmas and the New Year holidays and wow, the BEST Christmas ever!!!!

Because I hate Heathrow Airport in London and did not want to spend hours for connections between flights, we probably paid a little more for air fare than we might have, but it was well worth it.  On December 19 we boarded the Evans bus to SFO, after leaving a four page volume of instructions for the cat sitter/chicken sitter, Dennis Forbyn's daughter Kristen.   The flight took us from SFO to Washington Dulles, and from there straight on to Paris.  Easy peasy lemon squeezie!

Once in Paris, we called for our shuttle and waited ...... and waited....... Finally another call and the (unmarked) van showed up for our ride to 101 Rue Du Temple.  We had no idea where (which Arondissment) the apartment was located, so there were many turns, tiny streets, and much to see before we finally got there.  Denise Koh, the concierge to the apartment, met us there and showed us all of the ins and outs -- code for front door (a big heavy door that led into the foyer), how to work the key to the apartment (two flights up deliciously worn wooden stairs), and where everything was located.  Once we unloaded our bags, we went in search of a bistro for quiche and salad (and hot chocolate for Rod) and on the way back, we bought a tiny Christmas tree for the apartment.

And oh, the apartment!!!!  Jeff calls it "Le Shack" and it is anything but.

The living room had a beautiful gas fireplace, high windows looking out to the street, and modern furniture.  Plus awesome electronics, including the big screen TV behind the white doors at the top right of the photo. Although the space was compact, the ceilings were so high, that lofts were added for one bedroom to sleep up to three, and a computer office over the master bedroom.  There is our little Christmas tree in the center, decorated with the snowflake ornaments and  battery operated star lights I brought from home.  We hung up stockings, too!!!

The kitchen was large by European standards, and complete with a washer/dryer, cooktop and oven, refrigerator,dishwasher, and wine cooler!!!!!!!  But best of all was the built in espresso machine right over the oven.  WOW!!!!

Up a set of narrow stairs was a loft bedroom, where our friend Linda and Virgil would sleep.  From the loft, there was a great view of the living room area.

The bathroom had a towel warming rack, deep tub with both overhead and hand held rainshower heads, and also came complete with a hairdryer!!!

And there was a downstairs master bedroom with a wonderful duvet, big feather pillows, and lots of closet space.  The stairs to the computer loft are in the right side of the photo.  We would be thrilled to call Le Shack home for the next two weeks!

While we waited for Linda and Virgil to arrive, we set up the Christmas tree, hung the stockings (on removable hooks, of course) and went to the ATM and grocery for some very basic provisions.   Linda and Virgil arrived at at 8:30 pm Paris time in a drizzly rain, and since we were all exhausted, turned in to begin our adventures the following morning.  

We all sleep LATE but when we finally drag ourselves out of bed, Linda and Virgil have already been to the boulangerie for croissants and tangerines for notre petite dejunere (breakfast). We set out walking toward Notre Dame (only about a 10 minute walk from the apartment), passing le Hotel de Ville (city Hall) with its ice skating rink and carousel.  Also the nearest metro station for the main line (Line 1 - Yellow) from which you can transfer to almost anywhere you want to go. 

Notre Dame is as beautiful as ever, but the crowds are not nearly as large as during the summer.  We take many pictures.  There is an enormous Christmas tree in front on the plaza.

Inside, there is a creche and of course the stunning rose windows and paintings.  We do NOT climb to the bell tower! 

We find our way to St. Chappelle, where we have tickets for a Christmas Eve concert, and marvel at the elaborate gates in the Palais du Justice. 

Then across the Seine on the Pont Neuf toward St. Michele and the Latin Quarter on the Rive Gauche (Left Bank) 

After some shopping and a pizza lunch in the Latin Quarter, we see posters for a Classical music presentation  at Eglise St. Julien Le Pauvre (the Church of St Julien the Poor) and decide we definitely want to go to this one -- arias and Ave Maria. 

                                                           Shop Window Rive Gauche 

As it is getting dark,  it's onto the Metro to head for the Christmas Fair at the Champs D'Elysees. 

Little wooden booths all along the street sell hot wine, foie gras, Christmas ornaments, stuffed animals, scarves, hats, gloves, cheese, sausages, crepes, jewelry, ceramics, and lots of other wonderful stuff. The lights and decorations are very modern, very Parisian! 

The highlight of the Christmas Market is when Pere Noel (father Christmas) rides across the sky in his lighted sleigh and reminds all of the children to be good !

As we walk down the Champs D'Elysees we see the Virgin Megastore and pop in to buy our concert tickets, then head on down toward the Arc de Triomphe.

We ALMOST make it to the Place de la Concorde before our feet give out.  Bu the arch looks beautiful at night 

Before we get onto the Metro and head home, we stop for sausages in rolls with good French mustard ! 

The next morning under a cold and drizzly sky we head out for Monmarte.  Boulevard Clichy reminds me of Broadway in SF with loads of sex shops and neon lights.  After a short stop at Tati (the French version of Big Lots, you could say) we head up to the funicular that goes to the top of the hill to Sacre Couer. 

There is a small Christmas market up there and the hot wine tastes especially good on such a cold and drizzly day.  The view from this area is also incredible, even in the rain.

Then back to the Metro to head back home for a shower and change of clothes, plus a bistro late lunch

I wish I could say we took pictures at the Moulin Rouge, but that was strictly forbidden.  Our tickets that night included two bottles of champagne, which we eagerly downed while watching the glitz and glamour of old vaudeville, complete with a ventriloquist, juggler, shadow puppet guy and OF course topless dancers in glittery costumes.  Yes, they danced the  can can, and yes the ride home on the Metro was hysterically funny (or maybe it was just the champagne). To see what we could not photograph, go to this link:  

http://www.moulinrouge.fr/ .  Click on the lower left hand corner for English (Anglais) .  Just had to do this just once!!!

The following day we went to L'Orangerie museum to see the huge Monet waterlily murals and the wonderful collection that includes Picasso, Cezanne, Gaugin, Manet, Berthe Morisot, and more.  I also went to the Diane Arbus exhibit in the small gallery next door while Linda and Virgil set off for the Louvre.  

L'Orangerie is set in Tuilleres Parc and was the giant greenhouse/solarium where tropical fruits could be grown in the winter (hence the name) during the reign of Louis XIV. 

We then had lunch at Minim's (the bistro connected with Maxim's) at the Place de la Concord on Rue Royale. 

This shot is looking down le Rue Royale.  Maxim's and Minim's is on the left, and Loomis corporate offices are on the third floor above Maxim's!    We stopped in to get the instructions for the washer and dryer in English from Denise, and to say hi and let her know the computer printer needed ink.

Back to Le Shack early and grocery shopping at our neighborhood grocery and greengrocer.  We had a delicious dinner of scrambled eggs with asparagus, mushrooms, and cheese, along with a salad of fresh greens with chives, chevre, and almonds along with the scrumptious baguettes miel from our neighborhood patisserie and the white wine we ended up drinking nearly every night because it was really good and really cheap (we called the the French equivalent of 2 Buck Chuck but oh so much tastier!!!).   Then we played a game of Mexican Train and to bed.

By this time, we were becoming familiar with our neighborhood -- Le Marais, the 3rd Arondissment, or district,  We got to know the local boucherie (butcher), patisserie (bakery), fruits and legumes marche (fruit and vegetable market) and grocery (monoprix), since we bought our food daily like the French do.  Everything was within walking distance and every bit of food we bought was simply wonderful -- so fresh and flavorful.  The champignons (mushrooms) were huge and earthy on the stems as though they had just been pulled from the ground.  The chickens, turkeys, and ducks hung by their feet with their heads on at the butcher, and every tiny grocery store had an impressive array of wine and champagne at reasonable prices.
Our neighborhood included the Pompideau Center of Modern Art, Hotel de Ville, the big BHV Department store, boutiques, the Jewish history and culture museum, and a short walk to the Centre Bastille, Republique, Place des Voges (early home of the kings of France), and Carandalet museum -- the History of Paris.  During our stay we saw all of these places

This is the Hotel Paix on Place Republique in our neighborhood, just down from the place de la Bastille.

                                 This is a typical grocery store in le Marais, our neighborhood. 

This is the view looking down the street toward the Pompideau Center from Hotel de Ville in our neighborhood

Pompideau Center -- across the street is one of the grocery stores where we bought provisions

This monument commemorates the taking of the Bastille (a huge medieval prison) that began the French Revolution.  The Bastille was torn down and the bricks used to build the plaza for this monument.  It is also in our neighborhood, le Marais.   

On Friday the 23rd, we had a lazy day.   Rod's back was really bothering him, and a tumble that I took on the sidewalk had bruised my ribs, so we stayed close to home, laundering towels and watching CNN.  We made tagliatelle carbonara, salad,and baguettes for dinner with some more of that good cheap wine. 

On Christmas Eve the sun came out!  We hurried to buy the fixings for our Christmas dinner and then Rod and Virgil retired to the apartment.  Linda and I ventured out to do some Christmas shopping and discovered the National Archives nearby.  We went to the BHV Department store and bought a salad bowl for Le Shack, and to one of the many souvenir shops on the way to Notre Dame. 

I managed to bargain in French with a shop keeper to reduce the price of this nifty angora beret from 15 Euro down to ten!   Linda and I had more vin chaud (hot wine) and lunch at a bistro across from Notre Dame. 

Then to St. Chappelle for the Christmas Concert -- we were treated to Bach and Vivaldi in this most charming and historic venue, where Marie Antoinette spent her final days in prayer before her beheading! 

After we sneakily filled all of the stockings, we went to bed to wait for Christmas Day. 

On Christmas morning, there was no hurry to get up.  We lazed around drinking cafe au lait (yes we had mastered the built in espresso machine that turned out the BEST coffee, and mastered the cooktop to heat our milk) and then opened our stockings to find scarves, hats, aprons, cookies, T-shirts, chocolate for Rodney, a glass Eiffel tower for Linda, and a music box that plays "La Vie en Rose" for Virgil. Linda got me some very cool fingerless mitts that were trimmed in rabbit fur.  Joyeaux Noel!!!!!! 

Rod, Linda and Cindy model their new Christmas gear 

Rod models his new hat, scarf, t-shirt, and book on "the Best Places to Kiss in Paris". 

We get dressed and go out.  A bright day to walk to Notre Dame for the 12:45 Christmas Mass.  Us and about 5,000 Parisiens.  We get close enough to the front to see communion being given and see the recessional leave to the strains of "Angels We Have Heard on High"  (in Latin, of course).  

Many of the souvenir shops are open, and I get two T-shirts and a dishtowel for Le Shack.  Our neighborhood grocer is open so we get milk and sandwich fixings.  Back at Le Shack we make ham,cheese, tomato and avocado sandwiches with the remainder of the large loaf of bread I bought yesterday and drink some more of that good wine.  We laze around watching TV until it's time to make dinner.  

And WHAT a dinner!!!! Roasted tiny new potatoes with garlic and herbes de Provence, haricots verts avec lard et pignoles (green beans with bacon and pine nuts), dinon (turkey) breast fillets sauteed with garlic and champignons (mushrooms), salad with caramelized chevre and tomatoes, champagne, and for desert, chocolate tarts for Virgil and Rodney, raspberry tarts for Linda and me.  We all agree that this is the best Christmas dinner ever.  Oh, and I almost forgot --  baguettes and foie gras!!!!

After dinner, we watched "An American in Paris" (le Shack has many good DVDs) and go to sleep happy, a little drunk, and filled with Paris. 

The next day we decided to use our "L'Open Tour" bus tickets around the city in the double decker open top buses.  It was a glorious sunny day so we took the loop to Bercy-Bstille down Rivoli and out to the "new" Paris in the southeast corner of the city.  Then, because we were freezing, we stopped for a vin chaud and quiche at a cafe across from St. Chappelle.  Althought we had hoped to get in for a day time tour (the light through the stained glass windows is something to see), the  lines were formidable.  So we got back on the bus for the "Paris Grand Tour". 

We passed Napoleon's Tomb on the bus, and L'Hospital des Inalides, once a veteran's hospital, now a military museum.

Then to the Champs D'Elysees with a daytime view of the Christmas Market and the Grand Palais, where the French presidents reside.  This building was constructed for the World's fair during the belle Epoch at the turn of the 19th Century

And finally to le Arc de Triomphe during the daytime at the far end of the Champs D'elysees.

The bus also traveled by the  "new" Opera House, with a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower. 

With such a spectacular vista on a sunny day, no wonder Paris is called "the City of Lights" (night time, too.)
We had hoped to catch the next route out to Monmarte, but discovered the only line running after 6:30 pm was the main one (which we had just ridden), so we had a disappointing dinner at a greek restaurant on the Left Bank (the only truly disappointing meal we had in two weeks!) and headed home.

The next day, Rod and I walked down to the Jewish museum in our neighborhood and after this, rounded up provision for sandwiches (everything tastes better on a baguette!). Late that afternoon, we headed out to St. Michel and walked around until our concert started at 6:00 at L'Eglise St. Julienne de Pauvre.  I bought a pair of red shoes -- very cute and look like little elf shoes.  We listened to opera arias and two different versions of Ave Maria, plus the aria from La Boehm, right in the front row in the heated small church.  Afterward, we stopped for crepes and hot chocolate before heading home.

On December 28, Rod and I walked to Musee Carnavalet, a FREE museum of Parisian history just a ten minute stroll from le Shack.  Most interesting to me were the rooms dedicated to the French Revolution, which included artifacts from the cells of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI-- even a locket with locks of their hair!   At the museum, I bought books about both the Museum and our neighborhood, le Marais.
              
Cooked a dinner that night of pasta with mushrooms, garlic, butter, cheese and chopped parsley accompanied by a salad and those ubiquitous and delicious baguettes. We always keep cheese, bread, tangerines, pistachios, and foie gras around for munching (and boy do we munch -- everything tastes better in Paris).

The next day was beautiful and sunny, so we decided to take advantage of our tickets for a cruise on the Seine on the Bateaux Parisiens.

Right toward the end of the trip, it began to get colder and the sky clouded up.  perfect timing to board the Metro and head for the Musee Marmottan Monet on the Rue Louis Boilly -- a peaceful green area surrounding a beautiful park in the northwest corner of Paris.  Great exhibits of not only Monet, but also Impressionists Sisely and Cross and a bit of the Fauves.  Very nice museum and busy but not mobbed. Here is the link to the museum:   http://www.marmottan.com/ Then we had a late lunch/early dinner at a brasserie in the neighborhood.  back on the Metro, we got off at an unfamiliar stop (Rod said "Trust me") and at night a little disorienting.  But Rod got us home coming in from the direction Republique instead of our usual direction Hotel de Ville.    Once home, a little wine, a little cheese and pate, a little TV. and to bed.

On December 30, we went to visit the Opera House, amazing with its ornate decoration, costume displays, and the ceiling of the theater painted by Chagalle depicting many operas, including The Magic Flute .

 Then on to the Museum of Modern Art -- kind of a disappointment after all we had seen, but a handful of Matisse and Picasso works made the trip worthwhile.

 

We had a quiet New Year's Eve, only going out to buy the fixings for tonight's dinner.  It takes a while to stand in line at the butcher, patisserie, grocery and greengrocer, but SO worth it for the astonishing food.  We made sauteed veal with mushrooms in mustard cream sauce, steamed asparagus, roasted tiny red potatoes, and salad.  Tiramasu for dessert with chocolate ice cream (unlike any I have ever eaten here -- this was some intense chocolate), and of course -- champagne.

As midnight approached, we watched a party going on in the apartment across the street -- lots of dancing and carrying on by people much younger than we are!!!!! Toasts and kisses at midnight and saying goodbye to 2011 in Paris!

We have been staying up late watching a "Mad Men" marathon on the Sundance channel (not many in English except this one and CNN Europe ).  It is season on and none of us have Showtime at home,so we never have watched this.  Of course, we are hooked now.

After nearly two weeks, we have  become Parisiens --  buying our food every day, learning how to use all of the mysterious electronics in Le Shack, joking with the greengrocer, and bargaining en Francais.  We have our cafe au lait every morning and baguettes galore (oh how I will miss them!!).  We take a tote bag shopping and can find our way around with ease.  The Metro is no mystery and we love our neighborhood.  if only we had our cats, life would be complete.

On New Year's day we wake up late and have a fritatta made from eggs with last night's leftover potatoes, asparagus, ham and cheese.  We toast baguettes to go with the fritatta.

Then we walk down to Place des Vosges , built in 1612 and the royal palace for Louis XIII and Anne of Austria prior to the Louvre being turned into the Royal Palace.  Again, this is in our neighborhood, Le Marais.

On our last full day in Paris, we walked around our neighborhood, exploring the area toward Place de Republique that we had not spent much time in (during the day at least).  We found a real supermarket that we had not known about, plus a clothing store that had reasonable priced jackets and coats -- if only I had known about this the first days!!! We brought clothing hat was WAY too warm for how the weather turned out to be.   Also visited a church -- Our Lady of Sorrow and Saint Elizabeth that contained exquisite wood carved panels inside lining the walls with scenes from the bible.   Linda and I spent a little time sketching until it got too cold, then home to strip the beds, pack, and get ready for a 3 am (yikes) departure for the airport.

                                                                We love Paris.

Freecycle Etiquette

When I decided I wanted to try and do an art car with  wine theme,  I finally signed up for Freecycle.  This is the website where people can post what they WANT for free, and people who have things to offer can post what they have to GIVE AWAY for free.

It is amazing what I am seeing on the two Freecycle sites I have subscribed to.  People in need of maternity clothes and baby clothes (a part of me thinks this is so sad; a part of me thinks -- "damn, what poor planning"), computer parts, exercise equipment, clothing, furniture, a bicycle.  Someone even posted in hopes of getting a free CAR for God sake.  And people give away some pretty amazing stuff too -- a complete compact kitchen set up (I wanted this one), TVs, furniture,  plants, kitty litter, baby food.

So I have snagged a few things on Freecycle -- an Ab Lounge(!), a two-drawer wooden filing cabinet, a massaging chair pad (for Rod's office chair), some bricks.  And I have given stuff away too -- a dish drainer, curtains, sheets, two bags of fabric scraps, planting pots, a big rolling composter, etc.

So during all of this I have developed what I think should be guidelines of etiquette  for Freecycle users.  To me they are just iommon sense, but I have come to realize that people are pretty clueless in the main, and need rules or all is just chaos.

So here is my suggestions for Freecycle Etiquette:

1. If you subscribe to Freecycle, read the OFFERS and the WANTEDS.  So many times I see posts for people who want something that has already been posted as something someone else is giving away.  C'mon people --- DUHHHHH.

2. Expand the area to get the best range of stuff.  I am subscribed for both Napa an Fairfield/Vacaville.  I should check and see if there is a Vallejo Group, too.

3.  If someone asks you about the stuff you have offered , please RESPOND. A couple of times I have emailed someone who had something I wanted and I never heard back from them at all, and then the thing was later posted as TAKEN. Once I even got a reply form someone who said something was available, and when  I replied with the time I could come get it, the next thing I saw was a post that it had been TAKEN.  How rude.

4. If you offer something, give the first responder first dibs by asking for a time and date to pick up.  Then tell the second person who wants it they can have it if "X" hasn' t picked it up by "Y".  If you don't hear back from the first person, then offer it to the next.

5. I never give someone my address until they have committed to a time and date to pick up.  Then I tell them where it will be (on my porch or in the driveway if it is big).  Some people just put stuff out in the driveway and put your name on it.  That works, too, unless someone else decides to help themselves to the stuff that was promised top you!

6. It's always nice when you get something that you email a "thank you!".

7. Keep your posts up to date!!!!!  If something has been taken, REMOVE IT!!!  There was this food dehydrator posted for the longest time.  I kept sending emails, and the person who had it NEVER got back to me and NEVER removed it.  How frustrating.

8.  If someone offers you something, and you already got it, please let the person offering know.

9. Don't email and say you want to come and "take a look at it" or "check it out".  Either you want it or you don't. Period.  Jeez, people -- it's FREE .

There.  I got that off my chest!

Now come on, Freecyclers, BE POLITE!!!!!

Chickens

I finally got my chickens!!!  I have been wanting to get a small flock of six for awhile now, but decided to wait until after the 3 Day, which was all-consuming for the past several months. I started out by looking for coops, and found a PERFECT set up on Craigslist for $75 -- complete with a fenced chicken yard.  off we went o Oakland with the truck and trailer, and loaded that baby right up.

It sat in the yard for awhile until I got my first consulting check, and then I hired a day laborer to lay footings and set the coop up so that no critters could burrow underneath.  Perfect!   Then I found one nesting box (I actually need one more) and bought food, shavings (cheaper than a bale of hay), cracked corn, and critter-proof storage bins.  From the last time I had chickens (FIFTEEN YEARS AGO -- YIKE!!) I had a feeder and water tin.

Dennis had promised pullets, but when the time came, there were no pullets available (from Dennis' source). So it was back to Craigslist.

In Petaluma, I found a source with ready to lay (8 to 9 month old) chickens -- perfect!!!  Not only that, but they were  variety of different breeds -- Rhode Island Red, Barred Plymouth Rock, Ameraucana, and  others that I have to look up because I forgot already what Richard (the chicken guy) told me.   Because they all look different, I could name them and tell them apart.  Richard had lots of chickens  and also had turkeys, including two huge toms with blue wattles and iridescent feathers.  He corralled six different chickens, we paid for them (the price of chickens has really gone up since I bought them last - FIFTEEN YEARS AGO- YIKE!)  and we loaded them into cat carriers and off we went!

backyard coop with the girls

Front: Goldie, Sapphire
Rear left to right: Ruby, Jewel, Pearl, Opal

 Are they not beautiful?????  Already the cats have been sitting goggle-eyed in front of the coop watching to see what happens.  This morning when I went out to open the coop and put the water tin up on bricks,  a big old potato bug was under the water tin.  Those girls jumped on that bug and had it for breakfast!  I have already painted a "Coop Sweet Coop" sign to hang on the front.

We have also secured the whole garden area so that after a couple of days, I can let them out to be more free range (within limits, of course! ).

Next on the agenda is to get the planting beds built.  I have already started two compost bins, so between the chickens, composting, and recycling, our garbage should go down to one can every month or less!!

Rod took a little flip video of me and the chickens, but I am not sure how to put it into the blog, and not sure that I want to anyhow, since it has more than one unflattering shot of my big old rear end!!

The Last Nature Walk

I was not sure if I would be healed enough to participate, but my feet were ready for the last Curves group nature walk/hike on September 17.

We started out at 8:30, just as the fog was clearing up, at the Shoreline Preserve Scenic Vista Trail on Mare Island.  The drive there was past rows of decaying brick warehouses, and at the very end, a group of military men and women out for a morning jog.

Front row: Faith Munn, Brita Winslow, Martha Maher and Amy Ratuita
Back row: Jill Menicucci, Jean Menicucci, Cindy Dahlgren, Janet Thomas, Diane Terry, Karen Gonzales, Clarice Bradley, and Sylvia Amen

The trail wound up the hill, but it was mostly a pretty gentle ascent, and as we rose higher, the views became more breathtaking. 

The first interesting spot we passed was the old Naval Cemetery -- the first on the Pacific Coast -- founded in 1858. According to the informtion at the cemetery, the daughter of Francis Scott Keye, composer of the National Anthem, is buried here.  

Even from this small distance up, you can see all the way to the Carquinez (Al Zampa) bridge.

A little further on, we came upon the ruins of the groundskeeper's cottage, which still had many of the landscape elements , even though they were very overgrown.  Here are Clarice and Dolores at the groundskeeper's garden.

And another fantastic view across the Mare island Straits to the old Sperry Mills building in Vallejo

A little further up, we came upon a pond in a deep hole.  You can see how far the water is down by looking at the dock on the right.  This was used for fire suppression back when the base was active.

As we climbed higher, the views became even more spectacular.  Looking south , you could see all the way across to the oil refineries along San Pablo Bay.

The group's fabulous photographer, Sylvia (right) and her sister, Karen 

And finally we were at the highest point of Mare Island, where you could see for miles and miles and miles. 

Jill, Jean, Cindy, Faith, Brita, Martha and Amy

Beyond the highest point was the radio tower, and a monument sculpture dedicated when Mare Island was decommissioned by the Navy.  Called "The Spirit Ship" it is a dedication to the long history of ship building that went on here at Mare Island.  When first built in 1996, there were a number of "dog tags" hanging from the rings along the outside of the hull, but these have disappeared over time.  Beneath the Spirit Ship is a thick rusted metal plate into which the outline shapes of the many tools used in ship building were cut.

 

Just a little further up, we came to the end of the trail.  Beyond this point was a pretty nice golf course, but it was on private property.

Brita, Martha, Janet, Faith, Diane, Amy, Clarice, Jill, Jean and Karen 

The walk back down the hill seemed WAY shorter than the climb up!  Before we went into the Visitor's Center for a look around, and lots of hugs goodbye (with a promise to meet for the last time on Friday September 23 at Gaia), we all posed for one last picture, including Rocky the chihuahua. 

  Back row: Sylvia, Clarice, Cindy, Karen (with Rocky), Janet, Diane, Faith, Jill.  Front row: Brita, Jean, Martha and Amy. 

Great weather, great place, great exercise, great views, and best of all, great people!!!