Jim, Deb, Kate and Morgan Visit, June 12 - June 26
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| Fun with Friends Jim, Deb, Kate and Morgan Visit, June 12 - June 26 |
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| For years we've been listening to Jim, Deb, Kate and Morgan talk about their dream of visiting Europe, so when we learned that we would be moving to Belgium, they were among the first people we invited to visit. They are quite the Francophiles and this was their opportunity to see some of Belgium and take a side trip to France. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On Friday, June 13, we started the day with a trip to the market in Braine l'Alleud. Jim and Deb loved the fresh food at all the markets. Then Kate and Morgan joined Will and Ellen at school for lunch and the afternoon, so that they could see what an International School is like. After school, we made a visit to the Butte du Lion (the memorial to the Battle of Waterloo). The kids took a rest at the top of the Butte (to the right). Jim, Will and Kate studied the plaque explaining how the battle unfolded, below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| It is a long climb to the top of the Butte.To the right you see Will and Jim on their way down, with the Lion at the top behind them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On Saturday we headed for Versailles. Jim and Deb learned the joys of French traffic and successfully navigated their way to Versailles. When we arrived, we found that our hotel was PERFECT. Jim and Deb had arranged to stay at the Cheval Rouge, which was a nice, clean, affordable, perfectly located hotel. Just outside of the hotel were many restaurants to choose from, and a market that sold clothing and miscellaneous items on Saturday, and fruits, veggies and cheese on Sunday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The kids posing as statues outside our hotel. | Ellen teaches Morgan about the joys of "Dame Blanche." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On Sunday we visited the Palace at Versailles. Jim and Deb wanted to be there on Sunday because that is when the fountains are turned on. We took a quick tour of the King's and Queen's apartments, had a picnic in the gardens, and then took a walk through the gardens while the fountains cooled everything off. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Once again, the historian inside of me took over and I just had to see the Hall of Mirrors. We really enjoyed the gardens and fountains, which held little surprises at each turn. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sunday evening we headed back to Belgium, leaving Jim, Deb, Kate and Morgan to enjoy Paris for a few days. Will and Ellen had to attend 3 more days of school, and Kevin had to make a quick trip to Dubai! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Click to: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - see more of Jim, Deb, Kate and Morgan's visit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - go to our home page | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||