Day 6 Paris [Louvre, Notre Dame, City tour bus]

We were so bushed we didn't wake up in time for the hotel
breakfast, so we grabbed some pizza. At least that's what
they called it.

Getting closer to the Louvre. Can you see
the pyramid in the background. that's the
entrance.


Out front of the Louvre. Lots of people went
the same day we did.

It's amazing the carvings, and statues they have on their
buildings.

The famous Mona Lisa painting. They have it

so well guarded, it's tough to get a picture. I

guess someone tried to destroy it a few years

back.

One of the huge paintings in the Louvre

Looking out one of the windows of the Louvre. Pretty.

Some of the artwork on the walls and ceilings.

Another beautiful piece of artwork.

Showing some more of the art on the walls and

the ceiling.

The crown jewels from France maybe?

Not sure who this belonged to.

I've forgotten whose apartments these were.

Maybe Napoleans? Or King Henry the ???

More of the apartments they have in the Louvre

Another beautiful view from one of the windows. In the fore

front, you will see 2 buses. Those are the kind we rode around

in after leaving the Louvre.

Notre Dame

Inside Notre Dame, made famous by the hunchback.

Stained glass in Notre Dame Cathedral

I think this was a bishops tomb.

The view to the front of the Cathedral

The view looking back to the back

Some of the statues on the outside of the Cathedral

This is a statue of Charlemagne.

The Eiffel tower from the tour bus. So fun

to see in person.

Another amazing view.

Julie looking intriguing on the open air tour bus.

The 3 of us on the back of the bus, enjoying the sites around

Paris.

This is called Les Invalides. They used to take care of soldiers

who were injured. Now they house a few, but it's also a buriel

place, and there are people hearts buried here also.

The back of Les Invalides

Some interesting pillars

Can't remember if this could be the opera house, or what?

More interesting pillars.

Finishing off the evening at Hard Rock Cafe'

After walking and touring all day, we got dropped off blocks

away from the Hard Rock Cafe, and had dinner there. Then

we had to walk blocks home. No wonder I am so tired.

When we went to the Louvre, the first thing I wanted to see was

the Mona Lisa. I wish I had a memory that could remember all

the paintings, and all the facts about the painters, but I don't. I

just tried to soak in what I could.

At Notre Dame, it was interesting to see them trying to have Mass

and the confessional being used. With everyone walking through

it seems like it would be rather distracting.

Getting on the open tour bus was such a relief for me. We got

earphones, and they told us some of the history behind the buildings.

It was nice and relaxing.

Day 5 Wed. April 7th On our way to Paris

On the train Wednesday afternoon, headed for Paris


The countryside. I thought it was so pretty.

The train station in Paris

Concorde square. Lots of traffic. Eiffel tower in the

background!

Our hotel room. They had WiFi, so Julie checked out her

facebook.

Mel and Julie at the Arc de Triomphe

Julie standing at the Arc.

Close to our hotel at the Concorde square

The Obelisk of Luxor (stands where the guillotine once stood)

it was taken from the entrance of the Egyptian temple of

Luxor and is made of red granite.

A pretty fountain in the Concorde square

Mel and I with the Eiffel tower in the back

ground.

Well, on Wednesday, we boarded a train bound for

Paris, France. Our morning train had been canceled.

Something about a strike in France. We almost
changed our plans and went to Italy. But we

found out the later train was a go, so we kept

with our original plans. During the train ride, which

was about 4 hours long, we saw lots and lots of green

hillsides, with little villages along the way. Very

pretty. And then after the 4 hours, all of a sudden,

there was Paris. Huge city. I'm used to California,

where city meets up with the next city, and it's just

one continuous city. Not in France. All small villages,

then BAM, huge Paris. We walked alot in Paris. The

first night we walked to the Arc de Triomphe, which

is at the end of one of the most famous avenues, Champs

Elysees. We stopped at a little restaurant, and had a

very tough steak, and french fries. Dessert also. Flan

and also some fruit custardy tart. There were so many

other students there in Paris. Must have been a lot of

other spring breakers. It was fun to see the Arch in

person. they were doing some upkeep on it, so part of it

is covered with scaffolding. To think of the history there,

makes it pretty neat to see it in person.

Our hotel room was on the 5th or 6th floor. I just

remember that the "lift" went to like the 5th floor, and

we had to walk the last floor. It was old construction,

you could tell by the wood, and the old "nails" that held

the beams together.

The next day, off to the Louvre.

Day 4 Mels day at work, Julie and I at a Musee'

Julie standing in front of the Olympic Musee'


Julie thought this was cool, It is an ab model that moves
apart, then back together. We wanted to get a picture
when it was together, but were too late.

???? Had to get this picture.....right?

Jewels loved this painting.

Latin for Faster Stronger Higher. Not sure which order.

There was a flame coming out of there.

Taking the Metro back down to Ouchy after Mel's day of

business. it was funny. I left Mel a note in the hotel room

telling him what time we'd left to see the Museum. So when

he got back to the hotel room, and we weren't there, he

decided to hop on the Metro and try and meet us. As he

was coming down, we were going back, and Julie happened

to spot him. She didn't realize that he had spotted her also.

So we got off the "train" and headed back down to meet Mel

and he turned around and headed back. So as we were

moving, and came to one of the stops, I figured I better look

for Mel, just in case he had seen Julie. Sure enough, he had

gotten off and turned around, but this time he didn't see us,

so we got off again, and headed back to the hotel, and there

we connected up with Mel again.

The stops that the Metro stopped at. We started at Lausanne-

Gare, and it would make all the stops, so we heard the names

over and over again, the days we took the Metro. During the

rest of our trip, we would try to imitate the way the voice said

the names of the stops with the French accent. I guess you

could say it's a little inside joke between the 3 of us.

After we met up with Mel at the hotel, we figured since there

wasn't anything else to do, we would go back down by the

Lake and just enjoy the atmosphere, and the good weather.

Julie and I having fun for the camera.

So on Tuesday, Mel had to attend to business, so Julie and

I had the day to go to the Olympic Museum. Musee' as they

call it in French. It was interesting to see the different medals

from all the years, some of the ice skatingoutfits, the torches

that were used from year to year. There was a lot of info, and

I couldn't take it all in. But it was a fun way to spend the day

while Mel was working.

Day 3 Exploring Lausanne, Switzerland

Julie was excited to get out and explore the city. These

are the steps we had to walk down, and CLIMB back

up each day.

Down by Lake Geneva, looking around and enjoying the

good weather.

Mel and I sitting by Lake Geneva.

I wanted to take a photo of this sign because

of the city Bern on it. that is where the temple

is. Also, just to see the language, etc.

Getting a picture of some of the architecture in Luasanne.
This is called Chateau du Ouchy. Mel said it was a castle

that was turned into a hotel.

We took a boat cruise on Lake Geneva and got to see several

cities that border the Lake.

Mel enjoying the cruise

This is where there were grape vineyards all along the hill

side. There are a lot of grape vineyards in Switzerland. It's

amazing how they terrace the slopes and grow the grapes.

A beautiful view of some of the Alps.

This is Chateau du Chillon that sits out on Lake Geneva

On Monday night we were invited to Mohamed's house for

dinner. Mohamed is an employee of Mel's

company, Kinemetrics. He is in charge of the Swiss office.

They prepared such a wonderful dinner. Best dinner we

had while traveling.

Julie was so happy to have people her age around, even if

it was only for one evening. They are now facebook friends.

I was amazed at how mountaineous Switzerland was. I should

have known, but didn't really realize. Across from Lake Geneva,

(which is HUGE by the way) is a part of France. We could see

Evian across the lake. That seemed neat to me, to be able to

see another country looking over across Lake Geneva. The

boat cruise was enjoyable. Relaxing, and just taking in the

sights of the cities bordering the lake, and the gorgeous Alps.

We took the Metro down from our hotel, to Ouchy, which

is what they called the little area where it bordered the lake

and where we got on the boat. There were lots of people around.

I guess we weren't the only people on Easter/Spring break. And

we'd heard they'd had a cold winter, and the weather was sunny

and a little chilly.

In the evening we had dinner with Mohamed and his family. It

was nice to drive in a car to his house. And Julie had fun being

around his children. They told us a little about schooling there,

and getting into college. I have to say, I LOVE America. We

are definitely the land of opportunity.

Day 2. Heathrow Airport & Lausanne, Switzerland

Here is Julie and Mel at the Heathrow airport. At a place
called Giraffe's. Not many choices for food there in London airport.


Julie and I on the train after arriving in Switzerland.


When Julie found out she got her own little section in the hotel
room, she was VERY happy!


going up the very small elevator to our room. We look a little
bushed.


The view from Julie's little alcove.


The name of our hotel in Luasanne.

Sunday, April 4th was spent flying, layover in London's Heathrow

airport,flying some more, and also getting settled into our hotel

room in Luasanne, Switzerland. We traveled through the night, and

lost about 9 hours. The flight was pretty good, but it was a little

squished in the plane. Thank heavens for movies during the

flight. They helped the 10 hour flight seem a little shorter.

When we arrived in Geneva, we found the train that would

take us to Luasanne. It was fascinating to me, to hear all the

people speaking French. I have a weird way of thinking. I

almost felt like the people were just pretending. I thought "How

can they really talk like that all the time? And, how do they

understand it?" I know.....weird. But the train was smooth, and

pretty fast. The hotel was very close to the train station, so we

walked to the Hotel. The train system in Switzerland amazed me

as well. With all the mountains, I'm surprised that you can use

such a system. But they have got it ALL figured out. There is

a LOT of walking going on in Europe also. No wonder why there

aren't many overweight people. Besides the fact that food is so so

so so so expensive. I've figured it out. Food is a luxury to them.

They can only buy what they need to get by. Anyway, we arrived

to the Hotel Elite, slept very well and were happy to begin our

time in Switzerland.

Day 1 My travelogue of Our Switzerland and Paris trip

Julie in front of the sign at the airport

Julie and I In a little eatery at the airport.

Julie and Mel at the same little eatery. We shared a drink (soda)

and a little sandwich.

Mel travels...Mel travels the world. Joneel didn't use to travel.

But Joneel travels more now. Every year Mel travels to

Switzerland for business. I've always heard how beautiful

it is there, and how nice Switzerland is. So, I figured in my

mind that someday I would go there with Mel. Well, in

December 2003, Michelle beat me to it. She went with

Mel to Switzerland, so I decided that Michelle couldn't

be the only only one that got to see the country, so I told

Mel that I would like to go and we may as well take Julie

with us. So, that's what we did. My only stipulation was

that I didn't want to go in the Winter. My Mom had taken

me to England and Scotland in the Winter, and I didn't want

to do something like that again. So, Mel was able to arrange

our trip for April 3-14. The first day pictures are just from

the Los Angeles airport. We left on Saturday, April 3, 2010

at 6:25 p.m. bound for London, Heathrow, continuing on to

Geneva, Switzerland.

Cheer Banquet, Senior Year

VARSITY CHEER



Julie with her little sister on spirit, Brooke Bauer

Cheer Banquet was held on April 2, Friday night. It was well attended,

and it was a night to celebrate the girls. Mrs. Weiss, who has been

the cheer advisor, along with being the Activities director, was

stepping down as cheer advisor, so there was a lot of farewells, etc.

A fun part of the evening was the senior video, and also the video

from pictures taken through out the year. This was my 10th

cheer banquet. I think I'm glad that I am all done with these.

They were fun while they lasted.