 |
| Denmark trip |
Also, here's a link to our cyclemate Helmuth's pictures.
07 July 2007
Denmark bike trip
I've gotten a bunch of the photos uploaded to Picasa. Here's a slide show, or you can click on the small picture below to go straight to the album on Picasa. One cool feature there is that you can view all the pictures on a map and "relive the journey." I will write up some of our adventures as time permits. Enjoy!
Also, here's a link to our cyclemate Helmuth's pictures.
Also, here's a link to our cyclemate Helmuth's pictures.
01 July 2007
Back in Paris
Hiya, Mike and I returned to Paris from Denmark today. Well, we started yesterday about 7pm from Copenhagen, took an overnight train to Cologne, then to Paris midday today. Yep, tired. Oh yes, and after a few hours to say hi to Betsy and the boys, it was off to our wine-tasting group tonight. Did I mentioned tired? About 400km on the bike, a couple thousand on trains, eight champagnes, ... off to bed. The trip was fun and I'll post more and pictures in the next couple of days, plus I'll get pictures developed from the end-of-school festivities from Paris. Mike's here until Wednesday, so I may not get it all done in the next couple days, but stay tuned!
25 June 2007
Hi from Denmark
Ack, blogger is speaking Danish to me! "Titel" I can figure out, but "Udgiv Indlaeg"? Double ack, which probably means something in Danish. Thankfully, I don't have to read or speak Danish to survive here, since the trip is planned well for us, and every Dane I've met speaks at least some English. Today was day 3 of real cycling, though the mileage hasn't been too tough given all the ferry breaks. We've done 30 and 80 kilometers the first two days. Tonight I am in Nakskov, after taking two ferries and biking 40 kilometers today. Tomorrow I will bike either 50 or 85 kilometers, depending on the weather and how tired my old legs are. They are pretty sore! Here is the general route we will take tomorrow, although these directions are for cars to go fast and we like to take the smaller, prettier roads.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=nakskov,+denmark&daddr=marielyst,+denmark&dirflg=h&sll=54.769085,11.563675&sspn=0.43017,0.866547&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=10&om=1
(Sorry, I can't seem to turn that into a link!)
If we bike 50k, it will be from here to Maribo, then train Maribo to Nykobing, then bike to Marielyst. If I bike 85k, it will be bike all the way. The day after we can go as far as 160 kilometers! But I won't - that's almost 100 miles and I would fall over. Mike's holding up all right, fighting off a cold. I've got lots of pics, but haven't put them on Mike's laptop so you might not see them until I'm home next week. In the meantime, "farvel" (goodbye) from Denmark!
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=nakskov,+denmark&daddr=marielyst,+denmark&dirflg=h&sll=54.769085,11.563675&sspn=0.43017,0.866547&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=10&om=1
(Sorry, I can't seem to turn that into a link!)
If we bike 50k, it will be from here to Maribo, then train Maribo to Nykobing, then bike to Marielyst. If I bike 85k, it will be bike all the way. The day after we can go as far as 160 kilometers! But I won't - that's almost 100 miles and I would fall over. Mike's holding up all right, fighting off a cold. I've got lots of pics, but haven't put them on Mike's laptop so you might not see them until I'm home next week. In the meantime, "farvel" (goodbye) from Denmark!
17 June 2007
WP on dads at home
Stay-at-Home Dads Forge New Identities, Roles
More Fathers Than Ever Are Primary Caregivers
By Katherine Shaver
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 17, 2007; A01
It could have been any play group in the Washington area, except for the diaper bags. No Vera Bradley flowers, no pastel polka dots. The bags lying around Matt Vossler's Rockville living room Tuesday afternoon were dark Eddie Bauer canvas. One was red but, as its owner quickly pointed out, "very metrosexual."
*snipped out a bunch of treacly angsty potty blather*
With their wives as breadwinners, the fathers are part of a small but growing group of men who are quitting or retooling their careers to stay home with their children.
On Fathers Day, an estimated 159,000 stay-at-home dads, or 2.7 percent of the country's stay-at-home parents -- almost triple the percentage from a decade ago -- will celebrate what has become a full-time job, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But experts say that number should be far higher because the census definition doesn't consider single fathers, those with children over 15 or those who work part-time or flexible hours to be home. Federal labor statistics show the number of fathers providing their young children's primary care is more like one in five.
*blah blah*
"Dads get so much credit for staying home with the kids," said Eric Hazell, 43, of Bowie, who returned to a professorship at the University of Maryland in 2004 after two years with his children. "If moms work, they have possible guilt for not being home with their kids. If they're home, there's a lot of tug that they're sacrificing their career. For dads, people think it's just great that you stay home. Then when we go back [to work], it's what people expect in the first place."
Other times, staying home can be tricky.
Men tell stories of being excluded from mothers' groups and hearing of police questioning fathers seen hanging around the playground. Some have found close friends among stay-at-home mothers, while others say they don't feel comfortable with such socialization or fear their wives would disapprove.
Some fathers, particularly black men, say they have gone years without meeting another stay-at-home dad.
"There could be hundreds of kids [at a playground], and I'm sitting on the bench with my Blackberry," said Phil Rawlings, 42, of Upper Marlboro, who quit an 18-year paralegal career last fall to stay home with his 4-year-old. "I look around to keep an eye on Tyler, and there's nothing but moms."
*snip*
Most stay-at-home fathers say the decision boiled down to money: Their wives had fatter paychecks or more promising careers. Many say relying on one income has meant a more modest home, older cars and fewer vacations. Few opt out completely; many say they work part-time from home.
Jeff Miller and his wife, Shawn Brennan, both worked from their Silver Spring home after their first child was born. When they needed more money, Brennan took a full-time Montgomery County government job. Miller, 40, could continue as a lower-paid, part-time business professor at the University of Maryland, while his flexible home consulting business let him care for Bennett, now 7, and Megan, 5. Miller said he knows four other stay-at-home dads in his neighborhood.
"Today when I get back, I'll make a pot roast," he said Wednesday morning as he boiled pasta for Megan's picnic lunch with some preschool friends. After mixing Megan's "mystery cereal" -- his own concoction of three cereals and nuts for extra protein -- Miller pulled her hair into a ponytail, pointed her toward a flowered sundress to put on and loaded her into his Chrysler convertible.
At the park, one of the picnic mothers had brought sanitary wipes and a Dora the Explorer blanket, on which little girls ate sandwiches, corn on the cob and cut-up fruit. Megan sat on the grass eating her buttered pasta from a thermos. "I didn't really bring a bowl for you," Miller said apologetically. She didn't seem to care.
*snip, but it's worth reading*
More Fathers Than Ever Are Primary Caregivers
By Katherine Shaver
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 17, 2007; A01
It could have been any play group in the Washington area, except for the diaper bags. No Vera Bradley flowers, no pastel polka dots. The bags lying around Matt Vossler's Rockville living room Tuesday afternoon were dark Eddie Bauer canvas. One was red but, as its owner quickly pointed out, "very metrosexual."
*snipped out a bunch of treacly angsty potty blather*
With their wives as breadwinners, the fathers are part of a small but growing group of men who are quitting or retooling their careers to stay home with their children.
On Fathers Day, an estimated 159,000 stay-at-home dads, or 2.7 percent of the country's stay-at-home parents -- almost triple the percentage from a decade ago -- will celebrate what has become a full-time job, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But experts say that number should be far higher because the census definition doesn't consider single fathers, those with children over 15 or those who work part-time or flexible hours to be home. Federal labor statistics show the number of fathers providing their young children's primary care is more like one in five.
*blah blah*
"Dads get so much credit for staying home with the kids," said Eric Hazell, 43, of Bowie, who returned to a professorship at the University of Maryland in 2004 after two years with his children. "If moms work, they have possible guilt for not being home with their kids. If they're home, there's a lot of tug that they're sacrificing their career. For dads, people think it's just great that you stay home. Then when we go back [to work], it's what people expect in the first place."
Other times, staying home can be tricky.
Men tell stories of being excluded from mothers' groups and hearing of police questioning fathers seen hanging around the playground. Some have found close friends among stay-at-home mothers, while others say they don't feel comfortable with such socialization or fear their wives would disapprove.
Some fathers, particularly black men, say they have gone years without meeting another stay-at-home dad.
"There could be hundreds of kids [at a playground], and I'm sitting on the bench with my Blackberry," said Phil Rawlings, 42, of Upper Marlboro, who quit an 18-year paralegal career last fall to stay home with his 4-year-old. "I look around to keep an eye on Tyler, and there's nothing but moms."
*snip*
Most stay-at-home fathers say the decision boiled down to money: Their wives had fatter paychecks or more promising careers. Many say relying on one income has meant a more modest home, older cars and fewer vacations. Few opt out completely; many say they work part-time from home.
Jeff Miller and his wife, Shawn Brennan, both worked from their Silver Spring home after their first child was born. When they needed more money, Brennan took a full-time Montgomery County government job. Miller, 40, could continue as a lower-paid, part-time business professor at the University of Maryland, while his flexible home consulting business let him care for Bennett, now 7, and Megan, 5. Miller said he knows four other stay-at-home dads in his neighborhood.
"Today when I get back, I'll make a pot roast," he said Wednesday morning as he boiled pasta for Megan's picnic lunch with some preschool friends. After mixing Megan's "mystery cereal" -- his own concoction of three cereals and nuts for extra protein -- Miller pulled her hair into a ponytail, pointed her toward a flowered sundress to put on and loaded her into his Chrysler convertible.
At the park, one of the picnic mothers had brought sanitary wipes and a Dora the Explorer blanket, on which little girls ate sandwiches, corn on the cob and cut-up fruit. Megan sat on the grass eating her buttered pasta from a thermos. "I didn't really bring a bowl for you," Miller said apologetically. She didn't seem to care.
*snip, but it's worth reading*
13 June 2007
French humor, from Marilyn
No way I could take credit for this ... and happy birthday, Marilyn!
A thief in Paris planned to steal some paintings from the Louvre.
After carefully planning, he got past security, stole the paintings and made it safely to his van.
However, he was captured only two blocks away when his van ran out of gas. When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and then make such an obvious error, he replied:
(scroll down)
"Monsieur, that's the reason I stole the paintings. I had no Monet to buy Degas to make the Van Gogh."
(And you thought I didn't have De Gaulle to send this to you!)
A thief in Paris planned to steal some paintings from the Louvre.
After carefully planning, he got past security, stole the paintings and made it safely to his van.
However, he was captured only two blocks away when his van ran out of gas. When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and then make such an obvious error, he replied:
(scroll down)
"Monsieur, that's the reason I stole the paintings. I had no Monet to buy Degas to make the Van Gogh."
(And you thought I didn't have De Gaulle to send this to you!)
04 June 2007
My bike trip
I'm heading to Denmark next week for ten days of biking through the (hopefully) flat and beautiful Danish countryside. The trip is organized by a guy who lives in Arlington and Germany, and includes lots of Arlingtonians (some of whom I know), but best of all, my friend Mike is coming along. Betsy and the boys will be on their own - except for our friend Stacey and her husband coming to visit for a week - which should be fun for them, except for the scheduling mess.
Here's an overview map.
We start at Flensburg, on the Germany-Denmark border at the lower left, and end up in Copenhagen, on the right side. To get to Flensburg, we start with a meetup in Aachen (a/k/a Aix-la-Chapelle), Germany on Wednesday, June 20th. Returning by train thru Aachen, we get back to Paris the afternoon of Sunday, July 1st.
Here are the organizer's notes for the itinerary (with a couple of mine interspersed). That's all we know so far!
------------
WED/20th JUNE, 2007 or VERY EARLY Thursday morning – bring all bags and personal bikes to pick-up point. Dick needs to pack the truck and leave as soon as possible on Thursday. Just snacks/drinks to carry on train.
FRI/22nd – train 06h56 Aachen HBF, 07h00 Aachen Rothe Erde, arrive 14:45 in Flensburg: border town; a major port/smuggling center in past; home of German Naval Academy; beautiful fjord. Meet Dick at train station (so, no bags to carry on the train) – get bikes – the large, modern Hotel Mercure overlooking the harbor is only 3km from the train, but you should bike through downtown on the way – also, it is the ’shakedown’ ride for people using CYCLETOURS bikes. Dinner at Restaurant Mäder, on the harbor.
SAT/23rd – for early risers, cycle around harbor/coffee; 45 min. boat tour of fjord (bring bikes), breakfast on boat, departs Flensburg 10:30, debark in Kollund Denmark; bike to Sønderborg 30km along the water; try Denmark’s most famous hot dog place for lunch. Our fanciest hotel (the 4 star Comwell) overlooks the harbor and castle; great breakfast; we also are there for a 3 course buffet dinner.
SUN/24th – bike to Svendborg; several optional routes using different ferries and crossing different islands WARNING! Long waiting times between ferries – don’t be late! Shortest route (40km) uses 2 ferries and crosses Æerø island; another uses one ferry and runs right along the coast (60km); other variations are longer. Hotel Christiansminde, on Svendborg Sound; dinner in hotel.
MON/25th – bike to Nakskov with optional routes: shortest bike route is about 35km, uses 2 ferries and the islands of Tåsinge and Langeland – Langeland is long and narrow (lange land), with some very scenic bike trails – the direct route cuts straight across the narrowest part, but you can add as much mileage as you wish exploring – the bike route is marked ’very scenic’. Nakskov is a pretty little town with 5 museums; stay and dine in Hotel Skovridergaarden in a secluded forest area overlooking a lake – a really pretty place.
TUE/26th – variable day – there is a train from Nakskov to Nykøbing at 25 after every hour; bike the whole way to Marielyst (85km) or as little as 13km (Nykøbing – Marielyst) or choices in between by getting off at any of 7 intermediate stops. All options include passing through Nykøbing, so it may be a picnic day. We end up in Marielyst (which describes itself as a ’pulsating’ party town)! Stay and have dinner in Hotel Nørrevang (best hotel/restaurant in town; a few blocks from the ’pulsating’ for those of us who don’t party all night).
WED/27th – variable day – choose 50, 100 or 160(+)km. 50 uses the train part way (Nykøbing – Næstved 18 after every hour); 100 bikes directly to Fakse Ladeplads up the coast; 160 (or more, if you explore) bikes via Mons Klint (chalk cliffs). (Mons Klint area is beautiful, but SERIOUSLY HILLY!) Fakse Ladeplads is a small town; stay in rustic old thatch-roofed Hotel Slangerupgaard. Nice seafood restaurant La Mer on the beach.
THU/28th – to København – variable day - 0, 50 or 105km. 0 uses the train Fakse Ladeplads/Køge and S-Bahn Køge/København. 50 uses S-Bahn Køge/København – every 10 minutes) biking all the way (105km) uses a bike route to within 3 blocks of our Hotel Tiffany which is in the middle of downtown, about 2 blocks from Tivoli and the train station. While it is possible to take the train the whole way, the train goes inland, while the first 50 km from Fakse Ladeplads to Køge is the beautiful path along the coast in some of the pictures James took, which I sent you – strongly recommended! All options include passing through Køge, so it may a picnic day. Dinner at Balkonen in Tivoli (all-you-can-eat Carvery) - our last dinner with Dick who leaves early Friday; bikes & big bags on truck. You will get a København pass (CPH card) good for all trains, busses; free entry to Tivoli, museums, galleries, castles etc. (including S-Bahn Køge/København, København/Helsingør).
FRI/29th – Hotel Tiffany for second night. You can take the S-Bahn to Helsingør – every 20 minutes (a ’must-see’ place, even if you don’t love Hamlet – “Two beers or not two beers“). This is the ’free-day’ with no plans, no dinner included – you may wish to have dinner in Helsingør, or ferry across to Helsingborg Sweden.
SAT/30th – farewell mid-afternoon lunch at Faergekroen Bryghus (fisherman’s cottage on the lake in Tivoli - it’s also a brew-pub) – walk across Tivoli to station for night train to Aachen at 18:45 (almost the whole day in København). There is a choice of regular seat (which I rejected) or two different sleeping arrangements – a single ’couchette’ or a double sleeper for couples.
(CVF note: I believe we will cross the Great Belt tunnel, next to the second-longest suspension bridge in the world.)
SUN/1st – arrive back in Aachen about 08:00. Dick should have arrived late the previous night so all the bags and bikes can be reclaimed. 4th of July party on Wednesday (Karl & Albert won several raffle prizes 7/4/06).
(Note: Mike & I have a 1pm train from Aachen that gets back to Paris at 4pm. Then we have a champagne tasting at 5pm!)
TOTAL DISTANCE – the minimum biking distance is 175 km if you maximize the use of trains. If you bike the whole way, it is 500 km (or 600, including Mons Klint) – so, any distance between 175 and 600 – it is your choice each day. I don’t want to scare people about hills, they are not bad (except Mons Klint, which are serious), but there definitely are hills, and if I don’t say there are hills, I will hear about it for a decade.
Here's an overview map.
We start at Flensburg, on the Germany-Denmark border at the lower left, and end up in Copenhagen, on the right side. To get to Flensburg, we start with a meetup in Aachen (a/k/a Aix-la-Chapelle), Germany on Wednesday, June 20th. Returning by train thru Aachen, we get back to Paris the afternoon of Sunday, July 1st.
Here are the organizer's notes for the itinerary (with a couple of mine interspersed). That's all we know so far!
------------
WED/20th JUNE, 2007 or VERY EARLY Thursday morning – bring all bags and personal bikes to pick-up point. Dick needs to pack the truck and leave as soon as possible on Thursday. Just snacks/drinks to carry on train.
FRI/22nd – train 06h56 Aachen HBF, 07h00 Aachen Rothe Erde, arrive 14:45 in Flensburg: border town; a major port/smuggling center in past; home of German Naval Academy; beautiful fjord. Meet Dick at train station (so, no bags to carry on the train) – get bikes – the large, modern Hotel Mercure overlooking the harbor is only 3km from the train, but you should bike through downtown on the way – also, it is the ’shakedown’ ride for people using CYCLETOURS bikes. Dinner at Restaurant Mäder, on the harbor.
SAT/23rd – for early risers, cycle around harbor/coffee; 45 min. boat tour of fjord (bring bikes), breakfast on boat, departs Flensburg 10:30, debark in Kollund Denmark; bike to Sønderborg 30km along the water; try Denmark’s most famous hot dog place for lunch. Our fanciest hotel (the 4 star Comwell) overlooks the harbor and castle; great breakfast; we also are there for a 3 course buffet dinner.
SUN/24th – bike to Svendborg; several optional routes using different ferries and crossing different islands WARNING! Long waiting times between ferries – don’t be late! Shortest route (40km) uses 2 ferries and crosses Æerø island; another uses one ferry and runs right along the coast (60km); other variations are longer. Hotel Christiansminde, on Svendborg Sound; dinner in hotel.
MON/25th – bike to Nakskov with optional routes: shortest bike route is about 35km, uses 2 ferries and the islands of Tåsinge and Langeland – Langeland is long and narrow (lange land), with some very scenic bike trails – the direct route cuts straight across the narrowest part, but you can add as much mileage as you wish exploring – the bike route is marked ’very scenic’. Nakskov is a pretty little town with 5 museums; stay and dine in Hotel Skovridergaarden in a secluded forest area overlooking a lake – a really pretty place.
TUE/26th – variable day – there is a train from Nakskov to Nykøbing at 25 after every hour; bike the whole way to Marielyst (85km) or as little as 13km (Nykøbing – Marielyst) or choices in between by getting off at any of 7 intermediate stops. All options include passing through Nykøbing, so it may be a picnic day. We end up in Marielyst (which describes itself as a ’pulsating’ party town)! Stay and have dinner in Hotel Nørrevang (best hotel/restaurant in town; a few blocks from the ’pulsating’ for those of us who don’t party all night).
WED/27th – variable day – choose 50, 100 or 160(+)km. 50 uses the train part way (Nykøbing – Næstved 18 after every hour); 100 bikes directly to Fakse Ladeplads up the coast; 160 (or more, if you explore) bikes via Mons Klint (chalk cliffs). (Mons Klint area is beautiful, but SERIOUSLY HILLY!) Fakse Ladeplads is a small town; stay in rustic old thatch-roofed Hotel Slangerupgaard. Nice seafood restaurant La Mer on the beach.
THU/28th – to København – variable day - 0, 50 or 105km. 0 uses the train Fakse Ladeplads/Køge and S-Bahn Køge/København. 50 uses S-Bahn Køge/København – every 10 minutes) biking all the way (105km) uses a bike route to within 3 blocks of our Hotel Tiffany which is in the middle of downtown, about 2 blocks from Tivoli and the train station. While it is possible to take the train the whole way, the train goes inland, while the first 50 km from Fakse Ladeplads to Køge is the beautiful path along the coast in some of the pictures James took, which I sent you – strongly recommended! All options include passing through Køge, so it may a picnic day. Dinner at Balkonen in Tivoli (all-you-can-eat Carvery) - our last dinner with Dick who leaves early Friday; bikes & big bags on truck. You will get a København pass (CPH card) good for all trains, busses; free entry to Tivoli, museums, galleries, castles etc. (including S-Bahn Køge/København, København/Helsingør).
FRI/29th – Hotel Tiffany for second night. You can take the S-Bahn to Helsingør – every 20 minutes (a ’must-see’ place, even if you don’t love Hamlet – “Two beers or not two beers“). This is the ’free-day’ with no plans, no dinner included – you may wish to have dinner in Helsingør, or ferry across to Helsingborg Sweden.
SAT/30th – farewell mid-afternoon lunch at Faergekroen Bryghus (fisherman’s cottage on the lake in Tivoli - it’s also a brew-pub) – walk across Tivoli to station for night train to Aachen at 18:45 (almost the whole day in København). There is a choice of regular seat (which I rejected) or two different sleeping arrangements – a single ’couchette’ or a double sleeper for couples.
(CVF note: I believe we will cross the Great Belt tunnel, next to the second-longest suspension bridge in the world.)
SUN/1st – arrive back in Aachen about 08:00. Dick should have arrived late the previous night so all the bags and bikes can be reclaimed. 4th of July party on Wednesday (Karl & Albert won several raffle prizes 7/4/06).
(Note: Mike & I have a 1pm train from Aachen that gets back to Paris at 4pm. Then we have a champagne tasting at 5pm!)
TOTAL DISTANCE – the minimum biking distance is 175 km if you maximize the use of trains. If you bike the whole way, it is 500 km (or 600, including Mons Klint) – so, any distance between 175 and 600 – it is your choice each day. I don’t want to scare people about hills, they are not bad (except Mons Klint, which are serious), but there definitely are hills, and if I don’t say there are hills, I will hear about it for a decade.
03 June 2007
Love'n Paris
We went to Roland Garros, the French Open tennis tournament, to see a few first-round matches this past Tuesday. It was the one pretty day in about a 10-day stretch of low-60s and lotsa rain. The preceding Sunday, we'd gone on our long-anticipated family randonnée, which started out promising but ended up with absolutely dreary, drenching cold rain. So I guess we might have earned the pretty weather Tuesday, though the boys might disagree since they got to hike in the rain but go to school in the sun. They didn't complain, though.
We had seats in the main stadium court - Court Philippe Chatrier to the initiated - and made our way to the stadium shortly after 11am. The first match, between two French women, was partly done. We enjoyed watching the choreography among the ballboys/girls, as well as the tennis. The next match was the completion of Roger Federer against an American, Michael Russell of Houston, which had been rain-postponed on Monday. Federer finished him off, though Russell seemed to get his licks in before becoming 1 of the (all) 9 US men to lose in the first round. Another women's match came on, and we went to get some lunch at the fancy food court. Highlights included the large beers, and the young Frenchmen who tried to scam in front of us in line and hilariously played dumb when some American tennis tourists yelled at them. Oh, and we now know where the models go during late May and early June - to jobs finding tables for people at the food court! I think it was while we stood in line for salads that we realized there were roughly no actual French people among the spectators. A friend later pointed out that's because French people live here and have jobs, which is fair, but I bet it's also because they can get tickets to the later rounds instead of these early mismatches.
After lunch we poked around the grounds for a bit, and Betsy scoped out the official men's towel she wanted, and little things for the boys. We went back in to see Marcos Baghdatis against a Frenchman named Sebastien Grosjean, who was playing on his birthday. You can guess who the crowd fave was, but Bagdatis earned cheers for overruling the ump in his opponent's favor at least once, and generally playing better.
I had to leave before that one was done to go get the boys, but Betsy stayed to See Rafael Nadal, the two-time defending champ, in the last match of the evening. She either thinks he's pretty cute, or was enjoying playing with the camera after I left, or both, because we got a LOT of pictures of him! See some, along with other highlights, here.
I'll try to post more soon, including about our canal boat ride today, but our second computer died last week so we're down to sharing this one. Hope all are well at home and enjoying the sunny days!
We had seats in the main stadium court - Court Philippe Chatrier to the initiated - and made our way to the stadium shortly after 11am. The first match, between two French women, was partly done. We enjoyed watching the choreography among the ballboys/girls, as well as the tennis. The next match was the completion of Roger Federer against an American, Michael Russell of Houston, which had been rain-postponed on Monday. Federer finished him off, though Russell seemed to get his licks in before becoming 1 of the (all) 9 US men to lose in the first round. Another women's match came on, and we went to get some lunch at the fancy food court. Highlights included the large beers, and the young Frenchmen who tried to scam in front of us in line and hilariously played dumb when some American tennis tourists yelled at them. Oh, and we now know where the models go during late May and early June - to jobs finding tables for people at the food court! I think it was while we stood in line for salads that we realized there were roughly no actual French people among the spectators. A friend later pointed out that's because French people live here and have jobs, which is fair, but I bet it's also because they can get tickets to the later rounds instead of these early mismatches.
After lunch we poked around the grounds for a bit, and Betsy scoped out the official men's towel she wanted, and little things for the boys. We went back in to see Marcos Baghdatis against a Frenchman named Sebastien Grosjean, who was playing on his birthday. You can guess who the crowd fave was, but Bagdatis earned cheers for overruling the ump in his opponent's favor at least once, and generally playing better.
I had to leave before that one was done to go get the boys, but Betsy stayed to See Rafael Nadal, the two-time defending champ, in the last match of the evening. She either thinks he's pretty cute, or was enjoying playing with the camera after I left, or both, because we got a LOT of pictures of him! See some, along with other highlights, here.
I'll try to post more soon, including about our canal boat ride today, but our second computer died last week so we're down to sharing this one. Hope all are well at home and enjoying the sunny days!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
