LAST PHOTOS FROM PARIS (Good by, so long, farewell!)

We got to the airport (Charles de Gaulle) very early, luckily. It was 3 hours of standing in lines. Here are Lynne, Megan, Xandra & Thomas trying to wait patiently.



My sister Edith and Lynne are in front of the Sacre Coeur church in top of Montmartre. this is an Art Nouveau church. We had a nice evening on Montmartre, a good way to end a trip to Paris (or europe). We say in my favorite Irish Pub in Paris, drank some wine, some beer, some hot chocolate, and watched the people walk by. Ahhhhh, Priceless! Goodbye until next time, Paris

OTHER ARCH DU TRIUMPH PHOTOS

Our bus tour did not get to the "New" Paris gateway arch this time due to traffic, but looking North from the "old" Paris Arch, it is a straight line from there all the way down to the Louvre Museum. All the big buildings are outside the Paris Ring, keeping the classic part of the city pure.



The highest spot in the city is Montmartre, so it shows up well on this photo. We went over there in the evening.

PHOTOS FROM TOP OF ARCH Du TRIUMPH By Howard Du Bose

Pretty hard to take a photo of yourself, but here I am atop the Arch du Triumph, with the Eiffel Tower in the background. My sister Edith Du Bose, took the photo.



Here is a photo of my sister, Edith Du Bose, who lives in Ettenheimmünster, Germany, with the Eiffel tower behind her.



You can see a lot of Paris from the top of the Arch du Triumph. This was my first time, so I took some photos. This is the Champs Elysees, a very expensive shopping street.

OUR DAY IN PARIS, SOME PHOTOS

Here we have proof positive that Lynne was in Paris, her photo with the Eiffel tower in the background.



On our bus tour of Pariis, we had a photo stop at the Trocadero, and here is our group in front of the Eiffel Tower.

LEAVING BRUSSELS LATE, AND GETTING TO PARIS LATE, DRAT!.

We found this artistic cow in our Paris neighborhood, on our walk back from the train on our first night. Troy was not amused!



We got to the Louvre late, due to traffic, but we did have time to look at the old fortress foundations in the basement. Here is Lynne next to a large column



This is the Brussels Cathedral, with Xandra standing in front. It was on our walk from the bus to the Guild Square where we ate chocolate and waffles.



Some of our DSA ladies in front of of the very pretty Brussels city Hall.

HOW ABOUT THAT BRUSSELS? IF IT IS MONDAY, WE MUST BE IN BELGIUM!

Lynne & the girls in front of Le Homo Erectus, a gay bar across from my favorite restaurant. Not sure Lynne knows what to make of it!



My favorite restaurant in Brussels, the Red Ball. We were too early to eat, but we had coffee & beer. I told the guy I would try to make him world famous, so the next time you are in brussels, please go, eat, and tell him I sent you. Very good Belgian Pizza, right behind the City Hall.



The big draw in Brussels, besides the chocolate and the waffles, is Manikin Pis. Lynne checks it out.



We all got to pose in front of Manikin Pis. This little guy has his own museum. Thousands of folks have made him little sets of clothes. None this day, unfortunately. This was actually a neighborhood water source before it got so famous.

MORE AMSTERDAM PHOTOS

Josie & Jeevan on the bench. Troy seems lost in thought. Perhaps it is too early?



The boys on the bench, contemplating the Ann Frank Haus. Thomas knows how to relax.



After the Ann Frank Haus, we had to wait for our canal cruise boat. Luckily there were some very nice benches there for the girls to sit on. Here Xandra is fighting with her 2nd breakfast. It was good bread.

MORE AMSTERDAM PHOTOS, WATCH OUT, X-RATED!

Most graffetti was just tags and names, but this one was actually tryong to br art! Oh, well, it is Amsterdam!



This sculpture was in the sidewalk near the Ann Frank house, and you will notice that they have to lock it to keep it from being stolen. (Click on it to enlarge!)

MORE COOL AMSTERDAM PHOTIOS

Troy took some time lookig over the designs at the condom store.



The girls thought they were funny!

MORE OF OUR FIRST WALK THROUGH AMSTERDAM, AND THE NEXT MORNING.

Even for Amsterdam, here is an example of someone who has way too much time on his hands. The kids thought it was cute, however.

MORE OF OUR FIRST WALK THROUGH AMSTERDAM, AND THE NEXT MORNING.

I now have a favorite bar in Amsterdam, Ricks, which Susanne showed us. She also told me the difference between a cafe and a coffee shop One serves coffee and intoxicating beverages, and one serves coffee and intoxicating herbs. Under Dutch law, one cannot sit at the coffee shop tables and drink a beer bought from the cafe.

WE FINALLY GOT TO AMSTERDAM AND HEADED DOWNTOWN OUR FIRST EVENING.

When we got to the Train station in Amsterdam, I was struck by this virtual sea of bicycles. It looks larger than the photo shows.



Here is Susanne giving us the map spiel in Amsterdam. She is getting quite good t this!

LOADING THE BUS TO LEAVE

Folks still bringing things for Charlie to load.



Seen from the back of the buss, the suitcases seem to never cease.


Charlie, our bus Belgian driver, trying to figure out how to load all our stuff in the bus.

WE ALSO VISITED A CLOG AND CHEESE SHOP

After seeing everything demonstrated, Josie wanted to find a souvenir, but so many choices!



Xandra tries on a large pair of clogs, aided by the master clog and cheese maker himself.

LAST WINDMILL PHOTOS, PROMISE!

And last, a few other folks in front of the windmill with Susanne.

MORE WINDMILL PHOTOS.

Everyone wanted to get into the windmill action with Susanne. Here are some of the South Carolina folks.



Of course, it is obligatory for Lynne and Howard to get in a shot of the windmill.



Some of the "boys" in front of the windmill. thanks, guys.

20 JUNE, 09, WE DROVE FROM HAMBURG TO AMSTERDAM

Starting with the best last, and leaving the other for the first, here are our girls in front of a real windmill that is currently being used as a house, but it original.



Our tour director, Susanne, is standing in front of this windmill waiting for us to all get off the bus and take photos.



Here is the windmill unadorned by tourists. I wonder how the folks who live here feel, getting 50 bus loads of tourists in their front yard daily?

WE ENDED UP OUR DAY IN HAMBURG

This is one of the twisted chimneys that were designed to keep sparks from setting fire to Hamburg, again!




Lynne checks out the goods, in the rain, in one of the narrow shopping streets of Hamburg.

OUR DAY IN LÜBECK & HAMBURG. (Not a lot of photos because of rain!)

Lübeck is a very old city, with a very beautiful RatHaus (City Hall) that was built in sections over 200+ years. We had lunch in the basement.



Our group in front of the famous Lübeck Tor, or gate.




The old main gate of Lübeck, famous in all of Germany. Beautiful.

JUST A COUPLE OF MORE PHOTOS FROM ELSINORE & KRONBERG

Not in Elsinore, but here is Lynne at our dinner spot, RizRaz, our last night in Copenhagen.




Some of the South Carolina Mothers and Daughters pose by the moat at Kronberg Castle.



And, of course, Lynne & Howard in front of Kronberg Castle.

THEN AFTER LUNCH WE LEFT COPENHAGEN FOR ELSENORE

Here is the whole group in front on Kronberg Castle.



Here is our group in front of the castle.



Kronberg castle is a very old castle that was one of a pair. The other one is in Sweden on the other side of the water.