Our Amazing Race to Mont St. Michel

I finished blogging about Italy a while ago and was feeling a bit down that I didn't have more to blog about when I remembered, I have not blogged about the last week of my trip. After meeting up with Mary Beth in Italy, we engaged in our own amazing race to get from Milan, Italy to Mont St. Michel on the Brittany coast of France. I admit my image of what taking a night train would be like comes from watching the Hogswarts Express. Our train experience from Milan to Paris was not like that. We happened to share a compartment with the loudest snoring Indian ever (given he is the only snoring Indian I have ever shared a train department with). Luckily, I had ear plugs which diminished the snoring just enough to get an uneasy rest. Mary Beth can back me up on how loud this gentleman was. Seriously folks, think chain saw being used next to your ear.

After getting to Paris, we used the underground to get to the train station at Montparnasse where we caught a train to Rennes. After misreading the bus schedule, we caught a bus directly to Mont St. Michel instead of being able to get to the city where are B&B was located. We finally made it to Mont St. Michel only to find out that there are no places where you can store your bags. The French national security plan no longer allows for baggage storage facilities, but you can carry your bag into any national building/monument you want. On my next trip I am going to try carrying the bag you see on my back in the picture below into the Louvre and see what happens:

Mary Beth and her bags

I and my bags. I used the wall to prop my bag up. I had an additional backpack that I carried on my front, it is on the ground at my feet.

Pictures of Mont St. Michel. I am a bit bummed that we were not able to stay until evening. Seeing it all lit up is supposed to be an awesome sight, nonetheless, it was inspiring:











These pictures look out towards the bay. When the tide comes in the sand below is covered.



When the tide is in, Mont St. Michel becomes an island with the road below as the only access.


Still smiling at the end of a very long day,


which continued with us trying to find a phone so that we could call the B&B where we had a reservation to come pick us up. Do you know we asked at least 5 different french men and none of them new the international calling code for France. We now know: 33.

Next stop, the Isle of Guernsey, which has a storied past involving German occupation during World War II.

Grandma @ 90

My Grandma Campbell celebrated her 90th birthday on April 19th, supposedly not a very good day to have a birthday, but since I think about both my Grandmas on this day (yes, my grandmothers share birthdays), I say that yes, yes you can have a good birthday on April 19th.

Turning 90 did bring one small miracle. Grandma let us take pictures of her. Grandma Campbell is pretty much blind in both eyes, which is why it is pretty amazing that she always knows when a camera is in the vicinity. She has developed quite the talent for running away or hiding her face. I think this year she let us take pictures because her hair was done, her makeup was on, and she was dressed for church:


Plus we have to admire Grandpa Campbell's hair.

Was able to see Matthew, Elizabeth and Evan who made the trip over from Nampa along with Michael, Chenoa and their kids. Evan has started leaning sideways when he is being held, meaning you have to hold on tighter than normal because you never know when he is going to suddenly lean:


Djouli really loves Evan. She wanted to help him with everything. I don't know if Evan yet returns those feelings:


Rowan showing me her junior officer for the Caldwell City Police Department sticker from Aunt Elizabeth:


Snaider wanted me to a picture of him striking this pose. Who am I to deny him this small pleasure?


It was a quick trip, but well worth it. I was able to see my Aunt Vickey who was visiting from Indiana, alas no pictures of her, and I think maybe, just maybe, we surprised grandma just a little.

I Heart Carter

During the Easter holiday I was able to spend some quality time in wonderful warm Arizona with my BFF Kristy, her sisters Alesa and Amren, her husband Chris, their dog Faust, and their delightful, adorable, fun loving, easy going, snugly son Carter. I love this little guy! I want to put him on shelf and take him down when I need some love and a hug. And how can you not love him too? Look at him, those blue eyes could melt even the coldest of hearts:


Here he is discovering a musical talent. All great drummers started with a metal bowl, a wooden spoon, and their mother's love that allows them to bang away.


Here is a video of Carter laughing, which can only turn your frown upside down. There is even some nice background music:

We were able to eat at this restaurant which turned out to be very good. I have never eaten at a Mexican/Chinese restaurant, have you? The owners are a husband and wife team. The wife is Chinese and the husband is Mexican. It will be highlighted on the Food Network's Diner's, Drive-ins and Dives:


I can't wait for Utah to be as warm as Arizona.

The Last Post

For Italy that is. I have not been very good in my blog posting, just not feeling it I suppose. But I have taken it upon myself to rise to the challenge to post for you.

The last place I visited in Italy, Vernazza, was perhaps the most beautiful, for an outdoors kind of person like myself. Don't get me wrong, I like the museums and the art work, but if I had to pick, I would choose the outdoors.

Vernazza is one of five cities that make up the coastal area of Italy known as Cinque Terre, and it is beautiful. The cities themselves are all part of a national park and are connected by a trail that follows the mountains along the coast. Vernazza is the fourth city you visit, starting from the south and heading north. The beauty of Vernazza was enhanced by the fact that this is where I met up with my friend MBC, and after being on my own for 3 weeks it was nice to have some one to talk with and commiserate with as we hiked between Cinque Terre's five cities.

The hotel where we stayed is the red building at the far end of this picture. Very central to everything, but then again you can walk from the marina to the other side of town in five minutes, so really everything was central:


Vernazza's marina:


Looking north to Vernazza before heading south on the trail:


Looking down on Vernazza from the north:


Looking down from the trail onto Corniglia:


Manarola, this is the city where I left my camera in the pizza shop that we visited for lunch. Luckily, I discovered I was missing my camera before we the city and was able to find it at the pizzeria. Some kind soul hand given it to the owner.


Enjoying the sun:


My intrepid hiking partner and friend Mary Beth:


Looking down onto the ocean from a high point on the trail:


Just because:


And of course what blog post is complete without talking about the amazing restaurant we found called Il Pirata. It is run by twin brothers who refer to all women as bella and make all their own delectable heavenly pastries and pasta dishes. We actually pushed back our departure time from Vernazza just so we could eat lunch here. It was well worth it.


When you visit Italy, Cinque Terre is a must stop in your itinerary. If not, you will be sad.

When you are just so tired

You don't even make it on to the couch:

3 Kool Kats

These 3 kool kats let me hang with them between Christmas and New Years:


The picture above was taken while hiking here, Zion National Park. The little person down in the corner is Schnaider.


And here is a picture of siblings all with differet facial expressions. Everyone needs a conversation bubble:


Other than the trail being icy, once you were out of the sun, a good time was had by all.

Better than Elmo

I interrupt my regularly unscheduled posts on Italy to show you a picture of my absolutely brilliant nephew Evan. I spent the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas in western Idaho with him and his parents, but they are of secondary importance now that Evan is around.


Do you think Santa Claus had an outfit like that when he was a baby?