update #5

Date: Sat

16 Aug. , 1997 07:35:32 (PDT)

Subject:

Update

Number Five-

Rochester

RTW Travels

We liked Vienna, too. It gave us goose bumps to listen to chamber music in a room where Beethoven played, or standing in the same conservatory where 6 year old Mozart first performed for Empress Maria-Theresa. Best, however, were the “Heurige”: wine bar/restaurants set next to vineyards- in a suburb full of vineyards-where this year’s wine is served. With their terraced outdoor dining areas shaded by graceful arbors of grape vines, carafes of chilled wine next to plates of schnitzel and sausages, and the bustle of 150 people speaking five different languages, these places fairly called our names. I realize it’s a shock to hear that we frequented these places, but we were only trying to fit in!

Paris was very special - just like it’s supposed to be. We liked it more than we expected and hope to get back. We saw the standard sights: Jim Morrison’s grave, the Eiffel Tower, Mona and Miss deMilo. I went to Napolean’s tomb-small man, BIG box. ML bought some books at Shakespeare & Co. On our way to a Sunday mass at Notre Dame (which was really special) we bumped into a guy (Bryan) whom we had met in Lisbon about 3 months ago. Small world again!

We next drove around Normandy and Brittany for a few days. The area is so pretty and is the epitomy of “French Countryside.” The Celtic Music Festival in Lorient, Brittany was a hoot: bagpipes, guitars, bagpipes, dancing, penny whistles, bagpipes, drums, the Chieftains, drums, dancing and bagpipes. Oh yeah, beer and wine and no sleep. We met a guy in the VIP tent (long story - just chalk it up to good schmoozing skills) who insisted we leave our expensive hotel and stay in his “camping car” (RV) parked in the backyard of his house which just happened to be 100 metres from a pretty beach. This allowed us to save money and stay longer at the festival. This man, Gerald, and his wife, Monique, were a wonderful, gracious, fun-loving couple and their hospitality was amazing. (Monique washed our clothes for us!) We take back everything bad we’ve ever said or thought about the French. (Though both Gerald and Monique were always quick to emphasize that they were Breton, not French-a big difference to them!)