Sep 28, 2012 - Europe Day 13: Grenoble

Copy and paste link to photos: France https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152154574210707.909994.746395706&type=3 Day 13 Menton to Grenoble, 370km Our first stop of the day is around 9am, at Eze where a perfume factory tour has been arranged. Tony doesn’t think Cynthea will cope with the strong smell, but she decides to go and look anyway. Tony is not interested at all, and heads off up the hill to the chateau. As he leaves the car park a chap in a red Ferrari parks up, and Tony asks if he can sit in the drivers’ seat, or at least...

Feb 29, 2012 - Ski! Une première pour nos loulouttes

Le ski: une grande première pour nos loulouttes! Si Bahia est née au pays de la neige et des grands froids, elle est partit habiter sous les tropiques juste avant de pouvoir s'essayer a la glisse. Nous sommes partis dans les alpes a Valmorel avec des amis de Sing: Irina et Stephane et leurs enfants Daphné et Grégoire que vous découvrirez en photos si vous ne les connaissez pas déjà. Et oui, nous avons échangé nos maillots de bain pour les moonboots. Les parents d'Irina étaient la ainsi que Papoupa et Mouty que nous ne présentons plus! Les...

Sep 18, 2011 - 10-18 September

Saturday 10 September: At the beginning of each school year in each village there is a registration day at a big Civic Centre Hall – here it is called the “Agora”. There is a whole range of activities for adults and children – tennis, soccer, rock-climbing, judo, horse-riding, gymnastics, cultural activities, dance etc etc. We heard that it is very difficult to get into the rock-climbing club which is what Jackson was desperate to do so we were front of the line at 8am for an 8.30 start for official registration. HOORAHHH – both boys were...

Sep 16, 2011 - Grenoble

Think today was one day we all caught up on sleep, lots of snoring on the bus, it was a very long bus day.  One thing that all this travelling on a bus has done, is I can now read while travelling, normally would just feel ill,but downloaded a couple if books today to the ipad and have read a good 3/4 today. We headed north from Menton, following the route that Napoleon took in 1815, through the French Rivera, the alps and through the region of Provence. The scenery was very pretty, it is different from nz, but I think we really are lucky...

Sep 12, 2011 - Weekend with Emmanuel & family

Arrived to Grenoble and Clotilde, Emmanuel's wife, met us at the train station. She drove us to their home north of Grenoble where we spent a lovely weekend. Guillaume, their son, was gracious and let us use his bedroom during our stay. Clara, their daughter, took us on a tour of her horseriding stables where she is taking lessons. We grilled in the backyard, swam in the pool, savored Clotilde's delicious home cooking, toured the downtown, ordered a pizza and watched a movie - all in all a weekend at home, away from home. Merci beaucoup to...

Sep 9, 2011 - 5th to 9th Sept. - Start of school

Monday 5 September School !!! Jackson woke excited and happy to start school today but the fact that he had to be forced to eat ½ a weet-bix (normally has at least 3 or 4) was a sign that the nerves were there. Alex was not excited about the prospect at all and was very emotional. He stated that if we made him go he was NOT going to use his manners ! We can walk to the school (about 15 minutes each way) but today being the first day and overcast we decided to drive there and walk back this afternoon. The school has a high wire fence and you...

Sep 4, 2011 - 28 August to 04 Sept.

The week started with a quiet Sunday at home. It's hard to see any action anywhere on Sunday as it's a very much a family day. We went for a bike ride to have a look around which was lovely. We did learn that you don't mow the lawn on Sundays. Lew started up the mower about 4pm and was politely informed by our neighbour that it is not permitted and he may be fined if reported. We have since been given the times and days that we are allowed to mow the grass. No breaking the rules ! Monday we went back to the sports store Decathlon for some...

Aug 27, 2011 - Parcour !!

Jackson has been very quiet the last day or so so Lew wanted to do something special to put a smile on his face. We drove around Grenoble for an hour or so trying to find a rock climbing gym open but had no luck. Summer holidays finish here in a week & until then a lot of places are still closed. By 2;30 we decided things had not gone to plan so we headed 40km south of Grenoble to a place we had picked up a brochure for. It is a place for Parcour and for those of you on the Central Coast, it is like a Treetops Adventure Park, only 20 times...

Aug 23, 2011 - The mountains

We have had a lovely few days. We went for a drive yesterday up into the mountains about 15 minutes from our village. The road was incredible - narrow, windy and a looooonnngggg way down ! My heart was in my throat at times (I think Alex's was too just quietly) but so much more incredible than photos can do justice. I have attached a few pics to give you an idea but without the perspective it is a little bit lost. We came across an area where people were jumping off the mountain and paragliding down. With Jacksons enthusiasm for all things...

Aug 21, 2011 - Nothing open Sundays !!

Well, today we learned that you don't try and go grocery shopping on a Sunday in St Ismier or Grenoble ! We headed out about lunchtime with empty tummies to find not a thing open in our village. No problem - off we went to Grenoble which is a pretty big city - and nothing was open there either !! Sunday obviously a day of rest. After driving for ages we stumbled across a bistro of sorts and stopped for lunch. By now it was 3pm, they spoke not a word of anything other than French, and Lew & I still aren't sure what it was that we had !!...

Aug 20, 2011 - Saint Ismier

Every Saturday there is a market in our village so we headed up there this morning. There was a refrigerated truck full of cheese / pate and meats, a refrigerated truck with seafood, a baker, guys selling olives & salami and of course some fruits / vegetables. We felt we stood out a bit and I think until we learn a bit of French, it is going to be easier to shop at the supermarket !! Early days ! We then headed to a massive sports store we had heard about and it was out of this world with absolutely everything. It's called Decathlon and has...

Jun 30, 2011 - Grenoble

Grenoble - 3.1 km - 0 Höhenmeter Wir starten am 30. Juni 2011 um 11.20 Uhr in Sarnen. Mit dem Zug geht es via Luzern, Genf nach Chambery Challes. Die Strecke von Chambery Challes nach Grenoble fahren wir mit dem Bus, wo wir um 17.30 Uhr ankommen. Nach einer Marschzeit von 45 Minuten erreichen wir unser Hotel. Da bleibt genügend Zeit für ein feines Nachtessen ;-). Die Franzosen können wohl auch nicht selber kochen, denn das erste Lokal war bereits ausgebucht. Aber beim 2. Restaurant hat es geklappt!