Adventures By Disney - A Tale of Two Cities - Page 32 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Moving on with the current of the years.
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To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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With you posting to the rest of the PP boards so infrequently, ShaSha, I hadn't seen your advertisement... uh... I mean your sig pic in so long that I didn't realize just how many updates I'd missed.
I just got all caught up again. I was literally sitting there thinking "please tell me she remembers to see the Rosetta Stone!" Then I yelped out loud when you did. I love me that stone for some reason. When I saw it in '87, it wasn't behind glass, but it looked that way for you.....
It was so nice to see you surrounded by PassPorters!
Eileen
Great update Sharon! I can't believe you're leaving London already, but glad you got to sneak in a PP meet! Thanks for the pics of the Disney store - oh how I miss being able to go to one. The closes one now is several hours away.
Great updates Sharon!! You are bringing back so many memories of when I was there almost 4 years ago with DD (she danced in the New Year's Day parade through London. Great fun!!). I hope you get to go back to see the inside of St. Paul's Cathedral. The view from the top of the dome from the outside is absolutely amazing and so worth the long climb up!!!
Thanks so much for the memories!!!!
__________________
Betty Sue
Affiliated with CruisingCo.Com/MouseEarVacations.com
Disney Destination Specialist/ BettySueS@cruisingco.com August '09 Trip
Glad you enjoyed the British Museum - that's my favourite too, I love all the Buddhas!
Looking forward to the Disneyland Paris section...I desperately want to hear some good reviews of it ahead of my plans to go next June!!
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Tinkerboo (or in the real world, Toyah) Reading Challenge 2015: 0/84
Follow my journey from sweaty panting mess to running goddess (I hope!) Out walking with The Boy...
I just got caught up sharon but the pictures and the places you saw were amazing! I really think the ABD does an amazing job overall and i'm very impressed with it all. I think that going backstage at the lion king was a real treat as well.
I really think you got to see so many things and i wish I could be like you when i travel, you seemed like such a pro and never nervous about getting lost which you managed not to do at all
I love the PP meet that you had...its always nice to have some one thats local and a friend to show you around
I cannot wait to hear about Paris!
All caught up again. What a great time in merry old England!!! Hope to have similar PP meets next summer when DH and I do the northern european capital cruise! Wonder if the ABD hotel you stayed in will be the one they use prior to cruise. THAT would be awesome!
Well, come on, we need more. Need to see Paree!
The hotel was great. The rooms were lovely and the location was very good. It was within walking distance of a lot of things (the British Museum, Covent Garden, the theatre district, etc.) and very close to a tube stop. It's the Renaissance Chancery Court.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Sadly I was told that he couldn't by the man with the evil gleam in his eye when he saw Piglet...
Mark was like a parent "you've got one at home just like it!" and Cheryl: "but I don't have this one!"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caldercup
With you posting to the rest of the PP boards so infrequently, ShaSha, I hadn't seen your advertisement... uh... I mean your sig pic in so long that I didn't realize just how many updates I'd missed.
I just got all caught up again. I was literally sitting there thinking "please tell me she remembers to see the Rosetta Stone!" Then I yelped out loud when you did. I love me that stone for some reason. When I saw it in '87, it wasn't behind glass, but it looked that way for you.....
It was so nice to see you surrounded by PassPorters!
Eileen
OK, Miss Snarky, don't make me PM you every time I update. Cuz I will! And I'm glad I didn't disappoint you by missing the Rosetta Stone (and yes, it is behind glass now).
Quote:
Originally Posted by BettyBeBop
Great updates Sharon!! You are bringing back so many memories of when I was there almost 4 years ago with DD (she danced in the New Year's Day parade through London. Great fun!!). I hope you get to go back to see the inside of St. Paul's Cathedral. The view from the top of the dome from the outside is absolutely amazing and so worth the long climb up!!!
Thanks so much for the memories!!!!
St. Paul's is on my list for my next visit to London (whenever that may be).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinkerboo
Glad you enjoyed the British Museum - that's my favourite too, I love all the Buddhas!
Looking forward to the Disneyland Paris section...I desperately want to hear some good reviews of it ahead of my plans to go next June!!
I enjoyed DLP. It's really a beautiful park!
Quote:
Originally Posted by scdisneyfan
I just got caught up sharon but the pictures and the places you saw were amazing! I really think the ABD does an amazing job overall and i'm very impressed with it all. I think that going backstage at the lion king was a real treat as well.
I really think you got to see so many things and i wish I could be like you when i travel, you seemed like such a pro and never nervous about getting lost which you managed not to do at all
I love the PP meet that you had...its always nice to have some one thats local and a friend to show you around
I cannot wait to hear about Paris!
Working in New York City helps me be at ease in any city. And I'll happily play tour guide to you if you want!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
I was up with the alarm and quickly got ready. I had two suitcases (one large one and my smaller bag that I usually take as a carry on). We were supposed to have our bags outside our door, so I took the first one out. Then I watched the door close and realized I’d just locked myself out! And it was almost time for pickup because I waited almost until the last minute because I was nervous about leaving my bags unattended in the hallway for a long time.
So I started to worry that I’d end up carrying my suitcase with me all over Paris (when really, worst-case scenario would’ve meant I took it on the bus to the station myself, but that’s never the first thing that pops into your head ) I went downstairs to the front desk and explained that I’d locked myself out. I didn’t have any ID on me (of course), so she had me sign something and matched it to my signature on file then printed new keys for me.
I was sure my one bag would've been whisked away when I got back upstairs, but it was there. I put the other bag out and about 5 minutes later, I heard them come by and pick them up (Tinkerbell was disguised as a bellman ) It wasn’t time to meet the bus, so I had a few minutes to catch up on my notes. Then I headed down and hung out in the lobby with some of my fellow Adventurers.
We started talking about the marble staircase in the hotel, which is quite famous and has been featured in movies (though none I’ve seen or recall). I realized that I hadn’t taken a photo of it, so I went to take care of that and Linda, one of my tourmates came with me. I found it difficult to get the shot, so finally I just pointed the camera straight up and I actually love the result!
We then boarded the bus and I enjoyed my last view of London on the way to St. Pancras Station. We parked and headed in. I love train stations!
We had time to explore a bit before it was time to board the train. I did a little shopping, then discovered there was free wifi available, so I checked in on the boards and sent a few emails. I got my second Passport stamp and then we all boarded the train.
We had first class seats (but with ABD, I wouldn’t expect anything less ) and we were all seated in the same car together. The guides were pretty good at noticing which mini groups hung out together and seated people accordingly. I was actually in a seat by myself, but across the aisle from a couple that I had been hanging out with quite a lot.
I settled in and before long we were speeding along. I was quite happy that I was getting good pictures (because others weren’t getting good results – my camera can take photos at 800 speed).
After a while, they started bringing out the food. Since we were in first class, we had champagne available, but not being a fan of champagne, I passed.
I munched on a yummy croissant while watching the English countryside go by. Cheryl had told me that the train passes through her town, so I watched to see if I could spot her house. Do I know where her house is or what it looks like? But I figured I’d recognize it when I saw it.
Then we went into the Chunnel. The Guides told us we’d be going much too fast to get any good pictures of the fish. One of my fellow Adventurers fell for it. I tried to get a picture of the inside of the Chunnel, but instead ended up with a pretty nice self-portrait. I enjoy the pensive look on my face (hey, anything beats the perpetually doofy grin ).
Mini spoiler: The guides were going around talking to each of the groups and handing out envelopes. When they got to me, I discovered that they’d created postcards of some of the photos they’d taken (including that shot of me in front of the Tower Bridge). Eddie was really happy with how it had turned out, particularly as it had been raining buckets an hour before. I think the postcards were a fantastic little surprise, but I didn’t mail them but am going to use them in a scrapbook I’m going to make. Yes, I’m going to make a scrapbook, I actually bought supplies for it a few days ago.
I didn’t even realize Eddie was taking photos of my reaction to the postcards until the picture showed up on my Photopass! Anyway, after a few more minutes chatting with Eddie, my food arrived and I got down to business.
An omelet, sausage, tomatoes, potatoes, and that dark brown clumpy-looking pile is mushrooms
By now you should all realize what a nerd I am. So I can tell you this and know you’ll understand. I was completely charmed by items I see every day being in French! I’m such a nerd. I even took a picture. Two pictures to be specific.
Jus d’Orange
Et … Sprite (but, say that with a French accent, mmm-kay?)
Anyway, after cleaning my hands with the hot towels they provided, I did more admiring of the French countryside.
Windmills!
I also spotted sheep a few times, but wasn’t able to get a picture. As we got closer to the city I could tell because it looked more like a city (duh ), but mostly because of the graffiti.
We arrived at Gare du Nord and headed for our bus.
I just realized that you can see Eddie at the front of our group taking a photo of the person holding up the ABD sign (it looks like Roger, a fellow Adventurer)
We exited the station to find a protest of some kind going on. It looked like there were some workers on strike or something. We found our bus and met our local guide, Laurent. Then we headed out for the only thing on today’s itinerary besides the train. I’ll quote myself from earlier in the TR:
Quote:
We’re taking the Eurostar to Paris. This is something I’ve always wanted to do, so I’m happy it was part of the ABD tour. In Paris we’ll be staying at the Paris Hilton. OK, so we’ll be staying at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but I like saying the Paris Hilton better. There’s a “Parisian Orientation Tour” on the agenda. Could they be more vague?
So “Parisian Orientation Tour” turned out to be a little bus tour of the city, and we did get to see a good bit of it. It was here we learned about the surprises they had lined up for us. We would have quite a full rest of the day, but I’m going to keep y’all in suspense for a bit. But I will say that the agenda change was because it was an Adults Only tour. And now that I’ve said that I’m sure you’re all thinking “Moulin Rouge.”
Laurent was full of information and started by telling us all about Parisian architecture and how the third floor always had a balcony because that’s where the rich people lived (far enough away from the riff raff on the street, but not too high, because there was no air conditioning). You can see this in buildings all around the city.
Then we got a great look at the Academie Nationale de Musique, l’Opéra, (home of the Phantom of the Opera) which I thought was the most gorgeous building. The photos I got of it don’t do it justice (especially since they were taken from inside a moving bus). As we circled the building, Laurent told us all about its history.
Really, the pictures just don’t do it justice and on my next visit to Paris (whenever that may be), I will find time to visit l’Opéra. We drove around some more…
Laurent explained how Paris is laid out sort of like a snail’s shell, with districts starting in the center and radiating out in circles, called arrondissements. You can find your way around the city and know where things are located based on which arrondissement it’s in. Whenever an address is referenced, the arrondissement is also listed. At the center is the 1er Arrondissement, Place Vendome, which is the city center.
We got to ride around there, and it was pretty cool. There are high-end shops as well as the famous Ritz Hotel. Lots of stuff out of my price range!
We passed l’Opéra again…
I am in with this building!
We made our way to perhaps one of the most famous buildings in Paris, if not all of the world, the Musée de Louvre, also in the 1er Arrondissement.
I cannot look at photos of the Louvre without thinking of The DaVinci Code, and that makes me feel like a philistine. Anyway, we continued our little tour.
Looks like Susan Boyle was making a splash in Paris, too
We arrived at our destination, the first of our surprises! I’m not going to tell you what it is, but you can see what the first surprise was in the background of the photos. We got another nice surprise not arranged by ABD. We had to stop and wait for… the Republican Guard! It was really cool to see up close!
You can see Laurent, our local guide
Up Next: An evening full of fantastic surprises
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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Tres Bien! Love the update. Your pictures turned out wonderful. Love the one of the marble staircases.
You are so not the only nerd. Years ago in college, I had a Chinese room mate for a short time. I got the biggest kick out seeing her Crest toothpaste with info/instructions/ingredients listed in Chinese.
Love the pic's of the Louvre especially the glass pyramid. I'm a fan of I.M. Pei. Looking forward to more.
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ºOº ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
Great update Sharon! Gosh, I went to all those places when I was in high school, and you know what? I never appreciated it then like I would now!! Love the pictures!! Can't wait for more!!
I'm so glad you're a nerd! That way we get lots of cool pics we never (or might not) would have taken ourselves. I'm kinda nerdy myself at times.
Your chunnel fish picture story reminded me of the trip to Branson when we rode the scenic train. We had to go through a tunnel near the end of the line, and the narrator suggested that the kids might see a "tunnel monkey" if they looked really close. Think about it for a minute ...
Oooooooo ... Phantom of the Opera!!!!! I would have loved to see the inside of the building - the outside was gorgeous. And it looks like you're on your way to meet Quasimodo! Another Disney connection!
your pictures are fab as usual...
i want to visit france so badly-- the pictures made my heart skip a beat! so glad you are moving to the next phase of the trip!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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Disney Magic - Oct 2015
And I'm glad I didn't disappoint you by missing the Rosetta Stone (and yes, it is behind glass now).
And I'll happily play tour guide to you if you want! 
And it was almost time for pickup because I waited almost until the last minute because I was nervous about leaving my bags unattended in the hallway for a long time. 
But I figured I’d recognize it when I saw it. 
I was completely charmed by items I see every day being in French! I’m such a nerd. 
I even took a picture. 
Two pictures to be specific.
But I will say that the agenda change was because it was an Adults Only tour. And now that I’ve said that I’m sure you’re all thinking “Moulin Rouge.” 
with this building! 
It was really cool to see up close!
ºOº ~*~ 
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