Disneyland Paris

We had three great days at Disneyland. We stayed at one of the Disneyland resorts a few minutes away from Disneyland and the Disney studios. Because we stayed at a Disney resort we had extended hours outside of the normal opening hours, which you really need because the crowds are huge with waiting times up to 55 minutes per ride.
Luckily most of the rides N wanted to go on were not the most popular neck breaking ones. N liked the newly opened Buzz Lightyear ride and a creepy elfy 'It's a small World after All' boatride which was like being stuck in the elf-land at the start of 'Series of Unfortunate Events' movie (I was in fits of laughter at the stupidity of the whole ride).

I liked the Buzz Lightyear ride - you had a laser gun and had to shoot Zurg and his robots to gain points. But by far the best entertainment was the shows at Disney Studio. There was a stunt show which was fabulous, showing how they adapt the cars for stunts like driving backwards or driving by 'remote' control.

This is a picture of a simulated explosion then a flood. There was no glass between the flood water and us, so we were splashed....great fun.

Postcards from Paris

We have now done Paris as a family.

The Eiffel Tower


We visited during the day and at night(on the hour it flashes like a Christmas tree)

Including numerous rides on the carousels around the Eiffel Tower and Trocadero.

The Louvre

N loved the French marbel statues. She stood in front of the Mona Lisa and was able to move to the side to watch her eyes follow her (we were at the Louvre at opening time and had no problems with either getting in or seeing the Mona Lisa)

M & I were impressed by the Assyrian and Mesopotamian section.

Notre Dame

Inside the Notre Dame we lighted a candle under the Joan of Arc statue.
















Jardin du Luxembourg

N played for hours with an American friend Bailey in the gardens fun filled playground.







Arc de Triomphe

View from the top of the Arc down the Champs Elysees
















Musee d'orsay
Exhibits works of art produced between 1848 and 1914 - therefore Impressionism to early Art Nouveau. We went because N wanted to see Degas' 'Ballerina'. They have a fantastic collection of Degas pastels.

Bugsy Malone

The school had it's big production of Bugsy Malone tonight at Divadlo U Hasicu, down the street from where we live. N was the Butler and a Down & Out. Here's a few shots from the night.

imeem

imeem is a new online social media service that combines all-in-one instant messaging with social networking.

imeem makes sharing blogs, photos, videos, and ideas with friends easier and more fun.

Tour imeem ................ very interesting.

Thinking of installing, it's getting difficult to pick the killer app that combines all my requirements. Try to keep to one software bundle that does it all without jumping around amongst hundreds of accounts & keeping friends on communication, blog, IM (Instant Messaging) and email feed.

M

Yeah!!! Back in the land of the living!

We all had dinner at one of our favourite restaurants - Gusto in Vinohrady - with some of the students we had been teaching.

I survived the course and am now a certified TEFL teacher (teaching English as a foreign language/same as Australian ESL teacher). It was the most intensive, physically and mentally draining thing I have ever done, up there with giving birth. M & N just coped, when I walked through the door on Friday N said "mummy you're alive!", which pretty much sums up the experience.

Because it was the off-season in Prague the class was small, 7 all up, 6 by the end of the first week. We all passed in the end, which was great. There was a Queenslander, Patrick; Kate & Colin from America; and Charlie & James from the UK.