Today, on our 2nd last day of our journey, Linda took us to see the spectacular Plitvic Lakes national park! What an amazing place! It was proclaimed a National Park in 1949 and a Unesco World Heritage site in 1979. The waterfalls are absolutely outstanding and they have created kilometers and kilometers of boardwalks so you can walk around and enjoy the staggering beauty. The park represents a phenomenon of karst hydrography which forms these amazing towers and caves of travertine (I always loved that material and now I know why it is so expensive). We took a tonne of pics so I will happily share those when we get home.
The tragic part was seeing all the damaged homes on the road to the park. The different republics of the former Yugoslavia were at war with themselves in 1991 to 1995. The Serbians, Croatians and Bosnians were battling. We saw many, many homes that have not been repaired yet and you can see the machine- gun spray of bullets and also bombed homes. I remember hearing about the war, but seeing the damage now makes me so sad. We humans can be so cruel.
Now Croatia is doing well. It is an incredibly beautiful country with a stunning coastline. The undulating hillsides remind me of the drive through Salmon Arm. So green, so beautiful! The people are friendly, the cities are clean and greenspace is plentiful.
We are so fortunate in Canada. We have so much: inexpensive housing (yes even in Kelowna), space, and opportunities abound. I will appreciate it more.
This journey we have been on has changed us all. We have all grown as individuals and as a family. I have more desire for the simple pleasures: good fresh food, and good wine and time just being with Derek and the girls (and friends!) And I would like to think that I will need less of the material things.
Tomorrow is our last day... We will savour it like the 59 before... And are ready to come home.
I feel so bloody lucky! Two fabulous months to explore and learn. Thank you for reading our blog and for listening to my rambling... I encourage you all to hug those you love, to travel if you can, and to Carpe Diem!
Much love,
Tamara and the French Moran Clan
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Friday, 24 June 2011
Croatia! What a Finale to this Trip!
Holy smokes this is one of the most beautiful places any of us have ever, ever been to!!! We landed in Zagreb on Wednesday and then Linda and her husband Davor and son Luka wisked us off to the island of Krk! We spend yesterday lounging on their boat (yacht!) in the Med sea frolicking, swimming, sunning and relaxing! Wow!!! After the hustle and bustle of Paris (|and that damn rain) this is paradise!!! Paradise!!! My Mum laughed at me and said that I keep saying that I love each place we've been to best..... but now I mean it. I think!!!
We return to Canada next week and I will upload the best pics of our incredible sabbatical from life at home! We have learned so much! We have grown a lot... we have had the best best best time ever!!!
See you all soon!
Much much love!
Hvala! (thanks in Croatian)
Tamara and family
We return to Canada next week and I will upload the best pics of our incredible sabbatical from life at home! We have learned so much! We have grown a lot... we have had the best best best time ever!!!
See you all soon!
Much much love!
Hvala! (thanks in Croatian)
Tamara and family
Sunday, 19 June 2011
City of Lights!
The City of Lights
Paris is truly amazing! There is so much to see and do, it could almost be stressful... But we keep reminding ourselves we'll be back. We can't possibly see it all! So we aren't trying anymore. I think.
We had a fabulous 3 days with my Mum and Dad and they left this morning for a river cruise down the Rhône. How fortunate we were to spend time together here in Paris!
Today we took the Metro to the neighbourhood of Montmontre... It was busy and quite bohemian and fun! Then we metro'd again over to Marsais and caught a great fashion show! So cool! Then we walked over to the Centre Pompidou and went in for a quick look through the Musée National d'Art Moderne. After seeing all the fabulous old works at the Louvre yesterday (yes we saw the Mona Lisa!) it was interesting to see the most famous art from the last 100 years. We like Matisse's work, love Chagall and don't really understand Picasso.
We concluded our day with a " pot de frites" and a demi litre of vin de pays rouge... Now are home to relax!
One thing that I miss about home is.... Reliable Laundry. Our machine here won't spin, Arles didn't work and Cannes wouldn't either. I am getting might good at washing by hand.... And it's the pits!
Tomorrow we are excited to see " la piéce de la resistance" ... The Musée d'Orsay! It is housed in the old train station and I think it may be our favourite museum yet! It's full of Impressionism works and picks up where the Louvre leaves off. Should be amazing!
Now time to relax.... Pass the vin rouge s'il vous plait!
Xo my friends!
Paris is truly amazing! There is so much to see and do, it could almost be stressful... But we keep reminding ourselves we'll be back. We can't possibly see it all! So we aren't trying anymore. I think.
We had a fabulous 3 days with my Mum and Dad and they left this morning for a river cruise down the Rhône. How fortunate we were to spend time together here in Paris!
Today we took the Metro to the neighbourhood of Montmontre... It was busy and quite bohemian and fun! Then we metro'd again over to Marsais and caught a great fashion show! So cool! Then we walked over to the Centre Pompidou and went in for a quick look through the Musée National d'Art Moderne. After seeing all the fabulous old works at the Louvre yesterday (yes we saw the Mona Lisa!) it was interesting to see the most famous art from the last 100 years. We like Matisse's work, love Chagall and don't really understand Picasso.
We concluded our day with a " pot de frites" and a demi litre of vin de pays rouge... Now are home to relax!
One thing that I miss about home is.... Reliable Laundry. Our machine here won't spin, Arles didn't work and Cannes wouldn't either. I am getting might good at washing by hand.... And it's the pits!
Tomorrow we are excited to see " la piéce de la resistance" ... The Musée d'Orsay! It is housed in the old train station and I think it may be our favourite museum yet! It's full of Impressionism works and picks up where the Louvre leaves off. Should be amazing!
Now time to relax.... Pass the vin rouge s'il vous plait!
Xo my friends!
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
oh My Aching Feet!!
We had a lovely day in Paris today celebrating Derek and Morgan's birthdays. But we walked, and walked, and walked some more. Oh our feet are done!!
We have a week here but there is so much to see and do that we seem to feel a need to cram it in. Tomorrow will be more mellow I hope :)
We went to Notre Dame (stunning church but it was packed and after seeing some incredible churches in Provence where we were the only people inside, the crowds make it less nice). Then we visited the crypts of ancient Paris (that was cool!) then we took the metro to the Arc de Triumph which is so amazing it takes your breath away, and then we ascended the Eiffel Tower! Morgan and Alexa were very excited to go up there and the views of this enormous and amazing city are unbeatable.
We concluded the day with a great dinner out with Mum and Dad and checked into our funky apartment at 10 pm!
What a day!!
Sleep tight mes ami!
We have a week here but there is so much to see and do that we seem to feel a need to cram it in. Tomorrow will be more mellow I hope :)
We went to Notre Dame (stunning church but it was packed and after seeing some incredible churches in Provence where we were the only people inside, the crowds make it less nice). Then we visited the crypts of ancient Paris (that was cool!) then we took the metro to the Arc de Triumph which is so amazing it takes your breath away, and then we ascended the Eiffel Tower! Morgan and Alexa were very excited to go up there and the views of this enormous and amazing city are unbeatable.
We concluded the day with a great dinner out with Mum and Dad and checked into our funky apartment at 10 pm!
What a day!!
Sleep tight mes ami!
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Cherie Paris!!!
We arrived yesterday afternoon in Paris! It is stunning!! We took a high speed train and it only took 5 hours to travel all the way from Arles to Paris. The countryside is beautiful here... Even at 300kms an hour!
My Mum and Dad have come to meet us and we are thrilled to spend some time together with them in this incredible city. Today Morgan and Derek share a birthday and we are going to see Notre Dame, then the Rodin Museum and then up the Eiffel Tower!
We have not seen much of Paris yet, but I am sure we will love it. My Mum laughed yesterday and said that I have loved every place we have been to on this trip... And it's true! They have all had different amazing features and history. I feel so grateful for this trip and all the experiences we are having.
Details to come soon!
Love
The travelling Moran Clan
My Mum and Dad have come to meet us and we are thrilled to spend some time together with them in this incredible city. Today Morgan and Derek share a birthday and we are going to see Notre Dame, then the Rodin Museum and then up the Eiffel Tower!
We have not seen much of Paris yet, but I am sure we will love it. My Mum laughed yesterday and said that I have loved every place we have been to on this trip... And it's true! They have all had different amazing features and history. I feel so grateful for this trip and all the experiences we are having.
Details to come soon!
Love
The travelling Moran Clan
Monday, 13 June 2011
No Playing on the Grass
"Pelous Interdits" - these signs are anywhere you see grass. There is little grass to be found here. None that we saw in Banyuls sur Mer, none here in Arles, none in Nice that we found. And when you do see a gorgeous stretch of lovely lush lawn... The signs all say "pelous interdits( or something like that).
Well Alexa as you well know, has lots of energy, and a wild spirit..... So she (with Derek's support) ran outside on our last night in
Cannes.... After dark... And ran and jumped and did cartwheels on the grass! And she was giggling and singing a diddy "the BEST night EVER"... It was pretty cute!
Well Alexa as you well know, has lots of energy, and a wild spirit..... So she (with Derek's support) ran outside on our last night in
Cannes.... After dark... And ran and jumped and did cartwheels on the grass! And she was giggling and singing a diddy "the BEST night EVER"... It was pretty cute!
Market day in Arles
We enjoyed the biggest market I have ever been to on Saturday. The Arles market is one of the biggest in Provence and there was so much to see. You can buy 18k gold earrings beside the fish market and beside him is the live animal section! Morgan loved petting the cute bunnies and right beside the live animals they had a cooler with.... Not live animals. Uug! But it's so different from home where I buy meat in a small plastic wrapped package. Chicken looks just like pork or any other meat. Not here! And though it takes some getting used to here... I prefer it.
Food tastes amazing here! They have about 35 varities of olives... Hundreds of cheeses, they have over 8 varities of baugettes alone (and then the other breads some are shaped like boats, some are short puffy rolls and some are long and flat.
Maybe the food is this good at home but we don't take the time to slow down and savour it?
Our trip is winding down now... We head to
Paris tomorrow (that will be amazing!) and then a week with my friend Linda in Croatia! And then we head home June 30th! Time has flown by.... But we will most certainly be back.
Xoxo
Food tastes amazing here! They have about 35 varities of olives... Hundreds of cheeses, they have over 8 varities of baugettes alone (and then the other breads some are shaped like boats, some are short puffy rolls and some are long and flat.
Maybe the food is this good at home but we don't take the time to slow down and savour it?
Our trip is winding down now... We head to
Paris tomorrow (that will be amazing!) and then a week with my friend Linda in Croatia! And then we head home June 30th! Time has flown by.... But we will most certainly be back.
Xoxo
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