Ethan goes to Paris ....



We went to Paris for a few days over the July 4th holiday (not in Europe, of course). We took the Eurostar train under the English Channel. It did not look like much when we went under the channel - just like going through a tunnel. The train ride was about 1.45 hours.

To get to the Eurostar station from our flat in London, we had to take a double decker bus! Here we are on top at 5:15am.

After we arrived we checked into our hotel directly around the corner from the Eiffel Tower and headed to the tower. We had to wait in line for about 30 minutes. I have been to Paris several times, but this was my first time to go all the way to the top observation deck. It is really high, but totally enclosed, so not too scary. It started to rain as we were waiting in line, so the views were not super clear.

Here are some pictures on the top observation deck.

After the Eiffel Tower, we headed for the Louvre. We had a museum pass, so we were able to bypass the lines and go right in. We had lunch at the Louvre cafe and visited all of the major works - a sort of a greatest hits tour.

This is a picture of the crowd of people in the room to see the Mona Lisa. Notice the small painting in the background - that is the Mona Lisa.

In front of the Winged Nike of Samothrace.

In front of the Venus de Milo.

Grandma Leanna and Ethan take a break for a slushy or "Glace" outside of the Louvre.



Breakfast at a Cafe in Paris.

The next day we took a boat cruise down the Seine River. This is a great way to see the sights of Paris.

We also visited Notre Dame Cathederal. Ethan lights a candle for Great Grandma Baevich and our dog Holly.

We saw an amazing choir perform in the Louvre. Ironically it was a high school honor choir from the US on a European tour.

We rented a cottage in Wales in the Brecon Beacons National Park for a four day weekend with dad and Leanna. The cottage was located in a village called Pencilli and is on the Usk River. Grandpa and Ethan in the car on the way to the cottage are pictured above. Here are some pictures of the cottage. This is the back view.

We did not have the entire building. We had a two story unit second from the end. The cottage was nice and modern. Here is our living room leading to the back.

Dad and Leanna take a break after the long car ride from London.

Here is the kitchen with the table set for dinner.

We played a daily game of "football."

This is the Usk river which ran behind the cottage. Dad got some rubber boots for fishing was able to do a bit of evening fishing in the river.

We went to the town of Brecon to the European Market to get some provisions for the cottage. Here are grandpa and Ethan in the town center.

Road signs in Welsh.

Grandpa gets some bread.

We went on a long hike one morning about 8 miles using the footpath system. Here we are at the start of the hike heading towards the footpath signposted on the left.

Here grandpa goes up the hill behind the sheep.

A break for a picnic lunch along the canal.

A narrow boat along the canal.

Climbing over the fence to continue our hike along walking path.

William notices a special door in the gate for dogs to pass through.

During this trip, we also stopped at the Talybont Reservoir for a picnic lunch, hiking and fishing.

William takes a break to do some sketching.

We took a hike around part of the Reservoir and took a break to build "woodhenge." Here Ethan is with his masterpiece.

On our way back from fishing we took a "short cut" to our village which turned out to be not so short, because we came upon some shepherds taking their sheep to be shorn. There were hundreds of sheep, so we got out of the car and walked behind them.

One of the shepherds let Ethan hold a baby sheep!

We took a hike through a series of waterfalls in the Brecons. It was just beautiful.

Some of the hiking was challenging. We had to climb in the space underneath these fallen trees. Here comes grandpa!

We took a one hour horse back ride through the Brecons. This was Ethan's first time on a horse, and he did great. Notice that he got to ride the horse all by himself. Here we are in our English riding hats!

Hogan's Heroes ....

Ethan climbs on his horse.

Ethan pets his horse.

Here we are on the trail!

We took a special trip to Hay-on-Wye to St. Mary's Church to locate the grave of Thomas Howells, (or that was the idea when we visited the church!) Thomas Howells was (according to family lore) sheriff of Herefordshire, the fattest man in Wales (at his largest), and lived to the age of 99. We couldn't locate the headstone, alas, but did find the highly suggestive headstone of a "Howell Powell." The vicar helpfully suggested that we check the old town cemetery, as the church graveyard was closed to new burials in the 1830s. But we were tired, and decided to have a beer instead. As Ethan's paternal welsh stock comes from the Howells and Powell line in Hay, we're going to count Howell Powell as being a distant relative of similar renown . . . This kind of rigor is known as geneaology 'lite.'