Ghost Town Vacation
I finally was able to view the lists of stores, restaurants, tourist spots, museums etc that Marie had sent me. (Through the acute detective work of my Dr. Wonderful, who had many iterations with Microsoft word -pffff- rtf files to text edit to get to Word format)
What a thorough list Marie sent! I am now shamed into perfecting my list for her: no small feat, we're talking the Bay Area...San Francisco, wine country, beaches, the coastal drive up from Los Angeles and of course the lovely Marin County.
But first. We are arriving in France on a Sunday morning. August 1st the double whammy. August in France, and Sunday morning. Will we be able to get dinner and wine? One would think stores are open in France on Sunday, but they are not!
I pondered the list and noticed no mention of the August/Sunday possible problem. So I emailed Marie. She is candid, and she first did phone/inquire about this for us, arriving after 2 long flights, pretty jet-lagged, can't speak the language...what are we to do about a meal. And thankfully they are FRENCH, and understood the wine problem??!!?
Marie has offered to leave us some chicken, some fois gras (and other typical french products, Champagne...). The restaurants and wine shop in Viroflay are closed on Sunday, Marie found out, and much of August.
Fortunately Versailles is a 5 minute train ride, and quite a big tourist attraction. Wouldn't dare close Versailles during tourist season. We are saved by Versailles, and that is not what Versailles is noted for. "Restaurants with the best terraces!" She offered us again to take their car. "Why not take our car to Versailles for dinner?" Is this sounding like a vacation or what?
If we are too tired, we can order pizza, and Marie sent the phone numbers for Domino's and Pizza Hut. All the way to France and Pizza Hut?
We will be eating in Versailles on Monday, but more likely, a nap and a drive to Versailles on Sunday.
International Drivers License
Do not know if this is necessary, but afraid I will not be able to drive a car without one so planning on getting that before we leave.
Our Preparations Continued
I finished sorting through the linen closet. We do have towels for a family of 6, heck, we could towel up a family of 12. But some of the towels have been in the closet for some time, so the washing and sorting of towels has commenced.
During the Sunday meal panic-emails, Marie asked about touring Alcatraz while here. It's your basic prison on an island in the middle of the bay, but the views from the ferry required to get there are fabulous, so we recommend and recommend tennis shoes, lots of walking.
This inquiry did inspire us to complete our recommendations for them, easy for me. Mr. did a google map with recommendations of restaurants, attractions, etc, check out one:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=105016267495495024567. 00048bc5007d09b0de14c&z=9
You must copy and paste the entire url into your browser, then wait for the upload. Quite something! and apparently kind of time consuming to do. Also a first pass, so no critics!
I have begun to do an itinerary for us. Much of what one does in the Bay Area during these economic times does not require a reservation, nor does one need to get very dressed up.
Not true for Paris! Marie suggested reservations for dinner, even if you just call the same day. And the boat ride with dinner around the Seine requests suit and tie. Note to self: add tie to Paul's list. Marie said yes to the cruise, but not dinner on the boat, expensive and not so tasty. We will not argue food with the French.
Next: Emailing restaurants and boats in France...
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