O'Connor RULES!!!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

France Part Deux

We stayed in Versailles for 3 nights then left for Normandy. We made a quick stop in Etretat to see these rocks.

Then we went to Omaha beach

There is an amazing American cemetery there where you can pay your respects. France has several beautiful American cemeteries.

Then we walked to Pointe du Hoc where some bad@$$ Army Rangers made history by putting the beat down on some Nazis. There are some lovely (some not) monuments and the water is beautiful. It is so serene and hard to imagine such a bloody fight happening there.

This is the not so lovely monument...really?
http://www.abmc.gov/memorials/memorials/ph.php

Saturday, May 11, 2013

France Part Une

For Corey's official Post Deployment vacation we chose a road trip through France. For some reason I hate to say this, but I freaking love France. I didn't expect it but each time I go, I love it more. The people are always friendly, every square inch is adorable, great food, great wine, everywhere accepts credit card (except certain toll booths which cause French road rage and it is slightly more terrifying than the American version) and the radio stations are exactly one thousand times better than German radio stations.
We packed up the Prius and left for Versailles and Paris. It's only 4 hours away so it's not as wondrous as it sounds. We stopped to drink Champagne in Champagne and arrived at our hotel in Versailles. We chose not to stay in the city because we are lazy and just wanted to park at our hotel and not worry about driving in Paris.
If you go to Paris one day, consider a day in Versailles because it is a beautiful town with so much to see and less people. If you go to the train station and just stand around looking confused, someone will help you and you will eventually make your way into Paris. You have to show a little cleavage for this to happen though.

My first look at the Eiffel Tower

I was so happy to be there with Corey!

Lock bridge

Bridge

Lock heart

The Louvre

Art Noveau everywhere. I loved it.

Sacre Coeur

Mont Matre

Street art

Only for the picture

Notre Dame

Everything is adorable

A girl after my own heart

Versailles flowers

Versailles

Versailles Palace

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

London

I went back to San Antonio for training and then the DC area to see Corey's family a few weeks ago. I had so much fun seeing my in-laws! I married into such a great family and am so lucky that they like me too. I got to visit, eat, relax and see how much all the kids have grown. They are all so cute and so much fun.
I flew in Wednesday, went back to work Thursday then left for London Friday night. There is a really inexpensive airline here called Ryan Air and I scored tickets for 16 euro each way. You really can't say no to that. The only thing with Ryan Air is that they charge for every little thing so you have to go prepared. Forgot to print out your boarding pass? That'll be 30 euro. Have a bag that is larger than a small backpack? That'll be 40 euro. And so on. I made sure to wear as many clothes as possible, packed my bag, printed my boarding pass and drove to Holland to meet up with some friends.
We had an easy, no hassle trip and London was way better than I imagined. Well, I imagined crappy weather and I was right, but I had no idea how nice everyone is there. It might be the friendliest place I've ever been. I got to see Spamalot in the West End, we went to the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, saw the Royal Jewels, ate fish and chips, rode the Underground, heard our hotel neighbor having wild, unabashed monkey sex at 3 am and ate at an amazing Indian restaurant in Soho. A pretty successful two day trip.
I want to go back this summer and see Billy Elliot, Let it Be and The Book of Mormon. I'll wear the same clothes for a week if I get cheap tickets like that again.