Editor Note: This blog entry is part of my ongoing effort to transition from traditional scrapbooking to a digital format for story telling. Taking apart scrapbooks- scanning pictures and trying to capture some of the stories behind the pictures. While this post was written in June 2024 it is a recap of a trip we took in 1998. It was my intent to just transition from what is in this paper album onto the blog- but I soon realized I would need to add to the entries to help with context and flow. Where I have added 2024 reflections- I will head with "editor's update". Anything else is a "real time reflection" from 1998 (or soon there after when I put the album together).
January 8-17, 1998
Chang's European Adventure
After months of planning, it was finally time to leave for Europe. What were we in for- traveling so far with a six month child? How would he do on that long of a flight? Would we battle jet lag during our entire stay? Soon enough we would have answers to these questions.
Some people may be wondering- why Europe? True, Thing 1 was too little to remember the trip and there were a lot of logistical hassles of traveling with a baby, but we really wanted to see our friends, Tom and Noreen and their boys. We wanted Thing one to meet these friends. And well, if we were going all the way to visit friends, we might as well take a little side trip to see Paris!
Our first stop was this tiny little hamlet where the Cookes were living while Tom worked for the US Army
We would spend the first few days catching up with our friends and their two boys
Marty- about 18 months
Our friends had become friends with a local Dutch family- The Simons
Reggy, Mary and their son, Peter
During our visit, they invited us to dinner at their home where we dined on what they referred to as Gourmet (where the T is pronounced). It is similar to fondue except you use miniature fry pans instead of a pot of oil.
Editor's update (2024): In 2020 I would discovered Gourmet again- only this time it would be referred to as Raclette. It was just as delicious as I remember from our trip to the Netherlands. I would decide then and there to buy such a cooking device- and since then- we enjoy an occasional raclette or gourmet meal.
All Aboard!
We decided that since we were so close to Paris- we would take a two day side trip to see
the City of Lights
The bullet train took us from Liege, Belgium to Paris in less than 3 hours!.
It's called the bullet train because the train can cruise at speed in excess of 200 mile per hour!
Snack time while we wait for the train
While in Paris- we would stay at the Circle National Des Armees- The French Officers Club
As both of us are officers in the US Army- we were eligible to stay at this hotel/club. The room was spacious by European hotel standards, with a very large bathroom and cable TV.
There was even a small balcony which provided gorgeous views of the city.
All for just 440 francs a night!
See- spacious by European standards..
L'Arc de Triomphe
The Arc measures 40 meters wide and 50 meters high and there are 12 converging boulevards. making this both a pedestrian and driving circle nightmare. Thank heavens there is a tunnel that allows one to cross the circle by going under the chaos.
The first night in Paris we decided to walk to the Arc as it is "just a few blocks". Lesson learned, those were very long blocks but was well worth the walk!
Editor's update (2024)- all the photos I took that evening were too dark and blurry to really turn out. Each evening at 6:30 various military groups conduct a wreath laying ceremony. We were fortunate to be there when they placed the wreath. I liken it to our Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I also chuckle as I re-read just a few blocks. Hubby would later coin this as one of my "death marches" as I have never-ending energy when it comes to walking around a new area that I find interesting- even if I pay for it later on with blisters on our feet and gentle natured teasing from the Hubby.
The Cathedral of Notre Dame
and
Sainte Chapelle
Editor's update (2024)- my journaling from the visit to these two cultural icons is pretty limited. Few, if any of the photos, are worth adding to this blog. I guess in hindsight I would say we came- we snapped a few pictures and continued on our merry way. I will say when we heard of the epic fire in 2019- I was grateful that I had been able to visit this church before the fire. Now, in 2024, if google is to be trusted-restoration from the fire is about 90% complete.
Palace of Versailles
The famous Hall of Mirrors
Keeping with tradition-
The Changs visit a castle- of course it a perfect rainy day
Editor's update (2024): My journaling got a little more interesting for this one- noting that, on our way to the castle, Patrick's favorite knit blanket was dropped or lost. Some 27 years later- we still laughingly recall "Wonder if it is still sitting in the palace lost and found?".
The Eiffel Tower
Editor's update (2024): Ah yes, this was clearly of the era when Martha scrapped even the blurry photos into odd shapes. You can see now why I am breaking down these albums and going digital. And nothing of substance is included in the journaling- comment on the weather and a sleeping baby. What were we expecting- it was the dead of winter (when it rains a lot in Europe) and the baby was 6 months old (when they sleep as much if not more than they were awake). It is curious to see that the countdown on the tower was to Y2K. So much attention was given to that- only for it to be essentially a non-event.
Les Invalides
Ah- hard to believe the morning was cold and raining but by late afternoon the skies had cleared making it a picture perfect afternoon!
Editor's update (2024): still not much journaling other than some written notes as to what the picture is featuring. I do find it interesting, while I journaled very little that adds context- we must have really enjoyed visiting this place as I have 4 pages (in a rather thin scrapbook) devoted to this visit. Was it because the sun was out, the baby was awake. Maybe. But I think another thing we appreciated was the near non-existent crowds and that the museum itself honors France's war heroes through the years. First built in the late 1670s- its primary purpose was to serve as housing for wounded war heroes. The Dome church also caught our attention- with the fancy altar and how it house's Napoleon's tomb.
We continue to thrive in visiting off-the-beaten path places with next to no other people. Who knew this would be the beginning of a trend for our style of travel?
It is here that we would snap two pictures that would go on to be "family classic" photos. Out of all the pictures we took- these two have been scanned time and time again. As I ponder "well after the fact" what made these pictures so memorable was what they show- Patrick was awake, smiling, we found it very amusing that he was small enough to in theory be launched from the canon? Anyways- it's just a timely reminder- to snap the picture that celebrates the ordinary- for one day it may become one of the cherished memories of an adventure.
Girl's Day Out
Editor's update (2024): A two page layout celebrating how Noreen and I snuck away for a day of exploring the nearby bigger down of Maastritch. As I reflect back- I remember how important those days away from the responsibilities of motherhood were. I also remember- how much I enjoyed the movie, and to this day- it's a fun movie to watch as a rerun.
Let's Go Home
As is evident from the look on this weary traveler's face, it is time to head home. The vacation seemed to pass by all too quickly. But isn't that the case with any vacation? All in all, we had a wonderful time. It was great to see the Cookes. And visiting Paris was indeed a special treat for Martha (Dom- not so much as he had been there before, during his Army days). Patrick will likely not remember anything from the trip. But with this album, we can at least prove to him that he was along on this vacation.
The time changes did not seem to phase this very mellow easy going little guy. The flight home was essentially uneventful, until we got to Dulle and learned that our place back to Denver was experiencing mechanical delays. So- we made a quick run through the terminal to catch the last flight of the evening that would get us back to Denver. This trip would route us through Dallas- but at this point- we didn't care, we just wanted to get home to our own beds.
Would we do it again? You Betcha!
Editor's update (2024): I like that I took the time to summarize our trip. I had forgotten all about passing through Dallas airport. As for whether we actually did it again? Nope- no international trips would happen again until 2015- when we took both Things on a European adventure. We would continue to travel extensively throughout the United States- but international travel with children (both in '98 and '15) add to the cost- and I think there just isn't a big enough return on the investment for taking kids..all things factored in.
Until next time
Take the Trip
Buy the shoes
And eat the cake...
live life without regret
