I am Canadian/American!

Last week, Sylvia was dancing around the living room waving a couple of Canadian flags that were left over from Canada Day.  I decided that I should check and see if Canadian Immigration and Citizenship had yet changed my mailing address.  When I had checked a few days ago, the newest update on my account read, "You are scheduled to take the test in December."  Needless to say I had already taken the test.  This time when I checked it said, "You are scheduled to be sworn in as a Canadian Citizen on July 26th."  I called Pierre and left a message saying that it appeared that I had passed the citizenship exam and then spent a couple of hours on the computer and phone trying to see how I could postpone the ceremony.  At the end of the work day, Pierre called me to say that he had the time off and that he had looked into plane tickets.  I couldn't believe I had just won a solo trip to Ottawa! 

Our sojourn in France complicated my quest for Canadian--ness and if it hadn't happened now, I would have had to start the process over and it would have taken many years and much money.  The ceremony has to happen on Canadian soil and the Canadian embassy in France doesn't cut it.

 Trish and Coleen accompanied me to the ceremony--which was much appreciated and won't be forgotten.

81 new citizens of 31 different nationalities became citizens with me.  I think all Canadians (and Americans--and I guess anyone who lives in a safe democracy) should go to a citizenship ceremony to watch how grateful so many of the recipients are and to be reminded of the things we tend to take for granted.  It is obvious that many of the new citizens have had a long, hard journey.  I got teary when we sang Oh Canada and the kids in front of me sang out loud and clear.  There were six kids (you can see one of them sitting on her mom's lap) and they sang out loudly and proudly, as I am sure they learned to do at school.  Becoming Canadian after living in Ottawa for ten years means more to me than I think it would have had I done it when I first arrived.

 Here I am celebrating with The Queen at our neighborhood pub that evening.  During the ceremony, the judge only mentioned the war of 1812 ("Breaking free of the oppression of our southerly neighbour") a couple of times.  I pledged allegiance to "Our Sovereign," so I was glad she was at the Clocktower to celebrate.  I am proud to be Canadian and look forward to being able to vote in the country where I have lived for so long.

My trip back to Ottawa was fabulous and it couldn't have been better timed.  Most of my friends were in town and I was able to camp out with a good friend and her family before they moved away from Ottawa (I am putting my emotions about this on hold until we return to Ottawa).  I got out for a nice run with my running buddies and was chauffeured everywhere by these buddies. 

All of the places I used to have to visit at least once a week and was happy to avoid became exciting destinations.  The grocery store was fabulous.  We have a new stockpile of peanut butter and I am newly appreciative of just how heavy Meme's bag must have been when she delivered four jars to our doorstep.

It was lovely to kick back and relax and have some real conversations in my native tongue.  Thanks for listening Lindenlea!  Where else could I have learned that the liquid iron supplement we are giving Sylvia will turn her teeth brown if we aren't careful?  Neither the doctor nor the pharmacist mentioned that this could happen.  Trish, on the other hand, knew all about it.

Pierre and the girls had a grand time without me.  They saw Le Lorax in 3D and visited a lot of the girls' favorite places.  Pierre woke me up this morning to say goodbye.  He is in Slovakia tonight and looks forward to talking tax policy with the Slovakians tomorrow. 

Thank you to everyone who made my trip possible and a lot of fun.  Friends of Lindenlea, I hope you are planning your trip to Paris soon.

Loire Valley Chateaux

We had a wonderful couple of days in the Loire Valley.  The weather in Paris, unlike the U.S. and Canada has been unusually rainy and we were very glad to see the sun.  We drove down on Saturday and arrived mid-morning in Blois.  Blois is a small city perched on a hill overlooking the Loire; we knew little about Blois and were surprised and charmed.  There are beautiful public gardens, a charming Saturday market, and reasonably priced public parking.  

We walked up through beautiful gardens to the main plaza where Maison de Magique and Chateau Royal de Blois sit across from each other.  There is a lovely park along the side of the plaza that overlooks the Loire.

Lillian and Sylvia chose to begin at Maison de la Magique.  We arrived in the plaza on the hour and every hour four dragons (and one tail) poke their heads out of the windows and look around.  The girls were entranced.  It is really quite something because you can't see the dragons when the windows are shut.  We watched twice and the second time Sylvia had a long talk with this fellow and offered him some flowers to eat. 

The Maison de Magique is a tribute to Robert-Houdin, son of Blois, from whom Harry Houdini took his name.  They had a magic show that was pitched just right for the 6 to 8 year old crowd.  There are 5 floors of illusions, history. theater, etc.  We had a good time checking it out.

We walked down the steps to the market and ate some sandwiches and some crepes to fortify ourselves for our visit to the chateau.

Chateau Royal de Blois was the residence for 7 kings and 10 queens of France. The chateau is really 4 different chateaux in one: one wing from the Middle Ages, the chateau of Louis XII (the porcupine was his symbol), the chateau of Francois I (the salamander was his symbol), and the chateau of Gaston d'Orleans.

  Jeanne d'Arc departed from Blois on her way to Orleans.

From Blois we drove to Amboise where we took a swim in our hotel's outdoor pool.  Amboise is home to at least two chateaux, which we did not see.  We did enjoy their pedestrian shopping area and some delicious pizza.

Day 2: Chenonceau, Cheverny and Chartres

Chateau de Chenonceau was a 10 minute drive from our hotel, so we thought we should check it out.  My photos really don't do it justice.  It is a castle built in the middle of the Cher River surrounded by immaculate gardens, woods, a maze, a play area, and flower and vegetable gardens.

In 1547, King Henri II donated Chenonceau to his "favorite lady," Diane de Poiters.  She appears in the portrait depicted as the Huntress Diana.  When Henri II died, Catherine de Medici (in black), Henri II's wife removed Diane from Chenonceau and moved in herself.

This gallery was used for parties by Catherine de Medici.  During WWI the two galleries were turned into hospitals where over two thousand soldiers were cared for.  Simone Menier the hospital's matron, part of the wealthy Menier chocolate famil,y paid for the hospital.  During WWII the River Cher corresponded to the line of demarcation.  One end of the gallery was in the occupied zone and the Resistance could move large numbers of people through the chateau and into the free zone.

Chenonceau kitchen workers

 Chateau de Cheverny

We stopped at Chateau de Cheverny because they have dogs!  Sylvia loves dogs.  When I was here 20 years ago the dogs were out being run.  When we visited yesterday, the dogs were all in the kennel...not smelling too sweet.  Sylvia did not mind and was very happy to see these doggies.

Cheverny was built in the early 1600s and  is owned by the original family and has been lived in continually.  The rooms on display are completely furnished.  It was the inspiration for the chateau in the Tintin comic books and there is a Tintin exhibit there now.

We learned that the beds are not just short because people were smaller, but because they believed that lying down should be reserved for the dead.  They slept sitting up--they were also afraid of swallowing their tongues!

Robert, we are sorry you missed all the Tintin in the gift shop!

Chartres

On the way home we stopped in Chartres, which is about half way between Paris and the Loire Valley. Chartres Cathedral was built between 1193 and 1250 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. There have been only small architectural changes since the thirteen century and most of the stained glass windows are original.  It is one of the few churches that was saved by townspeople during the Revolution.  The stain glass windows were removed before WWII and replaced intact when the fighting was over.

On our drive, we saw many windmills and sunflowers.  The girls had a great time and would like to return.  You don't think of Paris as a big city until you live here and then it is nice to get out and see a little green--and some castles. 

Basilique du Sacré Coeur

According to my Lonely Planet Guide to Paris, "Sacred Heart Basilica, perched at the very top of Butte de Montmartre was built from, contributions pledged by Parisian Catholics as an act of contrition after the humiliating Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.  Construction began in 1876, but the basilica was not consecrated until 1919."

We have been seeing Sacre Coeur in the distance from all of our other viewing places (Centre Pompidou, L'Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower).  Sacre Coeur is perched on a hill that is not very close to us.  No problem, the #30 bus took us right there.  When we got off the bus, there was a very cool play structure, so we checked it out.  The girls, who are usually museum fans have told me recently that they are "sick of museums."  After our last visit to the crazy busy Louvre, I am also ready to give the museum visits a rest.  Luckily, the weather cooperated; we had a beautiful day and the girls are not yet tired of climbing stairs.

The girls liked climbing the gravity defying ramps

Lillian brought her journal and jotted away on the bus and during our trek

It was a busy day, but not many people chose to climb the stairs to the top of the church

300 + stairs = piece of cake

 

 



 

Watch out below!  Sylvia enjoyed rolling down the hill.

We stopped at the play structure for another run around, climbed back on the bus and headed home.  Our bus experience was a good one; the bus was clean and very busy.  The same ticket you use for the metro can also be used on the bus. 
On the way there, the digital display that tells you what the next stop is was broken.  I asked the woman if front of me if she could help me know which stop was ours.  She was getting off before us, but very sweetly said she had the time and would stay on with us and then would turn around and go back to her stop.  I tried to dissuade her; and when I couldn't I thanked her profusely.