I finally tracked down Square Jean Falck.  Looked like in the old days it may have been grander, but now is a car park in a gritty area of Paris. Click on photos to enlarge.

The Seine by night and by day…

Exterior and interior of the Pantheon

  The underground crypts.

Church, a sketch in progress..

Jeff has iconic Paris in his palm and backpack!!

We finally were able to use points on Starwood for a decent hotel and stayed at the Palace (Westin). Lovely hotel, in a very central location. Directly across from El Prado and a super botanical park.  My Mother told me years ago, at age 8 - I cried the whole way through the Prado museum, so we decided to skip it anyway : )  

We saw the most amazing Flamenco show at Casa Patas, reputed as one of the best and most autentico in Madrid.  Read a review here. To say we were blown away, is putting it mildly.

We keep agreeing that the Spanish siesta rocks, and the US should adopt immediately…much more relaxed folks..

While Jeff was working, I found solace from the city noise and heat and paid a euro to enter the park across from the Prado and write postcards. Photos below - click to enlarge:

While walking and on the double decker bus tour - city scenes: (we were really impressed with all the beautiful tile work and wall paintings)

Our hotel, Westin Palace.

The Catedral de la Almudena.

The amazing ceiling inside the cathedral, 2 flamenco guitarists in the cathedral courtyard.  Their melody was haunting and floated all around..best free concert in a long time.

On the walk up the hill from the cathedral, we came across these ruins.. near the park Emir Mohamed 1. Not sure if Roman…

distant view of cathedral

more beautiful, random tile work

 In the Retiro, Madrid’s central park.

 Interior of the train station, read in the guide book it was a destination.  Gorgeous - with a tropical rain forest, we got misted as we walked by!

That blue blur is a rider..

After each time trial, the riders could barely breathe and the press just surrounded them..craaaazy.

Jeff’s parents arrived in London after a super trip in Scotland and England.  As they were not jetlagged, we had decided to have a big Bastille Day party - so they met about 30 or so of our ex-pat friends.  Jeff’s friend Ken from the bay area was in town too and was able to join the fun as well.  We took Bob and Masako to the lesser known parts of London - including the canal boat ride in Maida Vale - to Regent’s Park. This was made all the more fun by the tour of school children on our boat - they were so funny. (Pics below)  Had a dinner at our local Yakitori in Hampstead with our friend’s Ted and Mari - and Masako proclaimed it “very authentic”. Jin kichi on Heath Street.  Jin Kichi.

We toured Fenton House in Hampstead. They have a wonderful collection of harpsichords and lovely gardens. It is a National Trust property, so we go for free.  See pictures below.  Country Life magazine describes it as “London’s most enchanting country house” Fenton House - Hampstead.

And for the gastronomic delight of their trip, we took them to Borough Market, oh the cheeses, olives, pies, meats, wines!!!

Jeff, David, Viviane and Joe.

His famous “Old House”

We joined Viviane and Joe a few days later in Mallorca.  What dramatic landscapes, we had no idea the island varied so much from North to South etc. 

Harbour of Palma, largest city in Mallorca and originally a Roman camp.

Bellver Castle in Palma.

Countryside drive into town of Valledemossa, home and host to such luminaries as; George Sand, Chopin, Ruben Dario…

Hidden cove by the Torrent.

 When dry, people picnic and there are outdoor concerts.  When rainy season, look out!

Gorgeous aqua marine water…

  Sunset over Palma..

  Run away….!

 Wheeeee!

Viviane and Joe discuss the finer points of sand…

“Tailgaiting” with Notre Dame alumni club, Conrad, Rob, ? and Jeff.

The masses, the dapper man in his morning suit! Rented in the nick of time…that is another story ; )

Pink, it is the new black you know!

Best advice, leave before 5pm, drunken fools abound..

Portsmouth harbour, and the bridge from ferry to Isle of Wight. Diana, Gwinne, Frankie and Jeff..

Ryde, Isle of Wight.

We arrived in Dubrovnik for a 5 day holiday over the bank holiday.  This was my third visit to Dubrovnik - first time post communism.  In 20 years, other than a huge amount of tourist shops, it didn’t seem much different.  The Pearl of the Adriatic is still a gem.         

Around the harbour and outside the walled city.

The walk along the cliffs to the port, about 30 mins from Dubrovnik. We caught a ferry to the diminutive island of Kolocep - very serene island. Had glimpses of a few large homes in the hills, saw 2 hotels and not much else!

On the island of Kolocep and at the one taverna that was open for 10 mins after we arrived and then promptly closed.   Waiting for the ferry back to Dubrovnik, the skies turned dark and rain threatened, but we never saw it.

Day trip to Montenegro (Herceg Novi and Bay of Kotor)

On the 3rd day we decided to rent a car and cross the border into Montenegro…little did we know that they were celebrating their one year anniversary of being a “new country”..  It was back to euros and a cyrillic alphabet. We both agreed it has the most gorgeous natural beauty  - with fjords, and mountain vistas and the requisite walled city.

Port town of Herceg Novi..

Bay of Kotor and walled city of Kotor

Monastery on the bay that one can visit.

We took the mountain route home, got silly lost and had a rather hairy ride in the dark on the moutain roads (or lack thereof) while having an uninvited game of chicken with a car full of not so nice locals.  We survived..nothing like a little fear/adrenaline rush!

We hosted a happy hour for about 25 of our closest friends at the St. Regis hotel bar….that is one surefire way to get maximum time with friends.  Then of course we had dinners/lunches all around.  Our suitcases were not the only things that went back on the plane a bit heavier : )

I had a photoshoot while home and even showed up as a surprise guest at my old bookclub. No, I had not read the book!

We did not want to stay in a hotel for the duration, so after a few painful attempts to find vacation rentals, Jeff found out that one of our favourite homes that we marvel at in Buena Vista Park neighbourhood, had a rental unit in the downstairs.  The owners Wade and Greg have created a wonderful rental, less $ than most hotels, and you have all the comforts of home.  Check out the exterior…most of you in SF will probably recognise it.  45 Upper Terrace.

We spent a night in Healdsburg and did some wine tasting, wonderful as always..and the weather cooperated perfectly.   Our last day could not have been better, our friend Michelle invited us and other friends to join her and her dog Rowdy on her sailboat.  The next 5 hours sailing on the bay were stellar.  Jeff was in his element (literally!) and Michelle was psyched to have a seasoned hand to help.

Michelle                                       Gwinne

Me, Diana and Rowdy

Jeff and Steve (city in the background)

Photography by Christine Welsand

In preparation, I made magnets, greeting cards and mouse pads from the photos I had taken of Hampstead.  I made composites for the magnets and cards, and those sold like hotcakes!  Here is the composite photo - they are images from Flask Walk and Well Walk. Easily recognisable in Hampstead as people in the 1800s used to come to Hampstead to “take the waters”, the water was bottled on this thoroughfare.

The other member’s products ranged from jewellery, books, handcrafted belts, and services such as life coaching.  It was a very successful event and the first time I have actually had items for sale.