Easter

Happy Easter to you all! I know that our Savior, Jesus Christ Lives! What great happiness this gives me! Picture of the Garden Tomb and of the Resurrected Jesus Christ (both from www.lds.org).
Joyex Paqua! Bouna Pasqua! Happy Easter!

A "real" update

I am adding a bunch of pictures from a few other stops that I made with Amaila this week. We bought a museum pass... if any of you come to Paris this is a very good investment! They are avaliable 2,4 or 6 consecutive days. Basically allows you into TONS of museums here unlimited time (except your day limit). The price is very reasonable too! Amalia and I bought the 4 day pass, so pretty much crammed a bunch of visits into each day, by the end our legs were exhausted, and I have a little cold.... the windy, ice-cold, wacky weather here does not help, but this is a whole another story! So the slide has pictures from Rodin Museum, and a return to Orsay. On the way to Orsay we stopped in a pastry shop and I bought a mint-chocolate Elaire, thinking I needed to try at least one while I was here, well After two bites I chucked it! I am pretty postive that the mint was flavored by using Mint liquor, YUCK! Even drinking water to wash it down burnt!
A crepe stop, Picasso Museum, and Pompidou Center. We had fun and saw a VARIETY of things too!
As our time has gone by here in Paris I find myself understanding more and more of the language, and I now kick myself for not paying attention more in Mrs. Harts french class in 7th and 8th grade! I remember looking at those text books and thinking that people don't really live around things like Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, they don't really hang out at Cafe's and museums for fun.... but every time I have the opportuinity to experience a new city in the USA or abroad I love that I can learn from the locals and see what they see! Due to this I have many treasures from each place!
This is our last week here in Paris for now and Giovanni will be VERY busy with preparing for March 31st when the "vote" happens and Milan will know if they won EXPO 2015 or not. I feel a change blowing... not sure what that interprets for us yet... but we are open to where ever it will take us!
Maybe in the end this is less of a "real" update and more of my random thoughts... but here is an entry none the less!

One week

I really did not mean for a whole week to go by with out updating our blog, but I have not had access to a computer for a while, so here goes, I will try to update you on the week without loosing my head along the way! I think maybe due to the hour here in Paris (1:40am) I will start with just a few pictures and explinations! The rest to come!
Friday for Giovanni's birthday I made a cake at Elaine's house (yes I now have a picture) and when her husband Richard and Giovanni got off work we all went out for a French Cusine! Back to their house for icecream cake and opening of presents! Giovanni loved all that I had for him as well as the package sent from R &T Royce (thanks guys) and Elaine and Richard were so sweet to get him some "power ties" (they will come in handy in the next few months.... we are hoping for some job interviews)!
Saturday Gio and I went on a few tours with a company called meeting the french (see link to posting). The first one was in Paris' oldest bakery! We learned from the owner, who is not too old (and not the original) how to make a baguette and croissant. Later in the afternoon we headed to a tour about Perfum here in Paris, most of it was in French and I really got to practice my listening and understanding skills! We enjoyed the sweet smells and samples from the second tour!
The hour is getting really late, or maybe its really early... anyway Gio's sister Amalia arrived on Tuesday and we have been doing almost as much as possible as far as sight seeing goes, with allowing oursleves to enjoy Paris too! I have so much more to post, but I am SO Tired! Here are a few pictures to enjoy!

JOYEUX 34 ANS GIOVANNI

To my caro Giovanni on his 34th birthday:

34 Reasons I love you!

1. You are always excited about little things.

2. You work very hard.

3. You are so good about telling me you love me.

4. You are funny, in Italian and English.

5. You would rather hang out with me than anyone else.

6. You are so excited to be a Dad someday.

7. You share your love of classical music and art work with me (and are patient when I just need some words to sing along to).

8. You love sharing the gospel and are not afraid to tell anyone what you believe.

9. You love a good adventure.

10. You get along with everyone (always diplomat).

11. You usually take out the trash.

12. You call me from work just to say hi and you love me (or you send a message).

13. You help me cook and clean (Yes he is GREAT)!

14. You become "best friends" with anyone very quickly (so outgoing)!

15. You are always willing to help anyone with a problem, or you slove it if you can.

16. You are quick to say sorry, even if you are the one who deserves an apology.

17. You love to try new food (resturants or home see below).

18. You are always willing to try my "experiments" in the kitchen.

19. You listen to me blab, read or sing even if you would like not too.

20. You are always concerned about others.

21. You call me “amore” and other cute italian names.

22. You always pray and kiss me before leaving in the morning and you always kiss me when you come home from work!

23. You have style and you love to find a good sale! (It's almost free!)

24. You are very Kind.

25.You love to know about your ancestory.

26. You love the Lord and honor the preistood.

27. You are VERY determined.

28. You have a gentle heart.

29. You have a GREAT smile!

30. You are supportive of me and my BIG dreams or even my stupid mistakes (loosing the camera and buying a new one).

31.You look great in a suit, professional and never seem out of place.

32.You help anyone feel at ease in any situation (this often is me)!

33.You go more then the extra mile at work and everyone there knows it!

34. You can't wait for all of our tomorrows!

There are so many, many more. I love you.xoxo, rach

a Taste of the Louvre

Thanks to Ada I now know how to put a slide show and post all in one!
No we are not in London. Gio called me Tuesday night about 9pm and told me he was not going. Kind of a relief for him, he is swamped with work here! Good thing I had not bought my ticket yet! I was however looking forward to play catch up with our friends Gaia and Oscar that live there, it will have to be for another time.
Still, there are many things to do here in Paris, it really is never boring! I meet up with Elaine (who I will have to take a picture of) and Hailey, a girl from Utah who is traveling around Europe, we had lunch together and then Elaine and I started touring the Louvre. Elaine lives here and has a season pass, so she comes for a few hours once a week and focuses on a small part of the museum at a time! She left around 7ish and Giovanni showed up shortly after that. (On wed and frid they are open till 10pm)!!!! We went to see Mona and some of the Italian art together, but when 9pm hit we were both really hungry and tired! On our way home (we live about a 5 min walk to the Louvre) we stopped for chinese food then downloaded a episode of Chuck! What a night!
Tomorrow is Gio's 34th Birthday, I am going to Elaines to make him a cake.... we don't have an oven... and if he does not get off work too late maybe we will get to party a little too! The mayor is in town and everyone is really stressed out with the Vote happening on the 31st! More to come!

new camera

So, due to the info in the last post Giovanni and I spent Saturday morning going to a few electronics shops to look at cameras! Before loosing our Canon I was thinking of maybe getting him a little digital camera to carry around with him.... he does do a lot of traveling, nearly every week he goes somewhere! To make a long story short we bought a Nikon coolpix L15. It takes good pictures, but we really miss all the features on the Canon. I told Gio it was his early Birthday gift (his bday is MArch 14th, friday) in return he told me he would let me "borrow" it to take all the pictures I want! What a sweetie! *Don't worry I have a few other things for him already wrapped and waiting for Friday*
It was really windy and very overcast this weekend, but we still ventured out a little. We went to Notre Dame, Luxemburg gardens, through the LAtin Quarter for lunch and hit a few bookshops. Tonight I have been invited to go to a cocktail party and concert for Gio's work, yea!!! Not another boring night alone! I am also considering going to London with Gio this week, he leaves WEd and will come back Saturday! I will let you all know how tonight goes! Ciao!

a little down

I should start by telling you all that Giovanni did not go to the Bahamas. There are a few reasons, but we honestly have not figured out if it was due to political things there (Turkey was pushing hard to share thier proposal too, so they may not have let Milan in) or because Gio is supposed to be a part of a task force here in Paris and travel only if really needed. Today instead he is with parts of the task force in Brussels.
The title of the entry is due to a crappy thing that happened to me the other day that I am still not over, some of you who know my bad track record with camera will probably just laugh and then think twice about ever letting me touch yours! It all happened like this:
Monday I was on my way to meet Gio for lunch. I was waiting for the metro and formating my camera since I had downloaded all the images. As the train approched I stepped at the same time I was sliding my camera into my purse.... all of the sudden I heard a kur- plunk noise and knew my camera had fallen!!! Crap! With one foot in the train and one out I quickly glanced on the floor of the train, but did not see anything! Then I feared that it had fallen on the tracks right through the "gap" between the platform and the train! I stepped back off the train and it left. I was feeling really down, I tried to get Gio on the phone twice, then sent a message. He called back worried and I explained what happened. To make a long story short he came and we talked to the guy selling tickets and showed him where the camera would have fallen. 2 days have passed and the Metro workers have been down on the tracks 2 times to check it out and have found nothing! I dont know where the camera went, maybe fell on the train and I just did not see it when I glanced around on the floor! I just feel so stupid that I was not more cautious with it! Today I will be pricing out a new camera! There is only one last possibility, on Thursday we can call Lost and Found to see if it turns up! This is my little saga for the week! I know its not too sigificant, but hey when you really love something (even a dumb camera) it can be frustrating to loose it in such a dumb way!

Orsay Musem

I have not figured out yet how to make a slide show and write my "blog" on the same post yet.... any help? Sunday after church Giovanni and I went to the Orsay Musem. It is free the first Sunday of the month and on Thursdays after 5pm! I really want Giovanni to enjoy being here in PAris as much as I am and not feel too stressed with the work he is doing, this was a great way to contribute to the relaxed, fun time to have in Paris! The Orsay is an old train station, it is perfect for a musem and very beautiful! It is full of 19th century art and much of what is not in the Louvre is here! Monet, Van Gogh, and MANY other artisit!!! We did not see everything there is to see, but we can always go back! I took some pictures to give you all a little taste of what there is to see!
I have more adventures to tell you about, but for now I am on my way out the door to meet Gio for lunch!

Check out my Slide Show!