Paris is Always a Good Idea!

Notre Dame Cathedral

I somehow developed a fascination with the Louvre and the Chateau de Versailles when I was growing up. The reasons for the fascination escapes me, but I remember telling my mother I was going to visit them. My first trip to Europe included Paris and both places were on my agenda. I'm sure my husband was not expecting to spend 2 days at the Louvre, nor to be back several times since. My next visit is little more than 6 weeks away.  It's a 2.5 day stop over enroute to Sicily for the biennial girls trip. Time to order my Paris Museum Pass. I'm not going to debate it's value, except to say, I don't do lines.  I plan to enjoy every minute of my time. 

I think Paris will make an excellent prelude to Sicily. I can visit museums, indulge in French food, pastries, fine wine, and get accustomed to being on my feet for 10-12 hours a day and not on a golf course! I am actually considering something different, taking a Paris Night Photography Tour. We did a Photography Tour in Venice and loved it. 

Basilica of Sacré-Coeur 

This will be a solo visit and after the pickpocket incident last summer, my husband doesn't want to visit Paris any time soon. When one travels several times a year, sooner or later an incident of some sort will happen and in Paris pickpocketing is a profession. Our story was one of 90% vigilance with a minor lapse, stealthy fingers and the ideal set-up. When we exited the metro on a visit to Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur, his first comment was "take care as this is the ideal place for pickpockets". No kidding, there was no visible security, lots of tourists and just as many professional thieves of all types. The metro was basically empty with no one standing behind us while we waited at Anvers Station. Upon entered the car, my husband got separated from me and boxed in by 2 men who got on as the all clear signal sounded. I tried to get his attention but they would not move and were talked very loudly drowning out my warnings to him.  When I got his attention, we were at the next station (Pigalle) and all three jumped off (including the one who had been seated with a walking cast and crutches and who was obviously part of this gang). They got his wallet out of a front pocket that had a zipper closure; getting away with some euros, his ID and credit cards. This is where the story should have ended; but as we made our way back to the hotel, two young girls (8-10) with an adult handler tried to pickpocket him as we watched in total disbelief. The Metro was not crowded and I now suspect at least half the passengers were professionals. So take heed, vigilance is always required. Adding insult to injured pride, my travel lens broke making the visit to Montmartre an expensive one. The good news was the credit cards were cancelled within 20-25 minutes of being taken as we had photocopies of them back at the hotel. The passports as well as my credit cards were in the hotel safe.  The hotel advised us that Blanche, Pigalle and Anvers stations on the Blue line 2 were notorious for pickpockets.  We were lighter in pocket but wiser (at least I hope so).    

Château de Versailles

I have bought a security handbag as an added precaution and off I go. I can safely say a visit to the Louvre is definitely on the agenda, I need to visit some of my favourites (and no the Mona Lisa is not one of them). Who knows, maybe it's time for a return visit to Versailles but with a 2.5 days visit, there is only time for a taste. Add in a few favourite sites such as Notre Dame, Rodin Museum, Museum D'Orsay, the Paris bridges, the Eiffel tower at night and the time will fly. The wiser and more cautious me still thinks that Paris is always a good idea!

Place du Panthéon

Institut de France

Eiffel Tower At Sunset

Les Invalides

Place de l'Hôtel de Ville

More of my photos of Paris can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/21108304@N02/sets/72157603265823104/

or from the Louvre at  https://www.flickr.com/photos/21108304@N02/sets/72157643117226995/

One is Only a Number

Fountain on Blue Monster Course
 at Trump Doral

The 2014 winter being what it was, I decided why should the youngsters be the ones having all the fun and thought a spring break trip would be nice. Alas, my husband has to work for one of the few universities that does not have spring break and my friends were all working; I'm the retired one. OK spring break for one, it is!

Sunday Monster Seat Tickets
for WGC Cadillac at Trump Doral

Florida was the logical choice and for an avid golfer, the PGA's Florida Swing was an added bonus.  So would it be Miami (WGC-Cadillac) or Orlando (Arnold Palmer Invitational). Easy decision, Miami because the WGC event would have more than the normal cast of golf players (or should I say characters), the Blue Monster course and I had never been to Miami. So now what type of tickets to get? Hhh let me see...as this was my first golf event, I decided to go all out and get the four days of Monster Seat which included 18^th green grandstand seats with full clubhouse and ground access (included drinks and snacks) plus ground access for the practise round. Spring Break here I come!

Rory McIlroy

One is only a number and it comes with endless possibilities and new experiences. Loneliness was not one of those experiences. The best thing about travelling solo was I met a lot of interesting people who I probably would not have met had I been with friends or family. More importantly, the schedule was mine and mine alone. The solo trip made me realize that when travelling with friends and family, we tend to be quite insular and get comfortable with our safety net. I can say with certainty, had I travelled with friends and family I would never had experienced the WGC Cadillac in the same manner.

Luke Donald 

Ok so my golf game is not as bad as I think it is! I saw pros hit shots that left me shaking my head (yeah, that bad), as well as shots that I could only dream about in my wildest dreams (think Bubba at Augusta). They are normal people not gods (last time I checked anyway); so they have their ups and downs, frustrations, temper tantrums, moods and nerves. Ah, yes the nerves; Thursday had a split tee start and the first group off the 10^th tee hit shots in the water, hit an official (saving the shot) and in the bunker. Ironically it would take several more groups to play before a shot actually found the fairway (go Kuchar). It can not be easy to golf with hundreds of spectators a few feet away, watching your every move. The pros don't always have all facets of their game in sink, just like the rest of us. Besides natural talent, they just work harder at all aspects of the game and have the ability to focus and shake off those really bad shots quicker, at least most of the time.

Rickie Fowler

Miguel Ángel Jiménez 

The kids dressed like and following Rickie Fowler were adorable, the grown men were just creepy (yes they were several). The Tiger phenomenon is real and I can honestly say being paired with him must be a challenge. The crowd following Tiger is significantly larger that anyone else (even for the practise round). The only person who even came close to the crowd size was Phil Mickelson, and the size of his spectators weren't in the same league, at least for this championship. Jason Duffer does indeed waggle while Miguel Ángel Jiménez smokes cigars while practising (did not see the wine though)! Bradley Keegan and Jim Furyk have interesting pre-shot routines. The officials will warn you to be watchful when Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson are on the tee (beware of wayward shots). Some spectators need to learn golf etiquette or even better yet, the basics of the game. The Blue Monster was indeed a monster; a lovely immaculate groomed course that chewed up the pros and spit them out as if they were amateurs!  I overheard Justin Rose saying, "I just love this course" as his ball ran across the green and into the water. I've thought the same about some of the courses I've played. This was a no cut event and I suspect several players had wished there was a cut.

Zack Johnson

Graeme McDowell

Now being a responsible adult, my version of spring break was vastly different than that of the wild hordes of student spring breakers! Relaxed, shopped, got too much sun, met new people, drank some wine, laughed and generally had a good time. OK, So maybe not all that different. And yes, I will travel solo again, as one really is only a number.

Tiger Woods with Caddie, Joe LaCava

More photos from the WGC Cadillac Championship can be seen at:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/21108304@N02/sets/72157642894601893/