DAY 4-Vaux Le Vicomte Tour-22 December

Today we took a tour of the Vaux le Vicomte, the chateau built in 1661 for King Louis XIV's Finance Minister, Nicolas Fouquet.

Every room in the palace has special Christmas decorations on display, and every room's theme is different. After touring the inside, we strolled the palace grounds complete with formal gardens with fountains and reflecting pools.

 

 

  

 

 

DAY 3-On to Paris!-21 December

We checked out of our first hotel, said goodbye to Disneyland and headed to our next and final hotel in Paris. While it's called Disneyland Paris, it's actually in a suburb about 30 minutes outside of Paris. Heading into the city, we got our first glimpses of Paris Proper!

Our Hotel:

And Finally:

The View from the front of our Hotel!!!

 

It's about a 1 1/2 minute walk to the tower! Our hotel is in an amazing location!!!

The view from INSIDE our hotel room:

We've been saving money on food by hitting Monop', a little neighborhood grocery store, stocking up on wine, cheese, meats, bread...etc! We've been feasting daily!! 

DAY 2-Christmas Shopping in Disney Village

Today we decided to go to Disney Village, the free shopping and entertainment district outside of the Disney Parks. We did most of Kellan's Christmas shopping, ate lunch and best of all, discovered a Starbucks!

We spent the rest of the evening at the hotel, hanging out and letting Kellan play. They have amazing playgrounds both indoors and out, and an awesome aqua play area!

He ALMOST Did It...

We had been waiting to get Boo his first haircut because we wanted to make an event out of it. We decided the big event would happen at Disneyland Paris! We'd prepped him on what to expect, even took him through the steps, reenacting what would happen. We made a beeline for the barbershop, made the reservation, and waited our turn! Boo was excited, asking questions, a very proud little boy! He sat in the chair on a booster, the cape was placed around his neck, and his lip quivered. Then, Domenico, the barber, took out his scissors, Kellan's face screwed up, the tears started, he ripped at the cape and refused for the cut to start. After a few seconds of pleading, we saw it was useless to keep trying. We had gotten the last available appointment that day, so we couldn't wait and see if he changed his mind. Quite a letdown, but the cute thing? Kellan thinks because he sat in the chair he got a haircut and proudly announces he deserves presents for "getting a haircut"! :)

We love his hair either way!

DAY 1-Disneyland Paris-19 Dec

We spent the day at Disneyland! The most magical part was when they made it "snow" on Main Street! The Christmas decorations were amazing!

Ride Highlights: Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor, Peter Pan, Snow White, Pinocchio!

Boo loooved the pirates and the "ghosties"! He bought a "real pirate" gun and a Jack Pirate!

Boo's favorite ride? It's a Small World of course! Check out his reaction to seeing it!

I stopped by Aladdin's lamp to make a couple of wishes!

Getting Here

Our first flight (1hr in length) left out of Abha at 10:45pm Wed night...which meant it was going to be a long trip but an even longer night! Our second flight from Jeddah to Paris left at 1:30 am Thur and was slated to come in under 6 hrs. What a nightmare that leg was. Out TVs weren't working so watching movies was out. We were of course in coach so there was no way to adequately lean back enought to sleep. Saudia Airlines is always good about providing sleep masks, socks, blankets and pillows, but sleep just didn't really happen for any of us. On top of that, when Kellan finally did fall asleep around 2:30 am, he awoke not much later with night terrors. Miserable!

Anyway, arrived in PARIS at 6:30 am,  gathered our luggage and transitioned quickly thru customs. The first thing we encountered after customs was an intl Christmas tree. What an exciting sight after Saudi!

 We were met by our driver and off we went to our hotel. We worked with Marcel, our front desk rep, and he was really took care of us! Check-in wasn't until 3:00 and it was 7:30, and he found a free room and let us check in right away! He was a godsend! After eating a continental buffet breakfast in our hotel, we immediately got comfortable and laid down for naps! We all woke up feeling pretty good around 11:30. We had planned on going to Disneyland Paris Sat, but the weather was holding,
so we said what the hey and headed to DL. It was cold and drizzled for brief periods a couple of times, but we were well prepared with hats, gloves, scarves, double layers of pants, etc.

We got every ride we wanted to ride done, and the wait times were really short!
 We stayed until closing, then jetted back to our hotel for happy hour! Tired with drinks in our bellies, we're watching intl TV in bed and planning on sleeping in!

It's Almost Here!

I haven't wanted to post about our trip because we still hadn't gotten our exit visas. Which meant we couldn't leave the country. This put our entire vacation in jeopardy! But just yesterday, Steven finally got our exit visas which means we'll be on a plane tonight to Paris!!! So excited!!

I'll try to post each day, keeping you updated on where and what we eat, the excursions we go on, the places we visit and the things we BUY!:) I'll (maybe) be keeping the posts short and sweet and will try to concentrate on pictures and videos!

So it's official everyone! We leave tonight for Christmas in Paris!!! Whooo hoooooo!!

Settling In-First Impressions

We arrived in Khamis on Friday morning, and here are some early observations and updates:

1. It's dry here. Really dry. Duh Erin, it's the desert you might say. But I forgot what dry FEELS like on a daily basis. I lived in Las Vegas for a brief period many years ago and it's just like that. Bloody noses, chapped lips and cracked soles are just some of the daily discomforts. Our noses get so dry sometimes it hurts to breathe through them. It wouldn't have been such a hard transition if we didn't come straight from Houston, TX, home of humidity! 

2. It's very quiet on the compound. So far, we've seen very few people out and about. Its felt very much like a ghost town as we walked around, seeing a couple of maintenance workers here and there. Two days ago I had the good fortune to meet a really cool chick in the snack bar who seems (so far anyways) like someone I could become really cool with. She has kids, one only a year older than Kel and they hit it off the one time they got to play together. I can already tell isolation leads to depression so it'll be critical to develop a decent social life to chase any blues away.

3. Our cleaner came on Saturday. He's very nice and it seems the majority of cleaners available on base are men. He does everything but dishes and our laundry and per our current agreement comes once a week. We'll adjust as needed.

4. Monday I had to go to a clinic for yet another blood draw and chest X-ray for submission to get the Saudi equiv of my green card. The clinic was quite literally a hole in the wall. I was aghast. There was no difference between it and a third world clinic. Cracked and peeling walls, dirty steps and floor crevices, mystery stains on shabby and ripped upholstery. I was mind boggled. It was like they don't notice their surroundings. This place is such a study in contrasts. One of the wealthiest nations in the world, and one of the dirtiest. I was trying to explain the city to Steven. It looks as if the city suffered a massive, devastating earthquake 20 years ago, and instead of clearing the gigantic piles of rubble and trash, they just built in and among them. I try to be somewhat fair. We are plunked down in the middle of a desert, so everything's bound to be dusty. But that doesn't account for the general run-down, dirty, third world look to everything.

Anyways, these are early observations. I try to avoid being too critical too quick, but I am fighting against my American sensibilities. I know they look down on our lack of religion as a country, our lack of commitment to consistent worship as a whole. But I'll say this much--If cleanliness is next to godliness, then don't worry y'all, us Americans are winning the spiritual battle:)

Home, Sweet Home-Pt. 2

It was Steven! Now understand, the only flight Steven was able to book had him arriving around midnight, so I was fully expecting to have to wrangle 6 suitcases, Kellan and his backpack, a car seat, a stroller and my tote bag to a waiting area where I'd have to keep Kellan occupied for the next 5 or so hours. Unbeknownst to me, he had been able to catch an earlier flight at the last minute and had been in  Jeddah waiting for us since that morning! I immediately teared up, my relief palpable. Kellan screamed and Steven grabbed him up in his arms. He assured me it was okay and gave me a peck on the cheek, 1 second worth of contact after 4 1/2 months...and short as it was, it was worth the wait. Anymore contact than that and we could have risked the wrath of any religious police lurking about.

We headed by hotel shuttle to our hotel, where we spent the night. Exhausted, we all three crashed pretty quickly after eating and showering.  The next morning at 1010, we headed out on our third flight in 2 1/2 days and landed uneventfully in Abha.  Before every takeoff on Saudia Airlines, they play a traveling prayer by the prophet Mohhamad. The other VERY unusual thing that happened? Before takeoff, the flight attendant walked down the aisle spraying misting cans of a "harmless insecticide". I was NOT down with that, but it was over before I could even make sense of it. Weird!!

We were picked up at the airport by friend's of Steven, and off we went to the compound, about 10 minutes away. (That was for you B.G) I won't discuss the security measures in depth, but the compound seems quite well guarded.  Our villa is huge, as I've said before in previous posts, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and a formal dining room. I have gotten turned around numerous times due to the layout!

We spent Friday settling in and napping. Saturday, (the second day of Saudi's weekend) Steven took us to the mall. He shares a company car with 2 other guys, and it's a simple matter to work out scheduling.

We happened to go to the mall when there was little traffic, but even still the roads are dodgy. There's no real lanes, you drive where you want usually as fast as you want and and no one seems to care if the drivers can see them. The mall was not the nicest in the city, but even in spite of that, they have some awesome stores! Saudis really prize their children and they have many really nice children's stores, in addition to a two story amusement area inside the mall.

It's been a topsy turvy few days, but it's awfully refreshing to go around the world and know you can still Buy One, Get One Half Off! :)

Home, Sweet Home

Let me first start by saying jet lag is real! Not real like Sasquatch or a "good deal on a new car", but REALLY real.  I've been so tired off and on since Wednesday evening that at times I've felt like throwing up. Kellan's and my sleep patterns are ALL off, Thursday nite (really Friday morning) we woke up at 0145 raring to go! This morning (Sat) we did a little better; Kel woke up at 0345 and so I let Steven sleep since I'm pretty up too. Here's hoping tomorrow we can make it until at least 0600 tomorrow!

So let me back up and start from when I received my airplane itinerary Sunday morning. We were leaving Wednesday! From that point on I had next to no time for anything but packing, so apologies for no posts between than and leaving. We flew Air France out at 4:15, arriving in Paris Thursday morning at 0835.  Kellan was a straight CHAMPION at traveling, being patient, following my instructions and just generally hanging in there. I can't say I had any major issues concerning him, except that maybe he wouldn't sleep until about the last five hours of our about 9 hour first leg. We had three seats, so I let him stretch out on two and so being as terribly uncomfortable as I was, I maybe got a total of 2 hours of sleep.

   

Let me say Air France was awesome and I look forward to flying them again for Christmas. I had so much excess luggage and overweight bags, the representative cut me a deal and only charged me $500. Still pretty painful!!! On flight, their movie/TV/games selection was awesome. Kellan watched Monsters University and I attempted to watch We're the Millers, but I was soooo tired and on my anti-anxiety medicine which worked beautifully but made me slightly too drowsy to really concentrate on a movie! No fear at all! Triumph! (Side shout out to Dr. S who told me all would be well. You were, as usual, right;)

Dinner was awesome. Kel got baked Mac N Cheese topped with sliced chicken breast, apple sauce and juice. My dinner was chicken fricassee with mashed potatoes, a salad, Granny Smith apple sauce with a mini baguette and some Brie. Dessert was chocolate banana cake which I let Kel have. Oh, and the complimentary champagne was nice too!!!

We arrived in Paris, with a little over two hours until our next flight out. The part of the airport we walked through was beautiful, with the shops all tantalizingly displaying the best of France; perfumes, wines, candy, chocolates, handbags, jewelry, and even macaroons in several different colors. It was so tempting but there was no time to stop and no money to shop thanks to all my excess luggage!

It was at this leg in my flight I put my headscarf on. I didn't have to wear it as a westerner, but I felt it was respectful in light of all the Muslims waiting to board the flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
This flight was about 6 hours, leaving at 1115 and arriving 7:00 in the evening. The flight attendants were all lovely and accommodating. There were so many open seats on the plane an attendant approached us and asked if we wanted to move from our two seats against the window to an entire row of four seats in the center! Kel took two, I took two and we both probably got another three hours or more of much needed sleep!  Before we slept, they served a late lunch: Mediterranean Chicken with green olives over white rice, a green salad, a lemony cous cous salad with bay shrimp, a roll and something else but I was working in a sleep deficit fog by this time so I don't remember. The food
was delicious!

They also gave Kel a Monster's Inc. backpack filled with a monster sleep mask crayons, activity book, stickers etc. I got a refreshing facial wipe, sleep mask and a pair of socks; I was a happy camper. We both got pillows, blankets and headphones on both flights, as well as various other snacks.

With 20 minutes to our decent, I made the transition to our new life pulling my abaya out of my carry on and throwing it on over my clothes. I felt no different and even felt a small sense of belonging, of kinship with the women around me. In the airport, there was a very tall, very blond women calling attention to herself by waving to and trying to shout to her husband in the men's security line. I realized how much she stuck out, how almost obscene it was how she was calling attention to herself, and realized in a second that Saudi women would never be that loud and brazen. Standing off to the side waiting for Steven, in my abaya and headscarf, I felt smug that I was at least, making an effort to be respectful and "fit in." I was concerned how Kellan would react to the more devout worshipers who even cover their eyes with a black veil, but after an initial "What's that?!", while pointing at a woman less than a foot from her face (on board the plane) he quickly accepted it and hasn't mentioned it since. The woman by the way burst out laughing and though I couldn't see her expression, I gave her a shrug and a grateful smile for her good humor.

Security is very different than elsewhere. There are men and women-specific lines. In the women's
line you wind through a series of rooms and curtains where eventually a female screener uses a wand
up your front and back, all away from the prying eyes of men. After going through the passport control line, (having my picture taken and giving a set of fingerprints (standard for all except children) I was through the first hurdle and it was time to head to customs. The dreaded customs...I'd heard so many horror stories about how strict and thorough the Saudis were, and I was nervous to say the least! I took a deep breath, hoisted up all my baggage onto the conveyor belt and waited--for thirty seconds! They passed throughout the screening area and out the other end and that was it! No hassles, no personal checks! And it was at that exact moment I heard, "You need any help?"

To be continued..........