Days Fly By...

Wow, it always amazes me how fast time goes by nowadays.  Lately we've been getting LOTS of rain so when the sun is out we try to enjoy it just a bit.  Here's a little of what we've been spending our time doing here in Monaco.

The kids have started tennis lessons...at four years old E is pretty focused, and I was surprised to see how T has improved since lessons in the US!

Grandpa and I have taken up golf lessons at a course in Nice.  After our lessons we have a lovely lunch together.  It's just a 9 hole par three course to get us started, but the little club is lovely and inexpensive to play, and it makes for a nice afternoon out.

I think I'm partial to golf for the manicured lawns and landscaping. :)

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The medical system here is GREAT!!!

T's first stitches.  Seems the boys on the playgound
were battling and the only one "not" swinging got hurt.
Emergency room visit = 1.5 hours and 55 euros.  Love it!!

Ahhhh, the park...

The plants are all in full bloom in Parc Antoinette.

T's class out in the park learning about plants.

Where I like to have a coffee (or wine) after school while the kids play.  So lovely!

The view from the cafe in the park.  That's the palace way in the distance left of the pointy tree.

The Grand Prix is next week and all month now they've been setting up for it.  The blockades for the roads and the stands are set up all around the course through downtown.  This is in the Port area.

At the bus stop...it's a little like living in a jail.

Running the course. :)

Last night we had a date night and went to an end of the school year Ballet show for the L'Academie Princess Grace.  It was in a small Opera theater in the Casino, Salle Garnier.  Soooo pretty!

This is in the foyer of the Casino building.  Through that door is the Casino.

Inside the theater.  It only seats about 500 people.

Must be the Royal Family's seat.

Very interestingly, the majority of students were Japanese.

E is also practing for a show in June for her ballet class.  She's going to be a mouse.  Will have pics to share... :)

Well, that's all for now.  But, I'll be back soon!

Geneva and Montreux...

The kids had yet ANOTHER two week holiday from school so we decided to run off for the weekend.  Geneva was our destination of choice.

We also took the opportunity to visit J's old school in Glion, just above Montreux.  What a lovely little town.  I actually prefered it to Geneva!

This time, we chose to drive rather than fly.  Not the best idea as we have a rather small car, and three in the back is a bit like being a sardine in a tin can.  I vote for buying a new bigger car if this style of travel is going to continue.  And with such lovely scenery along the way I think it's a good choice of travel.  All in all, it wasn't toooooo bad and we did make it there in one piece.

Bonus of driving...we got to take Charlie with no hassles.  And here in Europe dogs are welcomed basically everywhere, except the grocery stores and really important historical sites.

So, here's a little photo tour of our weekend...

Driving through Italy... 

And back through France...

Old town Geneva...

On the train to Montreux...

Views from one end of Montreux's shore.

Hmmm, I'd like to stay here! 

The mountain train up to Glion 

Chugga chugga chuggaa...

J's old music teacher now runs the Switzerland school. 

J's school in London had a Switzerland branch that chose a handful of students to
attend that school for a month at a time a few times a year.  How
cool is that??

The current students making their way back after an outing.

And now the Funicular back down... 

Now a view from the other end of Montreux.

It's a really lovely place, so green and lush.

Mind the really big spiders though!

Views from the train back to Geneva.  They grow wine anywhere! 

One last site to see, Geneva's famous Fountain, Le Jet D'Eau.

Heading to the Mont Blanc tunnel...

Apparently you are not allowed to hold up the tunnel toll-booth personnel.

Mont Blanc

And a few thirteenth century forts and castles for the ride home...

And imagine that...a bike race.

 So there you go.  A jam packed weekend. When are these kids back in school?  I need a vacation.