Tuesday, 14 August 2007

Stage One - Day Three - Sights of Paris

Stage One - Day Three 

Sights of Paris

This day was spent showing the children the sights of Paris..

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A cruise was taken on the Seine with Bateaux de Paris, great sights like Notre Dame, Le Palace D'orsay and the Eiffel Tower were seen from the comfort of a glass-roofed boat.
The day was made complete with an excellent meal at L'Entrecote, a phenomenal restaurant near La Place de la Concorde.  The special thing about this place is the fact that there is only one item on the menu - Steak and Chips!  Every night the queue is around the block for the seven p.m opening time, no other local restaurant can say that.  It's truly worth the wait though because the steak and chips they serve is a fabulous treat - succulent steak, chips cooked in goose fat, and a sauce that is literallt lethal, its so good.  The restaurant is cramped, and the menu limited, but for 25 Eur you get a culinary experience. You always get a walnut salad to begin with, the main is fixed, order a nice red wine, and maybe have a dessert from the extensive selection, and you will waddle out of L'Entrecote feeling so satisfied...
Here is a link to their website:
Le Relais Entrecote Restaurant




Monday, 13 August 2007

Stage One - Day Two - At EuroDisney Paris

Day Two - At EuroDisney Paris


The family had a phenomenal day at EuroDisney Paris.
Going to EuroDisney in Agust with three kids under ten was daunting, so we knew we had to get organised.  

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With the help of a great book from a couple who are experts in the field, we were able to have a fantastic day at this busiest of times whilst doing and seeing everything.
The tips in the book were helpful. Eg we paid 90 EUR for a lunch, with he characters in a private restaurant.  Not much more than the standard 50 EUR family lunch, and a great chance to relax when the park was at its most busy.  We got the characters to ourselves, and ate all we could manage.  The book also gave us tips on little known corners of the park, and how to use the Fastpass system to its full extent.  The book was only printed in 2007 and 2008, but is still worth a look for all the great tips in there:
Brits-Guide-Disneyland-Resort-Paris

A brilliant day... 

Izzy and Captain Hook
Imogen on the Teacup Ride
The Runaway Train Ride


cars luigi movie disney paris round the world trip
The kids meet Luigi from cars
Th




Sunday, 12 August 2007

Stage One - Day One - Haslemere, England to EuroDisney Paris, France

Day One - Total miles 315 - Haslemere, England to EuroDisney Paris, France

Leaving Haslemere

The Family Touran, fully loaded, ready to go!





















The Price family VW Touran was loaded up to the roof with five people and enough equipment to camp our way across Western Europe for three weeks.
The expedition party consisted of three children:

Imogen 5 years old, Max 10 years old and Izzy, 8 years old :


The Price Children
























Adults: Morag and Julian Price - approximately 40 years old!


The Price Parents (and Children)























A lot of preparation had gone into the journey, all equipment was tested, the car serviced  - and even emergency gold coins were hidden in the car!
Max, as oldest child was told where they were hidden and given instructions to use them.  Basically he was told to use them only in an absolute emergency!  Perhaps in the event that money might be needed and Mum and Dad aren't around!  This was unlikely, but possible!  
They were more for our use, in the event of some sort of troublesome situation, but I felt I ought to make Max aware of them, as the oldest child!
I picked up this tip from the SAS, in the book, Bravo Two Zero, I read that the SAS troops carried gold coins in their belts to use as currency / bribery / bartering tools!

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Equipment list:
Car VW Touran 2.0 TDi - Powerful, economical and room for seven.
Tent - Outwell Sun Valley Six - High quality tent, and sleeps six
Catering - Electric coolbox and Calor Gas Stove


Emergency Gold coins hidden in car...




















On the morning of 13th August, the car was loaded and the...

Engine wouldn't start!

Lots of testing of things like the in car video system, electric tyre inflators and the like had depleted the battery.  Not a great start!  

A quick jump start and we were on our way.

A ferry was caught from Dover to Calais, the excitement of the Children was noticeable, as we set off on the journey of our lives.  Dad was more thoughtful, wondering what he had got his family into…


Excited Children as we leave behind the White Cliffs of Dover

Julian - What have I got my family into?