Paris, Chartres, and Versailles August 1986

In going through the Waning cards and letters, I found a postcard I'd sent to the Grandparents on the 14th of August 1986. The postcard documents one day of the trip Lexa and I took that year. So that inspired me to look to see if I'd kept a journal too. I had, but the journal ended on the 13th!

The two top photos are from August 13th. Journal entry is below:

"Wednesday 13 August 1986

Slept in until about 9am then rushed along and caught a train to Chartres. We arrived just in time to hear Malcolm, the strange Brit, give his lecture. Malcolm had greyed a bit since I last saw him (in 1976). He "read" two windows and one door of the cathedral. We ate lunch in front of Chatres then caught a direct train back - fast! Oh, I saw a French jack rabbit today. Took Lexa to Jeu de Paume got in just before it closed, so no posters or postcards. Then bought food at Monoprix, and bought Ed a teeshirt at Printemps. Tomorrow we hope to go to Versailles then over to the Pompidou Center so Lexa can buy a poster. We found another McDonald's for dinner. Fast food has an amazing rejuvenating effect on Lexa. She kind of lags, then eats a hamburger or chicken Mcnuggets, and she is good for a couple of more hours. Need to catch up on postcards and get organized. I heard that Friday the 15th - Day of Assumption - is a national holiday and we won't be able to do much then. So tomorrow we have to get all the last minute errands and details cleaned up."

Above is the postcard I sent to the Grandparents.

"14 August 1986

Dear Gram and Gramps - it is 9:30am and I am waiting for Lexa to finish getting ready this morning. We are going to have breakfast - french bread - and then spend part of the day at Versailles. Yesterday was cool and cloudy, but today looks to be sunny and hot. Lexa has been overwhelmed at all the dogs in Paris - especially all the poodles! Tomorrow we are going on a boat ride like the one on this card - a bateau mouche - to get an overall view of Paris from the water. Tomorrow is the Feast of Assumption and a national holiday so we will take it easy too. Go to London on Saturday. Beth"

Lexa - early in the morning Versailles Railroad Station

Lexa - late in the HOT afternoon! We were so hot and tired after walking for what seemed miles and miles inside of the Palace and outside in the Palace Park. There were several ice cream vendors in the Park - all serving tiny golfball sized scoops of ice cream. I think we bought cones three different times trying to stay cool and hydrated!

Below - Me at Marie Antoinette's peasant village at Versailles.