Exclusive Hotel La Citadelle Metz

This is an incredible place...but I don't have any pictures... when I got there my camera stopped working :( But I really think it was a blessing because I just saw everything and didn't worry about getting pictures of everything for later, I just saw and took it all in. It was a much needed get-away and it really blew me away, especially the Cathedral! Mass there was unbelievable...and I have a new-found love of French...and their pastries :)

We left Germany this morning with fuzzy heads after 4 pints of strong German Lager the evening before. We let Pete and Tim know our proposed route and set off in search of some sun!

It was not long before we heard from the lads who said they were still in the mountains probably having fun so we plodded along the motorway heading towards Metz.

Nothing much to report apart from the consumption of BK number two, two in two days. No we are not doing a ...

We got up fairly late and I went with Ben on my parent's grave ... hard to stand there and not feeling emotional. Anyway had to get some flowers as we were invited for lunch "again" at an old friend place have known Phil since as far as I can remember we used to live on the same floor of the housing commission building so we go way back . It was ...

Got up this morning and after our ablutions we took the road for "Domremy-la-pucelle" birth place of Johann of arc. Great trip and pics taken. We then decided to go to the local cathedral to check it out ... this is when we saw he sign for: " ruine gallo-romaines de Grand". Of we pop following ...

... he got dethroned because of the civil war. He tried to get into many countries around Europe but France was the only country to accept him. He funded the building of place Stanislas which would have cost quite allot considering the majority of the iron gates are covered in gold leaf.

We got back to the hotel and had a nap. We then left to have dinner at my uncles house in Point Saint Vincent which consisted of horse steaks and rillettes (pork patte ...

... have a shower when my wife of 16 years remembered that today was my 45th birthday. We went to place Stanislas had a great time and we opted for a light lunch at "l'arrosoir" nice little place close to place carrier. I drove back Marg and the kids back to the Hotel for a rest and I went shopping for the goodies needed for my birthday dinner. Andouillettes, horse Berliner, rabbit pate, and 6 different kinds of cheeses.... not a veggie in sight, this should be a great dinner.

... now know what they meant. Finally, Maga makes a genuine effort to get to know us and help us in any way she can with our experiences here. She seems to enjoy our company, and we very much enjoy hers. Moral of the story: there is no need to worry, parents, about my host family situation ;) The pictures I have up now are mostly of the countryside surrounding Bettembourg. I will eventually have more pictures of the actual town as well as my house. Enjoy!

... once stayed, a ritzy old opera house, and more. In the corners of the plaza, there are no buildings, but there are HUGE gates, which are decorated with real gold. Two of the four corners also have statues. See pictures. Then, in the center of the square is located a giant statue of Stanislas. The simplified story of this statue is that Nancy used to be a part of the relatively small independent province of Lorraine. Lorraine lost ...

... lady who speaks very nice English, which is helpful. She is very funny and incredibly kind... not to mention how much she likes to feed us!! When I arrived, she immediately took me to her house to get some cookies and hot cocoa. After this, we picked up Liz and Marissa at the Chateau (Miami's campus), went to the city hall in Bettemburg to get registered as temporary residents, and then went back to Maga's for some food. She fed us a delicious homemade vegetable soup, then ...

... one like this in many years- we almost succumbed to the 500mm min flood under a bridge leading along the river. After pulling off for a while and watching several wet souls make ...