Fun Stuff | Pippa Rea

The Magical World of Disney

by Virginia Rea

Disney

Fantasy Land Castle

Small World Magic

Small World

Patrick & Mickey Mouse

Mickey met Pippa!

Mickey sizing up James

The Parade

Mickey saw Pippa on Parade!

Each of us were enchanted by Euro Disney and for Eleanor and I, having never been to a Disney before, it simply exceeded our expectations. Yes, there were rides and of course leading the charge straight toward the fastest and scariest ones was Pippa – with the rest of us reluctantly dragging along behind……although once he got through the first one, Patrick was up there with her ready for the next one.

Yet it wasn’t actually the fastest and scariest rides that caught our attention, it was the detail in every scene and theme throughout the Park and the pure enchantment of Disney magic that surrounded us in all the worlds. We had a truly amazing day that ended with a breathtaking parade.

Our favourites were the Big Thunder Mountain Roller Coaster, the Pirates of the Caribbean Cruise and the “It’s a Small World” Cruise. A Twelve hour day from the time we left our apartment until we returned, but worth every single minute!

The intent of magic and happiness created by Walt Disney has certainly spread through our family.

Fun Stuff Memories

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Wandering Paris

by Virginia Rea

We have spent days wandering the streets of Paris and taking in the sights. Notre Dame is only a short stroll away along with the pretty lane ways of Isle St-Louis and its famous and Paris’ oldest ice cream shop – pineapple and basil is a winner for me!

A day was spent up to Montmartre to visit more gorgeous cobblestoned streets and Basilique de Sacre-Couer with Claire and Russell who dropped in for a night on their way through. It took a long time wandering the square of artists for Pippa to choose her sketch artist but Patrick found his preferred characterture artist immediately. Pippa ended up having both a sketch and a characterture done. A lovely and fun memory for them both to take home.

Pippa is still perfectly well although her muscles get tired easier than they used to especially up the steps at Montmartre! She’s not the only one though – we are all happy to go to bed at night time! One day she and I did catch a pedal bike home because she was too tired to walk any further. What a lovely treat that was from our beautiful uni student driver, Sara. I’ve kept her number just in case we need her again.

We have wandered around the Lourve, played games in Jardin de Tuileries, strolled up and down the famous Champs Elysees taking in the shops including the car ones for the boys; we have eaten patisseries from famous Cafe Angelina and macaroons from Laudree and stumbled across Parisian markets.

We are all completely enjoying the Parisian life, but not so much the endless cloud of cigarette smoke that engulfs the air we breathe!

Choosing was very difficult

Jardin Tuileries

Playing Games

Lourve

James & Pippa at Lourve

View from the Lourve

Lourve

Pedal bike home!

Climbing the steps to Sacre Couer

Everyone at Montmartre

Sacre Couer

Wandering the streets of Montmartre

Street wandering in Montmatre

Just pausing for a bit…..

Pippa posing for her sketch

Patrick’s sketch

Notre Dame

Inside Notre Dame

Lunch near Notre Dame

Just wandering home

Fresh Fruit Shopping

Strolling Champs Elysees

Car shops on Champs Elysees

Not quite a family sized car

Macaroons!!!

From the top of Arch de Triomphe

Atop Arc de Triomphe

Patrick and Pippa writing in their books

Fun Stuff Memories

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L’amour de la Tour Eiffel

by Virginia Rea

Sunday 14th September was two special days in one and Pippa was happy to share the spotlight with her brother – or should I say, James was happy to share it with Pippa and the Eiffel Tower.

We were dedicating the entire day to visiting the Eiffel Tower but it was also James’ birthday and he was celebrating by going to the top of one of the most recognised landmarks in the world!

How to get to the Eiffel Tower from our apartment? Well, we just wandered down the end of our street, hopped on the batobus and leisurely made our way along the Seine. Pippa, James and Patrick thought that in itself was fabulous!

The majestic magnificence of the grand structure close up impressed each one of us. Along with the millions of tourists who visit it we also marvelled at its granduer. Of course there was no stopping Pippa going right to the top and taking in every view. We picnicked on the lawn at the base, walked around to the other side of the pond for the obligatory photos and rode on the carousel. Patrick bargained with the souvenir hawkers, but it was James that came home with something like 26 Eiffel Towers – I still can’t work out how!!! We took in every experience possible for Pippa to enjoy the Eiffel Tower. Her dream come true!

It was a very special day. We didn’t rush but just took our time enjoying every moment and at the end we had a birthday dinner for James.

Up the Eiffel Tower

From the very top

Family Snap

Picnic with a View

Tour Eiffel

Loving Being with Pippa

With Eleanor

Carousel Ride

James’ Birthday Dinner

Happy Birthday James

Fun Stuff Memories

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The Happiest Girl in the World

by Virginia Rea

All I needed to make this trip worthwhile was to see Pippa’s face when she first saw the Eiffel Tower. On walking through the streets the evening we arrived Pippa declared she might just stay in Paris and live here forever. The cobblestoned streets, the architecture, the balconies and the beautiful tree lined avenues around our hotel were tugging at her heart. But it was her reaction to seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time that tugged at mine.

We had a typical French continental breakfast at our hotel and then went on the Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus Tour to get our bearings and take in the sights. We rounded the corner and although I cannot put her reaction and my emotions into words, I think her words are just perfect………..

“Mum, take a look at this face………….this is the face of the happiest girl in the world!”

Enough said.

Later in the afternoon we were driven to our quintessential Parisian apartment (complete with French doored balconies, chandaliers and creaking parquetry floors) in the hub of Le Marais district atop cafes and museums.

It says it all

Breakfast

Happy to see the Eiffel Tower

Room with a View

Our home for 2 weeks

Arc de Triomphe

Champs Elysees

Patrick behind the camera

Fun Stuff

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Arriving in Paris

by Virginia Rea

After hastily organising our trip to Paris we were all quite relieved to board the plane and head off into the night. Little did we know that our experience was already starting. We were greeted at the airport by Etihad Airlines and met by their special services ground staff in AbuDhabi and Paris to make our transiting and arrival as smooth as possible. Pippa and the boys were treated to a tour of the plane and cockpit and Pippa was welcomed on the Paris leg with a gift from Etihad purchased especially for her and the crew from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi made her the most gorgeous French card. The excitement was building and we weren’t even in Paris yet!

Our hotel on the first night was perfectly French and perfectly located a stone’s throw from the Arch de Triomphe. A stroll down the Champs Elysses for dinner was just in order before we all fell into bed to sleep for Australia.

Our thoughts at that time were also with the thousands of runners back in Melbourne preparing for Connor’s Run to raise money for research into brain cancer.

Bon Voyage from Etihad

Etihad Crew

Etihad Pilots

A gift to get Pippa warmed up for Paris

Trying for size

Connor’s Run not forgotten in Paris

A perfect Parisian Backdrop

A quick snap on the way to dinner

Thank you to so many friends for various forms of help in the past week and to those who were able to roll up their sleeves to help get our bookings of flights and accommodation done so quickly in such a busy time. The good wishes from everyone both in person, online and via text for our trip, along with all the tips and advice on visiting Paris, has helped transfer the focus to become a wonderful time of excitement and anticipation.

Fun Stuff

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A Professional Rockstar

by Virginia Rea

What does a superstar do before jumping on a plane and heading off to Paris?

Record a CD!

Last night Pippa fulfilled another dream and recorded her own CD. It was 3 hours of work and she was a true star. Singing not only all the songs (some of which were very difficult) but also recording some of the backing vocals to drop in as well. On Sunday evening she had photos taken for the cover complete with outfit and location changes!

The production and graphic design will all happen whilst we are away and Pippa will have her very own CD upon our return. What a fabulous opportunity for a little girl who sings her heart out every day. So many many heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in pulling this off so quickly.

We finally managed to get seats on flights, a lovely Parisian apartment and are flying out to Paris tomorrow evening (Thursday). We arrive in the middle of a 3 day music festival, and next week is Paris Fashion week – what a time for a superstar girl to arrive!!!