Oh and another thing about fat people

There are no fat people in Paris nor are there any in Italy - that is NONE... Well ok some but most of them are tourists. What a wake-up call. I spent days trying on boots in Paris, everyone wears boots with skinny jeans tucked in (socks presumably as well) and me I could not fit my huge caves into them unless they are to be worn unzipped. Turnstiles in the Metro are for the thin only as is public seating. There is no compensation for the fatties. Articles have been written about this lack of fatness and some say it may be a genetic phenomenon but frankly even the genetically "African" girls are thin. When we were there a few days we also found ourselves loosing the weight we had gained in the US. We were walking more and eating less. The portion sizes are smaller (but satisfying) and there are stairs everywhere, maybe that is it? In Paris (and Rome) people value style and quality. You never see a tracksuit or a miss-matched outfit. A uniform of black coat, blue jean, black boots and hint of colour in the scarf - hat optional. Here in London people seem to value novelty and fun. Colour and casual clothing everywhere under these gray skies. Ugg Boots a sea of Ugg Boots - not as many as in New York but plenty but they are still not at fat as us or the US – Why?. SO here is the thing. While we in Australia ( lead by the example in the US) are slowly being brainwashed to think that it is normal to be a size 16 plus and while we are creating allowances for it via expanded portion sizes and seat sizes the truth is we are fatty fatty boombars and it is not normal. I think that because we see so many others who are overweight around us with think it is ok and out of our control. Or is it just me?.

PS here is a tip for the US - (they seem to value quantity above style and novelty BTW) for example they would choose a Restaurant on the basis of the portion size (according to the advertising we saw) “All you can eat is BACK” – cut the portion sizes, cut them now, offer a second helping if people want it. Honestly there is so much left on the plate – no one can eat that much and if they do they increase the size of the portions.

Forgot to say...

When we were arriving at Heathrow airport we were confronted by a gaggle of press and they were there to meet Victoria Beckham - who then followed us into the passport area only a few meters away. Aunty Vicky (as the kids are calling her) was available for photographs today at Madam Tuessau's Wax Works along with a number of other celebs - Warren fulfilled his dream of a picture with Elle and me with Robbie Williams. We took a royal photo as well. After went to Harrods, Harvy Nichols and Piccadilly Circus. Tomorrow night we head home but hopefully we will be able to see the changing of the guard tomorrow morning.

Bangers and Mash

Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding
Chips with Vinager
Full English Breakfast
Easy meals from Marks and Spencer

Yes we are in London. It's cold but not wet or snowing so we are able to move about on the tour bus easily. The bus here is heated, unlike Paris, so it gives one a chance to walm up. On our first afternoon-evening we walked to the London Eye and took a spin. It is only about a 20min walk from our flat on Buckingham Palace Rd, past Big Ben (Not so big said Mike) and Parliment. We stopped of at a traditional Pub for dinner and it was very nice.

Yesterday we went to The Tower of London, with the jewels and tails of multiple excecutions from the Beefeater Guide. We wandered to M&S for some pre cooked meals and warmed them in our kitchen. I must say they were top quality and better value than a resturant.

Something about England has caused us to eat.

End of our last day in Paris

Today, our last day in Paris and it was a bit milder at 10 deg. We took the Metro to Musee d’Orsay and it was not a disappointment. Many of the paintings I might have expected to see at the Louve (but were not) were here within touching distance. Van Gough, Degas, Lautrec, Whistler, Gauguin and of course Monet. We also went to “the first department store in the world” and had hot chocolate and crepes in a traditional café.

Paris

We have been in Paris for 4 days. As I said in the previous post the hotel is a bit of a let down but is close by a main drag that has every kind of junk food for the kids. This has meant that Warren and I could sneak off for a real meal. Highlights so far has been Eiffel Tower and trips to the Arc De Triompe (Warren and Mike climbed to the top) and Kait and I enjoyed strolling down the Champs Elysees as a light sprinkle of snow fell. We have been to Notre Dame and taken the bus tours all over Paris, we even used the Metro after a very long day at the Louvre. It has been cold and wet most days, mostly too cold to enjoy yourself. Paris in winter is a bit of a drag to be honest. We have one full day ahead of us and we are dragging our feet rather than face the cold again.PS I feel like a failure as a woman because despite visiting shops and department stores here I have not been able to find anything to buy. I wish that I hade picked up some of the lovely boots in Venice, but I kept thinking that I would be sorry as they would be cheaper else where.. They are not.

Off to cold wet London tomorrow!

Rome to Paris

We spent our last day in Rome walking to the Spanish Steps, where there is a lovely view and beautiful boutiques. Many locals and tourists were taking advantage of the sunny weather and mild temperatures wandering along the streets. We had lunch in one of the very few fast food style places that sells pizza by the slice and walked to the Trevi Fountain for gelato. (BTW there are virtually no really fat people here that we can see. Unlike America there are few fast food and convenience stores and a lot of walking). We were trying to take it a bit easier as Mike is not enjoying the walking and has sore feet. We had our last meal in a small trad Italian restaurant near the hotel, which turned out to be delicious and cheap. Early the next day we were taken by driver to the airport. As it was still dark we were able to see some of the sites still lit up such as the Coliseum. We traveled by Swiss Air with very quick stop in Zurich, flying over the Swiss Alps. We had just enough time to buy Lindt chocolate, a hat and pen at the duty free before heading to Paris. We were very happy to find out that the airline passes out chocolate on the plane as well.

We are in Paris now. The hotel is well located but the room is very worn out, a bit like staying in your nana’s front room. Clunking heater fan, no satellite TV, pealing paint and no luxuries. It was very chilly and the kids bunkered down in the room while Warren and I went on the hunt for a supermarket and food. We could not find the market so we popped into the local “Australia Bar” (seems to be a chain of bars in Europe) and asked for directions – handy! It is early morning now and it has been snowing overnight which means that the temperature will be a bit better than yesterday.

Still in Rome

Today we took in the Coloseum. We found out that although over 700,000 people died there (over 400+ years) only 2 were Christians. This was a suprise to me because we were always taught that was the place that the christians were fed to the lions. Most of the christians were martyred in the Vatican area and on the streets after the great fire of Rome that was blamed on christians. Very interesting but we did not have time to go through the other sites there although we did walk over the Circus Maximus area, an unassuming grassy area that once held chariot races.

We are running out of clothes so we have undies hanging all over our room tonight in the hope they will dry before we leave for Paris on Sunday (today is Friday Night).