DISNEYLAND PARIS!

Last week I was able to take the week off and go to Paris with my friend Bev and her two boys! It was a blast to go to Disneyland and take a complete break from work in Liberia. Don't get me wrong, I love it here, but I was at the point of needing a small break from this wonderful country :) So, we boarded the plane on Sunday night, thankfully because when I went to check in, they once again told me that my tickets had been cancelled. After two hours of waiting patiently, I had a boarding pass in my hand, with a slightly changed itinerary from the rest of the group. But, I was free to leave.

Felix and I on the way to our hotel, just down the road from Disneyland Paris!

I don't sleep very well on planes, so I was pretty tired from missing a nights sleep on the way to Paris... it feels so good to just lay horizontal! Bev and I were talking about how the more you travel, the more you appreciate your bed... or any bed in general, and the opportunity to lay down!

We got into Paris on Monday, so we headed towards the parks to see where we needed to go the next day. Between the Disneyland Park and Disneyland Studios, was Disneyland Village filled with stores and numerous restaurants... including McDonalds!!!!! All three of us ran when we turned the corner and saw it! :)

YES!!!!! A Cheeseburger!!!! I'm certain the people seated around us thought we were insane by how we were reacting to simple McDonalds food.

Monday was actually the nicest day we had all week... we enjoyed basking in the sun since we haven't seen it in Liberia for a while.

This was the first day in Disneyland.... Once I passed those gates I was like a little kid again, skipping and running through the streets- so much fun!

Felix and I on the teacup ride- he was my riding buddy.

The little green men from Toy Story during the nightly parade.

The boys were hilarious... they had never seen anything like Disneyland before, and so when they saw the characters they would freeze and do these funny little nervous waves. I'm trying to coach them along here...

Meeting Goofy and Pluto

WOODY!

Checking out where to go next...

The boys' first experience with cotton candy.

One of the many foods I really miss while living in Liberia is TURKEY. So I made sure to eat a turkey sandwich everyday!

Every morning at breakfast I would take enough supplies to make us ALL turkey sandwiches for our lunch.. I was shameless...make four sandwiches and put them in my bag for later! Just like any good dutch girl would... :)

My fave ride of the week- in Disneyland Studios.

We took the boys on "It's a small world" ride... I did not have good memories of this ride from when I was in 7th grade, but I was very impressed with Paris' version of it. Maybe it is because I appreciate other cultures so much more now than I did then... But here was my "Iowa" scene from the ride.

In the Disneyland Village there was a "Chicago Steakhouse" restaurant... which of course my eyes lit up when I saw. I was so excited for a steak! The steak was a disappointment compared to dad's homegrown beef, but let me tell you, this ceasar salad was amazing! (Another thing we dont get in Liberia... salad!)
We went to a stunt show in the Studio park, where they showed how they film stunts in movies- it was amazing to watch. Notice how the red car has ramped over to the other truck.

And the man on fire...

The last night we treated ourselves to the Buffalo Bill's Wild West dinner show! It was a blast! Complete with horses, buffalo and long horned cattle... It made me feel more at home actually. It was quite funny to attend one of these shows in a French culture... they would play familiar country music and everyone was like "huh?" but still a great time.

We took a day to see a few of the sites in Paris.. here we are aboard the metro.

Hanging out with the boys at the Louvre courtyard, the museum where the Mona Lisa held.

Bev and the boys in front of the Notre Dame.

The Eiffel tower! On the way to the tower I was thinking that I wouldn't be too impressed, but I was wrong. It is a very impressive structure, and beautiful at night!

View from the very top of the Eiffel Tower.

We were coming down the steps from the very top level to find a marking for Monrovia, Liberia, 4,875 km from that point. Very cool.

Our experience in the city included a LOT more walking than we had anticipated... we didn't get back to our hotel until midnight... this is on our hotel shuttle... almost there! Our feet were KILLING us! But the boys did so well.

After we left Paris, we had a day and a half in Brussels on our way back to Liberia. Since we were there for a good chunk of time, we were able to meet up with my good friends Jeremy and Kimber Van Essen, who live in Germany!

Jer and Kimber were basically my family when I lived in Cedar Falls- they invited me over for supper my first week there when I didn't know a soul, and I basically never left! :) Jeremy works for John Deere, and is 2 years into his 4 year stint in Germany. I was able to visit them last year on my way back to the States, and now again this year! It is so great to have them on this side of the "pond", and that we are able to actually see each other with the ease of travel in Europe. Who knew, 8 years ago that we would be hanging out in Europe together?!?! It's awesome how God works.

We met in the cutest little city called Brugge... one of the most quaint little towns I have ever seen!

Grabbing something to eat! Can you tell how much I love food??? :)

Famous Belgium French Fries

Picture Perfect

Jeremy and Kimber have four kids, and the boys loved hanging out with them for the day.


We had to try a Belgium waffle while in Belgium... and let me tell you... it was the MOST AMAZING thing I have ever eaten! FRESH strawberries (another I miss), powdered sugar and whipped cream.... It's a party in your mouth!

The Belfry in Brugge... built in the 1300's!

One end of the city square in Brugge... doesn't it look like Orange City? ;)

Thanks Van Essens for a great day!

I figured this picture encompassed our vacation well.... Quick (with McDonald's fast food) Starbucks every day, Disneyland, and the airport. All in all, a fabulous trip!

Tuckered out little boys...

And on our way back to Liberia, thankfully, after every flight I went to check in for told me my ticket had been cancelled! But we made it!