Geocaching with Gideon

Paris

We landed in Paris at 6:30am, Paris time. We then went through immigration, changed money into Euros, and jumped on the Metro an headed into Paris to see the Eiffel Tower. I downloaded an app for the Paris metro while in India, so we were good to go. No problems in the Meter, got out to the street and there she was. We walked around, took some pictures, got some croissants at a little cafe, and headed back to Charles De Gaulle. We spent about an hour in Paris, had a blast, and can now say we did it! Kathee had seen it as a little girl, none of the rest of us had. So fun!

Heading Back Home

Well, we will be heading to the airport here in about an hour (10pm local). Our flight to Paris leaves at 1am, an 8-ish hour flight that puts us in Paris at 6:30am (local Paris time). We have to make sure we have correct seat assignments for the Paris-Detroit flight, have to switch money over to Euros, go through immigration, and then head out to see the Eiffel Tower. I downloaded an app for the Paris Metro (subway). I have also been in contact with my cousin Maelig, who lives in Paris, about our plans (unfortunately we won't be able to connect). So we'll scurry to see the Tower and then jump back on the subway to get back to the airport for our flight (we have a six hour layover at Charles de Gaulle. From there we fly to Detroit, and then land in Moline around 8:30pm Monday night. Here's praying that everything works out as we have planned. If not? We'll just roll with it!

Sunday= Church

We always look forward to going to church, and are super-excited when Grandpa Smith is pastoring. Karl and Shirley left early, and Aslam returned at 10 to pick us up. Hope went to the nursery, where she promptly got the boot for behavior unbecoming. As I was returning from taking Gideon to his Sunday School class, I saw Kathee holding Hope. As Kathee wanted to hear her dad preach, I stayed out in the foyer with Hope. After the service we hung out. The last two Sundays, Gideon has enjoyed playing with Nevetata and Christopher B, friends of ours in India (through Karl and Shirley, of course).

Geocaching at a 685-year old mosque

So I found another place I wanted to go to in Dehli (it had a cache in it). When I looked at the complex in Google maps, the place looked huge. So when the kids were napping, Kathee, Aslam, and I slipped out to grab the cache and explore the site. It was incredible! The mosque was built in 1327. After finding the cache, we explored all over the place and it was so fun. We were able to find our way to the top of the mosque to look out at the beauty of the city and the beauty of the mosque. I'm really glad I brought my caching stuff, as we were able to see some really neat, off the tourist path sort of places. This is certainly one of them.

Aslam Made Us An Indian Meal

Aslam is Karl and Shirley's driver, though he is so much more than that, and they treat him like a son. We asked him to make us a meal. We had lamb, rice, and japoti. It was all great (I ate leftovers for three days afterwards)!

Celebrating Holi

We were in India for the Hindu holiday Holi. This holiday, which celebrates the coming of spring is marked by people throwing ink on each other. We drove around to see the festivities. Enjoy the pictures.

The Terwilleger Family Outing

There was one last place I wanted to cache at before we left, the Lodi Gardens. So the plan was concocted for us to have Aslam drive us to the Gardens and drop us off. We'd grab the three caches in the park and then head out for Chinese at a place called Side Wok. After Aslam dropped us off he went and parked and then decided to take me up on the invitation to join us caching. He did. Before entering the gardens, however, he stopped and bought "the Gideon" a juice box. Gideon loved it! He and Aslam have a great relationship. After finishing up with a family picture, we walked back to the car and Aslam dropped us at Side Wok. We had a great Chinese meal. After finishing supper, Aslam was waiting for us and drive us back to the house. So fun. And just so everyone knows, Kathee said tonight how great geocaching has been on this trip as its shown us some really neat places we'd never have gone to otherwise. So there!!!!!

National Railway Museum

We went to the museum today so Gideon could see all the engines, and to ride (twice) on the train. I loved going as there was a geocache hidden in one of the engines that I wanted to get. Everyone was successful on the day!

Subway ride to Gurgoan for lunch at Ruby Tuesdays

The Elephant in the Room

Saw an elephant and camel on the way home from church. We had to stop for some pictures.