7 more days...

In a stunning turn of events...fraught with mystery and intrigue...And our leading story tonight...woman breaks arm, foils family vacation*.

This is the last full weekend before our departure to Europe.  What will you be doing?  Do you have Gazillions To Dos or just Odds and Ends. Almost 100% of the Lang Clan said that they only have odds and ends left.  I pity the poor person who said they have a Gazillion To Dos.  Psyche! Most have a Gazillion (how many is that in Euros?) things to do followed by Not Much!  You retired folks make us working stiffs look bad!

But we pretty much agree that we are silly/stupid/dumb to get any Euros in the USA before our trip.  Mike of course is yielding to Mo on this one.   

*Some of the best quotes came from the question asking if anything could make this experience better.

- Mom goes for the heartfelt answer "with Tootie"

- Ken the ever cautions, chants "No jinx, no jinx"

- And Karen replied "The experience would be better if I don't have to get a hard cast - will see this AM at 11 - hope the orthopedic Dr. just gives me a sling/air cast and some mild pain meds...I know...terrible timing! "

And to Karen's reply I said "watcha talking bout Willis?" and then called Mom and Dad.  For many days Karen was having pain and tingling in her arm.  Looking at possible causes was a little scary, what could it be? And then Karen remembered bumping her elbow/arm.  An x-ray later the doctor says Karen has a slight fracture, she should take a Advil, go on the cruise and then the doctor charges Karen's insurance a ton [sorry that was projection]. 

Everyone please meet Kitty Karen (happily not at the Kitty Sanctuary).  Please note, poor Karen did not get any happy pills.  Feel better Karen - we love ya.

Looking forward to seeing you all at our house!  Be safe!  Be happy!

8 more days...

Cruising with Cyn Collection of useless information circuitous to the OPERATION: Poisson Rouge Adventure.

Provence is the last stop on our European adventure.  Collective sigh on 3, 1....2...3.

This day next week, I will be [hopefully] completely last minute packing.  What will you be doing next Friday? 

Ships, ships and more ships. Toulon is France's exciting naval epicenter. Bobbing sailboats dot its busy harbor. On land you'll find tons of maritime museums, ancient fortresses and a fair share of sailors. And in true French fashion you'll also find plenty of stylish spots for shopping and lunching. But what really makes this seaport so special is its proximity to glitzy Saint-Tropez and the Côte d'Azur.

The One Thing You Don't Want to Miss
If you're looking for the perfect photo op, take a cable car to the peak of Mont Faron. After you've soaked up the scenery, visit the Mémorial du Débarquement en Provence, a museum that houses an interesting collection of World War II memorabilia.

Other Fun Things to Do
Catch some Mediterranean sunshine at Plage du Morillon - the seaport's most popular beach. Pop into the Musée de Toulon and ogle its vast collection of Provençal, Italian and religious masterpieces from the 16th century to the present. Take a boat tour around the harbor.

Shopping For Bargains There are plenty of places to shop for designer fashions, fine jewelry and French perfume. You'll even find a three-story mall that has just about everything, including a supermarket and a movie theater.  

Blah, Blah, Blah, onto the survey.   

See ya fine folks in Provence.

43 more days...

Cruising with Cyn
Collection of useless information circuitous to the OPERATION: Poisson Rouge Adventure.

This 6 week installment of Cyn's Cinema, we will be exploring movies that have been filmed in the regions we will be visiting. Take some time off from your everyday life and watch a movie with scenes from Barcelona, Naples, Rome, Florence, Nice and Toulon.
Let us know if you've seen any of these movies and what your thoughts are.

Title	Year	Genre	IMDb Rating	Staring
GoldenEye	1995	Action, Thriller	7.2	Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Judi Dench
Synopsis:	James Bond teams up with the lone survivor of a destroyed Russian research center to stop the hijacking of a nuclear space weapon by a fellow agent believed to be dead.
Sightings:	Alpes-Maritimes, France (James Bond car race with Xenia Onatopp) Art Deco Palm Court, Park Lane Hotel, Piccadilly, London, England, UK Bouches-du-Rhône, France (James Bond car race with Xenia Onatopp) British Sugar Factory, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England, UK (exteriors: end of the tank chase) Brompton Cemetery, Fulham Road, West Brompton, London, England, UK (exterior Russian church of Our Lady of Smolensk, St. Petersburg) Casino Square, Monte Carlo, Monaco Casino de Monte Carlo, Monte Carlo, Monaco (casino scenes) Courtyard, Somerset House, Strand, London, England, UK (Central Square, St. Petersburg) Draper's Hall, Throgmorton Avenue, Broadgate, London, England, UK (interiors Russian defence ministry council chambers in St Petersburg) England, UK Epsom Race Course, Epsom Downs, Epsom, Surrey, England, UK (James Bond meets Jack Wade/St Petersburg Airport) Fort Antoine, Monaco-Ville, Monte Carlo, Monaco (James Bond views the Admiral and Xenia Onatopp boarding the Manticore yacht) France French Riviera, Alpes-Maritimes, France Grand Corniche, Alpes-Maritimes, France Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes, France (James Bond car race with Xenia Onatopp) Greolieres, Alpes-Maritimes, France (James Bond car race with Xenia Onatopp) Greolieres-les-neiges, Alpes-Maritimes, France (James Bond car race with Xenia Onatopp) Hotel de Paris, Place du Casino, Monte Carlo, Monaco Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, England, UK Langham Hotel - 1c Portland Place, London, England, UK (Grand Hotel Europe) Leavesden Aerodrome, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, England, UK (studio) (tank chase) Leavesden Studios, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, England, UK (studio) London, England, UK Monaco-Ville, Monte Carlo, Monaco (James Bond views the Admiral and Xenia Onatopp boarding the Manticore yacht) Monaco Monte Carlo Bay, Monte Carlo, Monaco (Xenia Onatopp steals the stealth Tiger helicoper) Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, Monte Carlo, Monaco (Monte Carlo scenes) Monte Carlo, Monaco Nene Valley Railway, Northamptonshire, England, UK (exteriors: rail scenes - Alec Trevelyan's train depot - exploding train) Nene Valley Railway, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England, UK (exteriors: rail scenes - Alec Trevelyan's train depot - exploding train) Park Lane Hotel, Piccadilly, London, England, UK Port d'Hercule, La Condamine, Monaco (Xenia Onatopp steals the stealth Tiger helicoper) Queen's Stand, Epsom Race Course, Epsom Downs, Epsom, Surrey, England, UK (James Bond meets Jack Wade/St Petersburg Airport) River Thames, London, England, UK (MI6/M's Office) Rooftop Theatre, Fort Antoine, Monaco-Ville, Monte Carlo, Monaco (James Bond views the Admiral and Xenia SIS Headquarters - 85 Albert Embankment, Vauxhall, London, England, UK (MI6 Headquarters/M's Office) Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England, UK Somerset House, Strand, London, England, UK (exteriors: Central Square, St. Petersburg - Jack Wade's blue car breaks down) St Sofia's Greek Cathedral, Moscow Road, Bayswater, London, England, UK (interior Russian church of Our Lady of Smolensk, St. Petersburg) Thorenc, Bouches-du-Rhône, France (James Bond's car race with Xenia Onatopp) UK Vauxhall Cross - 85 Albert Embankment, Vauxhall, London, England, UK (MI6/M's Office)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels	1998	Comedy, Crime	7.1	Steve Martin, Michael Caine
Synopsis:	Lawrence and Freddie are con-men; big-time and small time respectively. They unsuccessfully attempt to work together only to find that this town (on the French Mediterranean coast) aint big enough for the two of them. They agree to a "loser leaves" bet. The bet brings out the best/worse in the two. Interesting twist at the end. Synopsis written by Rob Hartill
Sightings:	Alpes-Maritimes, France Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France Aéroport International, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France (Beaumont-sur-Mer Airport) Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Alpes-Maritimes, France (Beaumont-sur-Mer) Cap Ferrat, Alpes-Maritimes, France Cap Ferrat, Gironde, France Cap d'Antibes, Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France Côte d'Azur, France Fondation Ephrussie de Rothschild, Villa Ile-de-Frances, Cap Ferrat, Alpes-Maritimes, France (Beaumont-sur-Mer art gallery) France French Riviera, Alpes-Maritimes, France Gers, France Gironde, France Grand-Hôtel, Cap-Ferrat, Alpes-Maritimes, France (Beaumont-sur-Mer Grand Hotel) Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France (Beaumont-sur-Mer harbour) Musée Rothschild, Cap Ferrat, Alpes-Maritimes, France Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France Rotonde, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Alpes-Maritimes, France (Beaumont-sur-Mer Casino) Studios de la Victorine - 16 avenue Edoard Grinda, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France Villa Hier, Cap d'Antibes, Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France (Lawrence Jamieson's luxurious digs) Villa Ile-de-Frances, Cap Ferrat, Alpes-Maritimes, France Villefranche, Alpes-Maritimes, France Villefranche, Gers, France Villefranche-sur-Mer, Alpes-Maritimes, France
The Big Blue	1988	Drama, Romance	7.4	Rosanna Arquette, Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno
Synopsis:	Enzo and Jacques have known each other for a long time. Their friendship started in their childhood days in the Mediterranean. They were not real friends in these days, but there was something they both loved and used to do the whole day long: diving. One day Jacques' father, who was a diver too, died in the Mediterranean sea. ... Synopsis written by Reiner Rosin
Sightings:	Agia Anna, Amorgos, Small Cyclades, Greece Alpes-Maritimes, France Amorgos, Small Cyclades, Greece Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France Corsica, France France French Riviera, Alpes-Maritimes, France Greece Italy Kalotaritissa Bay, Amorgos, Cyclades, Greece (stranded ship) Le Grand Bleu Bar, Amorgos, Small Cyclades, Greece Manganari Island, Greece Marineland, Antibes, Alpes-Maritimes, France (Aquarium) Paris, France Taormina, Messina, Sicily, Italy (Diving Scenes)
An Affair to Remember	1957	Comedy, Romance	7.3	Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr
Synopsis:	Handsome playboy Nicky Ferrante and beautiful night club singer Terry McKay have a romance while on a cruise from Europe to New York. Despite being engaged to other people, both agree to reunite at the top of the Empire State Building in six months. However, an unfortunate accident keeps Terry from the reunion, and Nicky fears that she has married or does not love him anymore. Will he discover the truth behind her absence and reunite with his one true love, or has fate and destiny passed them by? Synopsis written by {jgp3553@excite.com}
Sightings:	Alpes-Maritimes, France France French Riviera, Alpes-Maritimes, France Villefranche-sur-Mer, Alpes-Maritimes, France
To Catch a Thief	1955	Crime, Mystery, Romance	7.5	Cary Grant, Grace Kelly
Synopsis:	A series of ingenious jewelry robberies takes place on the French Riviera. The police suspect John Robbie - an expert thief who was known as "The Cat" before he retired from crime. Robbie enlists the help of an insurance man to guess where the real thief will strike next. He befriends wealthy widow Jessie Stevens and her attractive daughter Frances. Synopsis written by Col Needham {col@imdb.com}
Sightings:	Maritimes, France Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France Côte d'Azur, France France French Riviera, Alpes-Maritimes, France Hôtel Carlton, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France Villefranche-sur-Mer, Alpes-Maritimes, France

85 more days...

Cruising with Cyn
Collection of useless information circuitous to the OPERATION: Poisson Rouge Adventure.

This 6 week installment of Cruising with Cyn, we will be exploring local cuisine from the regions we will be visiting. Ken and I will be preparing a traditional meal from Barcelona, Naples, Rome, Florence, Nice and Toulon. We will be posting the receipe and our review.

Herb-Rubbed Steaks with Olives Provencal
Ingredients
4 6-ounce beef tenderloin steaks (each about 1 inch thick) 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 3 bay leaves (2 finely crushed, 1 whole) 1/2 cup brine-cured olives (such as Kalamata) 1 cup dry white wine 3 tablespoons canned tomato puree
Instructions
• Rub tenderloin steaks with 1 tablespoon olive oil; sprinkle with crushed bay leaves.
• Place steaks in small glass baking dish in single layer; let stand at room temperature at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Bring small saucepan of water to boil over medium-high heat. Add olives and return water to boil. Drain olives.
• Scrape most of bay leaves off steaks; sprinkle steaks with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add steaks and sauté to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer steaks to plate.
• Add white wine to skillet and bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Add tomato puree, whole bay leaf, and drained olives to skillet.
• Cook until sauce is slightly thickened, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Return steaks and any accumulated juices to skillet; turn to coat. Cook steaks until just heated through, turning once, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer steaks to platter. Discard bay leaf. Spoon sauce and olives over steaks and serve.

Bon Appetit! Now that we are all stuffed to the gills next week we should take in a movie.

134 more days...

Cruising with Cyn
Collection of useless information circuitous to the OPERATION: Poisson Rouge Adventure.









Wowsers Provence

We will be arriving in Provence (Toulon), France on Friday May 28, 2010 the last of five ports of call. Breaking News! The itinerary has been changed ~ no stop at Marseilles but rather Toulon.

Fun Facts

• Toulon is the city with the most sunshine annually in France; an average of 2,899 hours per year
• 1820: The statue Venus de Milo is discovered at Milo and seen by a French naval officer, Emile Voutier, who admires it, persuades the French Ambassador to Turkey to buy it, and brings it Toulon on his ship, the Estafette. It is then taken to the Louvre.
• Toulon figures prominently in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. It is the location of the infamous prison, the bagne of Toulon, in which the protagonist Jean Valjean spends nineteen years in hard labour. Toulon is also the birthplace of the novel's antagonist, Javert.
• Marseille is also well known in France for its hip hop music. Bands like IAM originated from Marseille and initiated the rap music phenomena in France. Other known groups include Fonky Family, 3ème Oeil, and Psy4 de la rime. [cb says Apparently no hip hop music for us.]

Web Bites

• When it comes to public transportation, Toulon is a traveler's dream come true! Toulon is a major transportation center of the region and offers the best in getting tourists from place to place.
• Place Puget lies in the heart of Toulon's vieille ville. Victor Hugo lived at #5 while he researched Les Miserables.
• Marseille has been designated as European Capital of Culture in 2013. The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union for a period of one calendar year during which it is given a chance to showcase its cultural life and cultural development. [cb says I know this is not a port but thought it was too interesting to pass up.]

In the News

Sorry but it was a slow week in news...Eurostar nearly back to normal following severe disruption

Just * The * Facts

Elevation: 89 feet Latitude: 43 06N Longitude: 005 56E
Avg Temp: 63
Avg High: 69
Avg Low: 56
Avg Precipitation: 1.6
Many people live here

See you next week on Deck 14 where the cool kids hang and periodically visit Deck 13.