nicole writes

Puerto Varas Big Band

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:09:00 +0000

I wasn't too surprised when my mom told me that she was hosting a youth big band from Chile on Tuesday afternoon. Puerto Varas Big Band.

Triathlon Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:27:00 +0000

Beginning in June of this year, I started training with my good friend Mary Beth for:
1) one 5 km race in Waterloo - June 15, 2008
2) one 10 km race in Toronto - July 27, 2008
3) two sprint triathlons in August (in Owen Sound and Guelph) - August 3 and August 31, 2008

Now that it's September 1st, I'm proud to say we accomplished all of our race (and training) goals for the summer.

On June 15th, we ran the Waterloo Classic. It was my first time participating in a race like this. The Waterloo Classic day also marked the beginning of our triathlon training - just about 7 weeks until Sprint Triathlon # 1!

Training started with early morning swimming, biking, and running... not to mention researching the best triathlon/running gear and accessories.

On July 27th, just a week until our first sprint triathlon, we ran the Beaches Jazz Festival 10 km in Toronto. It was a really great run along the water, and my first time running the 10 km distance.

After two months of training, the August long weekend approached and it was time to compete in our first sprint-distance triathlon. The race was in Owen Sound and we were lucky to have friends and family there to support us. The distances were: 750 m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run. It was an incredible day!

Four weeks of less-intense training went by, and we competed in our second and final triathlon for the summer. It was still a sprint race, but with longer distances: 750 m swim, 30 km bike, and 7 km run. These events have helped define what turned out to be a fabulous summer.

Some Pictures

Pre-race in Sauble Beach and race location in Owen Sound

Swim course and swim exit at Owen Sound

Bike and finish in Owen Sound

Post-finish with Mary Beth

Nicole and Mary Beth happy to be done

Triathlon-ing at Guelph Lake

More at Guelph Lake

First day of our trip to Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:24:00 +0000

This spring Jesse and I took a trip to Paris, France. It was a combo family-visit and tourist-trip. We stayed with my dad, Juliette, Johnny, Jeff, and Douglas (...our French family!) and spent lots of time in Paris.

Here's a little of Day 1...

Notre Dame

The River Seine

Raining while we waited to get to the top of the tower

Flying buttress

Looking at Paris from the top of Notre Dame

Gargoyle!

Jesse and Nicky and the tower

2 nights 3 days

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:01:00 +0000

For part of our trip, we stayed in a small boutique hotel in Paris.

Paris at night

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:39:00 +0000

We did most of our evening exploring over the 2 nights we stayed in a hotel in the city. One night we spent walking around and heading up the Eiffel Tower, and the next we hung out in the Bastille neighbourhood.

Up to the top of the Eiffel Tower

From Level 2 of the Eiffel Tower

Going up to Level 3

From Level 3 of the Eiffel Tower

Leaving

After dinner in La Bastille

The metro

Daytime Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:35:00 +0000

Paris

Near the Eiffel Tower

Le jardin des Tuileries

Outside the Pantheon

The Pantheon

The Pantheon

Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Montmarte

Moulin Rouge

Arc de Triomphe

Île Saint-Louis

President of France Nicolas Sarkozy

Les Musées

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 02:53:00 +0000

We went to two museums in Paris: The Louvre and Musée d'Orsay. They are both incredible museums that you could spend hours or days wandering in. I've decided that Musée d'Orsay is my favourite of the two.

The Louvre

On our way to the Louvre

One of the hallways

Richelieu Wing and "Napoleon's Apartments"

Musée D'Orsay

Previously the Orsay railway station

Vincent Van Gogh

Model of the Paris Opera House and on the roof of the museum

Family in Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 02:45:00 +0000

For most of our trip we stayed in a small city about 20 minutes outside of Paris. We were very lucky to have my dad and Juliette as our hosts. It was such a treat to spend so much time with my family.

Well-balanced breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Douglas turns 3 this year

Out for dinner with my dad, Juliette, and the boys

The boys (Johnny and Jeff)

Backyard birthday party for Johnny's 14th