theparkerfamily.org

  • Metro

    [Metro, Paris, France.]
    See All the Photos on Flickr:
    Metro, Paris, France

  • The Louvre

    [Venus di Milo, The Louvre, Paris, France.]
    [The Louvre, Paris, France.]
    It’s nearly impossible to overstate the impact that tourists have on The Louvre. They’re everywhere, and they’re crazy. The Lady Sparker and I spent a grand total of two hours in the museum (including 45 minutes at their cafe) and ticked off most of the top 10 things you “have” to see — and then got the heck out of dodge. Beautiful museum, it just needs about 2.3 million less people in it at any one time.
    See Slideshow of the Photos on Flickr:
    The Louvre, Paris, France

  • Tuileries Gardens

    [Tuileries Gardens, Paris, France.]
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    Tuileries Gardens, Paris, France

  • Ile de la Cite / Pont Neuf

    [Pont Neuf Bridge, Paris, France.]
    [Institut de France, Paris, France.]
    i had such an incredible sense of déjà vu standing on Pont Neuf, a bridge from Paris’ left bank to one of the islands in the river Siene. After a second, i figured it out — the bridge is featured in the first Jason Bourne movie:

    Enough. 5:30 p.m. Paris. Today. Pont Neuf. You come alone, you walk to the middle of that bridge. You take off your jacket. Face east. I’ll redial this number.

    I’m sure I’ve once again offended a couple centuries of cultured peoples by having this association, but (again) you can take the American out of America, but you can’t …

    See Slideshow of the Photos on Flickr:
    Ile de la Cite / Pont Neuf, Paris, France

  • train from london to paris

    [Train from London's St. Pancreas to Paris' Nord, London, England, UK.]

  • british beer

    [John Smith's Extra Smooth, London, England, UK.]
    on the flight over here from the U.S., i gave my father two goals for his tenure in Britain — either he was going to learn to drink scotch or he was going to learn to drink beer.

    he chose the latter.

    my father really hasn’t done much with alcohol at least since i’ve been around — there is a childhood story about mixing day old empties together which still gives me the heebs — but each meal i’d pick out something for myself that i thought he’d like, give him a sample and then he’d either order it or something he had earlier in the trip.

    i have to say he’s built himself a respectable palette for the darker stuff — mostly brown ales and stouts. the effort was made a bit easier by English beer’s milder taste than it’s American microbrew cousins, but a beer is a beer and now he’s fully prepped up to tie one down at work functions and the like.

    i’m so proud 🙂

  • Kensington Palace

    [Kensington Palace, London, England, UK.]
    [King's Gallery, Kensington Palace, London, England, UK.]
    [Kensington Gardens, London, England, UK.]
    Between Kensington Palace and the Tower of London, i think it’s safe to say that I’m a complete monarchist. Granted they are capricious, and constantly cutting off peoples (and more specifically, wives) heads — but God, the palaces, the histories, and the intrigue. It’s like crack. Or more importantly, it’s like the 17th century equivalent of reality TV.

    In fact, i’m working on my elevator pitch for a Real Housewives of Buckingham Palace as we speak.

    See Slideshow of the Photos on Flickr:
    Kensington Gardens, London, England

  • mayfair

    [Shepard's Market, Mayfair, London, England, UK.]
    See Slideshow of the Photos on Flickr:
    Mayfair, London, England

  • found: wait, mary was hot?!?

    [Mary II (as in College of William & Mary), Kensington Palace, London, England, UK.]
    I went to the College of William and Mary, and grew up in Williamsburg before that — and in all my time, i never saw a portrait of Mary II where she looked female, much less attractive.

    I’m suddenly feeling much more supportive of my alma mater.

  • white hart lane

    [Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Bromwich Albion, White Hart Lane, Tottenham, London, England, UK.]
    [Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Bromwich Albion, White Hart Lane, Tottenham, London, England, UK.]
    [White Hart Lane, Tottenham, London, England, UK.]
    i love my wife.

    she’s barely 14 weeks pregnant, just spent seven days gallivanting around scotland with my family, and wraps it all up by going with me (split seats mind you) to see tottenham hotspur at white hart lane.

    i’ve been following tottenham since i’ve been following the premier league — and the thought of seeing them in their 110 year old stadium has been clattering around my head ever since we bought the ridiculously overpriced tickets six weeks ago.

    it’s crescendo-ed to the point that this morning i was certifiably out of my mind — giddy enough that i managed to lose my wallet touring st. paul’s cathedral, but barely even noticing the rather large problem as my tickets to the lane were locked away elsewhere.

    we had planned on taking the tube to Seven Sisters, and making a twenty minute hike up hill to the stadium — but there was some variation on london’s perennial track work, so we detoured to another line and cabbed over.

    (speaking of, when the lady sparkler and i were buying tube tickets, our cashier was an aresnal fan — tottenham’s arch nemesis — and she was utterly unable to say either “tottenham” or “white hart lane” outloud without cringing.)

    (seriously, she kept starting to say something … catching herself … stopping … and saying “your destination” instead.)

    when we got to the lane, we walked a couple of laps — soaking it all in. by the time we actually entered the stadium it was already time for player introductions.

    i walked through the tunnel to the orchestral magesty of John Williams “Dual of the Fates.” it was glorious.

    it’s been a day, and i honestly don’t remember much about the match itself.

    i remember being in the front row, with a bunch of 20-something men. i remember screaming my head off. i remember being told to sit down by the extraordinarily polite stewards, a dozen times or more.

    and, i remember tottenham winning off of a curling 25-yard effort from Jermain Jenas.

    but, most of all i remember the chants, and the whole stadium — 35,000 strong — singing “oh when the spurs go marching in” in unision. i can still hear the glory glory ringing around in my ears.

    glorious.

    See a Slideshow of the Photos on Flickr:
    tottenham vs. west brom, white hart lane, london