1st Mar Div Band Goes to France!

In honor of the 97th anniversary of the Battle of Belleau Wood (where the Marines saved France in World War I), A traveled to France with the 1st Marine Division Band from Camp Pendleton!

Above, the band during the anniversary ceremony with the French Legionnaires on Aisne Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, France. (A is on the far left).

More from the ceremony commemorating the Battle of Belleau Wood.

Can you spot A?

The French military counterparts on the right.

1st Marine Division Band performing outside the Musée de l'Armée (houses Napoleon's tomb) and Les Invalides in Paris, France.

 A marching on the far right here.

Performing at Le Jardin d'Acclimatation in Paris, France

And here are some photos taken by A during his visit. The lovely Tour Eiffel.

The River Seine.

Pretty day in Paris!

 Military museum.

 

Heading toward the famous Louvre.

Inside the Louvre entrance, a modern pyramid.

Inside the historic museum.

As close as A could get to the Mona Lisa.

Lady with the mystic smile.

Outside the Château de Versailles.

Inside the Palace.

What a ceiling!

 The St. Louis Cathedral

 Joan of Arc.

A really liked this fuzzy French chicken.

  And photo-bombing his snoozing Gunnery Sergeant.

The accommodations at the French military barracks (100 Marines to 8 moldy bathrooms) weren't exactly pleasant, but A says he'd love to go back to France on a real vacation.:)

Greek Family Fun

On Memorial Day, we got some visitors from Maryland! We had a fun day in San Diego with Z's Thea N, Theo A, and cousin J!

Greek cousins.

 

 Enjoying the playground in Liberty Station, Point Loma.

YiaYia and Papou with their grandkids.

Greek food for lunch, of course!

On another outing, we also took a nostalgic walk around San Diego State University. This brand new Aztec Student Union building is beautiful (on the right)!

N hadn't seen these parts of the campus since she graduated in the late '90s!

The kids loved the koi fish/turtle pond on campus!

Before enjoying a yummy dinner, Z went "fishing" off a bridge in Seaport Village.

Don't know who this guy is, but thought he was cute.

J' first carousel ride, with Yiayia and Z joining in.

To continue with the fun-filled week, we also hosted a luncheon at our house in Camp Pendleton with our extended Pasadena family. Here's YiaYia Anna with her four great-grandkids: 

Z, Yianni, George, and J!

N and her YiaYia.

With Great Thea Margo

Cousins George and Elaine.

Cousin Thomas and his son George.

 

What a great visit with our fun Greek family!

(We missed A while he was out of the country though. Stay tuned for another post on A's trip with the Marine band to France!).