Last day In Paris

Okay..we are finally at the end. I go home in just over 12 hours. I am tired and sore and very homesick. This has been a really long trip for me. Much more so than others because absolutely everything is foreign here. Today, we got up and since the strike is over, we went to Versailles. Its an absolutely huge palace outside of Paris. I thought the palaces in Holland, and then England were large. They were country houses next to this. The palace is just beautiful. There is beautifully colored marble, pink, gray, green, black...all around. Gold leaf is on all the walls. every room has paintings on walls and ceilings... It's just breathtaking (easier if it weren't so huge)




We walked through the garden, stopping for lunch at a cafe on the grounds. then headed to the back where the petit and grand trinon are located. This is where the queen lived to get away from the court. More huge buildings. These are not so lavishly decorated, but still were beautiful. Lots more walking in and out of rooms and gardens. Again..another place where we barely scratched the surface. Guess they want you to come back again. ;-)




Came home to what else on my last dinner in Paris???? Chez Mc Donald!!!! :) Diet Coke and fries and grilled chicken sandwich.. :-)



See you all at home!!! I can't wait

Strike day in Paris

So...A strike in Paris (for my list) means 24 hours in the middle of tourist season, you can't leave the city (no trains), it's hit or miss if the museum is open...Louvre was not, Rodin was and you better not be claustrophobic if you are taking the trains. Also, better allow LOTS more time. Today we did find some metro trains running, so we took them to Montemarre and a beautiful church at the top of the mountain. We got there during service and heard the nun's choir sing...much better than they did in Sister Act(Btw). We walked around some market like streets with shops and vendors all along all the streets. IT was pretty cool actually. Went to the area Toulouse LaTreche used to live in.




Took the train on the off chance that the Rodin museum would be open...it was so we spent the afternoon in and out of the garden sculptures and in the house. The Thinker is there..not sure what he is thinking about, but it's pretty deep because he never moves. :) I also like the Dances and lovers hands. Very romantic.







Finally after dinner, we took a river cruise on the Seine at dusk, and saw the Eiffel tower all lit up. On our way home it started to twinkle. I took a movie..it was really spectacular. Since it is so late, the strike is over, and we can go to Versailles tomorrow, I'm headed to bed. Sorry for the short blog, but I'm really tired. Tomorrows the last day..then I'm headed home. Hope you have enjoyed these little moments. I know I have.

Museum Day

So...we've been hearing rumblings of a strike all week..and on the way home..had our first taste...the metro was packed even at 8pm..and there were police at the main change station when we got off. And the desk says..no Versailles for us tomorrow...it will be closed...one can only hope its a one day strike...so we hit 3 museums, including two stops in the Louvre today. The art was amazing. Did the highlights tour because as the guide said..if you spend 2 min. on each piece, it would take 4 years of 8 hour days to see it all. So ...we saw what we could in about 5 hours....which is really..nada...but I did post some highlights...





On the Museum d' Orsey and the Orangry. Really..I can't spell French words.. We couldn't take pictures in Orsey..it's all Impressionists and such. Beautiful museum. Modern inside and traditional outside..quite a contrast. walked past a statue of Thomas Jefferson and then on the Organry. It has two full rooms of huge water little paintings. Since yesterday i was at the actual garden, it was pretty amazing to see them. I was able to photograph up close which was also quite wonderful.





Went back to Louvre...it's open late and did a couple more halls...and then food court dinner and home...i'm tired.. We can't go to versaille tomorrow, so maybe I'll get a rest day finally.... One can be ever hopeful. Then Fri is my last day in Paris...and coming home..

See you all soon .....

Day Three in Paris now

Day started a bit later (thankfully), as we took the train to the Arch de Triumphe and the Avenue de Champs-Elysees. Please no one ask me to say that..I've heard so many different pronunciations today..I'll never get it. However, one note..there are 2 Mc Donalds within 3 blocks on the left side. We talked down by the two palaces and to the statues of the great heroes of WWII. Then back, with a stop at Fourquet for a tart and Coke light (we are back to that). On the way back to the hotel, we got on the wrong train. With the help of a decent metro map, we were able to get enough transfers to find out way to the hotel with time to spare.



THen we took a small van out to Claude Monet's house in Giverny. It has two beautiful gardens and a cute little house (though by those days standards, i'm sure it's huge). There is an impressionist museum there as well. Then home to a quiet dinner and work for me.



Now just a bit of my own observations about yesterday..it's been bothering me for quite awhile today. Yesterday in the Notre Dame Cathedral, I saw signs that asked people to not take Flash Pictures and to observe the sanctity of the church and speak quietly, or be silent and not to interfere with the function of the building as a church. Yet all over the church I saw flash bulbs going off, and people speaking loudly, yelling and sitting down talking next to people who were obviously praying. Now, I'm not Catholic..yet I respect the function of this building as a house of worship for those in it. All my pictures were taking without the use of a flash, and I tried to stay out of the way of those trying to worship in their own ways. Yet, those I noticed in the highest numbers come from cultures who to a one nearly demand that their cultures and traditions are regarded and respected above others. And yet, in this place that was not their culture, they openly disregarded posted signs and decent rules of etiquette. If they are unwilling to afford another person their culture and worship, why should they expect, even demand that others afford it to them?

Okay...Eiffel Tower Day

So..its the first full day in Paris. Seems like a year since I left home. I have figured out how to call home...and make my laptop work when I want it to, so at least I still have the connections I want. I am going to say that of the three, Paris is my least favorite so far. I am feeling very much like a fish out of water. The people have not been helpful or friendly for the most part, I can't read or even start to understand the language..and I am more tired here than in the beginning. I will be very ready to go home on Sat. Today..we started the day on a sightseeing bus tour. It's good because you see all the sights at once, but not enough to say you were really there. We ended that though at the Eiffel Tower and went to the second level. Mom wanted to go to the top, so we didn't get back on the bus and went to the top on our own. One side was sunny with no wind and beautiful, the rest was chilly...like all of this trip has been so far. We walked down from levels 2 to 1 via steps...man are my legs going to be in shape at the end of this trip. Lunch along the way back to the hotel Ham and Cheese baguette and Diet coke.



The afternoon trip was to the Notre Dame Cathedral. It has the most amazing windows. the mood inside though is completely different than in Westminster Abby London. While both are working churches with services, in France, people did not seem to respect the church at all. Flash bulbs were going off all the time, even with signs saying no flash, people were talking loudly, even while sitting next to others praying. It was very disconcerting to me. Even though I am not Catholic, I believe in the right of others to worship as they choose and tried hard not to interfere with them. I was just very sad at what I was seeing.





After that, we went to the Sainte-Chapelle Chapel (I think it's called). It's a little chapel next to the ministry of justice. I got picked for 5euro..it was my own fault though..had it in my hand, not in my wallet. It's a little chapel with amazing windows, and two narrow long winding staircases. The ceiling is 20m high and the windows were wonderful. Its a very sobering thought that things can survive from the 1200's and we can't get something to last for a year.



After the hotel fixed the shower...it was only giving us cold water...we headed out to find dinner. A little bistro a few blocks away was having live music for the summer solstice, so we had a lovely dinner to a cute band singing on the streets. I had a grilled steak and mom had roast chicken. At least I'm eating well here. Off to the Arch and the french countryside tomorrow....Night all..

Bon Jour
Dormez bien

Travel Day and First day in Paris

Got up early again...whoever says vaca's are for rest...never ever went on a guided tour of London or Paris. Headed for the train station..and I am sad...NO STAMP going into France. Just one leaving London...so my passport just has 4 stamps in it. I am really hoping to get one as I leave France, but who knows...guess they don't mind strangers coming in. The train ride was uneventful and I dozed..a lot...On the bus ride in, the guide didn't say much, so I guess we didn't pass anything important. I did get a great view of the Eiffel tower as we made our way to the hotel.





MOm and I walked around the Seine for a bit...looking for a good view of the tower. Saw a bride and groom getting pictures taken in front of the tower on this little bridge and a model doing a photo shoot as well. Finally found something I can't spell and they had a huge screen erected and were watching the world cup..of course..what else would they be watching. Italy didn't do so well against those pesky New Zealanders.



Then we walked around the tower a bit...did some souvenir looking and found a great little restaurant for dinner. The waitress was sweet and took our pics. I had spaghetti bouillabaisse..cause I've NO idea how to spell that...and mom had something akin to beef Stew....another recipe for Howard. Then I got a pretty good handle on all the wireless nonsense around here...cause all the TV stations are in french with no subtitles...won't be doing much of TV watching here... Time for bed soon..



Hugs all

Last day In London

Well...I got here 5 days ago..and tomorrow..we leave VERY early for Paris. Wasn't sure what we were going to do today..was hoping to meet up with a friend, but the best laid plans of mice and men they say. We decided to take the tour of Windsor Castle sponsored by the tour group. They pick you up at the door, no tube, and we were hoping no stairs...well..this is London..so not so lucky on the no stairs thing. The Castle is huge and the Queen was in da' house.




Got a chance to see a great doll house and the state apartments. I was bummed we couldn't shop more in the town around the castle, but it was great afternoon and didn't rain...just froze...lord no shorts the entire week here for me.

The Castle is immense and then there is St. George's chapel..which makes my hometown church look like a cottage.



Finally, we passed by a huge brewery...so for all my beer drinking buds...this one's for you...


On to Paris....Chunneltime is coming soon!!