Paris
So here is a look at our trip to Paris. It might be more than most of you care to read! I just copied and pasted emails we sent home while on our trip. This is more for my benefit than anyone else's since this blog is the closest I have come to keeping a journal. Hope you enjoy the journey- we sure did!
Day One
We have the tiniest little room way up at the very top of a very narrow skinny hotel. It reminds us of the love dungeon (our first basement apartment) but it is up at the top so we called it our "love tower"! The bed is a double and you can only stand up straight in the room if you are standing on Scott's side of the bed! The tub is half size (I think they made it for Napoleon). But I slept great. The weather was amazing! After getting in it was too early to get our room so we left our bags at the hotel and walked around for about an hour while waiting to meet up with the Parkers again. We were in the Plaza of San Michel when we heard a loud thud. We looked over and a man had just been hit by a bus and was thrown on to the curb. Scott ran over to help. The man was unconscious at first but then tried to get up but was really hurt. Scott just tried to keep him down until an ambulance arrived. And I of course was right by his side giving aid and wiping his brow through the whole ordeal! Not! I had to leave and go sit by the fountain because I was ready to faint! On no sleep, hungry and hot and all that blood I really thought I was going to lose it! Then we met with a tour guide, a Canadian girl that has lived here 7 years, and had a private walking tour of the city. It was great but we were all so tired and dehydrated that it was hard to tune in the last 30-60 minutes of it. We got to see quickly the outside of the Louver and Notre dame among other things. We toured the Conciergerie, the place that once was a palace and then a prison where they held Marie Antoinette. We did a lot of great eating and walking around the city.
View from our Seine River Cruise
We have the tiniest little room way up at the very top of a very narrow skinny hotel. It reminds us of the love dungeon (our first basement apartment) but it is up at the top so we called it our "love tower"! The bed is a double and you can only stand up straight in the room if you are standing on Scott's side of the bed! The tub is half size (I think they made it for Napoleon). But I slept great. The weather was amazing! After getting in it was too early to get our room so we left our bags at the hotel and walked around for about an hour while waiting to meet up with the Parkers again. We were in the Plaza of San Michel when we heard a loud thud. We looked over and a man had just been hit by a bus and was thrown on to the curb. Scott ran over to help. The man was unconscious at first but then tried to get up but was really hurt. Scott just tried to keep him down until an ambulance arrived. And I of course was right by his side giving aid and wiping his brow through the whole ordeal! Not! I had to leave and go sit by the fountain because I was ready to faint! On no sleep, hungry and hot and all that blood I really thought I was going to lose it! Then we met with a tour guide, a Canadian girl that has lived here 7 years, and had a private walking tour of the city. It was great but we were all so tired and dehydrated that it was hard to tune in the last 30-60 minutes of it. We got to see quickly the outside of the Louver and Notre dame among other things. We toured the Conciergerie, the place that once was a palace and then a prison where they held Marie Antoinette. We did a lot of great eating and walking around the city.
Our hotel room in Paris, Latin Quarter
Backside of Notre Dame
Notre Dame
Day Two
What another great day! Once again, I am completely exhausted. We were like the pioneer children today as we walked, and walked, and walked, and.... walked! We started at the Musee d'Orsay. That was great and all of our favorites was the Van Gogh room. Then we ate lunch at a little cafe. After lunch we walked through the Tuilleries. We found a bench eventually with a back and in the shade and sat there and visited for a while. Then we went to the Invalides and went through part of the War museum and saw Napoleons Tomb. Then we went back to the San Chapelle to try to get in and see the stained glass windows but once again we struck out. We tried yesterday as well. Both nights they had closed early for a concert they were having inside. So we will try again tomorrow. So then we went back to Notre Dame to listen to the tour and climb to the top but they closed early as well because they had too many already go up. So we decided to go back to our rooms to rest for an hour since everything was closed and we didn't want to go to the Eiffel tower that early. That hour was priceless! I don't think I would had made it all night without a little rest. My lower back is hurting so bad from walking around. We found another little cafe where we could sit outside and eat and we even tried "figs in a beggars purse" for an appetizer. Heidi Parker was the only one that liked them. By the time we got to the Eiffel tower it was already lit up. Then when we were waiting in line the sparkling lights turned on. It was awesome! I had forgotten how big it is. We got tickets to go up to the top. The elevator ride was scary but once we were at the top I didn't feel scared. By the time we got home it was 12:30 a.m. We should sleep well tonight too. Our hotel room is so small but I love it because it is so quiet! We are doing the Louvre in the morning and have moved our night cruise to tomorrow night since we went so late to the Eiffel tower tonight. And we are determined to get in and see the windows of San Chapelle.
Another huge day! We started out at the Louvre. Our friends did a three hour tour - not the Gilligan kind, but the Italian Masters kind. They really enjoyed it but I wanted to be free to see what I wanted to see and skip what I wanted to skip.We stayed there for five hours. We loved it but were exhausted by the time we left. I made sure to get a picture of all the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle art. You didn't know they had that at the Louvre? I made sure to get at least one picture of a Donatello, Michaelangelo, Rafael, and Leonardo piece of art. Then we met up with our friends and made a third try to get into the Sainte Chapelle. I am so glad we made the effort to try again. It was beautiful. It has been discribed as a little jewel box and that is the best way to describe it. It has the most beautiful stain-glassed windows that are made up of pictures portraying Bible stories. They did that so the illiterate could worship as well. The chapel would go darker as the sun went behind the clouds and when the sun came out the whole room would be so bright and you could make out the pictures in the stained-glass windows. Then we took the metro to Monte Martre. Legend has it that Saint Dennis was beheaded for the cause of Christianity and then got up, grabbed his head, washed it off and carried it under his arm up to the top of this mountain where he finally died. The beheading couldn't kill him but know I know what did - STAIRS!!! We must have had climbed over 500 stairs getting up to the top of the mountain and up to the top of the dome in the Sacre-couer. And not just any old stairs, the kid that go on forever, with tiny, narrow steps in a dark, tight, curving stairwell. We got a great view of Paris from the top but we definitely paid a price to get there. Then we found a highly recommended traditional French restaurant to eat at. I was the biggest loser! I didn't win anything though - I just got the yucky food. This place didn't have any English translation on the menu so it was kind of a surprise to see what we ended up with. I did enjoy the French fries and bread but the rest wasn't much to write home about so I will stop! Now not only are our feet throbbing, my back aching and my calves sore, my legs are going to be very sore in the morning from our 6 hour stair-climbing day. We ran out of time and steam to go do our boat tour tonight so we are hoping to fit it in tomorrow night after getting back from Versailles.
Hey everybody- this is Dad/Scott writing.
Scott bonding with Vincent Van Gogh in the D'Orsay Museum
Top of the Eiffel Tower
Just a couple of tres chic Frenchies!
Day Three
Another huge day! We started out at the Louvre. Our friends did a three hour tour - not the Gilligan kind, but the Italian Masters kind. They really enjoyed it but I wanted to be free to see what I wanted to see and skip what I wanted to skip.We stayed there for five hours. We loved it but were exhausted by the time we left. I made sure to get a picture of all the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle art. You didn't know they had that at the Louvre? I made sure to get at least one picture of a Donatello, Michaelangelo, Rafael, and Leonardo piece of art. Then we met up with our friends and made a third try to get into the Sainte Chapelle. I am so glad we made the effort to try again. It was beautiful. It has been discribed as a little jewel box and that is the best way to describe it. It has the most beautiful stain-glassed windows that are made up of pictures portraying Bible stories. They did that so the illiterate could worship as well. The chapel would go darker as the sun went behind the clouds and when the sun came out the whole room would be so bright and you could make out the pictures in the stained-glass windows. Then we took the metro to Monte Martre. Legend has it that Saint Dennis was beheaded for the cause of Christianity and then got up, grabbed his head, washed it off and carried it under his arm up to the top of this mountain where he finally died. The beheading couldn't kill him but know I know what did - STAIRS!!! We must have had climbed over 500 stairs getting up to the top of the mountain and up to the top of the dome in the Sacre-couer. And not just any old stairs, the kid that go on forever, with tiny, narrow steps in a dark, tight, curving stairwell. We got a great view of Paris from the top but we definitely paid a price to get there. Then we found a highly recommended traditional French restaurant to eat at. I was the biggest loser! I didn't win anything though - I just got the yucky food. This place didn't have any English translation on the menu so it was kind of a surprise to see what we ended up with. I did enjoy the French fries and bread but the rest wasn't much to write home about so I will stop! Now not only are our feet throbbing, my back aching and my calves sore, my legs are going to be very sore in the morning from our 6 hour stair-climbing day. We ran out of time and steam to go do our boat tour tonight so we are hoping to fit it in tomorrow night after getting back from Versailles.
Saint Chapelle
Louvre
Sacre-couer and view of Paris
Day Four
Hey everybody- this is Dad/Scott writing.
I wanted to give our daily report. We are back at our hotel taking a rest after a big day in Versailles (not the real one in Kentucky but a little small suburb of Paris you have probably never heard of before). We got there pretty close to opening time at 9:00. We spent a total of about 6 hrs there. It was pretty mind boggling how big and extravagent the palace and gardens are. I can see why the common people rebelled and went after the nobility when they were starving in the streets and King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antionette were all sitting up in their palace just building more lush accomadations. That being said- it is the prime example of what man can build w/ unlimited resources. Very impressive! It made me appreciate King Benjamin in the BOM because we are told how he did not live off the labors of his people but he worked to provide for his own needs. It also makes me realize that in the US- the President's home is quite humble in comparison and that it really isn't owned by him but by the People- he just stays rent free for 4-8 yrs.Well enough philosophy according to Scott- back to the story at hand. We toured the palace and then rented bikes and rode out to Marie Antionette's "cottage". Not exactly a cabin. However it was beautiful there- very picturesque. The pictures we took seemed like they belonged in a story book. We will try to send some . We then went on an extended bike ride aroung the perimeter of the man made water way (about a 10 mile ride!). We had a nice lunch there at an outdoor restaruant on the grounds of Versailles. I had duck and it was quite scrumtous. We took the train back into Paris and headed to hotel to take a rest before meeting up w/ the Parker's for dinner. We are then going to take a boat ride up and down the Seine River. I have loved every minute of our trip. The French people have been suprisingly very nice. I am sure we are in good graces b/c Heidi does so well trying out her French (you shoud have seen her on the airplane ride listening to all these French lessons on her podcasts- I thought to myself- That is JR's daughter!) I just keep my mouth shut b/c everytime I open my mouth I start speaking Spanish- when in reality most French people will understand English more than Spanish. But no snotty Frenchies so far.Through our open hotel window we can hear a student protest rally. The University of Sorbonne is right across from our hotel. This is one of the oldest Universities in the world. Peolpe come from all over the world to study here. It was established in 1250. In fact the part of Paris we are in is called the Latin district because back when Sorbonne opened all of the college kids only spoke Latin- not sure French had really taken hold as a language yet. It is wild to realize that we really don't have anything old in the USA- we are such a young nation. To see sculptures that were done 500 yrs before Christ was born or see a University that is over 750 yrs old is mind boggling.
So we are off to Provence tomorrow. I am looking forward to a little more lax schedule and some R&R in the French countryside. We have had a blast and seen alot in Paris these last 3 days but not sure our feet could hold up for a full 7 days of this- sounds like I am getting old?
Day Five
We just checked into our hotel here at St. Remy. It is so cute and quaint. We took the train from Paris to Avignon and then a rental car. We then headed to the town of Uzes and walked around, looked at shops and ate a quick lunch. Then we drove to Pont de Gard and saw the Roman aqueduct ruins. They were massive and very impressive. We have two full days here in the countryside. We have our dirty clothes soaking in the tub right now - dad, you should be so proud of us! This traveling light is the way to go! Scott is ashamed that he used to pack like a woman and has vowed to change (we will see how long that lasts).
So we are off to Provence tomorrow. I am looking forward to a little more lax schedule and some R&R in the French countryside. We have had a blast and seen alot in Paris these last 3 days but not sure our feet could hold up for a full 7 days of this- sounds like I am getting old?
Palace of Versailles and Gardens
We just checked into our hotel here at St. Remy. It is so cute and quaint. We took the train from Paris to Avignon and then a rental car. We then headed to the town of Uzes and walked around, looked at shops and ate a quick lunch. Then we drove to Pont de Gard and saw the Roman aqueduct ruins. They were massive and very impressive. We have two full days here in the countryside. We have our dirty clothes soaking in the tub right now - dad, you should be so proud of us! This traveling light is the way to go! Scott is ashamed that he used to pack like a woman and has vowed to change (we will see how long that lasts).
Port de Gard - Roman Aqueduct
Day Six
Today was another amazing day of course! It has clouded over and a little bit cooler now but we have still somehow avoided any rain. From yesterday forward they predicted a 60% chance of rain but we have been so lucky with great weather. Our first few days in Paris where very warm (high 70's maybe low 80's). Now we have cooled into the 60's but a light jacket is all we have needed, and that was mostly only on the high hilltop cities. We went to the city of Arles first thing this morning. We walked through the town a little and I bought a runner for my kitchen table. We saw some Roman ruins - an old amphitheatre and an old Arena that is still used for bull fights. We also saw the cafe that Van Gogh painted in his famous painting "Cafe in the Night". That was pretty amazing. There are several paintings that he did while living in Arles and at each spot where he sat his easel to paint the picture they have a copy of his finished painting. We also saw the hospital that he painted in the picture called "L'Espace". It is funny but all the old hospitals here are called "Hotel Dieu" or God's Hotel. They named them that because they figured that is where you would go stay before meeting God. Then we went to the hill top city of Les Beaux. It is a village that was built into a rock plateau in Midieval times and there was a castle there as well. Then my favorite part of the day was spent at The Cathedral of Images. It is an old rock quarry that rotates light shows each year. Lucky for us the show this year is on Vincent Van Gogh since we are all huge fans! It was amazing. They project huge light images of his paintings all around you along the walls and floor of the quarry. Tomorrow we
Today was our last day here in Provence. We will stay here tonight then head out first thing in the morning on the train back to Paris. It did rain a little bit today but only for a few minutes while we were out in it and it was just like a typical light NW rain so we felt right at home. We went on the walking tour of Van Gogh around the town of St. Remy (this is where we are staying). It takes you around the mental hospital he stayed at and around town to see where he painted several of his paintings. Then we toured the hospital he was at for one year and where he did over 100 paintings and many sketches (he may have done more than that during this year but Scott is asleep so I can't verify this with him). We saw the room he stayed in and got to read a lot about his life. We were all thoroughly depressed after all this just wishing so bad we could had been there to give him a hug and tell him how wonderful he was and how much people would revere him in years to come. We also saw where Nostredamus was born and sampled and bought some Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegarette. Then we went on a road tour of the Luberon district of Provence. We hit several small Hill Top cities, including Goult, l'Isle Sur de la Sourge, Roussillon and Lacoste. They were very quaint and picturesque. We had amazing views of the valleys and Vineyards.
Today was another amazing day of course! It has clouded over and a little bit cooler now but we have still somehow avoided any rain. From yesterday forward they predicted a 60% chance of rain but we have been so lucky with great weather. Our first few days in Paris where very warm (high 70's maybe low 80's). Now we have cooled into the 60's but a light jacket is all we have needed, and that was mostly only on the high hilltop cities. We went to the city of Arles first thing this morning. We walked through the town a little and I bought a runner for my kitchen table. We saw some Roman ruins - an old amphitheatre and an old Arena that is still used for bull fights. We also saw the cafe that Van Gogh painted in his famous painting "Cafe in the Night". That was pretty amazing. There are several paintings that he did while living in Arles and at each spot where he sat his easel to paint the picture they have a copy of his finished painting. We also saw the hospital that he painted in the picture called "L'Espace". It is funny but all the old hospitals here are called "Hotel Dieu" or God's Hotel. They named them that because they figured that is where you would go stay before meeting God. Then we went to the hill top city of Les Beaux. It is a village that was built into a rock plateau in Midieval times and there was a castle there as well. Then my favorite part of the day was spent at The Cathedral of Images. It is an old rock quarry that rotates light shows each year. Lucky for us the show this year is on Vincent Van Gogh since we are all huge fans! It was amazing. They project huge light images of his paintings all around you along the walls and floor of the quarry. Tomorrow we
are going to see a lot more of Van Gogh sites and some other villages and then we head out early Sat. morning back to Paris. That will give us a few hours to decided what else we want to do there or if there is anything we want to go back to see.
Cathedral of Images - Van Gogh light show
Arles - where Van Gogh painted the "cafe at night"
Day Seven
Today was our last day here in Provence. We will stay here tonight then head out first thing in the morning on the train back to Paris. It did rain a little bit today but only for a few minutes while we were out in it and it was just like a typical light NW rain so we felt right at home. We went on the walking tour of Van Gogh around the town of St. Remy (this is where we are staying). It takes you around the mental hospital he stayed at and around town to see where he painted several of his paintings. Then we toured the hospital he was at for one year and where he did over 100 paintings and many sketches (he may have done more than that during this year but Scott is asleep so I can't verify this with him). We saw the room he stayed in and got to read a lot about his life. We were all thoroughly depressed after all this just wishing so bad we could had been there to give him a hug and tell him how wonderful he was and how much people would revere him in years to come. We also saw where Nostredamus was born and sampled and bought some Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegarette. Then we went on a road tour of the Luberon district of Provence. We hit several small Hill Top cities, including Goult, l'Isle Sur de la Sourge, Roussillon and Lacoste. They were very quaint and picturesque. We had amazing views of the valleys and Vineyards.
Insane Asylum Van Gogh stayed at in St. Remy
Hill top cities in the Luberon area
Day Eight
Well, we are back in our hotel for the night after our last day in Paris. We got in Paris around 12:30 this afternoon and then went to out new hotel. Then we split up so everyone could go see or do what they wanted to before leaving. We are staying in the Marais district this time so we had some new areas to explore. Scott and I went to the Victor Hugo mansion and then split up as well. Scott really wanted to go back to the D'Orsay to reconnect with Vincent! He wanted to see the paintings again after being at so many places that he lived and painted. It was an emotional reunion for the two of them! I wandered around town and went through the Picasso museum. I really don't get his art at all but thought I should take advantage of a chance to see so many originals. Then we all met up again to have dinner and walk down the Champs d'elysees and see the Arc de Triumph. Then we had to find Scott one last Crepe stand so he could get a banana/nutella crepe before leaving. I am so worn out I am actually looking forward to sitting all day tomorrow. We are excited to see everyone. It has been a great trip and lots of good times but we are ready to see our kids again.
Well, we are back in our hotel for the night after our last day in Paris. We got in Paris around 12:30 this afternoon and then went to out new hotel. Then we split up so everyone could go see or do what they wanted to before leaving. We are staying in the Marais district this time so we had some new areas to explore. Scott and I went to the Victor Hugo mansion and then split up as well. Scott really wanted to go back to the D'Orsay to reconnect with Vincent! He wanted to see the paintings again after being at so many places that he lived and painted. It was an emotional reunion for the two of them! I wandered around town and went through the Picasso museum. I really don't get his art at all but thought I should take advantage of a chance to see so many originals. Then we all met up again to have dinner and walk down the Champs d'elysees and see the Arc de Triumph. Then we had to find Scott one last Crepe stand so he could get a banana/nutella crepe before leaving. I am so worn out I am actually looking forward to sitting all day tomorrow. We are excited to see everyone. It has been a great trip and lots of good times but we are ready to see our kids again.
Arc de triumph
Nutella & Banana Crepe
Comments