We flew out (only a couple of hours delayed…) on Saturday afternoon and arrived in the gigantic Paris airport a short while later and were off to find our way into the city. The not so helpful tourist information desk attendant told us that the trains into the city were not running on the weekend. After prompting her on what we should do she told us we must take the bus from terminal 3. We found the appropriate terminal and were ushered onto a free (quite surprised by that fact) shuttle bus that would take us to the nearest open train station. Upon arrival at the station we bought tickets (at least what we thought were the right tickets) and got onto the regional train that went into the city. A few insights into this journey: a pair of accordion and tambourine players entertained us while riding in one of the metro cars, we had to find our way around the gates at a transfer station because our tickets would not work and there was no one around to help (see previously mentioned comment about buying what we thought were appropriate tickets), and the total journey took around an hour and a half. We decided later to take the shuttle bus from the hotel back to the airport because we figured it would be easier and would take less time-well it was easier but most certainly did not take less time…another story for different time.
We found our cute little hotel, walked around to find dinner and then settled in for the night. The next morning, we were up early and headed out to see the Louvre before our walking tour that afternoon. We figured out the metro system (with a little help from a nice stranger who watched us fail at the machine several times before coming over to see if we needed help) and went to find the Mona Lisa. Well…we found her and I must say, she is quite a small painting. And she is behind bulletproof glass just in case anyone wanted to mess with her. There were crowds of people in the gallery and the thing I noticed most was the very little attention being paid to the HUGE painting on the wall opposite the Mona Lisa. I mean…this thing was BIG. It probably took years to paint it and all we care about is getting a picture of the beloved Mona Lisa. Seemed a little strange to me…but I am most certainly not an art expert.
After the Louvre we went on a walking tour of the city. Our tour guide, who was from New Zealand, took us around the city and told us many stories (she could have made them up for all I knew of the history of Paris).
Then it poured rain….oh and I forgot to mention the fact that it was COLD while we were there and being the southerner that I am, I had only brought my chacos. Smart, I know. J
In the afternoon, we went to the Eiffel Tower and in the rain (of course, cause it’s Europe!) we rode the slightly scary elevator to two different viewing platforms with awesome views of the city. I am pretty happy we went on Sunday because I found out today that they had to evacuate the Eiffel Tower on Tuesday because of a threat. All I have to say is that I would not have gone back up the tower had that happened while we were there.
Monday, Melodee and I decided to relax so we went on a boat tour down the Seine River. The tour took us by Notre Dame and most of the major sights along the river. There was this little boy on the boat with us who looked just like one of my students from last year. He was so cute and took pictures the whole time with his bright blue digital camera while his mom took pictures with a pretty intimidating professional-looking camera.
Our hotel was only about a 20 minute walk from the Eiffel Tower so on our last evening in Paris, we went and saw the it all lit up and even watched the twinkling light show it puts on for the first five minutes of each hour during the evening. We took way too many pictures trying to get the Eiffel Tower and us into the picture and then made our way back to the hotel.
We had a splendid time seeing this very famous city and it ranks in the top 5 of my favorite places I have visited in Europe…right behind Prague and the island of Hydra in Greece.
Until next time…
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