Yes, I realize this trip occurred in summer 2015 ... but I still want to post about it!
PARIS, FRANCE
PARIS, FRANCE
5.26.15 - 5.30.15
By mid-morning, it was going to be an adventure to see if we would make it to Paris!
From Lauterbrunnen, we squeaked onto a train for the second leg of our journey which departed a half hour earlier than the train we had planned to take. It appeared that we had plenty of time... until we pulled out our tickets for the next two trains and realized that we had reserved them for the wrong day, several days later!
Allow me to briefly explain. Although Eurail is a train system, some of the trains require reservations. It's not like the old-fashioned American trains for which one could walk up and purchase a ticket on the day of travel. It's more like an airline; you need your reservations in advance.
Thus began an exercise of faith. God foresaw this problem, had us on a train a half hour earlier than we had planned, and would see us through the rest of the day. But for an hour or so, all we could do was sit and wait.
I watched in amazement as God led us to the help desk, through the process of changing our tickets, and onto the platform where the train would arrive with about ten minutes to spare. God knew exactly how much time we needed and had provided it even before we knew there was a problem!
Musée d'Orsay is an amazing museum.
I could have basked here for a few days, not a few hours!
The statues interested me more than I expected;
I think I am gaining an appreciation for sculpture after Rome and Paris!
I especially appreciated the Monet, Degas, and Van Gogh exhibits.
Each one alone would have merited a separate museum in America!
Musée d'Orsay is built in an old train station with side rooms extending from the main hall.
(Mom, me, and Caroline)
Île de la Cité (isle of the city, situated in the middle of Paris in the Seine)
interested me far less than I expected.
Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris was less spectacular than other cathedrals we had visited,
though the stained glass was lovely.
Other than the hall of mirrors (above), the rooms were not well-decorated.
I suppose the enraged peasants destroyed most of the furnishings during the French Revolution.
Versailles was a let-down for us; after all, it is the finest French palace, right?
Perhaps we would have appreciated it more had the weather been warmer
and more conducive to exploring the extensive palace gardens.
We went to Musée de
l’Orangerie just to see Claude Monet's water lily rooms.
After WWII, Monet painted eight large canvases of water lily scenes and gave them to the city of Paris. He wanted the Parisians to have a peaceful retreat after the horrors of war.
It really is a peaceful retreat - I could stay for hours.
Paintings don't usually stop me in my tracks, but this one did.
Does anyone else think the water is rippling?
Here we are at l'Arc de Triomphe!
This is not a fancy bakery; this is MacDonald's.
Yup, we had real French fries. (But they didn't taste as good without MSG!)
From Lauterbrunnen, we squeaked onto a train for the second leg of our journey which departed a half hour earlier than the train we had planned to take. It appeared that we had plenty of time... until we pulled out our tickets for the next two trains and realized that we had reserved them for the wrong day, several days later!
Allow me to briefly explain. Although Eurail is a train system, some of the trains require reservations. It's not like the old-fashioned American trains for which one could walk up and purchase a ticket on the day of travel. It's more like an airline; you need your reservations in advance.
Thus began an exercise of faith. God foresaw this problem, had us on a train a half hour earlier than we had planned, and would see us through the rest of the day. But for an hour or so, all we could do was sit and wait.
I watched in amazement as God led us to the help desk, through the process of changing our tickets, and onto the platform where the train would arrive with about ten minutes to spare. God knew exactly how much time we needed and had provided it even before we knew there was a problem!
The Eiffel Tower was first on our to-do list in Paris,
so we headed through Champs de Mars (a park).
so we headed through Champs de Mars (a park).
All at once, the tower appeared through the trees.
Sisters in Paris!
I knew the Eiffel Tower was big, but I didn't expect it to be that big as I approached!
We started out on the lower platform ...
and then went all the way up there (to the "lip" on the top!)
and then went all the way up there (to the "lip" on the top!)
We watched the sun set from the top of the Eiffel Tower ... until my sister and I begged to go down because we were so tired. That is when we discovered it was nearly ten o'clock!
As we reached the bottom of the tower, the crowds on the Champs de Mars began cheering. Lights began flashing. The Eiffel Tower was lit up - and not just lit up, but sparkling brilliantly!
For about five minutes, the lights flashed and we enjoyed perfect views of the tower.
As I turned away from snapping my last photo, the lights stopped sparkling.
God had blessed us all day long with His truly perfect timing!
I could have basked here for a few days, not a few hours!
The statues interested me more than I expected;
I think I am gaining an appreciation for sculpture after Rome and Paris!
I especially appreciated the Monet, Degas, and Van Gogh exhibits.
Each one alone would have merited a separate museum in America!
Musée d'Orsay is built in an old train station with side rooms extending from the main hall.
Île de la Cité (isle of the city, situated in the middle of Paris in the Seine)
interested me far less than I expected.
Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris was less spectacular than other cathedrals we had visited,
though the stained glass was lovely.
There they are... the gates of gold!
Though the skies threatened, I was glad it did not rain as we waited in a long line at Versailles.
I suppose the enraged peasants destroyed most of the furnishings during the French Revolution.
Versailles was a let-down for us; after all, it is the finest French palace, right?
Perhaps we would have appreciated it more had the weather been warmer
and more conducive to exploring the extensive palace gardens.
Those paintings are now on display in two oval rooms.
Does anyone else think the water is rippling?
The city spread out in all directions from the platform on top of l'Arc de Triomphe.
Yup, we had real French fries. (But they didn't taste as good without MSG!)
On our last evening in Paris, we noticed something for the first time right outside our apartment.
Our apartment building sat on a corner with the above view to the Eiffel Tower!
We went outside and watched it light up... a perfect ending to Paris!
.......................................................................
Next travel post: a day trip in France.
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