Pairs Day 2... June 16th

Day 22…

This morning was much different than any day in London…

We were to meet at 930 am, but breakfast started at 730 am, so I needed to get down stairs before so I could grab a bite.

I actually was the first to wake up in my room and ended up trying to wake everyone else up, which I didn’t do so well at! But I was ready to go and had breakfast this morning on time, so my day started off pretty well!

As a group, our day start with taking the metro, which I felt was more like a chore because again I had no idea what any of the signs or people said, but we did somehow manage to all make it onto the metro and sat on the second floor.

We first stopped at the Sainte-Chapelle. It has large stained glass windows and hardly any structure between each one. The colors of the glass had been recently restored which made them look a lot brighter. The plaster work has amazing detail in the ivy leaves and people.

Next stop was the Centre Pompidou. (Sadly I have to rack my brain to remember what a lot of these buildings are because I learned about them from my history class a few years ago.)  The escalators are around the exterior of the building allowing people to see the amazing city around them. The architecture is very modern with modern art exhibits as well. This is actually one of my favorite museums! The exhibits were more steered towards design and color. One of my favorite actually had my name in the title, and that wasn’t the only reason for it being my favorite, but it helped JEveryone walked around afterwards and found food, then came back to the courtyard of the Pompidou and just sat and relaxed.

Off to the Louvre! Our walk to get to the Musee Du Louvre was pretty crazy, it kind of felt like we walked in circles even though I know we didn’t. Once we got inside we were told we could look at everything on our own and the rest of the day was ours. I somehow ended up alone for the rest of the day after that, but at least I was able to walk through the museum at a quicker pace and see most of the exhibits (at least those on the first and second floors). The Mona Lisa was probably the most popular I came across, because it took forever to get to the front for a picture, which of course I took too many! In person it looks much different than in the movies of magazine photos, a lot brighter and smaller then I imagined. I also saw the statue of Aphrodite, which is beautiful. I ended up spending about 3 hours or so in the museum. I ended up going back to the hotel alone, but I did get to see parts of Paris at my own pace. I even got the privilege of watching pick pocketers as well as bums and beggars. We were told to be more careful in Paris, and gratefully I feel quite comfortable and I’ve only been here one full day!

~Aide-Memoire~

Elyse

London Day 16/Paris Day 1... June 15th

Day 21…

Good-bye London, Hello Paris!!!

Today was moving day… literally…

I didn’t have a required time to wake up, so of course I woke up at 730… Sad day… But I was able to get completely read and look kind of cute for my last day in London and first day in Paris. We had to pack up everything because we weren’t going to be coming back to London. Somehow, my bag seemed to get heavier, which is hard to believe sense I ate almost all my canned veggie food. Fortunately I don’t have to worry about the weight of my bag yet because we are just taking the Chunnel (tunnel under the channel.)

I feel like my last few hours in London went by way too quickly.  But we are off to Paris now. The Train we got on was jammed packed with luggage! I feel like there are people actually moving and bringing their entire house.

Arriving in Paris I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. First impression is… Scariest place on earth??? I went from London which was fun, Ireland which was fantastic, to Paris which is frightening. I don’t know or understand any of the signs or people talking at all! Note to self: my kids will learn Spanish, French, and sign language from birth!

We got off the train and the station wasn’t too bad. Large variety of people, and sense we all have our suit cases and bags, we kind of stick out a little, and to get to our hotel we have to take the metro way across town. I really didn’t expect to be buff by the end of my trip, but after carrying my suitcase and helping someone else with theirs, I’m pretty sure my arms will be pure muscle! By the time we got to the metro we needed to take, we had gone up and down multiple staircases and I was dripping with sweat (I know, tmi!) Fortunately when we got onto the metro it was highly air conditioned, and earlier we were told not to talk on the metro because as most of us are girls, we can most definitely be obnoxious and annoying! The first metro we took wasn’t too bad… but the second was full! And on one of the stops, an accordion player and his son got on and serenaded us with his music… Now I’m pretty sure it wasn’t supposed to be free, but I don’t think anyone gave him anything.

When we finally arrived at our stop, we walked about three or four blocks to our hotel where we got our room assignments. And again I am sharing with three girls! This hotel is on the smaller side, but the people are super nice and extremely helpful. They helped us with our bags and we took the small three person elevator to the second floor. The room is a lot smaller than I anticipated it being for a hotel (4 beds: 2 singles close together and bunk beds that don’t look safe. Fortunately I got the bed farthest away, but not much of a difference.

After dinner we met up and took a night walk to the Eifel Tower. It was lit up and at every hour or so it sparkled! We were there for a while, laying in the grass in front of it just soaking in its glory. I believe everyone needs to experience the Eifel Tower grounds just once in their life time. People were walking round trying to sell things, others were proposing right there on the grass, and some people were just enjoying the view!

~Bonjour Paris~

Elyse