PARIS
Paris was a revelation. Broad, tree-lined boulevards, the Seine winding through the city crossed by dozens of bridges, each an architectural wonder. From almost any location you can see the Eiffel Tower, drawing your attention like a powerful magnet. Every corner looks like a movie set, complete with outdoor cafes, flowers, trendy shops, and haute couture. What a beautiful, beautiful city. Now, as Bogart said to Bergman, "We'll always have Paris."
We traveled the 240 miles from London to Paris in just a little more than 2 hours and took a cab to the Hotel Muguet. Our tour was going to start in two days at this hotel and we didn't want to have to move once we got to Paris. We went up to our room, opened the drapes, and saw the Eiffel Tower. Amazing! We walked to the Champs de Mars, a park below the tower to get our first look up close. For five minutes each hour, lights on the tower sparkle, drawing gasps from all the people below.
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The next day, after breakfast on Rue Cler, we took a hop-on, hop-off open-top bus tour of the city, stopping at the Hotel des Invalides and the Rodin Museum. That evening we had dinner reservations at a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower.
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A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life. Thomas Jefferson
I was optimistic that my high school and college French would allow me to easily navigate France. I quickly learned otherwise at our Eiffel Tower dinner. Our waiter greeted us warmly in French and I caught a few of the words. I replied with my best Charles Boyer, "Bon soir." To which our waiter responded, "I'll get you the English menus."
My dessert--humble pie. |
The next morning we took an early train to Versailles to see Louis XIV's little country place and then made it back to our hotel to meet our tour group. We had dinner together, and then took a boat ride on the Seine.
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The next day, we visited Notre Dame in the oldest part of Paris, the Ile de Cite, Sainte Chappelle, with beautiful stained glass, and the Orsay, home of the greatest collection of impressionist art in the world.
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Our last day in Paris, we visited the Louvre, the world's largest and greatest art museum, housed in the former palace of the French kings. (And, unlike most of the other museums, they allow photography.)
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