 |
 
|
Hotel: Trianon Rive Gauche (2 nights)
Tour Highlights: Eiffel Tower, boat ride on the Seine, Notre Dame, Deportation Memorial, Latin Quarter, Louvre Museum, Orsay Museum
|
Quite possibly the most
recognizable landmark in
Paris, the Eiffel Tower
|
The breathtaking view
of Notre Dame at night
from the Bateaux- Mouches |
Taking pictures of the
Seine with Maegen &
Deborah |
Important (historical
& travel) lessons
from our guide, Stephanie
|
A closer view of Notre
Dame, one of my favorite
places in Paris
|
What I'll never forget : going up the Eiffel tower by myself • trying for almost 30 minutes to use a pay phone at the airport • meeting the group for the first time • nodding off during a nighttime boat ride through Paris • learning to be flexible when things do not happen the way you expect (Sainte-Chappelle, our first destination in Paris, was closed for security reasons) • going to mass at Notre Dame • bonding over café au lait and crêpes on a sidewalk café with Maegen and Deborah • my amazement at all of the famous pieces of art in the Louvre • the crowd around the Mona Lisa • realizing how much I appreciate air conditioning • seeing more impressionist masterpieces than I could imagine • relating to the French and their love of dogs • relying on Deborah for help with language and directions • the great local guide at the Louvre • the relief I felt when the first people I met were incredibly nice and helpful
My favorite foods : quiche, crêpes, & crème brulee |
|
|
Having gotten off of the plane a few hours earlier and fighting the urge to sleep, I was determined to see the Eiffel Tower on my own. With the help of Tim and Beth, whom I met in the hotel lobby, I made it onto the public bus and went to the very top of the Eiffel Tower . After an hour or so I decided to go back to the hotel and take a nap before meeting my group.
Instead of catching the bus going back towards the hotel, I decided to get on the bus headed in the opposite direction since it made a loop. I figured it would be a cheap way to do a little sightseeing. I didn't factor in the amount of time it would take to get back to the hotel. For about an hour and a half (maybe more) I rode the bus as school kids, working people and other non-tourists got on and off the bus. I began to get very anxious about the amount of time that was passing.
Eventually, I reached the end of the line where the (continued)
|
|
|
