Day 8 (April 10): London

center of Westminster Bridge

We started out taking the bus to Parliament/Westminster Abbey.  (Parliament was closed and we've been in the Abbey before so just looked around outside.)  Walked from there down to Westminster Cathedral (Catholic) and looked in.  Then walked over to the Royal Mews where we got lunch and then took a guided tour through (where the royal horses and coaches are housed and cared for).

Gold State Coach

Then walked down to and around Buckingham Palace (we've watched the Changing of the Guard before so didn't need to do that today) and along St. James Park, through the Horse Guard Parade to get a quick view of 10 Downing St. (Interestingly enough we actually saw a family that attends our church back in NC while walking along, but we don't know their names and they were walking on the other side of the street so I didn't holler hello...)

it's back there somewhere

We weren't done yet.

Walked on to Trafalgar Square, where the University of Notre Dame London Undergraduate Program is housed -- in a building just around the corner.  We stopped in to see the classrooms and use the bathrooms.

Next -- A quick stop in a really cool store with really cool Dr. Who stuff.  And then a walk through Covent Gardens which was fun, interesting-looking shops and some entertaining street performers.

A few blocks more, walked down Drury Lane, and we were back at our hotel.

In the evening Chris, Caroline, and Zachary saw Les Miserables.

everybody should see this at least once

Day 7 (April 9): London

Recovery day today -- nothing on the agenda but resting, doing laundry, catching up online, etc.

the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

In the evening I met up with Zachary to go to Sweeney Todd.  Incredible and strange show!

Day 6 (April 8): Paris... and back to London

inside St. Etienne-du-Mont

Easter Sunday morning we went to Mass at St. Etienne-du-Mont just a few blocks away, just behind the Pantheon.  Another really great service, even though I hardly understood a word.

Afterwards we collected our packs and got on the Metro, planning a few stops as we made our way to the train station.  We got out near Moulin Rouge for a quick look around and pictures and then walked several blocks to see the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur.  It was crowded.

Lunch and then off to catch the Eurostar back to London.

Day 5 (April 7): Paris

two Americans in Paris

After a lovely Parisian-style breakfast we took the Metro to the Arc de Triomphe.  Just pictures outside this time -- no need for a hike up some more stairs.

Then a walk down the Champs-Elysees with a detour into the Grand Palais.  We ended our morning's walk at the Place de la Concorde.   Back to the hotel for a rest and a late lunch/early dinner...  and then out again to the Tour Eiffel!

it's really very huge... and is painted brown

The lines we're soooo long for the lift (only one was working) so we walked up -- no biggie really.  It's only 704 steps.   Good thing we'd skipped the trek up the Arc.

such a cool experience

We stayed up there until dark and then came down, walked across the river, and sat with a bunch of other people listening to a street musician and watching the light show until late.  It was just a really cool time and I felt so genuinely touristic in a really good way.

Day 4 (April 6): Paris

First on the agenda this morning was to go up to the top of the Notre Dame cathedral towers.  Lines were long so best to get in early.  We managed it and got some good views all-around.

view out the front of the Cathedral

view back towards the cathedral itself

The afternoon's task was the Louvre.  We split our visit up with a break in the middle for lunch & ice cream...  that museum is exhausting.

central courtyard inside the Louvre--no entrance grander

It was Good Friday so after a quick break at the hotel we went to a service at St. Sulpice.   

Then bed.

Day 3 (April 5): To Paris

Early morning departure from Kings Cross Station.  We met Zachary in line -- he was easy to spot due to the new hair color.  Boarded the Eurostar train which took us through the countryside and under the Channel into France.  In Paris just a bit later!

along the Seine

Lots of walking today -- we first took the Metro to our hotel in the Latin Quarter, right near the Sorbonne.  Travelling super-light with only a small backpack per person.  (So nice not to be fussing with cases.)  Dropped off our packs and made our way to the Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris.  Looked around inside and out for a while, then we followed Rick Steves' walking tour of the Île de la Cité (one of the two island in the Seine on which Notre Dame stands).  This took us a few hours as we made some stops along the way.  Then we went to the hotel to check in and rest for a bit and headed out again, stopping in at St. Sulpice church. 

After looking in the church, we headed back down to the river for an early evening boat ride.

so many bridges!

it was beautiful and a bit cold

Dinner at a small Italian restaurant (Santa Lucia) near our hotel.  A long, tiring, satisfying day!

Day 2 (April 4): Arrive UK

outside Conway Hall in London where the ND students live

Arrived Heathrow early Wed morn.  We are travelling light this time -- each of us has one checked bag and a small backpack.  Takes a while to get through Immigration (I think we were last in line) but we aren't in a rush.  We figured out the Tube and got ourselves to our hotel which is near the British Museum.

Rest of the day was taken up with recovering and a later on a visit with Zachary.  He showed us around where he's been living and vicinity and we ate dinner along the Southbank.

Day 1 (April 3): Leave NC

Caroline and Chris at RDU

Grandad drove the three of us to the airport late this morning.  Our flight departed mid-day from RDU to DTW where we spent a few hours before getting on the plane headed to London! 

Our flight went over the upper part of the globe and back down across Ireland, landing in Heathrow.  Wasn't too bad.  I didn't even watch any movies.  Didn't sleep much either.  Read my book: Cutting for Stone.