Day 56 (May 28): Paris... and then back to Durham

To the Tower this morning.  We had perfect weather and a very minimal wait for the stairs.

  I can't understand why people wait hours for the lift when walking up the stairs just isn't that hard.

view across the River

Nutella crepe is what one needs when one has conquered the Tower

blue sky and airplane trail

We still had energy and a few hours left in the city, so after buying some food in a small grocery and eating our lunch in our hotel's breakfast room, we walked a few blocks to the Pantheon -- a quite impressive and beautiful memorial to dead and famous French people.  (Lots of 'em are buried in the crypt.)

inside of the Pantheon

we went up to the top of that dome and enjoyed more city views

In the late afternoon we made our way to the train station and caught our Eurostar train across the French countryside, under the Channel, and into London's Kings Cross station.  Dinner was enjoyed there and then we got on our train back to Durham, arriving just after midnight.

Good trip overall, glad to have gone and glad to be back home again.

Day 55 (May 27): Paris

Sunday morning in Paris, so we attended Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral.

International Mass (in French and English) was very well attended

lots of people and lots of languages heard -- on Pentecost Sunday

We chose to walk over to the Musee d'Orsay after Mass, which probably wasn't too smart as it was hot and by the time we got there, stood in line to enter and buy our tickets, and finally got into the exhibit halls, we were pretty wiped out!  It required a cafe visit and some ice cream & a very large and perfectly delicious chocolate eclair to perk us up.

me standing on the balcony of the Musee d'Orsay, overlooking the Seine with the Louvre on the other side

Of course no photos inside so you'll just have to imagine with me all the Impressionist paintings and marvelous statues and the incredible interior of the museum itself...  it was an awful lot to take in, but worth doing.

After our visit we headed back to the hotel for a rest and then a quick pasta dinner, before getting back on the Metro to the Arc d' Triomphe.

it's very big and very triumphant

After gawking for a bit we began the requisite stroll down the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, ending on the Place de la Concorde.  We still wanted to see the Louvre (exterior only) but were fairly exhausted so we decided to spring for a ride in a bicycle taxi.  Best 10 Euro spent all day.

it's very grand

Day 54 (May 26): Durham to Paris

Lots of transportation today -- walking to the Durham rail station, train to Newcastle, subway from the rail station to the airport, airplane over the Channel to France, metro from Charles de Gaulle airport to the center of Paris!

We just made the last boat ride of the day, getting a glimpse of the city and enjoying the beautiful sights.

and then a river boat tour in the evening

 

Paris is crowded and warm this weekend

We had dinner sitting outside Parisian-style, watching the passersby and enjoying a lovely meal.

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!