24 February ’05, Thursday.
I’ve got to tell you, we enjoyed both, the Blanc and the Rouge…. We didn’t make it to the Louvre as per previous plans, but we did see a ton of Paris. This is a great place to visit !!! Yesterday (Thursday) we decided to “hoof it” around Paris and take in as many of the sites as we “physically could”, and we took in a lot of the great city. We did catch a bus to Porte Malliot, which is just up the road from the campground about a 2 miles. From there we walked up the avenue des Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. This trip to Paris, brings back some wonderful memories that we had with you girls (Mikleane, Leslee, and Joelle), seven years ago. That time, as well as this one, we walked our legs off. From the Arc we continued onto the Eiffel Tower.
I’ve got to tell you, we enjoyed both, the Blanc and the Rouge…. We didn’t make it to the Louvre as per previous plans, but we did see a ton of Paris. This is a great place to visit !!! Yesterday (Thursday) we decided to “hoof it” around Paris and take in as many of the sites as we “physically could”, and we took in a lot of the great city. We did catch a bus to Porte Malliot, which is just up the road from the campground about a 2 miles. From there we walked up the avenue des Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. This trip to Paris, brings back some wonderful memories that we had with you girls (Mikleane, Leslee, and Joelle), seven years ago. That time, as well as this one, we walked our legs off. From the Arc we continued onto the Eiffel Tower.
The crowds were much smaller for the lift to the top this time…it must have been because of the cold and snow. I tried many different pictures, with as many different angles, and it still came back to the traditional long shot that looks the best.
We walked to the Trocadero, the Grand Palace,
walked the banks of the Seine, and had lunch at a typical non-descript restaurant that served a good meal at a fair price. We visited the “Hotel National des Invalides”, which included Napoleon’s Tomb,
the Museum of the Order of the Liberation of France, and displays of history from WWI and WWII. The Army Museum included items of history (1650-1945) from Louis XIV, Napoleon, and De Gaulle. There was also a graphic exhibit on the massacre of the Jews by the Nazi’s. The overall size of the Hotel National des Invalides, is amazing…I have never seen anything like it, the buildings and the exhibits were all maintained and done well. About 5pm we started walking back towards the Arc de Triomphe and our bus connection, but before we got there, we were pulled into a movie theatre by the smell of popcorn… We saw “Aviator” and really enjoyed it. This brings to mind one more thing…we have heard so many stories of how “rude” the people of France may be, and how “no one” will acknowledge speaking or understanding English…well, I would like everyone to know that we haven’t found that to be the case, as a mater of fact, it has been just the opposite. We have been treated with respect and courtesy, and just about everyone at least tries or succeeds in speaking to us in English. On the bus and the trains, we have encountered a few who have found it necessary to take more than one seat and give no inclination that they will give one up to you, but that has been the only negative thing. Well, after the show, as we were heading for the bus, we continued looking for an internet café that we had been unsuccessful finding in the morning, so on the way back we continued. Just prior to getting to the bus stop, we stopped and asked someone in a store once again, and he was able to direct us to one, so we changed directions a little and took care of a little business. Having accomplished that, we headed for home, a snack, and a quick to bed (by 9:45). Another big day for tomorrow.