THE GARDENS OF VERSAILLES

We enjoyed wandering through the extensive gardens of Versailles behind the palace. Lacey found a pool that she particularly liked, as you can tell.

SACRE COUER CATHEDRAL

Later that evening we visited a cathedral in Montmartre known as le Sacre Couer (The Sacred Heart) where we were privileged to hear a choir of nuns singing. Their voices reverberated off the domed ceilings and filled the building with beautiful music as we walked reverently through the building admiring the architecture, statues and lovely stained-glass windows.

CAROUSEL

Walking down from the chapel we came across a carousel. Interestingly enough, we found carousels all over Paris – just randomly interspersed with the high-rises, shops, and hotels. Rather strange.

We spent an amazing day at the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa (of course!) as well as thousands of other works of art. This palace is HUGE! After 7 hours of gazing at paintings, sculpture, Egyptian exhibits, etc. our brains had been inundated with about as much artwork as we could take in one day.

RIVER BOAT TRIP ON THE SEINE

My sister, Michelle, and her husband, Daniel, rode the chunnel over from London and met us at 5 pm outside the Louvre. We joined them for dinner and then took a riverboat ride on the Seine that night. We had the exhilarating experience of a big, brown, furry rat running alongside us as we ascended the dark, damp, moss-covered stone steps from the river to the streets of Paris. And yes, we screamed – well, the women did, at least.

NOTRE DAME

Our last day in Paris began with a trip to Notre Dame. If we were to choose our very favorite activity of the week, this would be mine. What a magnificent structure! Every detail, inside and out, a work of art from the stained glass windows to the statues and carved panels depicting the life of Christ, to the architecture of the building itself. Everything meticulously crafted to perfection. Such artistry. 170 years to build? I believe it! I must say; however, that everything inside Notre Dame was so dusty! I wanted to grab a dust rag and some pledge and spend a week or two in there just cleaning all the statues, carvings, tables, hearths, and other bits of furniture. Perhaps the dust helps preserve things, I'm not sure. Or maybe there's so many nooks, crannies and artifacts that people just got tired of all the dusting required and gave it up for lent.

NAPOLEON'S TOMB

Our final tour was of Napoleon’s Tomb located at a place Known as Les Invalides – a hospital for wounded soldiers. What a remarkable tribute to Napoleon. Marble and beautiful stone everywhere! Gorgeous beyond description. It was a whirlwind trip, but we certainly made the most of it. The weather was windy and chilly, and occasionally rainy, but that’s to be expected of Paris in March, I’m sure. Next time, I think we shall go in the summer so we can see the beauty of the gardens.