On the road to the long awaited Paris! We stop in Bruges, Belgium tonight and sleep in the most wonderful bed I've laid my worn body on in weeks! Literally heaven. So, honestly, I didn't even try the Belgian chocolates. I'm sure they're delicious for the euros people throw down for just a handful. Belgium wasn't much different than all the other European countries and cities we've seen. there is something distinct in every country, but as far as architecture of the basic buildings, they are all very similar. I'll be honest, I lost interest in churches by the time we finished Italy in the first two weeks. They're all beautiful, but it's just not my scene. I also no diddly squat about architecture.
We walked around for what seemed like hours and everyone was so exhausted from Amsterdam that we didn't spend much time exploring Bruges. I know I soaked in the awesomeness of that bed though. We made "Anne Franked" our latest verb. It sounds awful, but it was appropriate to us. After seeing the conditions of secret hiding and the conditions of Dachau, we're all pretty grateful for anything in life at this point. you learn a lot about yourself and what you can and can't live without.
(I have no pictures from here. Whoops!)
Day 28: Paris: every girls dream come true!
I couldn't believe we were finally in Paris! This was top five on my life of reasons to book this trip! I've seen a hundred cities, numerous countries and so many pieces of history, yet, Paris still catches my surprise. It's huge! We can see the Eiffel Tower from 30 miles back when we first enter the city. Far off in the distance it's peak is visible, thought just barely as it's almost lost in the clouds and glare of the sunlight.
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| Finally found my name on a coke :) |
So, it is a busy first day! We made it in to Paris and found our hotel around 3:00 p.m. Our hotel is amazing! It's tiny, but me and my roommates score a two-story room with a mini fridge and stove top. It was like camping in the city, ha. We dressed for our cruise on the Seine River. Breathtakingly beautiful, of course! We saw all the top sights of Paris from the top deck of our river cruise boat: The Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and much more!
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| On the river cruise. Love this lady! |
So, I can't vouch for what the inside of the Notre Dame looks like, and though I love history and tourist attractions as much as the next guy, I'll never forget the way we all sang together on the bleachers in front of Notre Dame that night.
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| Notre Dame |
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| "Don't Worry be Happy" :) |
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| Then chaos |
We ventured off to our gourmet dinner, with unlimited wine. A European specialty. So, I winced through my hatred for wine and indulged. This would become everyone's most memorable night of me, and where I would get the nickname "Buckwheat." Or maybe the nickname came earlier that day... Regardless.
This gourmet, three course dinner was phenomenal. Maybe it was the buzz of the wine, or just the company in my midst, but this first night in Paris is definitely in the top three of memories from Europe. Everyone is indulging in wine and food and loving the entertainment. A quirky, big-grinned, bald man serenading guests with his guitar, accompanied by his accordion player and back-up singer.
Since Greece, our theme song's became ABBA's, "Dancing Queen," and Dino's, "That's Amore." Our beloved musician sang both of these hits for us, and we willingly participated with each chorus! I was called to participate in "That's Amore,"and there is a video of proof somewhere among my comrades.
At this point my cheeks are flushed with red from the wine and laughter. From the dinner we head back, trying to stop at some bars along the way. It's a very strict crowd and appearance to get in around there. The bars and clubs definitely don't like groups of people, much less a tour group. In one bar there were bras hanging from the chandelier so I obligingly unsnap my strapless under my dress and sling it around gesturing we've paid our toll to enter said bar. Apparently, removing your undergarments is not the entry price; a simple misunderstanding with the amount of vino I've digested. Needless to say, you know it was a good night when you retrieve your bra from your tour guide at breakfast the following morning. :)
We finally managed to find a chill bar that let a few of us in, and who did I met other than a couple from Dallas! Small world after all, I suppose. The man traveled a lot with work and they, too had just been in Amsterdam. I'm surprised I was able to communicate intelligibly. The rest of the gang wasn't feeling this bar so they snagged me and we left. After wandering we gave up on finding a bar and went back to the hotel.
At this point, it is official that I have my first experience being "wine drunk," which only means one thing; the dreaded wine hangover. The theory proved to be true when I woke the next morning for our 9:00 a.m. tour. Thank heavens it was on a bus because I wouldn't have made it. Lucky for me, we had plenty of free time in Paris because I spent most of the bus tour passed out avoiding reality and the obnoxiously quirky woman which was our tour guide.
I would have avoided this hangover had I realized earlier on that we were even having a tour this day. According to my roommates, and other pals, I spent the night at the hotel screaming: "Y'all!!! We've got a tour in the morning!" As it happens when I consume enough booze, my southern accent really comes out. Needless to say this quote was used quite frequently for the remainder of the tour in exaggerated, mocked southern accents. : )
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| A Karl Moore photo :) |
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| "That's Amore" |
After our three-hour, yes, three, very long hours of touring Paris via bus, we stopped across from the Eiffel Tower for a perfect, distant view. The rest of the group was headed to the Palace of Versailles and Ana and I were left to wander about Paris. We walked to Champs Elysees first. On the way we saw the Arc De Triomphe, placed at the strangest location in the middle of an intersection. We barely escaped to Champs Elysees across the way. This is the 5th Avenue of Paris, plus some. We went inside a three-story Louis Vuitton just to see what the fuss was about. Leaving there, with our tails tucked between our legs, we grabbed some lunch along the strip with a great view of the strip.
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| Amour :) |
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| Laid on the ground for this one; dedication :) |
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| Arc de Triomphe |
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| Arc afar |
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| Ridiculousness... |
From Champs Elysees, we walked all the way to the Louvre. A solid 45 minute walk that is well worth it with the view. That saying, "Everything is bigger in Texas," false. They clearly never saw Paris. It's a straight path to the Louvre and somewhere along the way, Champs Elysees turns into the Tullierpes Garden. It's as beautiful as it sounds. The concrete turns to a sandy gravel lined with gardens on top of Gardens. We pass several ponds with fountains in their center and surrounded by people in lounge chairs. Smaller fountains, bird baths, endless rows and stacks of flowers. Oh, and I shan't forget the Ferris Wheel off in the distance a little. After the gardens, you just run into the Louvre. It would be impossible to miss the Louvre because it is 652,300 square feet. The Louvre is the largest museum in the world and houses some of the greatest art work ever known to man. According to our batty tour guide, it would take six months to walk through the four-story museum and see every piece for six seconds, and that doesn't include eating, sleeping or drinking.
The most noticeable feature of the Louvre is the glass pyramid outside. Well that pyramid is the entrance into the Louvre. You just hop in line and descend down some escalators to exhibits. Makes for a nice view when leaving. This place is humongous so Ana and I decide all we care to see if Mona Lisa then jet. She is as beautiful as you'd expect but it's hard to enjoy her since the crowd around her is so large. Also, she's encased behind, what I assume to be bullet proof glass, as well as baracaded off so you can't get more than ten feet from her, if that. From there, our feet were tired and dirty from tracking through the sand to get there, so we headed back to the hotel.
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| Obelisk |
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| Pond, along the way. |
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| Getting closer... |
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| Impossible to capture it all |
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| Like I said... |
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| Inside view |
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| Playing :) |
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| View coming out through pyramid glass. |
That night we went to Nouvelle for a cabaret show. This was by far the most amazing performance I have ever seen. The dancers were so talented, upbeat and fun. As usual, no pictures allowed, but I highly recommend a cabaret show if you're ever in Paris. Skip Moulin Rouge- it's overrated. Go small time. : )
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| Before the show. |
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