Hi everyone! Well, I made it to Paris by myself! WOW!
Just to catch you up, Grant and Gary have been here in Europe for about two weeks, roaming about Italy, including Rome, Naples (with a visit to Pompei), Florence, and Torino. They got to Paris yesterday.
Meanwhile, last night (Friday) I boarded a plane to London, with a connection in France. I managed to sleep for 5 roughly 5 hours on the plane, which was awesome. Unfortunately, there was a lot of traffic going into London, as our plan was caught in a holding pattern over the airport for about ten minutes. Donna would have loved it, considering that the winds were 20 - 25 mph, so we got 15 minutes of turning in turbulence. Some poor kid puked when we landed.
I of course, am stressing, because my 90 minute layover (with a terminal change) is now becoming a 60 minute layover. We finally pull up to the gate, and have to wait 5 more minutes because the other plane hasn't pulled out yet.
However, after some major speed walking, I did make it, with even a moment to run to the restroom! Yipee!
Paris De Gualle airport was NO problem at all - and I found Grant easily - Plus my checked bag was like the 3rd one out so I got to get out of there pretty quick.
We went to the hotel, and I took a bath. Then we met up with Gary and went to dinner. We went to a restaurant called Le Relais de L'Entrecôte, which means "Let There Be Beef." It was salad, steak, french fries, (a fixed meal for all,) and dessert - I had creme brulee and Grant and Gary got profiteroles, and Grant and I shared. I also got an expresso - Hey, it is Paris - which oddly enough didn't make me feel like crap as coffee normally does.
After dinner, we went for a walk. Although I've been to Paris before, I didn't really even see a percentage of it. But wow! Just in an hour and a half, I saw more then I did the whole day I was here last time (of course, it WAS the World Cup Finals, and half of Europe was in Paris.) But it is SO true, Paris is an eaisly walkable town.
From our restaurant, we walked to the Seine, and along it to a bridge (Pont de Arts). Then we crossed the Seine and entered the Square of the Lourve (I'm sure it has a name - not the pyramid square, but the other part. The Courtyard of the Palace of the Lourve, I think) ) It was beautiful all lit up!
Then we went to the left into the Pyramid Square and walked around the pyramids. Then we went back across the square and out the back. Across the street there was a beautiful church called St. Germaine Auxerrois.
Then we crossed the Seine again via the Pont Neuf (bridge) which took us to the Island that Notre Dame is one. We went to look at Notre Dame (from the outside). Seriously, 10:00 at night and SO many people still out!
Finally we headed back to our hotel, where I really need to go to sleep.
This week is going to be interesting - tomorrow is Palm Sunday - and begins Holy Week - of course, most of those services, besides Palm Sunday, start Wednesday, and we'll be at Disneyland then.
Ok gotta go - but one last thing - we're watching BBC, and they are talking about a famous artist in New York who decided to speak against the image many churches display of Jesus (of his crucifixation.) He said it leaft a bad taste in his mouth. So he decided to create a lifesize depiction of our Sweet Jesus - made out of chocolate. Not so controversial? He also created this sculpture of Our Sweet Lord completely nude!
Ok really got to go to bed.
Night
