Paris- the intro

Paris. We went to Paris. Even though it has happened, it was real, it seems still almost like a dream. Mark said that most of the time he felt like he was on a movie set- like we were just walking around Universal Studios. It was amazing and something we will never forget.

The trip undoubtedly started on a the best foot as we ran into Stephanie Nielson at the airport (nieniedialogues.blogspot.com). After all, seeing a celebrity ensures that your trip will be that much more amazing. She was super sweet and real. It was awesome. Felt like a slight creeper since I knew ALL about her life and she knew nothing about me. The flight there, not so awesome, all 10 hours 40 minutes of it. We watched a lot of movies, had a delicious airplane "chicken" dinner and tried to sleep.

We landed in Paris, hopped on the RER and headed for the hotel. The hotel was super small with lovely black and maroon stripped carpet and a lovely view of the apartments nestled right next door and the Eiffel tower from the roof. I was lucky enough to open the drapes one morning to see an old man across the way, red undies and all, having a smoke on his porch.

 

 

Notre Dame was first on the list of sights. It was a short walk from the hotel so once we had dropped our luggage we were off. It was massive, packed full of people and breathtaking. The detail, flying buttresses and we also saw the Crypt.

 

 Sampled our first Parisian crepes- Jambon/fromage & Nutella/Banana- delish. Indeed everything they are cracked up to be.

 

 

Saint Chapelle- with all her stained glass windows is a must see. Although we were all rather taken back by how dirty it was. There was no real attempt at cleaning the windows, or the floors, or anything for that matter. That became a common theme in Paris. Most things were dirty.  

 

The Concergerie- where Marie Antoinette was held before her beheading & the Orsay were next. No pictures were allowed in the Orsay so this is the best you get. The art was amazing. Just full of pieces that you have been reading about since grade school.

 

We got back to the hotel that night exhausted! We had been up a full 24 hours but that was the best way to reset the internal clock to survive the rest of the trip. Next post, day two (Friday).