Paris Day 2...

On our second day in Paris, we took it a bit slower getting around in the morning, and caught the train to Versailles after we had breakfast at the apartment. Versailles was the top of my "to-do" list for Paris this time around.  I really wanted to see the gardens, and hoped to see the fountains (which ended up not being on while we were there.) It was a hot day to be sure, but we were happy to have already gotten our pass to "skip the line" once we got to Versailles.  

My first glimpse of the palace, I could not quite take in what I was seeing.  It was just so expansive. This grand building went on forever.    I couldn't quite wrap my head around such opulence.  As we got closer to the site, that amazement just went further.  







You can see here just how gloriously French blue the sky was.  


Not a cloud in the sky...sun blazing...and about 36° C.  (That's nearing 96° F)  We got close to the gates and realized our "fast passes" didn't mean diddly squat, and got to stand in line with the hundreds of tour bus visitors, which we were not prepared for.  We each left our umbrellas at the apartment because there was no risk of rain that day, but after about 20 minutes of standing in the long and curving line, we wished we had brought at least one.  

We finally got up to the gates and got into the palace. 



We decided to walk through the Queen's Apartments first.  

(dueling harpsichord?)


(Ornate rug in Queen's bedroom)

I was struck by how tiny the furniture looked.  I suppose either they were very tiny people, or had to lay at a diagonal. 






We walked through the apartments and circled back around to the courtyard, and to find a restroom to use. 






At this point, it was getting increasingly hot, and frankly, more cramped from the crowds than I felt comfortable with.  I made my way to the toilet lines and waited along with men and women alike. This is where the day got way more exciting than I planned for.  There was a assistant mopping the floor, ushering people in one at a time as a toilet came available.  I was second in line when the assistant stopped the women from coming in and had a group of men go in to use the facilities.  At this point, I started getting extremely hot.  My vision got a bit splotchy and I felt like I was going to be sick.  I bent my head down and when Gwen asked if I was okay, I told her I was just so hot.  I was actually pleading with God in my head to not get sick all over the place.  Kris was ahead of me and she went in.  That's the last I remember.  Gwen said the attendant was calling for me to go in, and I was just looking at her.  Then Gwen asked me if I was okay, and says that's when she got under my arms as she and I slid to the ground.  The next thing I remember, Gwen was calling my name, telling me to wake up, or say something.  I had a man taking my pulse, in his broken English or French he was saying he was a doctor. The French/African attendant was pouring handfuls of water on my head, and down my shirt.  As I came around more, I realized to my horror what had happened, and just exactly where this germaphobe was...passed out on the public bathroom floor.  I asked what had happened, and they somehow got me to my feet and to a bench outside.  

Here we are, that's my bench.  

I lay there looking up at the swallow nest on the side of the building, closing my eyes while they all talked around me.  The emergency crew had been called, and the Italian doctor was telling them I needed coffee to bring me around.  The French Emergency crew laughed at this.  They took my vitals and my blood-pressure was good. They all came to the agreement I needed to drink Coke, and eat.  If I couldn't come around and feel fine after that, I would need to go to a hospital.  I looked at Kris and told her I did not want to go to the hospital!  She went to get me a coke, and I sat up trying to gain some more strength about me.  

I don't think I've had a coke since I was pregnant with Max, to help with the morning sickness.  It's just one of the grossest drinks to me, yet here I was taking this "medicine" to bounce back. 


As I got my wits about me more and more, I was basically mortified I had fainted.  Something that has never happened to me before.  I think it was just a perfect storm of being too hot, not enough food and drink in me, and jet-lag.  We got to the cafe to eat, and after that, I felt really fine.  Fine enough to finish out the day at the gardens.  We did take it a bit easier, but I think after that adrenaline rush, everyone was okay to take it a little easier.  

We wanted to see the gardens, but did not care to walk it, so we were happy to pay for the golf-cart experience.  It was possibly the most touristy thing I've ever done, but hey...when in Versailles, do as the French?  


It turned out to be a great decision, and we got to see so much more of the grounds than we would have on foot. 
















It seriously just went on forever!  How could one king need so much space?


(Another palace on the grounds, where they preferred to live, and most of Marie Antionette's things were.)





Look, a royal toilet. 


We circled back around to the main palace in time to take a quick tour through before they closed for the day. 




 Our main goal was to make it to the hall of mirrors.  The crowds had died down considerably, so it was open enough to move around. 


(The couple you see in the photo were dancing cheek to cheek as if they were the only two in the entire palace.)

Here we are reflecting in the mirrors. 


The end of the hall of mirrors ushered us into more living spaces. 






With more amazing views. 


We had made it to the end of our tour, just as they were closing.  We were ushered out with the last remaining visitors and made our way back to the train station to go back into Paris. 

But first, one last look at Versailles. 


We made it back to Paris in time for dinner, then on to see Paris by boat ride at night. 



The tour was informational, and cool on the Seine.  But the thing that struck me the most were the large number of people along the banks dancing, picnicking, and partying.  I think that was the best view of Paris in Summer I could have imagined! 

At the end of the ride, the boat driver paused just for a moment to see the Eiffel Tower light up.  


It was plenty late by the time we finished our tour, and we all agreed our husbands would all prefer we take a taxi back to the apartment, rather than navigate our way back on the metro.  We got back, showered, and relaxed from a very eventful second day! 

Paris Day 1...

London is always calling me.  I've been trying to set up a trip with a couple of friends for the past three years, since I was there last.  It worked out that I could meet up with one set of friends in Paris, and have a few days there.  Then meet up with the other set of friends in London and see them too.  

It took a lot of planning, but when the day come to travel, I was ready.  I really dislike long-haul travel. To be honest, I dislike all modes of travel.  I just want to get to the destination.  I'm sure there is some sort of telling truth about my personality in that statement.  

After a layover in Dallas, I boarded my flight for Paris.  I got to sit next to a couple who insisted on getting up every hour to walk around.  That made it a bit obnoxious to try to sleep.  But, I got some rest in and didn't feel totally wasted by the time I landed.  

My friends, Kris and Tom were already in Paris for a wedding and met me at the airport.  We waited for a while longer to meet with our friend Gwen to complete our party. 

From the airport, we took a taxi to our apartment in the Marais district in Paris.   We went with apartments for this trip through AirBnB.com since there were so many of us.  It allowed us room to spread out a bit more, and a place to eat, which saved money.  

The view from the apartment was beautiful!

It was on the fourth floor, which was a hike some days, but for those days there was a little lift that could take one person at a time up.  I only used it the first day with all the luggage.  The other days I just slowly went up and down.  

Once we got in a freshened up, we set out to get a bite to eat and see a few sites.  We stopped to have lunch at a cafe, where the waitress spoke a beautiful Frenglish.  In the end, although we all ordered different salads, we all got the same.  I started with this plate of white asparagus, and had a chef's salad, complete with potatoes. 



After lunch, we walked towards Notre Dame.  We joked at the idea that you would likely not be passing under a construction crane in the states.  There, they had work to get done, so cross the street if you don't want to be under it.  

We first came upon the Hotel de Ville.  It's basically the Mayor's office.  Pretty fancy for a mayor's office, no?


Look closely...do you see the volleyball game going on?  I don't imagine people get much city work done while there's a live volleyball game to watch all day.

From the hotel de ville, it was a short walk over to Notre Dame. 

It did not disappoint, again.
 





Something interesting to me both times I've been in Notre Dame, is the question of what is this place?  I have a deep reverence for holy places.  I have visited mosques, churches, cathedrals, and temples of multiple faiths. 

Each time I enter one, I sense a need to be quiet, and respectful.  Although I may not practice their faith, it is a place of holiness for the people who do come to these buildings to find peace or bring their words to their gods. That being said, I always feel a bit, what is it?  Rude, I think, coming in to view them as a museum.   Of course the history and architecture are breathtaking, but at the same time, there are pilgrims and worshipers alike bringing their prayers forth amongst the picture taking.  

Both times I've been to Notre Dame, I've been brought back to the reality of it being a church more than a museum by the silencing hush brought on by the announcer over the speakers...."Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Silence, Please." he whispers, and the entire place returns to it's reverence.  I snap a few photos, whisper a few prayers of thanks for getting there safe, and gratitude for the opportunity, and scoot out of the way.

We walked along the bridge of locks and keys next.  I think this is a Parisian thing of late, lovers' locks.  They place the lock on the bridge, and throw the key into the Seine.  



This point always makes me a little wistful for Steve to be there enjoying Paris with me.  It's not hard to find myself wishing him with me on these excursions, but I try to let the moments be brief, as there is little we can do to remedy that at this time of life. 

We crossed over and visited the Holocaust memorial, called Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation.  This memorial was built as a reminder of the 200,000 people deported from France to concentration camps during World War II.  The architect's intent was to make it feel claustrophobic.  There are plenty of claustrophobic spaces in Paris, but nothing has made me feel the torment quite like this place.  A had a moment of silence in front of the narrow chamber with 200,000 lighted crystals symbolizing each life lost in a concentration camp, then made my way out to fresh air, mindful that it was not all that long ago. 

The sun was really quite hot at this point, so we stopped over in the (I believe) Chatelet district (corrected in comments:  Ile St. Louis) to get gelato/sorbet/ice-cream and pop into a few shops.  I went for peach gelato.  



We walked along the Seine's shaded trees to make it to our next destination of Luxembourg Gardens, which is the garden of the state sentate.  This reminded me a lot of a portion of Central Park in New York City, and even parts of it reminded me of our little park in Denver we like to go to.  I think mainly, it is a space for people to gather, outside and enjoy nature in the business of a city. 







I even saw Lady Liberty!  The original model, that is. She's much smaller than our lady. 

We sat and watched children play, and enjoyed the breeze and shade of the large trees, then made our way towards the Saint Sulpice Church. 



The great organ was impressive, but the inside of the church was completely empty.  Leaving it feeling a bit eery to me. So, I made my rounds to quickly view, then back outside to the fresh air. 
 

Our next stop was to get a drink and rest our feet!  Kris and Tom introduced us to Les Deux Magots, a famous cafe in the Saint-Germain-des-Pres district.  It was made famous by patron artists and writers such as Hemingway, Camus, and Picasso (think Midnight In Paris). It was pretty shi-shi, I noticed, as I needed to leave some change to use the toilets for the lady sitting and doing what, I don't know...watching tourists go to the toilet and leave her change.  But, the lemonade was delicious, and the people watching fun.  Especially the crotchety waiter who sniffed and huffed when he wasn't left a good tip.  



We started to make our way towards a metro station to head back to our apartment, but the smells from a local cafe stopped us to eat. 



We sat outside and googled different menu items to decide which was the best choice.  The cafe on the opposite side of the street was playing live jazz music, complete with a very French voice singing old, very American jazz songs, such as It Had To Be You, and Just The Way You Look Tonight. you could have plopped me in an old black and white and it wouldn't have felt any more realistic.  It was like sitting inside someone else's dream. 

I chose the roasted something, with some-such relish on the side, and cold potatoes with salad.  And it was indeed yummy. 



After dinner, we headed back to the apartment via the Metro and a grocery store to pick up some breakfast things and snacks.  The sun set on Paris for day 1, and I fell quickly and deeply into sleep, ready for day 2, one of the most eventful days of the trip. 

This is who I am...

I'm currently coming down from my holiday to Paris and London.  A trip three years in the making.  As I get back to my every day activities, I am remembering wonderful moments from the last week.  I will share them here in good time.

The thing about coming back from Europe, I usually wake up much earlier than usual.  Which means I take my time making breakfast.  Yesterday morning, I made a full breakfast with all the lovely jams and honeys I brought home.  I sipped my strong English tea, in my special tea cup. It struck me just how much I've made my corner of the world look, feel, and taste like my favorite place in the world.   It helped that the clouds were mizzly, and the weather cool.  I strolled around my garden to see how much had grown in a week, and was welcomed by wild flowers and a hummingbird.  A bit of England in the Mile High City.

My friend, Rachel, snapped this photo of my while we were having lunch on my last day in London.  I have few photos of myself, as I'm usually the one behind the camera.  But, what she captured here is a moment of absolute me-ness.

I am happy.  I am content.  I am thankful.  I am a traveler.  I am a daughter, sister, and friend.  I am a wife and mother.  But in this photo, I am me.  Just me.

This is who I am.

Poppies...

The profile picture on this page is called The Corn Poppy, by Kees van Dongen.  I got to see it in person when I visited my friend in Houston.  I love poppy flowers!

This weekend, we went to the Botanic Garden and saw plenty of poppies that were as beautiful as art.

As time goes by...

Next month will be the 9 year anniversary of my Grandmama passing away.  That's just so strange to think about.  It seems like it was only yesterday.

It has been 8 years and 11 months since I've seen my Great-Uncle, Grandmama's brother.  Today, he was here waiting with us while my mom had a double mastectomy to remove the cancer that was trying to make a run for it.

I was sitting back with mom in pre-op, when I saw his white headed, bow-legged self walking in.  He gave me a hug and said, "hey you girl."   I didn't know if he knew it was me, or my sister.  But, I took the hug happily all the same, and we sorted out later "which one" I was.

We visited a bit while mom was in surgery.  And then again once she got up to her room afterwards.  It was in her room that I felt like Grandmama may as well be sitting in the room with us.

I guess because I was only ever really around him along with her.  Tonight when I heard his voice, in this quiet hospital room while my mom slept from the pain medication, I expected to hear Grandmama's laugh peppered in.

But, it was quiet.  And, I so keenly missed her.

That was not the feeling I expected to feel today.  Time goes by, but still I wish she were here.  She would have been just the right person to have around today.