Days Eight, Nine, Ten: Au Revoir, Paris

I feel strange - and already nostaglic - sitting in my favourite Bedford coffee shop, finishing up the blog for this incredible trip. The girls here at the Jumping Bean make a worthy Americano, but it ain't Paris!! However, I would feel stranger still if I did not do a wrap up of our last few days in France!

Friday - our last day to bus/train to the city. We really got the hang of it by the end of the week, hopping on and off transit like pros and smiling indulgently like regulars when the RER serenader turned on his boom box and began his daily rendition of La Vie en Rose and Coocaracha!
On the agenda for Friday was La Musee de Les Invalides, an unbelievably imposing complex of buildings and gardens on the Left Bank of the Seine. The original structure was commissioned by Napolean as a place to house and care for soldiers. Napolean's tomb, as well as the tombs of other key military figures, is located here.

Had to jump really high to get this shot of Les Invalides

 

Can see right to the Seine from the Invalides courtyard

Dave captured the essence of Napolean perfectly

Napolean's Tomb

Napolean depicted around walls as a deity

Napolean's Chapel

Always a dome!

 





I opted out of this tour, choosing instead to spend my afternoon at the smaller, less imposing, but so beautiful Rodin museum next door. Rodin donated his home and his entire collection of his and many others work treasures to the city in 1908, providing they made it available to the public.

Rodin's museum

Large cast of The Thinker - original inside!

The Kiss

beautiful from every angle

The Gates of Hell

The Canadian Nymph

I think this sculpture was called Despair

The Awakening

The military gang made their way to Rodin eventually, their eyes and minds dazed by what they witnessed there, and we headed off to do what all pilgrims to Paris do - shop for souvenirs in the stores along the Seine.
The Latin Quarter was our final stop in the city, and what fun it was. We walked down the cobbled, winding street, and were delightfully harassed by the restaurant hosts, each one insisting their food was the best in Paris. We opted for a Greek restaurant - and not because the host looked like Adonis! Wes had spotted this one days before and was excited about the meat roasting on charcoal in the window. it turned out to be a great choice. The food was fantastic, and the service equally so.
So, a final train ride home, and Paris became a beautiful memory.

I thought this little angel wanted to be my friend

Then Wes showed me this!

Saturday - What happens when you give yourself permission to sleep in? Right - up bright and early Saturday with no agenda other than to catch our breath, walk to a village (or two if you are Pam and Dave), make use of the pool and steam room, and sit in the sun. Did I say sun?? Of course I did, because after a week of early spring chill and light showers, the sun burst through with an unfamiliar warmth on Saturday! We had a great day, and spent a treat of a time on a sun (and drink) filled deck in the late afternoon.  Our last supper in France was a tasty repeat of our first, meats, cheeses, and breads picked up at the local boulangerie and market. During it we went round the table three times, naming our top, second, and third top moments, sites, etc. I have to admit the French wine I consumed that day has made my memory faulty, but I do remember it as a special moment of reflection. Nancy's choices stayed with me, as she focused on feelings rather than places:
1. Confidence - that she could tackle the language and country and have such a great time doing so.
2. Pride - in being a Canadian.
3. Awe - agreed!

 

And Sunday - Bon voyage, France. You outdid yourself in your welcome! Another Sheridan Plus adventure is behind us. Time to start planning #4!! Just a few more photos of our home away from home, the resident geese and swans, and a gaggle of happy travelers heading home.

Thanks for joining us on our journey to France.

Au revoir

xoxoxo

Day Seven: . . . Paris - like Meryl Streep, Highly Overrated

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. One after one our days lined themselves up like pins and France threw perfect strikes right down the centre. A gutter ball day was inevitable. Thank God we got it out of the way today and might be able to salvage a point or two of fun over the next two days.
I can hardly be bothered to tell you about Thursday a Paris, but for the sake of continuity, here is the list of sites we forced ourselves to explore:

• Arch de Triomphe  . . . yawn
• The Champs Elysees . . . Big deal, a street
• The Eiffel Tower . . . too many damn steps
• A Seine River Cruise . . . old bridges, puh
• Dinner at Pied de Cochon . . . tasted foreign

Seriously though, this amazing city just keeps on handing us jewels. I would call today an emerald, as  we enjoyed everything out doors and we saw evidence of spring pushing through the ground and gardens everywhere we walked . . . and climbed.

Just checked in with Sandy for our step count:

18,200 steps

14.2 km

and 57 flights of stairs!!! As Kelly would tell us, we are crushing it!

A few memorable moments from the day:

• We continued our RAKs of giving coins to a pan handler on the morning commute, and each time they have helped us find our way.

• Nancy screwed her courage to stand nonchalantly on glass! Not sure she looked down!

• And Sandy and Wes had a moment of brotherly connection on that glass floor at the Tour Eiffel. They inched their bodies onto the floor at the encouragement of a friendly young man who, as soon as they made it totally onto the clear surface, proceeded to jump up and down. He laughed like a monkey - after performing life saving CPR on Sandy. 

 

• Dave proved to be the most adventurous, and probably the most regretful, at dinner, by ordering all parts of the cochon except the chops. Who knew there was so little meat on the tail? 

On the bus now, the last leg of our nightly commute. Tired, body weary from combing every step in central Paris, but immensely pleased with our boring day!! Below is a sampling of the day's photos:

     

 

xoxo Sleep well. I am certain we will!

Day Six: Lost in the Louvre

Man oh Man, my feet hurt!!!
This may seem like a negative way to start the blog since it was a friggin' fantastic day - including the indescrible Louvre and the majestic Norte Dame. However, we have been apparently walking our way across Northern France - according to Sandy's app. We set our steps record today at 24, 470, translating into 18. 5 km and 33 flights of stairs! For a group of middle age pluses, that is not too shabby!

. 

OK, there is absolutely no way I can even attempt to capture what we saw today in a few words. We were up and on the bus/ train combo early (feeling like old pros already), and hit the sidewalks to the Louvre by 10:15 am. Let me just say that the size and scope of this museum just blew me away. It sprawls across endless blocks of prime Paris real estate, the bustling Rue de Rivoli on its north side,  and the Seine on its south. I think it might be impossible to keep your directional head about you on your first visit to the Louvre - or at least that is what I am telling myself. I felt overwhelmed the entire time I was there - - by the endless choices of stairways, halls and rooms, and by the assault to the senses in the form of paintings, sculptures, and antiquities that in our world belong in the pages of coffee table books, not around every corner you turn.

We separated into twosomes in the lobby, each couple heading off to hunt down their priority art - like a scavenger hunt of beauty! Wes and I got off to a rough start when he felt compelled to inform the security folks that the Louvre ticket rules were "stupid" ... oh no! Oh yes. But, they let us stay anyway, and Wes remains convinced that now that they know the error of their ways, those rules will change within the next week. Let me remind you this is THE LOUVRE!

Below see a few shots of the treasures of the Louvre. I found myself reluctant to photograph much  of what we saw. There is just something sacred about the atmosphere, even with the crowds of people endlessly moving through the spaces, selfie sticks in hand, audio guides in ears, maps folded and flapping as they hurry from the Greeks to the Italians to the Dutch.

Winged Victory!

From The Louvre we made our way to Notre Dame via The Great Canadian Pub. As everywhere else we have visited this week, the cathedral enchanted us - but with a sombre, dark elegance all her own. The ceilings, arches and windows are amazing, but the real impact comes from the sense of spirit in the space. Sitting in the prayer section, feeling the heaviness and reverance in the air, and watching so many people appreciating what Notre Dame has to offer, reminded me how much we have as humans that binds us together. My heart felt full with hope! 💛

French Crown Jewels - a 140 carat diamond!

Nancy, Sandy, Pam and Dave opted for a second round at the Louvre in the late afternoon, while Wes and I chose a stroll to a great little bar🍸 - priorities! 

We returned to the Marriot a little earlier tonight, time for a late snack, a little wine and rum ... and a  Trump.update for Dave.

A very Happy Birthday tomorrow to Brendan!! 🎂🎊🎈

And for now, Bon nuit from Paris. 

xoxo

MORE PHOTOS TO FOLLOW...TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. grrr