Day Five: All roads lead to Paris

Tuesday:

• The day the French Foreign Seniors marched toward Paris under cover of train (after grocery shopping and van dropping). 
• The day they emerged from the gare de train onto the banks of the Seine, right in front of a little church called Notre Dame. 
• The day they stood on the oldest city bridge spanning one of the world's most famous rivers.
• The day they filled their senses at the Musee D'Orsay.
• AND ... The day they turned finding and traveling the RER train into a Canadians in Paris dramady. 🚂 (a long and painful story of bathrooms and betrayal, but all turned out well in the end).

Locks of love on Le Pont Neuf 

Always wanted to see one of these. Check!

Safari on the Left Bank

A hell of an old train station - D'Orsay

Classic Monet. Such a thrill!

And Degas... Aahh

Also Degas.

A slice of Paris at night.

Norte Dame

Mid week bonus: A few of our favourites things, dusted off for your reading no pleasure:

Wes: Oh how I wish I could speak French like my niece Katie... for then I would have been able to better interact with the fine gentlemen of Thelus. My brother and I stumbled upon an annual tradition where the men of the region lay flowers at the foot of the Canadian monument in their village. I have never been so proud to be Canadian. 

Nancy: The art - Ranging from magnificent paintings to spectacular architecture and dramatic sculptures. My reaction - Aaahhhh!

Pam: I have two things, both about surprises. One occurred on the late night visit to the Vimy memorial, turning the corner and seeing the sorrowful mother statue looming eerily in the distance. Everything was dark and she was lit by a spotlight - so startling and powerful. The next surprise occurred this morning when I emerged from the underground train to see the Norte Dame cathedral in all her glory, stately and beautiful on her corner. 

Dave: The magnificence and power of both Vimy and Beaumont Hamel and the respect and care being given to preserve Canada's finest hours. 

Sandy: As much as our Irish trip allowed me to be in so many places I had read about, this trip has allowed me to walk the fields and make the history that I have read so much more real - a very privileged process for which I am most grateful. 

Sandra: As breathtaking as Paris was today, the buildings so huge and ornate, the river so fast and powerful, the people so diverse, and the art so AWESOME, I cannot shake the shadows of the WW1 battles and the ghosts of the soldiers from my mind. Nor do I want to! 

OK, it is late, we are soo pleasantly exhausted, and we have more city to conquer tomorrow. On the agenda?  The Louvre and our little chapel on the corner, Norte Dame!

xoxo  PICTURES IN THE MORNING!

Bonsoir!  😘