Sondi

Today we walked the Tulleries Gardens down to the Musee' L Orangerie so Sharon, Shannon and Elizabeth could see thewonderful Monet Water Lilies. A must after a visit to Givernay! As we strolled back to the Louvre we came upon another Drum Corps band marching the street with happy followers! We shopped our way along the Quay....last minute gifts... doing our best to spend all of our monopoly money before we head home! We headed up to Les Halle's to visit the old Market Church of St. Eustache.....it was so special I wanted them all to see it. They agreed it was very impressive. So old , huge , and overwhelmingly beautiful. We sat quite awhile enjoying the quiet beauty then walked on around the square and home. It is the last night for Shannon and ... read more

Today Sharon, Shannon and Elizabeth left at 9:00 a,m. To catch the train to Giverny. It was a beautiful warm, sunny day for their journey and they enjoyed the beauty of the old house and gardens very much. The soul of Monet and beauty of his works seems to linger there and those who visit maintain a quiet awe as they wander the gorgeous grounds and visit the lily ponds. I left around 10:00 a.m. To walk the back streets of Paris....through the Marais District in the fourth arrondissement. Paris' Maria's (marsh) was cleared in the 12th. Century , with grand aristocratic mansions built herefrom the 16th.Century onward. Haussman's reformations by-passed the area leaving it's tangle of streets and laneways intact. After strolling this old section of Paris I returned to the first arrondissement to visit ... read more

Today was a blustery day! Pooh would have said....and he was right! We started our walk to the Pompidou Center....Umbrellas in hand...after a visit there to see the views we met up with Marty and had a nice lunch at Le Pave on Lombard Street near the Hotel DeVille. Shannon's niece, Laura, had joined us for the day, so we decided to take the river cruise after lunch even though it was still a little over cast and cool. The weather co-operated and we enjoyed seeing the sites from yet another view. After the cruise we went home to rest since we had reservations at the Eiffel tower at 8:00 tonight. While resting up fortonight's journey.....the rain poured ...and cleared....poured and cleared....then a beautiful rainbow appeared over St. Eustache Cathedral. We took this as a good ... read more

We set out early this morning..heading to Notre Dame Cathedral to beat the crowds. It was raining when we left ... And then a monsoon, wind and flooding streets! We ducked into the pet shops to let the storm pass, and finally made it ....still to stand in line to get inside! After a tour of the beautiful cathedral....we caught the bus (sat inside) and rode to Rue Haussmann to go shopping (window) at the famous Au Printemps and Galleries Lafayette. Au Printemps opened in 1864. it's goods range from designer clothing to funky fashions, furniture and home decor. Printemp's great rival store opened in 1894 and is a monument to Parisian style...topped by a glorious steel-and-glass dome. We enjoyed seeing the stores....paid 1€ .50 EACH To use the toilette ( we were curious)! Turns out ... read more

Shannon arrived today and took thr RER from CDG airport to Chatelet Les Halle's close to our apt. Marty and Sharon met her at the station and by noonish we were on our way to visit the St. Chapelle Cathedral. St. Chapelle (Holy Shrine) is the second most famous medieval monument in Paris. It was built to enshrine Christ's Crown of Thorns, pieces of the cross, a nail from the cross, Roman soldier's lance--Said to have pierced Christ's side....and drops of Christ's blood. Wewalked down to see Notre Dame Cathedral...but the line to enter was so long we decided to return another day. We strolled through the lovely cobbled streets to Place Dauphine. Marty had been told about a lovely Cafe here called La Rose de France. We ate a good lunch and walked across Pont ... read more