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Published: October 22nd 2009
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Friday, 9/11
Today is of course, the 8th anniversary of the bombing of the World Trade Centers. I am sure there were lots of ceremonies and service in the US, but in our little Paris bubble, I forgot until now that that's what today was. Slept until 11 and Dan and I had the day to ourselves. After eating French Onion Soup at the Cafe Ste. Germaine (wonderful!), we walked across the Seine to the right bank and walked down Rue de Rivoli to Notre Dame. On the way, we went through an Electric Vehicle show at the Hotel de Ville plaza. It was great fun and they make the cutest electric scooters and strange tiny vehicles!
Were going to take the tour of the Tower in Notre Dame, but the line was so long I was not in the mood to stand in line at least an hour so we went inside and did the audio tour which was very interesting and fascinating. I love Notre Dame and it never ceases to amaze me. It took 100 years to build and was started in 1160, and consecrated around 1260. The arches are amazing, the entire construction amazing from
the stained glass Rose Windows (4, one North, South, East and West), the other hundreds of stained glass windows, the perfect arches, the numerous individual little chapels along the sides..... On the altar is a huge carved Pieta, dedicated in 1996 I believe and behind it a huge gold cross - really beautiful.
After we left Notre Dame, went across to the Place Ste. Michel in the Latin Quarter, got some street food and walked around the little alleys and streets. Bought a scarf for Callie and walked slowly back to the 7th. It was 5 by then, so went home to nap and met the gang across the street at 6:30. Walked up to Le Ministeres at 7 for oysters (except Bethia and I), dinner and another night of fun -- we are really making a habit of this Paris nightlife!! : >D Said au revoir to Bethia, Bob, Chris and Erica and headed home by 10. Watched the videos we took of yesterdays festivities and now, Dan is asleep, it's about 12:15 and that's it for me!
Tomorrow is our last day in Paris and I am so glad we are traveling to Israel from here
- I'm not ready to go home yet and it's hard to leave Paris - I love it so much and feel quite content and happy here. The nice feeling is that Dan and I will be coming back numerous times over the years.
Saturday, 9/12
Dan got up early today to get to the Eiffel Tower before the crowds, so I slept in until 9:30 and had the morning to myself - so nice! Tried to download photos to the computer but the stupid card reader would not work - of course I did have the card in backward but who knew? So after I gave up on that, went out for a walk along the Seine and that was wonderful. It was sunny and cool and breezy and lots of people are out as it is Saturday - I love Paris!!! There are these houseboats along the Seine - appear to be permanent residences made from old barges - quite a lot of room, with plants on the decks - would love to see the inside. Some of the barges are restaurants also that look very cool.
Dan and I met back up at the
apt. at noon, and took the metro to the Montmartre again - we love that district! Spent the afternoon walking around, went to Sacre Coeur of course, and also the old Benedictine Abbey from 1147. At that time, the Montmartre was not part of Paris, it was the countryside with the Abbey, vineyards & fields. I loved the Abbey and took lots of photos. It is not impressive the way Notre Dame is because it's much smaller, but built in the Gothic style also. The interiors are similar with the beautiful arches that connect to columns along the central arm of the church. The choir is above the nave or entry to the church, with smaller chapels along the sides. There is a beautiful baptismal chapel with a crucifix and stained glass window and the sun comes through the window, making this beautiful colored pattern of light on the floor. The same thing happens through the windows on the north and south sides (I think it's in that direction) and I tried to capture the light as much as I could. It's my understanding that all the churches are built on an east-west axis, so the sun rises through one
side and sets through the other. The light then shines through the stained glass and it is just magnificent. In addition, there are windows to the north and south that also serve this same purpose.
The Place du Tertre is the main square packed with artists, shops, tourists, cafes, etc. On a Saturday it is quite impossible so we avoided it as much as we could. I bought some souvenirs for my sisters and also Emily and Jessica. When it comes to scarves and prints, Paris is very inexpensive. When it comes to mineral water and a coke, it's just the opposite! If you get a bottle of mineral water like Evian at a cafe, it is likely to cost at least 4 euros = $6! Best to stick with wine! ; >) I began to contemplate what it would be like to actually buy an apt. in this district and rent it out like Bill and Ed do with their places. I would love this! To spend one month a year (or every six months) with Paris as our home base, traveling out from there, to Israel if Katy & Dori are still there or anywhere else -
Les Ministeres
Bethia, Bob, Sarah wow, that's a good way to spend retirement!!!
Spent the evening “at home” by ourselves, packed and cleaned up and ate up the cheese and bread we had in the apt. as well as the nice bottle of red. We were done by 9:30 so went across the street to “our” cafe, the Cafe de l'Empire, for a nightcap. The waiters are so nice and the group of us have become “regulars” this week. We told them it was our last night in Paris so they bought our drinks for us. So sweet! It was so fun!
So ends our visit to Paris but only for this time - I know there will be many many more times and I feel a deep affinity with this City.
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