A Week in Paris

  Paris, France
Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Hello,

I know you have probably read the great blog that my cousin Craig started. I figured I would go ahead and begin the rest of my journey here since I would like to keep in touch with you all in some way. Since I won't have a laptop, this won't be as convenient but I will try nonetheless.

what 500 stairs will get ya

Paris has been such an amazing experience. I have walked to the top of Notre Dame Cathedral, walked along the Seine, walked 700 steps up the Eiffel Tower and even shopped Parisian style. Since You have read the other blog and heard of my adventures there, I will begin here with my day today.

Eiffel Tower

We woke early, as always. It seems we are out to catch the metro before the sun is up every day so far and today was no different. We walked the Jardin Des Tuileries as the sun came up, walking from the Louvre Museum toward the Champs Elysees, photographing large stone statues, vast gardens, and gilded fountains along the way. We then made our way to the Orsay museum which I have decided is my favorite. It includes works by Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, Burne-Jones, Rodin; pretty much everyone who is anyone in the world of art is represented there. The building is an old train station with lots of natural light shining down on a collection of sculptures from the 19th Century. Really quite beautiful.

Notre Dame

After our visit, we continued up the road, grabbed a sandwich from the boulongerie to the Rodin Museum and had a seat in the gardens facing his work, The Gates of Hell. The gardens were an easy walk and beautiful to stroll. The mansion that housed many of his works was full of light. The grace of his works made for a gentle and relaxing experience. He is famous for the Thinker which stands outside the front of the mansion.

We then went to see Napoleon's Tomb at Invalides under the golden dome. Apparently this  was an old Church once but seemed a fitting resting place to house the body of the man who crowned himself King. I split off from Craig and Sami at that point because I needed to do my laundry.

I am back from the laverie now and it was a terrific experience actually. I met an American girl there- actually, she is from Los Angeles-who is studying at the French University here. We had a great chat and besides getting some tips on neat places to go and where to get cheap comfortable shoes, I learned that she has an 11 square meter apartment. That is about 31 square feet- for 600 Euros- $900!!! I was instantly appreciative of my place! Another woman came in with her dogs - two of which decided to sit down beside me. I had to laugh and of course oblige them with some ear rubs. Since practicaly no one has laundry facilities in their apartment, the laverie was quite the social event and I got to practice saying Je suis desolles, mom francais est terrible.. I am sorry, my french is terrible. Like the American girl taught me how to use the machines, I in turn helped another foreigner use them. It was fun and I finally felt like one of the locals.

Well, tomorrow we will venture off to Versailles and Thursday we are planning to go to Disneyland. Friday is whatever we want it to be... probably shopping? I don't know. I am kinda hoping to hold onto as many euros as I can.
:)
Anyway, know I am thinking of all of you guys and hoping everyone is healthy and happy. Lots of love to you all. I miss you and will have lots of photos to share when I get back!!! Take care!
love,
Kathryn
ps will have to add more photos later :)