Paris Hotels
Safetyinnumbers's travel blogs:
|
|
  | |  |
Walk Walk Walk - A Beautiful Day
Entry 4 of 9 | show all | print this entry |
Yesterday was probably the most beautiful day we will have on the trip... cool, but sunny and fairly clear. While Jude went with the boys to get their penguin suits, I walked from our hotel down Boulvd Saint Jacques past the Place Denfert Rochereau and the Fondation Cartier Pour l'Art Contemporain to the Cimetiere du Montparnasse... It was beautiful. The sun was first coming out, and these people know how to do their cemeteries right!! It was like New Orleans but with even MORE history (can you believe that?!) I paid my respects to Sarte, whose tomb was much less ornate than others, though I guess that's appropriate for a philosopher, and probably saw a number of other famous tombs but was paying less attention to the names than the gorgeous design of each individual and the group as a whole. I played with the sunlight and shadows and took as many pictures as I could before I had to rush back to meet Jude. I'm really working on blending in with the Parisians and I think it's working. (Viola!) They all say Bon Jour to me on the street and are very friendly. I blow my cover if I say more than Bon Jour or merci' though! (Or if I'm walking with Jude with his nose stuck in the Rick Steves book.) Hey, what do you say after someone says merci' to you? I held the park gate for a gentleman with a baby stroller yesterday and he said "merci'", I could only think "de nada" but knew that wasn't right and without thinking, just said "merci" back. He then said "thank you" and I knew my cover was blown! L
ANYWAY, Jude and I met up and hurried out to enjoy the pretty day. We took the train to the Marais area and Jewish Quarter (one in the same?) and had lunch at Place des Vosges upon recommendation from Mignon Tourne' (thank you!). An American couple from Peoria, IL stopped to ask us if we were on Spring Break (Jude had his Notre Dame shirt on - doh, foiled again in my plans to blend in as a Parisian, but hey, if Pascal can date an American, so can I!). Anyway, the couple had 5 kids who all went to ND, and the gentleman had a ND sweater on (surprised?) and the woman mentioned that she went to St. Mary's. Their kids mostly live in Oak Park... c'est la vive!
We left Place des Vosges and headed through the trendy shops of the smaller designers (by Paris standards) of the Jewish Quarter, even finding a discount shop where shirts were only around 150 EUR (we didn't buy any) We saw where some of the elite used to live, and then we headed up the more bourgeoisie Boulevard de Magenta from the Place do la Republique up to Montmarte. We saw the church of St. Vincent de Paul and then headed up up up to Sacre' Coeur. Wow, I forgot how impressive it was and HATED that we couldn't take pictures inside... I mean, they said that at other churches on our last trip, but everyone did it anyway, but not here, and there were priests and nuns everywhere and Jesus judging us from the dome over the altar, it was crazy. Very pretty though. We passed most of the tourist shops back up and found a little place to get a crepe and another croquet monsier and some wine and café'. We also needed to rest our footsies. We then walked down down down, and passed up the Jamaicans who wanted to sell us what appeared to be yet-to-be-made friendship bracelets. One particularly aggressive one figured out (somehow) that we were Americans and tried to speak English to us but could only come up with "Don't Worry Be Happy Mon" which did totally crack me up on the inside.
Next we took the train over to the Trocadero to see the views we had been aiming for the night before. The Eiffel Tour is still bigger than ever. There was a good but not at all overwhelming crowd waiting with us to watch it light up around 8:30 and start its first twinkling light show at 9:00. We then walked over and underneath it. NUMEROUS vendors offered us a variety of Eiffel Tour souveniers - 3 for 1 euro., which they carried on a big loop that looked like it should have been the key ring of some mighty giant (fee fi fo fum... ) and one even offered us ALL of his for 20 euros. So, now you all know your next Christmas presents - Viola! (just kidding). ;)
We caught the train home and got in by 10:30. Another good long day. We were tired but a little more ready to get up this morning and are just finishing our showers. We are going to go find a little café that some friends recommended near the Champs Elyses and go walk out to the Arc de Triomphe and maybe to the restaurant Shannon recommended for lunch if the timing is right. Then we have to head back to the hotel to change. We will leave here around 2pm for the American Church for the rehearsal and then take our longish (hour and a half?) ride out to the Chateau for the rehearsal dinner, which is scheduled (food-wise) from about 6pm - 9pm. Then catch a ride back to the hotel. Tomorrow, Jude is with the main party from about 10am on, but I'm free and on my own until the ceremony, around 5ish I think. I'm going to go walk some more and maybe even shop a little without supervision (though Jude generally encourages me to spend more money that I do... but hey, it's my 30th birthday I'm shopping for!)
Okay, time to get out to the grayer skies today (though the sun is trying hard to burn through). C'set Bon! Merci! Bon Jour! Cider Petit! Mon dieux! Pardon! Si vous plait! And VIOLA!!!
J'adore Paris!
Karen (& Jude)
Latest Comments (5)
|
bon jour (reply)
Apr 12, 2008 18:30 EST by sheilaquinlan
hey guys,
i got the link to your blog from amy. how fun that you are already in paris! i loved reading about all the fun you're having-it sounds amazing. i'll admit-i'm totally jealous! i will definitely keep following the blog to see how everything, including the wedding, goes. have lots and lots of fun!
sheila
p.s. tho i'm no fluent french speaker i thought the colloquial respo... show all
|
|
|
parents (reply)
Apr 12, 2008 16:03 EST by plata
Sounds like you're really enjoying Paris. Glad your weather is decent--April can be so iffy.
Dad isn't with Mom at the annual meeting--he's reading your postings from home. Don't know if Mom has email access, but I do know she's quite busy and will be home Sunday afternoon probably.
I forwarded your latest message to a few people.
Bridget is really looking forward to o... show all
|
|
Hi Mom & Dad (reply)
Apr 12, 2008 04:18 EST by safetyinnumbers
Glad you are reading this too? We were wondering a bit but figured you are at Mom's conference. Thank you 'Plata' for keeping us updated! We love reading ocmments (though must admit, Paris doesn't seem nearly as far as everywhere else we went over winter, particularly with internet available to us in our room)! Can't wait to see you all in person though... It's nice to be excited about that, a... show all
|
|
|
Language (reply)
Apr 11, 2008 20:45 EST by plata
Dad is enjoying your well-written accounts of your adventures (as are we). Though he isn't able to respond directly, he would like to tell you,
'The response to Merci is Je tu en prie. zha two on pree . emphasis on pree. It means 'you're welcome.'
|
|
|
walking (reply)
Apr 11, 2008 15:39 EST by plata
Glad you're having a wonderful time and seeing many great sights. Your French sounds pretty good to me, too. Too bad Jude keeps giving you away for Americans! ;)
|
 Post a new comment |
|
If you like this entry, search for other entries by safetyinnumbers, from France or try a new search. |
| |
| Table of Contents |
| 4. | Walk Walk Walk - A Beautiful Day - Paris, France Apr 11, 2008 (  5 ) |
|
|
|
|
Back to Entry - Back to Home
|
