METRO TO MONTMARTRE |
The highest point in Paris – This charming maze of streets draws you in. Close your eyes and try to imagine impressionists like Van Gogh, Degas, and Renoir hanging out here and drawing inspiration from this enchanting place. So very cool! The Montmartre neighborhood was easy to fall in love with. |
MEETING OUR GUIDE AND TRAVEL BUDDIES
We met our tour group for brief introductions and claimed a “travel buddy”. Dimitri, our guide, played the part of Woody from Toy Story, "If you don't have a travel buddy... GET ONE." A great plan to keep our group on time and accounted for. We all know how it can be traveling in groups... the buddy system helped ensure no one got lost or left behind, plus a bonus, we made an instant friend!
Keep your eye on Dimitri (center), afterall he is God’s gift to the planet Tour Guide! 😀
*Note the classy “traveling shoes”. Who knows what the Parisians thought of our comfy tourist footwear, but we weren’t crying about pinched toes!
Keep your eye on Dimitri (center), afterall he is God’s gift to the planet Tour Guide! 😀
*Note the classy “traveling shoes”. Who knows what the Parisians thought of our comfy tourist footwear, but we weren’t crying about pinched toes!
GROUP DINNER ESCAPADE
es ∙ca ∙pade
"An act or incident involving excitement, daring, or adventure."
For us, it was daring to sample escargot. Remember, we’re from Texas.
Texas is known for The Alamo and BBQ … guess what Texans do with snails!
Check out the video for Tanisha's one-of-a-kind reaction 😐
"An act or incident involving excitement, daring, or adventure."
For us, it was daring to sample escargot. Remember, we’re from Texas.
Texas is known for The Alamo and BBQ … guess what Texans do with snails!
Check out the video for Tanisha's one-of-a-kind reaction 😐
CRUISING PARIS
We loved this lazy drift down the Seine River at night to catch a glimpse of some of Paris’ most legendary spots. Their illumination created quite a romantic atmosphere. Maybe we should have brought our husbands along? … Nah!, it gives us an excuse to come back 😉
No wonder Paris is known as 'La Villelumière', The city of lights!
No wonder Paris is known as 'La Villelumière', The city of lights!
DAY TWO BEGINS WITH SAINTE CHAPELLE
Who cares if you get a crick in your neck from all that upward gazing?
We were disappointed to hear that Sainte Chapelle was closed... then overjoyed to discover we had misinformation! (Thanks Dimitri, for going the extra mile to get last minute details!) We loved the Gothic architecture and exquisite display of stained glass. The atmosphere was laced with iridescent light and color!
We were disappointed to hear that Sainte Chapelle was closed... then overjoyed to discover we had misinformation! (Thanks Dimitri, for going the extra mile to get last minute details!) We loved the Gothic architecture and exquisite display of stained glass. The atmosphere was laced with iridescent light and color!
NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL
Where is Quasimodo, maybe he was vacationing in Texas?
Something about walking around the corner and, Voilà! Notre Dame. The most recognized cathedral in the world.
Something about walking around the corner and, Voilà! Notre Dame. The most recognized cathedral in the world.
Wherever we went...
Tanisha’s blonde hair = Magnet Even for the gendarmerie! (military police) What? Pay for tap water?
And no ice? C'est la vie! |
No barricades of 1588 to hold us back form exploring the colorful Latin Quarter. A great place
to grab a bite to eat. We needed Michel de Montaigne’s bronze shoe to rub, not for luck on an exam, but to help make up our minds. So many tempting choices! |
What’s with the Pigeon? Is he homing in on us? Truth is, Tanisha was convinced he was puffing his feathers and flirting with her. Looks like someone “found love in Paris”
|
Ain’t no mountain high enough, river wide enough, or concrete blockade round enough to keep Shay from
getting a great shot. |
FREE TIME IS SWEET
Rick gets it right and schedules “free time” into his tours. We put that time to good use visiting the Rodin Museum, a must see on our list as we are admirers of his renowned sculptures.
Our favorites? The Kiss, The Hand of God, and of course The Thinker. Since our visit, a new favorite joins Trena’s list. Winter. |
LOUVRE... A LOVELY SAMPLING OF SUCH IMMENSITY
Gotta love the special treatment we had at the Louvre. Even Mona Lisa had a little smile for us 😊
No long lines, a personal guide that we could actually hear and understand who lead us at a perfect pace to see some of our favorites, like the Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, and the Raft of the Medusa. Ohhh, Ahhh, and oh my goodness!
News to us? The Louvre is a historic monument, once known as the Louvre palace. Napoleon’s horses were once stabled in the very room we started our tour in. Can you smell the hay? Holy cow! Over 8 million visitors a year. Busy place! Another reason to love our guide.
To view slideshow, hover your mouse over top lefthand corner of picture and push "Play" icon.
No long lines, a personal guide that we could actually hear and understand who lead us at a perfect pace to see some of our favorites, like the Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, and the Raft of the Medusa. Ohhh, Ahhh, and oh my goodness!
News to us? The Louvre is a historic monument, once known as the Louvre palace. Napoleon’s horses were once stabled in the very room we started our tour in. Can you smell the hay? Holy cow! Over 8 million visitors a year. Busy place! Another reason to love our guide.
To view slideshow, hover your mouse over top lefthand corner of picture and push "Play" icon.
“Paris is always a good idea.” Audrey Hepburn
Audrey was stylish and smart!
Audrey was stylish and smart!