Thursday, April 28, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Europe 2010, Paris, France, Day 20 Wednesday 16 June 2010
We had a wonderful day. We had an early pickup and headed off to Giverny to see the gardens and home of Claude Monet, the 'founder of impressionism' in the Normandy region. We spent time wondering along the flower lined paths beside the ponds with the famous water lilies and Japanese bridge. It was a fantastic feeling to see the landscape, so familiar from paintings and experience the tranquility of the garden. I was particularly taken by the chickens in their coop.
The house was picturesque and a museum in its own right.
After leaving the tranquility of Giverny we headed towards Versailles stopping for lunch at the Moulin de Fourges, a picturesque little windmill set in a beautiful rural setting. Instead of taking the motorway we took a scenic route around the French countryside seeing houses build into the limestone cliffs.
Versailles, the home of Louis 14th, the 'Sun King', is more spectacular than any photo can portray. You wonder as you walk through the Grand Apartments and the Hall of Mirrors how anyone could expect extravagance on this scale. The formal gardens are also spectacular and seem to go on forever,but just when you think you have reached the end, steps take you to another level. We were told that a team of gardeners were on hand to replant the gardens every day so that Louis and Marie Antoinette did not have to see the same view twice.
We headed back to Paris tired but very satisfied with the day.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Europe 2010 Paris, France, Day 19, Tuesday 15 June 2010
Our first full day in Paris. We were taken for a wonderful tour of the city to sites including the Place de la Concorde, The Champs Elysees to see the Arc de Triomphe, the Paris Opera, along the Seine to view the Ponte Alexander 111 and Notre-Dame Cathedral. It was thrilling to see the beautiful rose window and the many historic sights in the cathedral and I lit a candle in Aunty Merle's memory.
We stopped at many places for photo opportunities including the Luxembourg Gardens, Ecole Militaire, The Invalides and a number of spots where good photos of the Eiffel Tower could be taken.
In the afternoon we were left to our own devices and explored the parts of the city near our hotel walking to the Opera Garnier and Vendome Square stopping to look at Cartier and Tiffanys on the way. The Ritz, where Diana, Princess of Wales had dinner just before she was killed in the car accident is also located on the square. On the way to the square we also located the supermarket and laundrette and caught up on the necessary laundry and shopping.
Late afternoon we set off for a tour of the Eiffel Tower and then onto dinner at the restaurant 58th Tour Eiffel on the first level of the tower. It proved to be a most enjoyable meal enjoyed while looking out over Paris. It is certainly a night I won't easily forget.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Europe 2010 Amsterdam, Netherlands to Paris, France Day 18, Monday 14 June 2010
After breakfast we bordered a bus for the trip to Paris. We enjoyed the views of the countryside as we travelled through the Netherlands and into Belgium. After a bus tour around the city of Brussels our lunchtime stop was in the centre of Brussels at the Grand Place. the Grand Place is very impressive and the focal point of the city's social and civic life. Impressive civic buildings share the space with many cafes and chocolate shops where you are able to buy cones of chocolate covered strawberries.
From Brussels we travelled past Mons to enter France and we passed through the battlefield of the Somme where many Australian soldiers died in WW2.
We arrived in Paris in time for a quick bus tour of the city, and after checking in at our hotel, The Scribe, located a few blocks from the Opera Garnier, we found an inexpensive restaurant for our evening meal.
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