Paris

Bonjour!

So it’s been a few days since we have been able to update the blog. We are staying at a hostel in Paris and the only place we are able to get WiFi is the common area. It’s also the area that has Dance tunes being pumped out of the speaker system so loudly it’s a bit hard to think. Starting to wonder if we’re too old for thish hostel thing!

We have now been in Paris for 1 1/2 days, and so far have had an amazing time. Much colder than the Desert unfortunately. Our first purchase here was not the Crepe or croissant I had envisioned, instead we bought an umbrella!  The day we arrived we spent the day touring around the neighbourhood  our hostel is in; Montmantre. It’s a bit seedy around here, but there lots of people on the roads and great little pockets of streets to walk down. We climbed the steps up to Sacre Coeur at night and walked by all the sex shops leading to  Moulin Rouge! Ah romantic Paris!

Here we are at the Sacre Coeur at night.

Yesterday we had great plans of taking a city tour by bike; we were up and at it by 4:30am ready to go! At about 7:00 we fell back asleep and not realizing it, we slept until 10:30 missing our tour! Instead we spent the day at Versailles.  Not a bad back up plan!

Here is Chris standing by the gates getting ready to enter and be brought back 100’s of years in time!

It was as I remembered, room after room of inlaid marble, carved stone, gold, and amazing art… with one addition; there was a Japanese modern art exhibit going on at the same time. It was the most bizarre thing.

Welcome to the hall of mirrors!

It truly was a sight to see. We would be hearing about the golden throne on the audio tour and instead looking at some bright pink ceramic happy faced flower! Nothing like a little Japanamation to bring you back in time!

Before dinner we were able to get in one more sight!

Last night we had an extra special night. Chris’s Aunt Eleanor happens to be in Paris right now and treated us to a fantastic French Cooking class! It was with Princess Marie Blanche de Broglie, the last of the Julia Child generation of early women chefs. She was amazing! We both had visions of cooking with this “princess” complete with satin, diamonds and pearls. Different kind of princess. She comes from a line of French Aristocracy. Eleanor was her au pair 37 years ago when Julia Child asked her to be her partner – and Marie Blanche said “no”! Here we are in the kitchen! Such a great experience! Thank you Eleanor

Off on another adventure! So much more to see!

Love to everyone!