European Honeymoon 1999 - Paris/Versailles
next pageParis was lovely. And don't believe what the people (read: Stupid Americans) will say about the snotty French. I found the French people (all the people we met on our trip through Germany, London & Amsterdam, too), to be nothing but kind and nice. If they didn't speak Engligh, they were patient and as helpful as possible. We actually did very little of the "typical" stuff tourists do. No, we didn't go to the Palace at Versailles (though we stayed in Versailles some of the time). No, we didn't go to the Louvre or to the Eiffel Tower (but we drove by it on our first day!). No, we didn't do about a zillion other things, but we had a GREAT time in Paris/Versailles eating, drinking and laughing with friends. I loved the outdoor markets and the tiny shops and the way everything shuts down in the middle of the day so people can enjoy life.
This was one of the highlights of our trip to Paris: Notre Dame (more and actually better info here) . I will say that I preferred St. Paul's to Notre Dame as far as the building itself and the feeling I got there, but Notre Dame had very beautiful and interesting treasures. More on that later. If I'm remembering correctly, Notre Dame (1163) is about 700 years younger than St. Paul's, so there's that, too. (That's another crazy thing about visiting Europe. Here in the states, something is "historic" if it's 100, sometimes even 50 years old. That's brand new in Europe. I swear, you can feel the spilled blood and prayers and dreams and hopes of so many people come before in so many places you go there. The history is tangible. That's the only way I know how to explain it.)
This is a very crummy shot of the amazing Rose Window. (Did I meantion I missed my digital camera?)
Lane took this wonderful photo, my favorite photo taken in Paris. It's of the Seine river, with Notre Dame on the right. Amazing, isn't it? I love the diffuse light.
Another photo Lane took, this one inside Notre Dame. I was lighting a candle at the - let me try to remember this correctly - at an alcove to the Virgin Mary. You can see me, all blurry, to the right. I love this photo too. It feels beautiful and ghostly.
There is a HUGE copper statue of Charlemagne and Roland in front of the Cathedral. Charlemagne was crowned in 768 A.D. and united all the Christian peoples in the West. I thought the statue was fantastic. I loved the character in their faces.
I loved it so much I took a good closeup. Their mustaches and beards are amazing!
Lane and I stayed at a friend's father's house. The friend is Manu; he lives in Versailles. We stayed at his house the night we were up so late before leaving for Germany. His father lives in Choisy le Roi, with a beautiful house with a little chalet at the back. We stayed there. It was SO KIND of him to let us stay. We saved a lot of money, and it was really nice to see someone's home.
This is a view from inside the chalet looking out through the stained-glass doors. I love this photo!
I love this photo more, however. The leaves on the ground were so beautiful and full of color. I don't have a clue what kind of leaves they are, so please don't ask me. But aren't they pretty?!? :)
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