Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Some Paris Highlights

I have not forgotten my promise to post more on my Paris trip, but things have been so busy lately, I’m only now slowly getting the pictures uploaded to Facebook. So anyone who wants to see more can take a gander over there until I can get my butt in gear at this end.

But here are a few highlights:

(1) The architecture. I spent a lot of the trip walking around with my mouth hung open in awe. Everywhere you turned it was there. It really gives you a different perspective, coming from a relatively ‘new’ country to be surrounded by buildings that are older than any man-made structure you encounter in your everyday life. And the detail of it. They just don’t make stuff like that any more, which is very sad indeed. I don’t think 200 years from now anyone will be looking at today’s buildings with the same sense of awe. In fact, 200 years from now today’s buildings will likely not even be standing.

(2) The moped bandit. On our first full day in Paris we walked up to the Arc de Triomphe and then moseyed on over to the Eiffel Tower. After perusing the tower and gardens we continued on toward the military school, which fronted on a large another large garden. We crossed the street from the tower to the garden with four Asian tourists. They stopped on the sidewalk while we continued on. Then we heard a shout and turned in time to see one of the tourists being dragged behind a moped. It appears the couple on the moped grabbed the man’s satchel which was slung crossways over his shoulder. He did a few spins, was dragged on his stomach and then after a few horrifying seconds the satchel finally came free and he was left on the side of the road. He quickly got up and dusted himself off but I’m sure he was quite shaken by the experience. I know after that day I did not carry my purse with me for the rest of the trip. Everything I needed was safely stowed in my cargo pockets.

(3) Baguettes. These may well be the perfect food. I will never eat a regular sandwich again. All my sandwiches from here on in will have to be on a baguette.

(4) I have no sense of direction and my French sucks. The former I was well aware of, the latter not so much, but it was quickly drilled home when I spent most of the trip with my face screwed up, going ‘huh?’. And when I thought I ordered a chicken sandwich and ended up with salmon…well let’s just say most of my food choices were selected by pointing after that.

(5) The Hotel d’Invalides is not to be missed. If you go to Paris, go here. It’s basically a veterans’ hospital and military museum in one. Its collection on World War I & II is amazing and includes little short news reels that tell the story of the war. It was incredibly interesting see the Wars from the perspective a country outside of North America, one that had a bigger stake as far as being taken over by opposing forces.

(6) I walked by Daniel Craig AND Viggo Mortensen on the Champes D'Elysee Boulevard. Sadly I was too stunned to snap a picture. Life may never be the same again.

And that’s a quick wrap up of some of the highlights!

12 comments:

Melissa Amateis said...

Oh.My.GOODNESS.

You walked by Daniel Craig and you didn't run him down???

I can only DREAM that I will be in his presence some day...LOL

Would love to see the military and vets museum!

Melissa Amateis said...

Kelly - I'd LOVE to see the pics of the WW2 stuff!

Here's my email addy:

melissaamateis at earthlink dot net

Tess said...

I'm with Melissa - the architecture is all well and good, but Viggo AND Daniel Craig????? Wow.

Seriously - I'm enjoying your pictorial tour. My mum still hasn't organized her Paris pics yet (she was there in August), so it's great seeing yours as they go up on Facebook :)

Anonymous said...

Oh! Thanks for sharing your pictures and your words. We can visit Paris vicariously through your blog!

Anonymous said...

Awesome :) Paris in the sunshine is wonderful! I want to visit the Museum d'Orsay and Versailles. I love your photos and LOL @ Daniel and Viggio :) I hope you smiled at them :)

Lexi said...

Thanks for the pics and the commentary.

Rene said...

Sounds like a romantic, delightful time. You were in the same breathing space as Daniel Craig and Viggo? I would have passed out. Perhaps they would have given me mouth to mouth? A girl can dream.

Dixie Belle said...

Wow! It sounds like your trip was great. Loved the photos. Plus you got to star gaze!

Amy Ruttan said...

Now I'm even more jealous. Daniel Craig ... come on.

Annette Gallant said...

Paris is wonderful enough, but getting to see Daniel Craig as well? Wow! Talk about the trip of a lifetime.

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Kelly - the moped bandit episode sounds totally freaky. Upsetting even to watch. But the Daniel Craig/Viggo Mortensen sightings? Heavenly...

Unknown said...

You are a better woman than I! I would have so jumped on Mr. Craig and Viggo and done...nasty...things...

Sorry!!

Paris looks amazing. I would love to go there some day. :)