Dernier Jour: Day Two

#wavetheflag at the Eiffel Tower!  Go Cougs!

The girls and I got up first thing on Saturday morning and took the metro to the Eiffel Tower.  It was absolutely massive, but wasn't what I was expecting.  Maybe it's because we see it all the time in pictures, but it didn't take my breath away.  It's an iconic monument, no doubt, but I didn't think it was as impressive as everyone kept saying.  Nonetheless, it was a wonderful opportunity to experience something famous.

Musee d'Orsay

After taking dozens of photos, we hopped the metro to the Musee d'Orsay.  We got let in for free because we were all on UK visas which was cool.  We wished we'd known that the day before so we could have avoided paying the rather expensive entry to the Louvre.  Oh well.  I actually liked the Musee d'Orsay a bit more than the Louvre.  It wasn't as intimidating.  The building was beautiful.  Previously, it was a train station, so it has the tall foggy glass ceilings and iron supports that train stations of that time usually did.  The glass ceiling tiles allowed for a lot of natural sunlight.

Inside the main room of the Pantheon

We stopped into a little cafe for lunch then went on to the Luxembourg Gardens.  We walked through the gardens and over to the Pantheon.  I love old building like this.  They were doing construction on the dome, so I didn't get any good outside photos, but the inside was really pretty.  In their crypt is the final resting place of Voltaire, Marie Curie and her husband, and many others.

Continuing on our journey we trekked over to Love Lock Bridge and then Notre Dame.  We got a little turned around in the Latin Quarter, but followed the sight of the steeple on the horizon all the way down to the Seine.  Love Lock Bridge is actually several bridges in Paris where lovers come to place a lock on the railing of the bridge and toss their key into the river in hopes that their love will last forever.  What they don't tell you is that there are so many locks that they have to be removed once every seven months.  The Love Lock Bridge we visited is on the bridge just behind the cathedral.

Danni, Molly, Caylyn, me, and Olivia at Love Lock Bridge with Notre Dame in the background

Notre Dame was my favorite stop that weekend.  When I first walked in I was hit with this sudden overwhelming awe and reverence for the place.  It was a powerful experience.  The place was packed with tourists and worshippers alike, but their presence didn't take away from the experience.

The glow of the chandeliers against the ancient walls leading up to the vaulted ceilings created an atmosphere that was magical.  The stained glass windows added light and color, and prayer candles flickered against the stones creating movement in the light.  There were hymns playing softly in the background and the low buzz of the tourists whispering to one another and prayers being uttered.  I would love to go back one day to attend a service.  I'm sure it would be a great experience.

To finish off the day we took an evening river cruise.  It added a special something to be able to sum up all that we had seen in the past two days from a different perspective.  The sun was setting, casting a glow to all of the famous buildings and monuments.  The perfect way to end another great day.

First Impressions

I made a list of my initial reactions and random thoughts I had during my journey to the Wales.

1.  We have to wear full seat belts on the RailAir bus from London-Heathrow to Reading.

2.  Wishing I had not left my sunglasses at home for Dad to ship me in a few weeks, because it was  bright, sunny, and cold when I arrived.

3.  Airplane food is awful.

4.  Queuing is apparently a big deal--just because you don't see the line doesn't mean you can assume there isn't one.

5.  Driving/riding on the wrong side of the road is terrifying!

6.  I have officially pulled an all-nighter plus about four hours.

7.  Buses have wifi?!?

8.  My mental voice has somehow morphed into a strange Southern/British hybrid.

9.  There is no easy way to get from Heathrow Terminal 4 to the Central Bus Terminal...I tried to find an easier way and failed.

10.  People actually wear those? (referring to the high heeled wedge sneakers Nike has been pushing on the normal population the past few years)

11.  The British really like their traffic circles.

12.  That is the biggest piece of fish I have ever seen!  (Someone sitting at a nearby table ordered fish and chips.  The piece of fish was literally a foot long.)

12.  Everyone is so polite!  It's great, but I'm beginning to wonder if my good manners are up to par.

13.  How does Subway not have yellow mustard?

14.  Yeah, I could definitely sleep on a train (it was 5 am PST and my jet lag was starting to set in.)

15.  Chicken Bacon & Welsh Cheese Panini for dinner? Yes, please!

16.  I'm officially a fan of art galleries--particularly impressionists and Alfred Sisley.

17.  Everyone in Wales is so friendly!

18.  The whole "Arcade" layout of the shopping centers is really cool!  It's like being able to shop outdoors minus the rain and wind.

19.  UK Public transportation is not sketchy.

20.  Apparently, the sunshine was a fluke...normal Wales weather is very wet.