On Wednesday, our trip to Europe finally arrived. We picked the girls up from school and dropped them off at piano lessons, then drove to Pittsburgh Airport. My mom and dad's flight arrived right on time at 4 PM, and they had their luggage and were ready to go when we arrive. We exchanged a few quick details and hugs, then they took my truck and drove to get the girls from piano while we boarded our flight to Paris. The flight was an overnight, 9 hour trip, and with Paris six hours ahead of Eastern time, we arrived at about 8:30 AM Thursday morning. We took the RER train into the city and went to our hotel a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower. We slept for a little while, then went exploring. Here's us at the Eiffel Tower Thursday night.
On Friday, we went roving around the city. We walked over seven miles. First we went to the Arc de Triomphe.
Then down the Champs de Elysee (think 5th Avenue in New York, Rodeo Drive in L.A., or the Magnificent Mile in Chicago) to the Grand Palais/Petit Palais.
We caught a boat on the River Seine to Notre Dame Cathedral. We went inside, but pictures were a no-no.
Then we took the boat to the Louvre. Here's Joanne with Mona Lisa.
Here's Joanne with Venus de Milo.
After the Louvre, we were very tired, and our (my) feet and back hurt, so we went to take the boat back to the Eiffel Tower so we could rest at our hotel, but a guy said the boat wasn't coming anymore so we started to walk back. Then the boat came anyway and we missed it and I was sad. Finally we made it back to our hotel, and instead of resting, we went up inside the Eiffel Tower to the top so we could take pictures of the city at night.
I was very sore Saturday morning, but there's no rest for the wicked. We took the train to Versailles to check out Louis XIV's palace, grounds, gardens, and Marie Antionette's place. I have not bothered to put in any of the hundred pictures we took at Versailles. If you want to see them, come visit us some time and we'll show them to you. It is a massive, unreal place with art, architecture, sculpture and luxury at every turn and in every corner. Here's Joanne at the entrance to Versailles.
The gardens were very green, but the colorful flowers we pretty much all gone for winter. It was a little warmer outside on Saturday than on most days of the trip, but still pretty cold. This shot gives you a little glimpse of how huge the palace's garden's are.
After Versailles, we checked out of our hotel and went to rent our car. This is our Fiat 500, which was an awesome car and reminded me of the truism that small is beautiful, especially when trying to find a parking spot in Europe's capital cities.
Saturday was also my 29th birthday. I've been 29 for nine years now. We drove our little car east toward Luxembourg, and stopped in the little town of Sedan in eastern France for a birthday dinner. It was most excellent, and this is my wicked chocolate birthday cake, which I devoured.
After dinner we drove the rest of the way to Luxembourg, where we had a hotel for the night. On Sunday we drove the Valley of the Seven Castles in Luxembourg. The first is an ancient castle in the city of Luxembourg itself. The earliest parts were built starting in around 900 A.D. It was expanded over the centuries to stretch throughout the city. This is Joanne on the ramparts of one of the oldest surviving sections, with an old Roman arch stone bridge (still in use for trains) in the background.
These were the first four days of our trip. Next week will be the final three.
On Friday, we went roving around the city. We walked over seven miles. First we went to the Arc de Triomphe.
Then down the Champs de Elysee (think 5th Avenue in New York, Rodeo Drive in L.A., or the Magnificent Mile in Chicago) to the Grand Palais/Petit Palais.
We caught a boat on the River Seine to Notre Dame Cathedral. We went inside, but pictures were a no-no.
Then we took the boat to the Louvre. Here's Joanne with Mona Lisa.
Here's Joanne with Venus de Milo.
After the Louvre, we were very tired, and our (my) feet and back hurt, so we went to take the boat back to the Eiffel Tower so we could rest at our hotel, but a guy said the boat wasn't coming anymore so we started to walk back. Then the boat came anyway and we missed it and I was sad. Finally we made it back to our hotel, and instead of resting, we went up inside the Eiffel Tower to the top so we could take pictures of the city at night.
I was very sore Saturday morning, but there's no rest for the wicked. We took the train to Versailles to check out Louis XIV's palace, grounds, gardens, and Marie Antionette's place. I have not bothered to put in any of the hundred pictures we took at Versailles. If you want to see them, come visit us some time and we'll show them to you. It is a massive, unreal place with art, architecture, sculpture and luxury at every turn and in every corner. Here's Joanne at the entrance to Versailles.
The gardens were very green, but the colorful flowers we pretty much all gone for winter. It was a little warmer outside on Saturday than on most days of the trip, but still pretty cold. This shot gives you a little glimpse of how huge the palace's garden's are.
After Versailles, we checked out of our hotel and went to rent our car. This is our Fiat 500, which was an awesome car and reminded me of the truism that small is beautiful, especially when trying to find a parking spot in Europe's capital cities.
Saturday was also my 29th birthday. I've been 29 for nine years now. We drove our little car east toward Luxembourg, and stopped in the little town of Sedan in eastern France for a birthday dinner. It was most excellent, and this is my wicked chocolate birthday cake, which I devoured. 
After dinner we drove the rest of the way to Luxembourg, where we had a hotel for the night. On Sunday we drove the Valley of the Seven Castles in Luxembourg. The first is an ancient castle in the city of Luxembourg itself. The earliest parts were built starting in around 900 A.D. It was expanded over the centuries to stretch throughout the city. This is Joanne on the ramparts of one of the oldest surviving sections, with an old Roman arch stone bridge (still in use for trains) in the background.
These were the first four days of our trip. Next week will be the final three.
Awesome...we're twins then! :-) Who knew?
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