Author: Christine

We started the day off today at a leisurely pace. We had a long “must see” list for London, but the list for Paris is much shorter. We decided to stroll at a leisure pace, checking out the sights and taking in another wonderful day. Walking for hours outdoors is not something you can do in the summer in Houston, so we are making the most of it.

We started off walking in and around Notre Dame Cathedral, after finding what a local told us was “the best” ice cream stand. I don’t know what it is about Notre Dame, but I find it breathtaking. I could spend all day there, from exploring the inside to strolling in the parks around the walls. I am completely enamoured by the gargoyles and I’m looking forward to the climb to the top of the towers to see them up close. Being a Sunday, there were a lot of crowds today – hopefully tomorrow morning will be better.

Years ago, I visited Paris. I was on a super tight budget, so we walked the steps to the second level of the Eiffel Tower, but didn’t spend the big bucks for the elevator to the top. We also didn’t spend the money to go to the top of Notre Dame.

Times have changed. I’m not even sure if you can just walk to the top now – all the kiosks I saw today were for the elevator only. Mike had promised me a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower, but didn’t bother to mention that he has a pretty strong fear of heights. We made it all the way to the top though, along with exploring the first and second levels too. AMAZING. Absolutely beautiful. Fabulous. Tres bon!

Then the sun set, and we got to see the tower with all the lights on, including the twinkling sparkling lights that make it look like glittery diamonds. I couldn’t capture those on film, so I made a movie using my camera of them. No matter how many photos I take, nothing can truly and completely capture the beauty of the Eiffel Tower though. I must have taken 100 photos at least, and I want to return to take more. I know it is a simple grasp at a memory though, but a memory I never want to forget.

Surreal moment of the day … sitting in Cafe Panis, just across the Seine from Notre Dame Cathedral. Eating crepes and ice cream, watching the sunset at 11:00 at night. Good wine, great food, and beautiful weather. The Eiffel Tower visible as we walked from our hotel to the Seine. The hotel right across the street from the Pantheon, glowing in the sunset light.

The WiFi is free, there is a breeze blowing across the tables as the hustle and bustle of the world goes by. Norah Jones is playing in the background, a perfect backdrop to a beautiful scene. Today is our 1 week wedding anniversary. We’re in Paris, we’re in love, and life is very, very good.

Ahhh… we are in Paris and it is beautiful! We arrived a little after 5:00 today, took a taxi to our hotel, and I immediately started to take photographs of the Pantheon, which is immediately outside of our hotel. Gorgeous in the glow of the setting sun.

After we took the luggage to the room, we headed out to enjoy some more of the fantastic weather and the sunset. We decided to go to Notre Dame instead of taking the metro to the Eiffel Tower. I was just happy to see it off in the skyline.

The steps to the top of the Notre Dame towers close at 7:30 pm normally, so I don’t think we will get to be up there for sunset – the sun has just finally gone down completely, and it’s 11:00 pm here.

After walking to Notre Dame, we decided to find a cafe and just relax. We walked a lot in London, as we had a long list of “must see” places. Paris will be a lot more about relaxing, seeing things like the Eiffel Tower (I didn’t go to the top in 1991 – I am going this time!), more of Notre Dame, and maybe some of the museums. The weather is too beautiful to waste it indoors.

Now I’m going back to eating my ice cream at the Cafe Panis just across the Seine from Notre Dame. I saw another man with a laptop out, and decided to take advantage of the WiFi while we were here.

It has been an absolutely fabulous trip so far, and I can’t wait to see what the week ahead has in store for us. Au revoir!

We arrived in London, safe and sound, at about 3:20 am Houston time. I have never flown business first class before, but damn – did that ever make the flight over a lot better! We had a fantastic dinner with several courses, finished off right with Blue Bell ice cream sundaes for desert. We were treated like royalty; I’m sure that the fact that I wore my tiara on to the plane helped, don’t you think?

After arriving at Gatwick, we took the train in to London Victoria station, which I didn’t discover until later is right around the corner from Buckingham palace. After arriving at the station, we took a cab to our hotel. When they checked us in, they upgraded us to a king suite. (I’m sure the tiara helped, but we had called ahead to ask about early check-in and told them at that time that we are here on our honeymoon.) The hotel itself is small, but so far the service is fantastic. Our room is nice, the decor is excellent, and it is located close to many things.

It is strange to feel like it’s 10:00 for me, when in fact it’s 4:00 in the afternoon here. It is interesting to see how different people dress here. I told Mike earlier that it feels like a mix of Boston and Germany. The houses and buildings remind me of Boston, but the strange road signs keep throwing me off. And you must remember to look right and then left when crossing a street – not left and right like you are used to doing. Fortunately, they painted instructions for us on some of the streets here in Kensington – maybe by the time I get to the more major streets I will remember.

We left behind 94 degree weather with a 104 degree heat index and no sign of rain at all. We landed to overcast weather that was 55 degrees when we hit the ground and it’s raining. It’s not the rain I am used to though. In Houston, the rain can hurt you, it’s so hard. Here it is a misty rain – like someone is spritzing you with a water bottle. No umbrella needed, a nice change. They say it should be sunny tomorrow and Thursday, which will be nice.

Off to Harrod’s and around Kensington for today. I think that we are going to keep it low key as we recover from our overnight flight. I’m posting from an Internet cafe right now, but hopefully I will be able to use my laptop at some time so I can post photos. For now, if you need an image – just think that it’s beautiful and wonderful. Simply fabulous!