De Jour Neuf

Well, today we leave Paris with one nine-hour flight back to Ohio, then a fifty minute flight to Knoxville. I have to finish packing, but just wanted to inform you of this! I will post one last entry once I get home, so keep on the look out.

-Jessica

Le Jour Huit

Today we ha we had to get up at 7:00am in order to get ready to go to the Eiffel tower! We were reunited with grandpa and were at the gates of the monument around 9:30am. Because we had make reservations prior to today, we could go all the way to the top of the tower. Last time I was here we could only go up to the second floor. After taking the lift to the second floor, we had to change to an elevator that would take us the rest of the way.

It was so high!

 Some various facts: The Eiffel tower is 1063ft high, about the same height as an 81-story building. Upon its completion, it surpassed the Washington Monument to assume the title of tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years. It was built in 1889 for the World Fair.

We then returned to the Ark of Triumph and hopped on a tour bus, so we could have an overview of everything we had seen over the past week. Our plan was to then get off the bus at the latin quarter. Unfortunately after disembarking from the bus, we wondered around for a couple of hours and became lost, so we never found the latin quarter. We had to change our plans and just head back to the hotel because we had start packing. So that is where I am now and what I am supposed to be doing. :)

-Jessica

Le Jour Sept

On day seven, Autumn and I once again had Paris to ourselves. After failing at waking up early, and after little planning, we successfully navigated ourselves once more to visit another section of the Louvre. This time we covered the area where the statues are located.

And afterwards we did what most girls do best....shopping!!

I figured you wouldn't really enjoy seeing photos of us shopping, so I will just post a few from around the city.

French onion soup!

One of the million cafes.

The metro station.

French salad!

Tourist shops.

-Jessica

Le Jour Six. (You get the point.)

Monday Grandpa had to go to a conference, so Autumn and I were left to fend our ourselves. Around 10:00am we walked to the place where Grandpa was working to watch him give a speech and meet (For me meeting them a second time.) some of his friends, including Nermine.

Afterwards, Autumn and I had Paris to ourselves to explore. Our first destination was the Louvre Museum. Navigating ourselves was a little tricky at first, and  but we have become professionals at it. There were a couple mistakes...but none extremely fatal.

The Louvre.

Various paintings.

Of course...The Mona Lisa.

 The Louvre is two stories high and had SO many pieces and kinds of art that we only really had time to go though the paintings section, plus the museum closed at 5:00 on Mondays. Without a doubt someone could spend probably three or more days at this famous museum and take in all the beauty of it's treasures.

Autumn and I then returned to the conference center to meet up with Grandpa and his friends in order to go to a restaurant and visit. The restaurant was not too far of a walk, and believe me it was a very, very nice place. Having a private table, your personal waiter, and a dinner like that makes one feel very high class. I simply LOVED dining with Grandpa's colleagues, many great stories were shared and lots of laughter was created.

One last thing: Grandpa was proud of Autumn and I for not dressing like Americans for his dinner, and so he took portraits of each of us.

The upside to dressing European- you blend in with the crowd. The downside to appearing local- more people try to start up conversations with you in French, are are quite surprised to learn you are American. This happened to us several times today in various shops and cafes. Quite amusing, yet somewhat awkward.

-Jessica

Le Jour Cinq (Day Five)

Sunday, the 27th, Autumn and I decided to visit the Sacre Coeur, an exquisete chapel set on the highest geological point in Paris. Nermine had recommended us visiting the church, and I must say the trip was satisfactory. It was amusing, there was the option of taking a cable car up the 'hill' to the Sacre Coeur. Being from Tennessee, the 'hill' was nothing out of the ordinary, and was easy to transverse.

The hill.

The view from the highest point in Paris.

Sacre Coeur

The atmosphere around the church.

Attention catching performances.

The is music wherever you go!

 I said it was easy to transverse...that is after being drawn into yet another tourist trap. On this day, on the stairs of this cathedrial, Autumn and I were each married.

You should have heard mom's reaction when I told her that, haha. Two Senagalian (I'm not 100% sure how to spell that.) boys approached Autumn and myself and wrapped some colorful string around our fingers. Whist creating a bracelet, they engaged us in conversation about where we are from, what we study, ect. After our bracelets were finished, they told us the bracelets mean that we are now married to them and have to take them back to America once we leave France. It was quite amusing.

The rest of the day was not as eventful, but of course it was fun. We walked quite a bit up a canal where the local's enjoy relaxing on Sundays, and finished the evening off with Chinese & Tai food.

-Jessica

Le Jour Quatre (Day Four)

On Saturday we took the long metro ride to and spent the whole day at The Palace of Versallies. I was very excited to visit the palace because of it's history.

Louis XIII's successor, Louis XIV, had a great interest in Versailles. He settled on a royal hunting lodge at Versailles and over the following decades had it expanded into one of the largest palaces in the world- what is now the Palace Of Versailles. Beginning in 1661, the architects began a detailed renovation and expansion of the château.

A map of the Palace gardens.

Versailles is  famous not only as a building, but as a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. Louis XIV's court and government were at Versailles, being there he hoped to extract more control of the government from the nobility, and to distance himself from the population of Paris. All the power of France emanated from this center: there were government offices here, as well as the homes of thousands of courtiers, their retinues, and all the attendant functionaries of court.

 Of course after visiting Marie Antoinette's resting place, we also took a tour of her house. (She had her husband build this for her, because she did not like living in the palace.)

Marie Antoinette

After walking so much, a short rest was much appreciated.

As stated before, we spent our entire day there, so that is all the blogging for Saturday.
-Jessica