France
Beaune
After saying Auf Wiedersehen to the Alps, we drove into French Burgundy. Our stop for the night was in the small town of Beaune, famous for its wine. In this charming town, we toured the medieval hospital, Hotel Dieu. This charity hospital not only cared for the patient's physical needs, but the spiritual well being . Amy and I enjoyed wandering the quaint streets and shopping the small boutiques before we went to our group wine tasting. As dusk approached, it was on to dinner at an outdoor café. Practicing our French and enjoying the French life was certainly a wonderful way to start our time in France.
In an old candlelit cellar, we had an informative local guide teach us about the wines and how to properly taste and evaluate them. There were five Burgundian wines to taste, each having their own distinct taste and aroma. I even discovered my new favorite liquor, crème de cassis!
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Paris
From Beaune, it was on to our final stop on our tour, trendy Paris. Our centrally located hotel allowed us easy access to the city’s metro system. We hit the ground running with a visit to the Rue Cler neighborhood, followed by a tour of beautiful Sainte-Chapelle. The stained-glass windows were ornate and vibrant, a great introduction to the City of Light. Next, we wandered the charming streets, culminating at stunning Notre Dame. Having seen the church many times in pictures, it was amazing to actually be there in person. I was very surprised at the number of statues and glitz that the church contains inside. At 8PM we were treated to an illuminating night time bus tour through Paris. Topping the evening off, was a nighttime view of the Eiffel Tower in all its glittering glory from Trocadero Square. What a sight to see, it was one of the highlights of the trip for sure!
Before going into Sainte-Chapelle, Rick gave our group an architectural lesson on Buttresses and Flying Buttresses. It was hands on and even used tour members to demonstrate the exterior of the Gothic Cathedral. Here, tour member Jill is our spire, being supported by the buttresses.
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Sainte-Chapelle buttresses Notre Dame-flying buttresses
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Our final day with the group was filled with Parisian highlights. First, we went to Louvre, seeing the most famous works of art known to man. The Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, and many more, was well worth the short visit. Amy and I booked a tour of the Eiffel Tower so we met up with a guide that told us about the history and building of the structure. A cramped elevator took us to the second level for the expansive views of Paris. You could see for miles and really get a sense of how large and compact Paris really is. We took our time, admiring the 360-degree view and pointing out all the sites the city has to offer. We went briefly up to the third level for a different experience and to take in the city once more. Afterward, we walked to Trocadero square and took the metro to Montparnasse Tower. The tower is taller than the Eiffel Tower and looks a bit out of place. It’s very modern and sort of adds a grungy, modern feel to the city. However, the views were unbeatable, as you could see the Eiffel Tower and all of Paris. Amy and I enjoyed looking for highlights such as the Louvre, Sacre Coeur, Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs de Elysee. Since we saw all these attractions from afar, we wanted to see them up close so we took the metro to the Arc de Triomphe and stared in wonder at this arc sitting in the middle of a street in Paris. We took a leisurely stroll down the Champs de Elysee and window shopped before ending at the Tulerie. The walk was pleasant and it was nice just to people watch and take in the sights and sounds of Paris. Since our feet were tired, we went back to the hotel to get ready for our farewell dinner. It was at a restaurant across from the Military Academy and we had the room to ourselves. It was a lot of fun to be able to share memories, food, and wine with our new travel buddies. We were able to try some new foods, like escargot and fois gras. Although I’m not a fan of either, I was happy to be able to have the opportunity to try them in Paris. The meal was unquestionably memorable with salad, salmon, French onion soup, baguette, wine, and much more to keep our bellies full. A short, late-night, after dinner stroll allowed our group to say their final goodbyes to each other under the backdrop of the twinkling Eiffel Tower. What an experience!
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