Bonjour, Paris France

Forty-year wedding celebration held in the romantic country of France.  Unbeknownst to us, the country had a labor strike which caused a couple of hiccups in our well-laid-out travel plans.  As Mitch said, “It’s all in the experience.”  Four full days in Paris, and we covered so much ground. I will try and give you a flavor of our experience in this city before we move on to Bordeaux (the next blog).

Eiffel Tower – option to take the elevator from the ground floor to the top or climb the first two stories, then get on an elevator to the top.  No surprise there; Mitch wanted to take the stairs – all 689 of them! What an amazing view of Paris from the top. The stunning sunset was an added bonus, and when we returned to the bottom, the tower was lit with a warm amber color making it magical.

Our daughter’s gift was a two-hour dinner cruise along the Seine River.  Upon our return, what a treat to have the Eiffel Tower sparkling brightly like diamonds in the sky.  After dark, the tower sparkles for the first five minutes of every hour.  It was everything I imagined it would be. 

Getting around the city is easy, and for $30 euro per week, one can take unlimited city transportation to all the iconic sights.

               Lourve – once a royal palace, now home to masterpiece arts, including the infamous Mona Lisa. If you stopped in front of every picture for 5 seconds, it would take nine months to see it all.

               Arch de Truimph and Champs de Elysee. – Crazy traffic, and the street is lined with every major elite brand one can think of.  VSL, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Tiffany all accounted for.  Reminded me of Rodeo Drive in California.

               Throughout the city, scaffolding is seen at Norte Dame and in many other areas of Paris as they are sprucing up the city for the 2024 Olympic visitors.  There is no shortage of pastry shops or little cafes.

               Bike tour to Versailles – When in France, this is a must!  In addition to the castle, one can visit Marie Antoinette’s summer home and the beautiful grounds.  Having a picnic on the grounds with wine and cheese was a highlight for us.

               Montmarte – This is the highest point in Paris and is affectionately known as the town of Artists. The number of stairs to get to it is staggering.  When you thought you had conquered them, another set of multiple stairs awaited you. Don’t forget to take a picture by the “Wall of Love.”

Email: movebeyondordinary@gmail.com    Instagram: movebeyondordinary and Youtube