Paris, France... Here we Come!

Got up at 6 this morning.  I needed a chance to go through my luggage and rearrange all my stuff.  Over the last week, it has just become a mess!  So, YEA!  Done with that.  Got packed up and ready for our trek to Paris.  Dragged all of our baggage down to Victoria Station about a quarter of a mile, bumping across the cobblestone roads the whole way.  Picked up our tickets for the Underground and set out for our platform. Having the bags made it so much more difficult to maneuver through the turn-styles at the train station.  There are tons of stairs and NO elevators (or lifts as they call them here).  Heavy bags and TONS of people were definitely a challenge as we try to make our way through.  Missed the first train due to the sheer number of people who were in front of us and crammed themselves into the train.  We waited for the next one, which was literally 2 minutes behind the first.  Much better.  Made it to the Kings Cross depot and then had to find the International train station.  We had to go through security just like we were at the airport.  Again, soooo many people.  Finally got a minute to sit down.  Di and Bri went and got us coffees and a breakfast sandwich.  

Barely finished in time and they called our loading platform for our train. Made our way through the halls and out to our car #18.  We were at the "back of the bus".  SUCCESS...  we were on the right train and heading towards Paris.  Our train, the Eurostar can get up to the speed of 186 miles per hour!!  And we also have to go under the English Channel...  actually, that is where we are RIGHT NOW...  It's kind of bizarre with all black walls surrounding us.  We were under there for at least 15 minutes.  But we are now out and we see the countryside once again.  It is very foggy outside and we can only see the landscape that is near to the train tracks. 

Just arrived in Paris and had to lug up our baggage FOUR STORIES! We are leaving it and heading out to explore Paris. Wow... such an incredible feeling to be here and be a part of this city that is so vibrantly alive, even in the early afternoon. We actually spent about 90 minutes once we got into our apartment to get our bearings straight. We booked a Eiffel Tower tour for tomorrow, Google mapped out Nortre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and more. We took off in good spirits and made our way to the Metro (underground railway) and navigated to the island (yes, there are 2 islands in the Seine River) to Notre Dame. 

We got off the Metro right into a beautiful open courtyard. We found a restaurant where we decided to have some fun with the French food. We tried duck foie gras with toast, and some French onion soup, along with a French bottle of white wine. Then, off to explore.  

We came across the government buildings, police offices, and then Notre 

Dame. It was absolutely incredible. We were admiring the incredible intricate stone work on the face of the church, and the steeples and spires, as well. David noticed that the church was open, so we went in for free! and took a look around There was an actual mass going on at the time, so we were privy to that inspiring to the max. After we left we found a little cart and had a fresh made crepe with sugar and lemon. Yum! Then we headed back via the Metro and went in search of some wine and fresh cheeses for dinner. It took some finagling but we found a grocery store and purchased what we needed. Then back to the house EARLY and settled in for the first evening in our entire vacation where we were in before 10 pm! Had fresh 

French bread with an assortment of cheeses and then Brian heated up a ham and cheese quiche. Enjoyed some beverages as well as the night went on. Of course I was blogging, and to download pictures it took forever so I was STILL up late working on this. But is is so important to me to get my blog done on a timely basis so everyone can enjoy my days as I finish them. What a wonderful evening we had, enjoying not only each other's company, but also the gift of time. It was kind of nice NOT to have an agenda where we HAD to be somewhere at a specific time. We got to just hang out and take a breather from a schedule, albeit an amazing time table. Au revoir!