Paris

Becca:
The drive into Paris was our last official bus travel day of the trip, and I was quite surprised to find that I was sad about that. I went in to this trip hating buses because they make me feel sick, but luckily sitting at the front of the bus has helped a lot with that problem, and we’ve gotten to see some amazing countryside this way. We had to say goodbye to Jean Paul, our trusty bus driver for the last 5 days. He has been awesome – making funny jokes and telling us some amazing stories about people he has driven before. It has been great. Needless to say, we all got attached to him and were very sad to see him leave us in Paris. The bus ride was complete with a private VeggieTales sing along with Kristin and I and some pretty epic Photo Booth pictures and videos. SO MUCH FUN.

Paris…what to say about you? You are quite beautiful, that is certainly true. And your weather was infinitely better than when I saw you last. Thank you for that. That made things a bit better.

We started out the evening with a beautiful boat ride down the Seine River…so pretty. There is something magical about bridges and water and lights. London and Paris have this in common. Oh London…but for now, let me talk about Paris.

On our first full day, my group of friends headed out to Versailles to see the Louis XIV’s palace. It was incredible. Something interesting the headset commentary told me as I walked through the Apollo Drawing Room – “The art of government and the art of war are closely linked.” And it is so true. A country powerful and stable enough to succeed in warfare is most likely to have a strong government and be able to assertive itself over others as well as its own people. I just really liked that statement for some reason, as a total polisci nerd.

As we toured, I couldn’t help but think what it would be like to work/live in a place so full of culture. Do you just get used to it? I think I would have a hard time getting over the awesomeness of some of these places. I mean, I was standing in the freaking Hall of Mirrors. Seriously? A girl born and raised in North Texas was standing in one of the most beautiful rooms in the world where World War I was ended. Come on. You can imagine me freaking out, and not in an “I’m such a tourist” way but in a “this is one of the coolest things I could imagine” way.

We also visited Notre Dame, which I had seen last year when I came to Paris, but it was gorgeous anyway. Again, I don’t think it would get old for me. The pickpockets and scammers would, however. Boo.

The next day, we went to the Musee D’Orsay and had a wonderful time perusing Monets and Van Goghs and Renoirs…it was heavenly. So many beautiful things inside one building. It was really extraordinary. And I found another artist I really enjoy – Degas. Some incredible work.

Then it was off to the Eiffel Tower to meet up with some friends and wander around the streets of Paris, looking for anything that happen to catch our eye. People watching in cafes has quickly become one of my favorite things to do. Europe is absolutely perfect for it too. I feel like Europeans enjoy their leisure time more than Americans do. We rush. A lot. Sometimes just sitting for no particular reason is wonderful and needed and enjoyable. I want to do it more often when I get home.

On our last night, we went to a Scottish pub called The Highlander and visited for hours with the proprietor/bartender Allison. She was so interesting and had lived such an exciting and random life. I hope to be that interesting to someone else someday. When I go back to Paris at some point, Allison will be on my list of people to go see. ☺

We left our hotel at 6:30 am to catch the train to London. That was really early, but I was glad to going to London. I love Paris, but there is something about London that has won me over. So happy to be here. So, so happy.