The City of Lights

This morning began with a crossiant for breakfast and an early morning trip to a famous perfume museum. We got to smell different notes at a famous perfumery and had the oppurtunity to buy some afterwards. I didn't care for many of the scents, but it was neat to see how the french began making these products centuries ago.

After the museum, we got on a bus and picked up a tour guide that gave us a great tour around Paris. We got an amazing overview of the history of France and learned alot about the architecture and had some time to take some more pictures of the Eiffel Tower during the daytime. Our tour ended with a trip to Notre Dame, which has to be the most beautiful cathedral I have ever seen. Even though it was flocked with about five zillion other tourists, it was truly awe inspiring to see. The entire outside of the cathedral is covered with many small sculptures. Our tour guide's explanation for this was when the Cathedral was first comissioned, many of the city's people weren't literate. Instead, they were able to know and understand pictures and symbols and because of this, were able to know the bible's story by looking at the outside of the cathedral. According to our tour guide, "the Hunchback of Notre Dame" is historically accurate, and it made me want to read it again since it's been years.

We had lunch at a great cafe, and then it was on to Versailles. We ALL fell asleep on the bus on the 40 minute trip to Versailles, and then we had about an hour to tour the beautiful gardens that belonged to King Louis the XV and XVI and their families. Afterward, we got audio guides and were able to venture into his palace to see the famous "hall of mirrors", bedchambers, drawing rooms, and fabulous artwork. These people sure did know how to live.

I am still amazed at the hundreds of thousands of other tourists that I am sure are also in Paris. They are from all over the world, and literally every attraction we go to is shoulder to shoulder people. I have learned that some Europeans don't consider personal hygeine a priority, and I have had some interesting moments trying to avoid certain individuals who didn't feel the need to shower that morning, or week for that matter! haha

After we toured the palace, we headed home and are now in the hotel room getting ready for dinner and for the Moulin Rouge show tonight. The show starts at 11pm, (its about 7:30 now) and will go on till about 2am. I am interested to see what it's all about.

Tomorrow, we will be waking up early for a free day in Paris. We have plans to wake up, get a large group together so as to bypass the long lines for the Eiffel tower, go to the first level and take some pictures, and then come down and have breakfast on the famous lawn. We were told that it would take nearly 3 1/2 hours to get all the way to the top, and we don't have that kind of time to waste! Then, most of us want to spend a significant part of our day at the Lourve. There are some famous catacombs in Paris that are a major attraction, so if we have time, that will be another thing we will be able to experience.

The internet is not working very well in this hotel, so I dont think my photos uploaded very well. I will try again-here is the link.

A Day in Paris

Goodnight to everyone!