Well JetLag is definitely a thing! I had forgotten how hard it can be since it has been a few years since I have traveled. Here it is 5 days since my return from this Paris trip and I am just barely getting back into this time zone! Part of my fatigue was also the affect of just getting over bronchitis before we left and my ongoing recovery from back surgery. But I am getting there 😏 just more slowly than I had hoped.
And it seems impossible that our long ago planned "Grandma Trip" to Paris has come and gone! :) In fact it seems unreal that I actually was in Paris. But we really did go and we really did have wonderful experiences.
Grayson and I flew out of the Salt Lake airport on April 2 just ahead of a big storm which dumped so many inches of snow in Utah. I was grateful we left ahead of the storm so we were not delayed. [When we returned on April 9 all the snow was gone so we missed it all 😉]
An Uber picked me up at 11:30 AM which meant I missed most of the Sunday conference sessions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am grateful for the technology that has allowed me to listen in to the talks I missed. I had spent the day before listening to many encouraging and strengthening messages from our church leaders. I love that I can go back to listen again. I am always grateful for what I hear and for the hope that comes.
It was nice to spend our waiting time in the Delta Sky Club. I had requested wheel chair assistance and Grayson was my driver. The Salt Lake Airport has ridiculously long terminals!
We had great Premium Select seats for our 9 1/2 hour flight to Paris. Neither of us slept. We watched some movies, I read a book but we did not sleep. We were served dinner and then breakfast in anticipation of landing.
And we are off!
Here comes the Sun!
We chased the sun and soon found ourselves landing at the Charles de Gaulle airport. That is another HUGE airport and I was again very grateful for a wheel chair and the driver who helped us navigate through the endless corridors, customs and luggage collection.
Our shuttle driver was a little late to pick us up and was an angry man! While exiting the airport he did not negotiate a turn very well which necessitated an 8 point turn to get us pointed in the correct direction - accompanied by impatient honking behind us. Both of us wondered what was coming! In our somewhat dazed state we were concerned after we left the freeway with the crazy narrow roads and the very circuitous route before we finally arrived at our hotel, the Best Western Roncerey-Opera Hotel.
Our room was on the second floor of this unique hotel. It was a 3 star hotel and clean.
This arched passageway extended about 3 blocks under the hotel, offices, etc spanning about 3 blocks. Various shops and cafes lined the sides - weather safe shopping.
It was fun to look through the various shops and we even bought a few items.
I was surprised to see 2 shops that sold stamps. I did not even realize that stamp collecting was still a popular hobby. I collected stamps in my early youth and still have my collection.
I think this shop was Grayson's favorite as he was able to find several items he liked.
The hotel let us check in immediately even though it was before normal check in time. So nice! Our room was very small but totally adequate with an ensuite.
We wanted to stay awake and go out so Grayson figured out the Metro and we were off to the Trocadero. So amazing to see the Eiffel Tour for the first time. I suppose it had been on my unwritten bucket list for many years. It was surreal to actually be there. I am not sure exactly how I expected to feel but it was just very interesting to be there after so many years of thinking about it.
Everything was much further apart the we had anticipated when we looked at the map. I was just really grateful that Grayson could figure out the Metro!!!!
Across the Seine we boarded a river boat and enjoyed a cruise for about an hour viewing many interesting sights.The architecture is amazing! I wish I could do justice with photographs.
Fatigue is setting in.
Fatigue slammed us and it was getting chilly so we made our way back to the Metro and back to our hotel to SLEEP.
The breakfast buffets available every morning were amazing. Pastries, breads, meats, cheeses, fruit, dried fruit, yoghurt, all kinds of drinks. It was nice to just have it available every day.
Since Grayson really wanted to see the Catacombs we hit the Metro and were so disappointed to discover that there were no more tickets to the Catacombs that day or any time that week. I had seen the places online to buy tickets which said "likely to sell out" but I did not believe the hype which meant we missed out! So we regrouped and headed to Museum D'Orsay on the Metro.
Each Metro ticket was just over $2 but each ticket gave access to lines in several directions. A person can get off one train and onto another as needed by negotiating through various underground corridors. It is a pretty good deal. I think we bought 60 Euro of tickets. We neglected to photograph the stairs of the Metro!!! I wish I had thought to take a photo because along with a whole underground network of corridors were dozens of STAIRS!! at first I was OK but each time it got harder to pull myself up several flights of stairs to the next train destination. Between the stair railing and Grayson's arm I was able to make it most of the time, stopping occasionally to catch my breath! We asked someone later how handicapped people survived the Metro. The answer "they don't use the Metro". So no handicapped access. Even though I was not in a wheel chair it became difficult. In the end we used a taxi more than the Metro.
There were occasional buskers in the Metro. This man played a small electric guitar with great talent. We just had to stop, listen and add some coins to his coffers.
But I will say that having gray hair and looking "old" has its benefits. The lines were overwhelming but the only option to get into anything. [I learned my lesson about pre-booking but I had wanted to give Grayson the option of spontaneity]. After making our way along the line for over an hour waiting to get into Museum D'Orsay a security guide came up, singled us out and brought us up to the front of the line saving us a couple of hours of standing!!!!! Awesome! I can only assume he noticed my grey hair and had compassion for me. Then in the museum we were able to borrow a wheelchair. Grayson pushed me around the exhibits since the floor plan allowed pretty easy access through out. There were so many amazing paintings sculptures and exhibits and we loved it!
An amazing arch seen as we waited in line. I just love the detail.
The ceilings!
We ordered a lunch of fried cod and salad at the museum.
There are so many amazing things to see.
The sculptures are remarkable!
If you have seen the movie "La La Land" you might recognize the jazz club we visited. This was Grayson's trip so I let him determine where we would go and he found it. Again his Metro skills got us there and we waited until 9 PM before the doors opened. After entry we walked down a flight of stairs, around a corner, down another flight of stairs, around another corner, and down a final flight of stairs into a grotto-like room with a small stage and limited seating.
The music was fantastic. These guys were so talented and I loved it! After awhile people started dancing. The music just went right into us. I wish I had filmed some of the amazing dancers. I have NEVER seen anyone do the swing like they did! So amazing! Then Grayson couldn't sit still any longer, got brave and invited some young ladies to dance and eventually he even got his old grandma out on the floor. It was a delight! I cannot even remember the last time I was on a dance floor. Steve did not like to dance to it has literally been decades since I have danced. But the music! how could I not?!
This panoramic shot can only give a small indication of how really huge this area is. It was surrounded on all sides by the huge buildings.
The crowds were unbelievable! It became immediately apparent that we were not the only ones taking advantage of spring break. I think there were thousands of people milling about. And more lines. I heard someone say it was a 3-4 hour wait in line to even get inside. So we got in line and waited. I would sit on the edge of the fountain and wait for the line to move and then move farther down the line to a new sitting place. It was too early in the year for the fountains to be turned on. It would have been beautiful to see.
Watching people is always interesting. So many people from so many different places. Again my grey hair came to the rescue. After about 1 1/2 hours of shuffling through the line we got near the building but still had to navigate the many lines snaking their way back and forth. It was too hard for me to stand that long so I walked across the lines to go sit on the edge of the fountain near the door. Again, a security guard approached me and beckoned me to follow. I told him I had a grandson with me and he told me to bring him. So, once again we were brought up to the front of the line. I was so grateful as I know he saved us at least another 2 hours of standing! A real blessing.💕💕
I was so grateful there were wheelchairs available as I was very tired. Grayson cheerfully became my driver as we negotiated the many confusing areas. The Louvre is massive. So many beautiful paintings, sculptures, ceilings. No space was wasted! It is impossible to capture the essence of the Louvre in a few photos.
We saw the Mona Lisa - much smaller than expected but still amazing. We saw Venus de Milo - so beautiful. We saw so many amazing sculptures. I think my favorite was a little boy with a goose.
I can't look at sculptures without thinking about Michaelangelo. One of my all time favorite books is The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone, the biography of Michaelangelo. It tells his remarkable story including the interesting way he learned about the muscle structure of the body before he carved his beautiful David.
I have thought a lot about art and what motivates an artist to create their masterpieces. So many masterpieces on display in these museums and so many more preserved in other museums around the world. I was grateful for the opportunity to view so many even though I do not know a lot about art. It was amazing!
We visited Opera Bastille and saw Hamlet. I had not known there was an opera of Hamlet but it was the only one playing in our timeframe and we were not disappointed. The music was fantastic and the staging magnificent.
Fun to dress up a little and have a handsome date!
And then it was time for our cooking class. I found it on Viator and signed up for a market tour with the chef, preparing a 3 course meal in her flat and then eating said 3 course meal. Sadly I had a touch of the stomach flu that morning and found myself looking for a safe bush in which to "throw up" but I still managed to go to the market, just not with a lot of energy. Chef Miryam taught us various things about the produce, etc. The market displays were so awesome! I wished I could have taken more time to really take more thoughtful photos.
I was not up to cooking so took a short nap on her couch while Grayson and a lovely family from Mumbai via Seattle did the cooking. But I was able to sample the results which were very good. I am still waiting on the promised recipes though. It would be fun to try some of them. There was a leek and salmon quiche, a chicken dish with potatoes and an absolutely amazing lemon dessert.
Chef Miryam lived on the 23rd floor with an amazing view!
We returned from the cooking class about 3 PM feeling tired so decided to take a little nap before our next activity. Well, 9 hours later we woke up! Obviously it was the middle of the night so we visited for 2-3 hours and went back to sleep. I guess we were just worn out. I worried I was an "old lady" holding back my grandson but he was just as tired from all of the activities of his life so I guess we both just needed to catch up.
The days were passing quickly and it was impossible to squeeze in everything we would have liked to do but we did get to the Arc de Triomphe which is very impressive. Amazing to stand there and look at that piece of history! The whole city of Paris has so much history. It is surreal to stand in places so steeped in history and think of all those who have gone before. Impossible to reconcile.
We took the Metro back to the Eiffel tower so we could see it all lit up. It was about 9 PM, in time to see the display of flashing lights which turned off after just a couple of minutes leaving on the regular lights.. We wondered if maybe they flashed every hour but did not stay late enough to check our theory. There was definitely a carnival atmosphere around the grounds. Many vendors hawking their wares. Probably the most common item was a "sparkling" Eiffel tower - we resisted. Instead found some cute aprons and a couple of other items. The Eiffel tower is remarkable! We did not try to climb the stairs but just enjoyed the ambience. Another piece of history!
The Seine.
And then it was our last day in Paris. Grayson wanted to attend the Paris temple which is actually in La Chesney, pronounced in a way I cannot even recognize. We opted to take a taxi because it was too stressful to try to find the metro or bus connection since it was about 20 miles south of Paris. We initially thought that since Versailles was just a few blocks away we would visit it after our time in the temple.
The temple is beautiful, very simple without height or the typical statue of the Angel Moroni on top. I suspect that the building codes for that area would not allow those touches. It consisted of a quiet and beautiful court yard with a statue of Thorvaldsens' Christus, surrounded by the temple itself, a visitors center, a family center and patron housing for people who travel long distances to attend the temple. We were able to spend an hour or so inside the temple soaking in the feeling while we participated as proxies in sacred baptisms for deceased ancestors. There is peace found in the temples of the Lord that cannot be found anywhere else.
After we finished we walked to a nearby Aldi grocery store and bought a baguette, some cheese and some oranges which we took back to the family center and ate in the nice kitchen facility. Our plan to visit Versailles went by the way when we realized how tired we were.
Then we had the issue of getting back to Paris. The Metro did not run right there and we could not find a taxi stand. Our cell phones were not working, of course, so we were at a loss. Finally we stopped a young woman who was on her way into the temple and asked if she spoke English. She was kind and offered to call a ride for us. I think it was an Uber. Then she waited with us until our ride showed up. At first we thought it would be nice if we could just drive past Versailles but by the time the car actually showed up we were just too tired and requested just to go back to our hotel. So we missed Versailles.
The down side was the expense of the taxis going to and coming from the temple. It cost about $140 round trip! There probably was a better, cheaper way but we did not know what it was and were just too tired to find out. Thinking about it I realized it was a small sacrifice for the privilege of attending the temple. So many people have made so many major sacrifices to travel long distances to attend the temples, so this was pretty minor and totally worth it.
We returned to our hotel and were greeted and overrun by crowds. There were hundreds of people queued up in front of hotel for the wax museum next door. There were hundreds of people in the archway looking at the shops and it was so overwhelming! Neither of us enjoy crowds. We just hurried to our room and relaxed for awhile before making a last venture to the shops.
That evening we took a taxi to Grayson's friend's home. She had been a foreign exchange student in his high school last year. Her kind parents took us out for dinner and we had a lovely time just visiting with these very delightful people. Their home was decorated like a museum and was so interesting.
Friends in her parents beautiful home.
And then our time in Paris came to an end. Our driver met us in the hotel lobby at 6 AM and drove us to the airport. We were early to make sure everything was in order and then had to wait for 2-3 hours before boarding our flight home. We had our good seats again.Definitely enjoyed the space. My audio/monitor did not work but I was reading a book anyway so it wasn't a big deal. I slept an hour or two and then we landed in Salt Lake. Our luggage made it without incident. Then our trip was history and memories.
Last morning in Paris at the airport.
There are a few things I learned on this trip:
one - 6 days is not enough! I think at least 10 days and maybe 2 weeks are necessary. There is never enough time to fully see what is around us!.
two - when they say "likely to sell out" I should pay attention! I guess I am too cynical. I have learned my lesson.
three - it might be a good idea to be well rested before a trip 😆
I feel very blessed to have these experiences. There are more "Grandma Trips" in the works. The next is a Safari in June. How wonderful it is to have a family! My life is not exactly what I pictured it would be. I did not factor in being a widow but I am a widow even though I am still not really sure what that means.
It has been almost 2 years now since Steve died. I am no longer "Steve's wife". I am Liz, a widow, who is trying to find my way to who I really am now. I never got fully moved into this house because my time was spent being Steve's caretaker and then just "being" after he died. Now I am trying to finish moving in which requires sorting and discarding things no longer relevant to my life. This is often emotionally fatiguing.
There are many projects I would like to complete before my turn on earth is over and I am working that direction. I still go to counseling which is helping me deal with various issues I face.
I seem to be recovering well from my back surgery. I have begun 'pool therapy' which is helping. I can feel it especially in my right leg. In a few weeks I will join some of my widowed friends on a cruise which should be enjoyable. I am grateful for my life.
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