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Paris, France
We went from London to Paris via the train and the "chunnel" where we stayed from September 7 to 10. After sightseeing 3 days in Paris, we headed East where we stayed in Stuttgart, Germany, the evening of September 11.
Paris Eiffel Tower! Magnificent. Rather bronze in color which surprised me.
This is Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, taken on the bus tour. This is the back side. Later we walked back and went inside. We went inside during Mass. It was full. The huge square outside was also. Many nationalities. A group of Lebonase younger folks (30's) asked me to take their picture on their camera. They did a "thumbs up" when they asked if we were Americans. I think we have another outdoor photo to share later.
This is "new" Paris in the background. Again, trees everywhere. Beautiful. Lots of traffic in Paris too. Too much, in fact. But again, transit exists in many forms-busses and trains. It is not advisable to drive yourself, even tho they do have sense enough to use the "correct" (right hand) side of the road. They often park bumper to bumper (yes, touching)-we do not know how they get out of those places!) And they sometimes park in intersections, everywhere. and drive erratically; but we never saw an accident!
Champs Elleyse (not spelled right) ( a main street in Paris) with the Arch of Triumph. Trees were beautiful. Many were chestnut, and just beginning to turn color.
This is the new (and controversial, due to the stark contrast to the original facade) glass pyramid entry structure outside the famed Louvre museum in Paris. You are looking at Mark, Rona, and Roger in the gold jacket. Housed inside are classic works of art of all kinds: paintings and sculptures, etc., including the Mona Lisa, whose eyes DO seem to follow you as you cross the room, just as I had always heard.
This is Theresa at the bottom of one of many grand marble staircases, and at the top is the famed "Winged Victory" sculpture. We were there for 3 hours, which is "enough" if you are on a tight schedule. But it could take days, weeks, months, years.
Only about a mile and a half walk away was the NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL. Pictured here is Joe, Theresa, Linda and Rona & Mark. It is over 1,000 years old, in good repair, and used to this day. Huge. The photos do not really capture how big.
Inside Notre Dame was a bit dark and everyone was already seated and praying, so we did not want to disturb with a flash. But we were permitted to tour the periphery and viewed many side chapels and other details.
Caen, Normandy Beach, France; Museum about the Normandy Beach invasion: outdoor view
This museum (and the little town) really brought home how much the Europeans (and especially the French) welcomed the Allied liberators (Americans among them). They had suffered so much under the Nazis, and were ready to sacrifice their homes and their families in order to get the Nazis out of their homeland! Everywhere we saw monuments and signs; "Welcome to our liberators", memorials to the liberators, etc.
Inside the museum: a map showing all of the Nazi concentration camps. They had many categories of prisoners. Jews were only one. It was an ugly time, to say the least. Later we went to an actual camp. We Americans just have no idea how so many folks suffered. It seems as if EVERY family was affected.
Lugging suitcases...an everyday occurrence, almost. This happens to be Stuttgart.
Stuttgart train station where we first saw the CNN telecast on the big screen. At times there were a hundred or more people crowded around to watch. People again and again offered condolences to us. Flags were at half mast, etc. They remember how it feels to be attacked!