Paris, you were wonderful and I will be back in the near future. Time for Switzerland! Au revoir!
La Tour Eiffel a été incroyable. There, I ran into a college friend who was also visiting the Eiffel Tour with her family. What a small world we live in.
Escargots et Duck
The Louvre.
Today, we discovered the Louvre. C’était magnifique. The Mona Lisa was lovely, but I personally enjoyed the high ceilings with carvings and beautiful murals. Littered through out the museum were hundreds of naked men sculptures. I personally believe this was mothers favorite part of the museum.
Premier dîner à Paris- A salad with three different types of cheese, meats, and a wonderful dressing. Accompanied by a glass of champagne of course.
We went to the Latin Quarter today. It was actually incredible. The people were so kind and helpful. As long as you attempt to speak french, they are more than willing to help.
First Official Post
And so the journey begins! We left this morning for the airport at 6:00 am. We had hardly any problems getting through security and to our gate. Not surprising, mother was stopped by security and had to have her bag examined. The plane ride was actually quite decent. Hardly any turbulence, wonderful service, and a nice breakfast. However, I was sitting next to ‘that mother.’ The mother who feels the need to rotate each of her children so that each one has the opportunity to sit on her lap. Lovely. At first she had the her young daughter with her. She was quiet and polite. I figured, alright I’ll put on a happy face and not even worry about this. Well her daughter left, and was replaced by her TEN year old son. A hefty boy, he hardly fit on his mother’s lap.. Anyways, the flight went by pretty fast. So now I am currently sitting in the Chicago Airport waiting for our six o’clock (Chicago time) departure to Paris, France … An 11 hour plane ride to the City of Lights. While waiting for our flight, my dad and I ordered two drinks from the bar. I, of course, was carded. But the silver lining is that this will be the last time I am carded until December 22, 2010.
Well that’s all I have for you at the moment.. Au revoir!
In 2003 Stuart Weitzman created the “Ruby Slippers” in anticipation of another breakthrough starlet wearing them to that year’s Academy Awards. His inspiration was the original ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland as Dorothy. However Mr. Weitzman ended up cancelling his shoe’s appearance. His spokesperson Jane Weitzman stated…”we pulled the ruby shoes we were planning to show off at the Oscars out of respect for those fighting in Iraq.”
“An artist has no home in Europe except in Paris.”
-Friedrich Nietzsche
German classical Scholar, Philosopher and Critic of culture, 1844-1900
In case you need a little geography refresher course.. here is a cheat sheet.
To Do Before Departure
- Skype set up for Mom and Dad
- Walking/Hiking Nikes
- Jacket that will easily pack for Zermatt
- Clean out car
- AAA for debit card
- Contact bank
… I’m sure I have more to do but that’s all I can think of.
Nervous/Excited/Surreal
I have two more full days in the United States until I depart for Paris, France. My flight schedule is actually not horrible. Depart PDX at 8:12 am, and arrive at the O’Hare airport in Chicago at 2:08 pm. From there we have a four hour lay over. The flight departs again at 6:02, and around 15 hours later, arrive in Paris at 9:25 am.
As soon as we exit the plane and find our luggage.. off I go on my European Adventure.
The next 25 days are going to be non-stop.
France, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Southern France, then Anger for my three month program.
Sunday.
— Erection of the Eiffel Tower began on January 26, 1887
— Erection of the Eiffel Tower was completed on March 31, 1889
— Erection of the Eiffel Tower took 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days from start to finish
— Alexandre Gustave Eiffel was the main architect, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier were the main engineers, Stephen Sauvestre was the main architect, and Jean Compagnon handled the construction of the Eiffel Tower
— Alexandre Gustave Eiffel is the very person who created the internal frame of the Statue of Liberty in the year 1885
— The Eiffel Tower stands 324 meters tall
— Material used for the Eiffel Tower is wrought iron (puddle iron) of the highest quality
— The Eiffel Tower was made using 9441 tons of wrought iron
— A total of 18038 pieces of wrought iron were joined together to create the Eiffel Tower
— Approximately 60 tons of paint is required to paint the Eiffel Tower
— The Eiffel Tower is painted every 7 years in 3 shades of brown (darkest shade at the bottom)
— Even today painting the Eiffel Tower is done using brushes
— In clear weather (very seldom seen today) you can see approximately 42 miles from the top of the Eiffel Tower
What we need to know about loving is no great mystery. We all know what constitutes loving behavior; we need but act upon it, not continually question it. Over-analysis often confuses the issue and in the end brings us no closer to insight. We sometimes become too busy classifying, separating, and examining, to remember that love is easy. It’s we who make it complicated.
- Leo Buscaglia
