Paris...cont

Hello everyone,
Here we are on our last evening in Paris. We have had an amazing, unbelievable, great, wonderful time here. We are desperately hoping to return someday!! Our first couple of days here were spent lazily wandering about the city, eating in Parisian cafes, eating in Parisian creperies, eating in Parisian pattiseries, eating in Parisian supermarkets (you get the idea!!). Our first evening, our wandering took us through the Cathedral of Notre Dame (no hunchback sighting), but we did get to see a service taking place. It is just soooo huge and sooo beautiful. We then continued our walk until we got to the Eiffel Tower (Jen's favorite spot in all of Paris), where we arrived just in time to enjoy a sunset and see the Tower light up in the night. What a great night!!
Our second day, we slept in and headed for the Opera Garnier (which is where Phantom of the Opera is based on). We took a very informative and in depth tour which included sitting in the seats where we could look up and see the famous chandalier and Chagall painted ceiling. The foyer seems to send you right back into the 19th century (reminds me of the grand staircase of the Titanic). We then enjoyed a relaxing evening at a wonderful restaurant near our hotel. Josh ate duck and Jen was sad that Josh ate duck (because ducks are cute!!). Our third day, we woke up early to beat the crowds to the top of the Eiffel Tower. It was a good decision. We went right up to the top with minimal waiting and let me tell you, it was worth getting up early for. The views of Paris were indescribable. Just breathtaking. We then walked (we've probably been averaging about 10 miles a day in Paris) slowly back to our hotel with stops along the way at the Arc de Triomphe, Rodin Museum, Luxembourg Gardens, Rue Mouffetard and the Latin Quarter, and the Bastille.
Yesterday, we woke up early again (don't worry, we've been taking catnaps in the afternoon...just like the guys at the Levine home do), to go to Versailles. Again, we beat the crowds and did not have to wait in line at all. We went through the palace at a leisurely pace and it really was not that crowded. We then took a walk around the gardens in back with it's mile long grand canal and world famous fountains to the Domain of Marie Antionette (that's the palaces the royalty built in their backyard to escape from the craziness of Versailles...which was built to escape the craziness of Paris!!). We ate lunch at an amazing creperie in Versailles. Jen had a ratatouille, chicken, and egg crepe, while Josh chose the hamburger, lettuce and onion variety. YUMMY!!! The afternoon was spend sleeping before an evening visit to the Louvre to see our friend Lisa (not Barroll...Mona).
Today was our museum blitz day. We began at the impressionist to post impressionist Orangerie Museum featuring Monet's Water Lilies as well as works by many of the great painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We then headed to the Musee de Orsay to bask in the glow of more impressionistic art before finally heading to St. Chapelle and its world famous stained glass windows (most of which is still original 13th century). Finally, we stopped for some delicious french ice cream on Ile St. Louis and tonight, we'll be packing a picnic and heading to the Eiffel Tower one last time. Tomorrow, bring on Florence!!!

Au Revoir!!!