One year ago...

One year ago, one of the biggest dreams of my life came true. I went to Europe. Greece and Paris. I can't wait to go back...one day...(and take better pictures!!)

Paris: Day 16...the end

This was our last day in Paris, the last day of our trip...unless you count the day spent on the non-stop flight from Paris to Salt Lake. (I don't.)

We spent it in Montmarte and walking around. We got up in the morning and had a yummy breakfast near our hotel of eggs, ham, baguettes, and a croissant. It was delicious and so French. Well, at least I thought so. We also had one last cup of chocolate. So good. Angela and I decided that we should write a book about hot chocolate around the world after this trip. We also got on the tourist bus again, for a quick last look. Here are some pictures...

Here is the Sacre Coeur. It's really cool. Watch out for the African guys trying to sell you friendship bracelets, it's a scam. Thanks to Rick Steves, I knew this.

Here is the view from the Sacre Coeur. Montmarte is all that you see. Makes you want to go watch Amalie...

This is Youri. He's this Italian singer who just performs on the steps. He is amazing! He sings a bunch of American cover songs. He is great live, and interacts with the audience. We sat there for an hour listening to him. We even bought his cd. Which, isn't as great as his live performances. But it was the perfect Paris moment.

Here's a little taste of what it was like. It was awesome. The perfect Paris moment...After the concert we went around the corner to where the artists corner is...

Here are the paintings that I bought! The bottom one is of a corner near where the painters set up. I also got it with some mad barter skills. She wanted 85 euros for it, I got it for 50. Awesome, even Dawn and Angela believed me when I said I didn't have that kind of money. Oh, I had it. I just didn't want to spend it on a painting. Here is a picture of the corner...

We also ate a nasty crepe here...no bueno...

We wandered a little...I wish we could have wandered some more...next time, I have a next time list, so I have to go back to Paris eventually...

After Montmarte we went back to the main part of Paris, along the Seine. This is where we just wandered until it got dark.

Bridges and lamposts...my two favorite things...

I think this is the tower where Marie Antoinette and King Louis were kept before they were beheaded...

Pont Neuf...the oldest bridge in Paris...

And finite...that is the end. The sun set, we went and got dinner. Not the best way to end the trip that is for sure. We met a lady that said you can't get bad food in Paris. I beg to differ. Our dinner was just so so, and then they ran out of the normal desert so they gave us a fruit cup...it was canned fruit cocktail. No joke. Seriously? And we got the rudest waiter in the world. The only rude French person I met on the entire trip. Oh well, I guess it makes a good story.

This was the most amazing trip of my life. I still can't believe that I got to experience this. It was the trip of my dreams. I wasn't disappointed by anything. Paris was everything I thought it would be and more, Greece was...I just can't describe it. Let me put it this way, Angela and I are always talking about going back to Greece. Not anywhere else. Not England, not Peru, not Italy. Greece. It's just amazing. I think everyone should go to Greece. And well Paris...I can't even imagine not ever going back. New York was my favorite city, and now I have to say it's my favorite American city because I can't compare the two. I'm so grateful that I got laid off. I was able to have a year of just traveling and discovering me. Not that I didn't know before, but the Jennifer now after having experienced this year is not even close to the Jennifer that worked at the Foundation. I'm so grateful to have had this year. So grateful...

Paris: Day 15

So this was our nicest day in Paris. It was kind of cold, but the sun was out all day. After the day full of rain before, it was a welcome change. First thing we did was check out the Eiffel Tower during the day. We had only seen it at night before. It was awesome. I had to pinch myself, really. Our hotel was right near the Eiffel tower, so we had a nice, pleasant walk over to it.

I don't know why I have such a crusty face in this picture. I have on of me smiling all nice, but I think this one is hilarious and actually shows my "Daria" personality more, lol.

We walked over to it and just walked around admiring the Eiffel tower, trying to ignore what I like to call the "1 Euro guys" hawking Eiffel tower key chains. They were annoying.

Then we decided to get on one of those double decker tour buses. Yes they are touristy, but we didn't have a lot of time in Paris, so we decided to at least try and see most of the sites. Plus, we were still a little foot sore from Versailles and thought it would be a nice way to get to Notre Dame. I took some pictures while I was waiting for it to leave...

How would you like to get your wedding pictures done in front of the Eiffel Tower? Pretty cool! As I was waiting I started noticing all the ways people were taking pictures of themselves in front of the Eiffel Tower. Kind of hilarious...

The bus took off and we headed towards Invalides and Place de l'Ecole Militaire...funny enough, we passed our hotel on the way! This was the nicest neighborhood. Thanks Rick Steves!

Our room was the third one up. I left the window open so that my shirt could dry...(I hand washed it in the sink.)

We passed by Napoleans tomb...didn't go in. I'll save that for next time, I guess...

I really love the opulence of French architecture...It's pretty to look at...

This is my favorite bridge in Paris. I love it. It's so huge and ostentatious. It's the Pont Alexandre III bridge..

This is what happens when you take pictures at noon. They are really washed out. If I had known how to shoot manually back then, I probably could have made them look better. Oh well. NEXT TIME!!!

One last look...

Here is the Place de la Concorde...this is where the royals bit the big one...(French Revolution)

On our way to Notre Dame! This is the stop by Pont Neuf. The oldest bridge in Paris.

Notre Dame! I wish we would have gone to the top. Again, I say next time. We seriously needed a week there, not 3 days.

Now for inside...Not many pictures, most of them are blurry and gross...

Now for the other side of the Cathedral...

And now for the "flying buttresses dating all the way back to...." Name that movie...

Such a beautiful building...

On the way to the Palais de Justice... After this we got back on the bus and took a round about way to the Arc de Triomphe...Along the way we passed the Paris Opera House...

Then we made it to the Champs Elysees...

We climbed to the top, or actually took an elevator. It was the coolest view.

You can see the Sacre Coeur and Montmarte...

This is the part of Paris we didn't go see. You can see the Holocaust memorial in the distance...

These are the stairs you had to go down to get out...This might be TMI, but I really had to go to the bathroom. So I basically stayed for 5 minutes up on the top before I just couldn't do it anymore. I rushed down the stairs, and almost made myself sick I was going so fast. It was like spinning in a circle. I finally found a bathroom without toilet paper or soap. Thank goodness for tissues and hand sanitizer. I then just waited at the bottom for Angela and Dawn, and just took some pictures.

While I was waiting they started shutting off access to most of the Arc and then a band came out. After asking a guard, we found out that they were doing a ceremony at the tomb of unknown soldier.

It was pretty cool. A bunch of old veterans and families laid flowers on it. Some things don't change no  matter what country you are in.

Last shot of the day. After this we went to a nice restaurant on the Champs Elysees. I had duck and it was SOOO good. I wasn't that adventurous, though. The girl next to me ordered frog legs. Couldn't do it. We also got Creme Brulee and hot chocolate. I miss the deserts and hot chocolate in France. Best things in the world.