I know I know... It's been a while since we have posted anything. I thought it was about time to write about our amazing trip to France! So, this will be a really long post. We left April 3rd and were back home April 11th, 2009. When we arrived to Paris, we rented a car. I, of course, thought we were going to get a cool European car and we ended up with a little two-door American Ford FIESTA with a diesel engine!
We then drove a few hours outside of Paris to visit the Chambord Castle. I felt like I was in a magical place all along the drive to the castle because everything was so green and foggy.
Castle Chambord. This was the summer, hunting, and getaway castle.
Foggy day
After visiting that huge castle we got back in the car and drove a couple more hours to the Castle Chenonceaux. By this time we had jet lag and had been up for about 24 hours. We were falling asleep on the road and had to stop and take a short nap.
Castle Chenonceaux
Both castles were huge, impressive, and had really interesting architecture. After visiting this castle we drove to the city Le Mans where Spencer served his mission for about six months. If I had to choose to live in Paris or Le Mans I would definitely live in Le Mans. While we were there we went to church and had lunch with the members Spencer became close to during his mission. We had dinner with Patricia (she was like Spencer's mom during his mission) and the missionaries. We also went to visit Saint Julien Cathedral.
The old part of Le Mans.
The old part of Le Mans.
Saint Julien Cathedral
Lizeth, Spencer, and Patricia
Julien, Lizeth, Spencer, Mindine
Julien, Lizeth, Spencer, Mindine
(Spencer confirmed Julien and Baptized Mindine)
After spending a few days in Le Mans we headed to Mont Saint Michel. This is a place where the monks used to live. It's a small peninsula on the English Channel.
The monks lived in the big building on top and there's a little town below.
Next, We went to visit another area where Spencer served. We went to the beach in Le Havre and then had dinner with the members there. We got to stay at Valery's place for one night. This city was almost completely destroyed during World War 2.
In Le Havre. (Normandy Beach)
(Claudie, Clementine, Valery, Apollonia, Lizeth and Spencer)
We then drove to Etretat. This place has some cool cliffs. Spencer and the other missionaries would call this place "The Cliffs of Insanity". The city itself is hundreds of years old and it was luckily not destroyed during World War 2.
This is one of the cliffs.
This is one of the cliffs.
Spencer was not happy that I was leaning too close over the edge.
It was a really cold and windy day!
After visiting the "Cliffs of Insanity" we drove about 4 hours to Paris where we returned our lovely Ford Fiesta. We took a train to our hotel and then headed to the Champs Elysee, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Hotel de Ville, and the LDS Church. Paris has a great metro system that is easy to use. Well, at least easy to use for Spencer who lived there. He was my personal tour guide.
This is the hotel room in Paris. We got the 5th floor.
This is the Hotel de Ville. The city hall of Paris. Only half is showing in the picture.
The Notre Dame and also the center of Paris.
The Notre Dame and also the center of Paris.
This is the Arc de Triomphe. I was really impressed with this building. In the picture it doesn't look too big, but in reality it's huge!
We are standing in the middle of the road on the Champs Elysee. You can see the Arc de Triomphe in the background. On the opposite side of it is the Louvre.
We are standing in the middle of the road on the Champs Elysee. You can see the Arc de Triomphe in the background. On the opposite side of it is the Louvre.
The next day in Paris we went to the Monteparnasse Cementary, the Catacombs, and the Louvre museum.
The Catacombs is a tomb hundreds of feet under ground. Its almost like a maze about a mile long with walls stacked with human bones about 5-6 feet tall. There are literally millions of human bones down there. Apparently a long time ago there was a plague in Paris and lots of people died. So, they had to dig out all the old bones out of the Monteparmasse Cementary and bury them underground. It's kind of creepy.
Montparmasse Cementary
The Catacombs
It was a rainy day when we went to the Lourve. This place is amazing!
The entrance is right where the pyramids are.
We were at the Louvre practically running through each room for about 4-5 hours and only saw about half. This place was amazing. Every room was enormous! You have to spend a week there to actually see everything. This place was where all the royal families lived and over time it turned into a museum. (There were lots of people there that day)
The next day we spent about 6 hours in the castle Versailles and the gardens of Versailles. This is another place where you need about a week to see it all. We also went to have dinner with Natasha (a church member) in Paris.
Versailles was by far my favorite castle. It was also Spencer's first time visiting this castle. Every inch of it had some kind of detailed elegant art piece. This is where Marie Antoinette lived.
Front side view of Versailles.
Back view.
This is the Ballroom with the Hall of Mirrors
The second floor of the chapel.
Every room has something cool like a huge painting.
The gardens are unimaginable. I can't describe how incredible and enormous they are.
Unfortunately the fountains were not on, but they were still really cool to look at.
This is Natasha. She made the best food ever! When people are invited for dinner, she goes all out and makes a feast! I was so stuffed but it was so good I kept eating. Spencer would get to eat at her house once a week on his mission.
Then the next day we went to the Eiffel Tower!!! It was a neat experience. There was a lot of green netting over it because it just happened to be that they were painting it this year. They paint it every 10 years.
Standing under the Eiffel Tower while waiting in line to get in.
This area in named the Trocadero.
This is where you can get a good shot of the Eiffel Tower.
We also got to visit Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart) on Good Friday. This is a very respected cathedral in France. This used to be the highest point in Paris until the Eiffel Tower. You have to climb a lot of stairs to get to this place.
Sacre Coeur.
Some of the stairs you have to climb to get to Sacre Coeur.
This was our last day in France and I wanted to do some shopping. So, we went to Gallery La Fayette. This is a big mall that only has one store (Gallery La Fayette). I got lost there and couldn't find Spencer!
This was big and very expensive store. I left empty handed... :(
We drove through many cities, small towns, and the countryside of France. We got to visit some castles and cathedrals. We got a taste of their food and their way of living! This is a place I will never forget. It's beautiful and the people are great. The pictures we took don't give it any justice. You have to be there to really get a feel of it. We loved it and hope we can go back again.
