The five days here went fast in Paris. Actually we are still on day number 4. The eiffel Tower, Lets start with yesterday. Viena and I went on our own little adventure. We found out what time the sun rises in Paris – around 7:45AM. Late. Late. I kept checking the clock and checking the hue of the darkness out of the windows to ensure we left at the proper time. I did not want to be walking around the dark deserted early morning streets of Paris. The METRO starts at 5:30AM, but we were out the door in time to catch the 7AM METRO from Commerce – right by our place, about a 3 minute walk. This would be our first test of the Paris Metro system. Lots of sleepy French people aboard. Many exited at Concorde, we stayed on until Richard Drouot, which made me think of Richard Dreyfus and Richard the guy who ran for President, not NIXON. I absentmindedly left the PAris map on the bedstand. Ooops. I knew I should have packed the map away the night before. Oh well. Who needs a map!? Sometimes it is good to reach for that feeling of lost. As soon as we exited the Metro on the street, we could tell which way was East from the light on the sun and I knoew I needed to go North. The good thing was, we were able to see our planned destination up on the hill, but only for the first 100 meters of the walk – the Sacre Coeur. There it was. Not lit up by sunlight yet, but showing itself above all everything else. So North we walked and quickly the city buildings crunched together and blocked our view of the Sacre Coeur. Up we walked – rue des Martyrs -to the Funiculaire. And then the sight. By this time, the morning sun was striking the angelic white face of the Sacre Coeur. Beautiful. Viena is such a good walker. We have not done an early morning adventure in a while and she was up for the challenge. The 200 steps up the Funiculaire were no match for her. Coming down was even more fun. And the experience inside – unforgettably ethced in my soul. Absolutely moving. No photographs were allowed because they were holding worship. French carols of Nuns leading a service in the most beautiful church I have ever been in.Thank you. 10Euros for a big candle blessing, 2 Euros for a small candle blessing. Not in Rome anymore where the blessing are cheap. On the way down we hike past the Notre DAme de Lorette and the Opera House and the Royal Palace on the way to the Louvre Museum. And yes, we saw the Mona Lise. The Mona Lisa was the only masterpiece we saw besides the masterpiece of human art of humans running around like ants from here to there up and down. An interesting culture here in the Louvre. What about the rest of the people on Earth who have not even heard of the Mona Lisa. SO I try. Well, all the people were too much for Viena who really only wants a small puppy or something to cuddle. We left and departed – saw the cool elevator working. Walked throught eh gardens of Tulleries on the way to the Concorde Metro. We were home in no time, around noon. Just in time for another adventure. I wanted to return to the Louvre tht aafternnon, since WEdnesday the Louvre is open until 9PM, but Dwana was not feeling well so I took Viena and Ezra out. What a beautiful day with beautiful weather. We walked down towards teh Seine River, but before we could cross, we found a playground tucked in by all the tall skyscraper housing buildings. there are no big office skyscrapers, only for housing. A concept. Ezra and Viena lover the small merry-go-round. All the french children played nice. The sun was setting so we struck out for the Seine River again, just barely catching the last bits of sun near the statue of Liberty Mom or Twin sister. Lots of boats in the water. Of course, all Viena wanted was Cotton Candy and the Carosel – and then the iffel Tower. We were able to see the boats as we walked right down quayside. The water was nice to look at. The wind was blowing, but not too bad. Everyone was bundled up thanks to Dwana’s good packing skills. Their jackets have come in so handy. We are 1 week away from the heat of Brasil. I do not need a coat, but I was glad for Dwana’s windbreaker. Ezra and Viena rode the twirlly balloon carosel. I took lots of photos. We saw another Japanese princess and Chinese bride near the carosel in full dress. Must be the thing to do. The walk home was long but we live within a mile of the Eiffel Tower – which is nice. Dwana was in charge of bedtime.
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