PARIS!!: Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, my life is complete...

Paris has been absolutely amazing -- the people, the sights, the food, the champagne and the wine. In fact we've had a friendlier experience here in Paris than we did in Rome. Today we are going to ride a double-decker sight-seeing bus. Mason has been begging us since Rome to ride one and I can't think of a better city to ride around and see!!!

The ride was perfect!! Paris is gorgeously breathtaking!! On our route we stopped at the most triumphal arches, the Arc de Triomphe. It is enormous and beautiful. The detail is incredible.

The triumphal arch is in honor of those who fought for France, in particular, those who fought during the Napoleonic Wars. Engraved on the inside and at the top of the arch are all of the names of the generals and wars fought. There are inscriptions in the ground underneath the vault of the arch which include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I where  the Memorial Flame burns and have made the Arc de Triomphe Paris a revered patriotic site (credit:http://www.arcdetriompheparis.com/).

Names line the inside of the arch and the names that are underlined are those who died while fighting, that was humbling along with seeing the Tomb of the Unknown Solider who died in WWI.

From the Tomb we bought tickets to go up to the very top of the Arch. The tiny, narrow staircase seemed to go on forever but once we reached the top the wind and height took my breath away. The view was stunning. We could see for miles and miles and could also see the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Paris, from every angle of the top of the Arch, is incredible.

Our double-decker ride was wonderful. The next day we ended up at the Eiffel Tower. Of all that I have seen or wanted to see, the Eiffel Tower is, absolutely, the number one thing I wanted to see on this trip. It is enormous. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the French Revolution. It was only meant to last 20 years but renovations and restoration keep it alive today.

Once we walked underneath it, I couldn't help but get giddy -- this was a dream come true! While we waited in line we took the opportunity to really look at it. Mike was most impressed by the iron detail -- spirals and curls make the tower beautifully ornate.

We got to the 2nd level and could see the Arc de Triomphe in the distance, that made me smile. We looked at the Parisian city and took-in its beauty once more. We all put on hands on the Tower and took a picture, WE WERE HERE!!

Paris is, without-a-doubt, brilliantly sensational. We have enjoyed Paris and will never forget our time here and our time spent in Spain and Italy, as well. This trip could not have have gone any better and will stay in my heart forever.  

We are now home in Indonesia and I can't help but feel that my life is complete -- I have so many blessings to be grateful for, especially grateful for my patient and loving husband and my healthy and happy children. I look forward to whatever adventure comes next and as always, to be continued...

PARIS!!: Musee du Louvre, Cupid's Kiss and the secret of the Notre Dame...

Our flight from Rome to Paris was uneventful despite the heat in the terminal in Rome. We gathered our bags and met our driver. He was a younger man and quickly walked us to his nice Lexus sedan. How we were going to fit the four of us and our luggage was a mystery. After shoving, pushing and squeezing we were on our way.

On the way he mentioned that there was a Taxi driver strike, we were lucky to have booked a transfer ahead of time as many were stranded at the airport. After that he was quiet and drove fast although Mason was sitting on my lap, Hannah's knees were in her face and no access to seatbelts.

We took a quick turn and abruptly stopped, he pointed at our hotel, unloaded our bags and sped off. What the heck? It was strange but we realized that his behavior was mostly due to the strike. Well that's we determined. From the curb we pulled our bags to the hotel.

Our hotel is amazing! Fantastic location, great size with a perfect kitchenette. We set our bags down and went to discover Paris and our little neighborhood. Our neighborhood is just that, a cobblestone neighborhood containing shops, a bookstore, and tons of restaurants and the post office is nearby. We enjoyed a marvelous dinner with superb service and headed for bed.

The next day we walked to the Louvre Museum. The Louvre has a very detailed and fantastical past -- from originating as a fortress with moat and drawbridge, to a chateau, palace, and lastly a museum. We got to view the moat and fortress walls that were covered up by its many transformations and later discovered while adding on to the museum. It was fascinating walking through such a historical past. Again, we had an amazing guide and walked through the moat to the many anticipated sites to see in the Louvre.

We saw so many things but a few stood out. One was the Winged Victory of Samothrace (a.k.a. Nike of Samothrace) -- the same Nike, Goddess of Victory, that caught Hannah's attention in the Forum in Rome. The Goddess who accompanied Titus and reminded him that he is still mortal despite his God-like victory. It is a beautiful statue and speaks louder than most we have seen because her wings are absolutely dynamite. She was found in a grotto/cave in Samothrace and her creator is unknown.

The second was, of course, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. Now most everyone knows this famous piece and walking up to it, amongst hundreds of her adoring fans, she sits in a small frame against a huge wall and I couldn't help but wonder why? Why is she such a big deal? There are many myths and speculations but three that were interesting to me are 1). she was kept in Leonardo's possession until his death, hence making her a more desirable, but what was it about her that Leonardo couldn't part with? 2). Her face resembles that of Leonardo's (supposed) young male lover. 3). It is the first portrait painting of his that the person's face is not completely profile -- Mona Lisa is seated more forward. No matter what, her mystery alludes her and it was fun to see. Even the spectacle of shoving, elbowing onlookers.
  
We walked through many vast, glorious and eclectic halls and Hannah and Mason were fading until we saw and heard of Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss. A beautiful statue that isn't massive in size and its delicate detail catches one's attention. However, the story of it is even more powerful. Psyche is instructed by Cupid's mother Venus, Goddess of Beauty, to retrieve a flask from the Underworld but told Psyche not to open it. Psyche gets the flask but defies her instructions and opens it thusly falling into a deathlike sleep. Cupid with his wings and quiver rushes to her rescue and lifts her to kiss him as she embraces his face. The God's grant permission for Cupid and Psyche to marry and she becomes immortal and the Goddess of the Soul. Hannah loved this sculpture and story.

Our day at the Louvre was out-of-this-world amazing and we definitely didn't have enough time there to see it all!! Pretty sure if we went to one more museum, we'd have a mutiny on our hands!!

The next day we slept in, enjoyed some home cooked food and then slowly walked to the Notre Dame. Paris is so, so, so beautiful and its history oozes from every gorgeous corner. We crossed the wide, famous Seine river on our way.

We reached the Notre Dame and it was as spectacular as I had hoped. The only unexpected thing was that it was closed. UGH! Another monument closed but I didn't let it deter me. I still got to see it and take many photos, especially of the famous gargoyles -- they are freakishly scary. In addition to the looming gargoyles there is a not-so-known secret laying in front of the Notre Dame, Le Point Zero. 

Le Point Zero is a brass star marker that marks the exact center of the city -- point zero; from which all geographic measurements of France are based upon. This marker is walked upon every year, unknowingly, by thousands and its location became our search! We walked in front of the Notre Dame searching for it and finally found it not too far from the front doors. It was a fun twist to our adventure.

Our first two days in Paris have been incredible and looking forward to more sightseeing and EATING!!

As always, to be continued...

ITALY!!: Pisa: The leaning tower...

Our cruise continues and today is the last tour-day in Pisa, Italy. We docked in Florence, Italy and boarded our last bus. This time our guide is a quirky, funky woman with hair that reminds me of Cruella de Vil and she was hilarious; her dry sense of humor kept us on her words.

This drive through the Tuscan region was another breathtaking route. In the distance marble quarries lined the gorgeous mountainside -- the same marble used by Michaleangelo and Bernini.

The bus took us through, what used to be, a private Tuscan estate that was later given to Pisa as a sanctuary. From there we unloaded the bus and took a short beautiful walk to a boat that is to take us on the Arno river to Pisa.

The boat was a small river cruise boat and the Captain and his shipmates were fantastic. They provided ice cream sandwiches, water, Italian opera music and let the kiddos drive to boat all while our guide described the history of Pisa.

The cruise on the Arno was cool. There were small homes/structures that lined the banks with large fishing nets submerged and hanging over the muddy river. The river banks turned into brick walls and gracefully arched bridges. Magnificent Italian-tiered-houses faced the river.

Our lovely boat cruise came to an end. We exited the boat, saying goodbye to our Captain and walked up a steep cobble walkway to a small gas-powered train on wheels. It was the cutest thing I have ever seen. A little train engine cab and tiny train cars connected behind. The train slowly pulled us through Pisa until the leaning tower came into view. We, and the others, on the train all gasped at the tower's sight.

The train parked and we walked to the tower. It is huge and dreamlike -- opulent white marble and seems to lean way more in real life. Our guide told us how they kept building more levels even after it started leaning. It was, another, moment of a lifetime.

After seeing the tower and watching people take all sorts of creative and funny pictures in all sorts of odd positions we walked through Pisa and enjoyed sandwiches, wine and champagne. Once again we boarded our little train and headed back to the bus.

Our Pisa experience was marvelous from the boat, to the train to the sights!! A quiet and satisfactory bus ride back commenced and back to the cruise ship we went. 

Our cruise is ending and tomorrow we disembark for good and are scheduled to fly to Paris! I am so, so, so excited to go to Paris, something I have wanted to do for as long as I can remember.

As always, to be continued...