three separate, remarkable things in a day! Also, the trip was set at a rapid pace in order to see as much as we did. When I got back to the hotel I simply fell into bed without a chance to pause and digest every place we
visited. A couple days ago I went through my photos and felt like I took the trip over again! What an amazing experience. I wouldn’t change a thing except to make the same trip three times longer so I could sit on a bench or in a café or in a cathedral pew to drink everything in more slowly!
My sister, Suzie had us read several books before we left for France. This was surprisingly helpful even though they were novels of little import. The fact that one described the building of the Eiffel tower and described life in Paris in the 1890's made seeing the Tower come to life for me.
Another book mentioned exceptional chocolate shops which we accidently fell into! Or another described the merits of Berthillon ice cream and made it taste fantastically better and the price seem worth it. Another book mentioned the invention of Wallace fountains. That was important to me because of my need
to have water all the time. Stumbling upon the first one as we climbed the stairs to Montmartre was thrilling!
I read a book about how to keep citrus
trees in wooden boxes so that you can pull the pins on the sides when the rootball is too large and then you can easily transplant it. I was surprised to see so many in the Orangerie!
The food was so enjoyable: fresh salads, crepes, seafood in corner cafes, bread, desserts! Having our breakfast together was important even though I
was so tired every day.
Making macarons was such a wonderful experience. I look forward to getting our recipe and I think I will give it a try! Having our choice for a meal occasionally was special as well and I really enjoyed this opportunity.
College humanities courses came alive in the Louvre, the Musee D'orsay, Monet's gardens and the Rodin museum which created memories for me that are
too many to recall but sit in my heart ready to be touched again at a moment's notice. Before the trip, I watched a tv special on the Louvre so that our brief time there was not as overwhelming for me. I was able to see
the masterpieces depicted in the program. It was a total thrill to see Liberty Leading the People, the Coronation of Napoleon, the sculptures and artifacts everywhere, and the building itself was an art treasure!!!!!!!
Material from history courses became real as we visited where treaties were
signed in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, fierce battles fought at
Normandy Beaches and the heroes buried at the National Cemetery. The
National Anthem and the playing of taps brought me to tears. I was so
pleased to see windows painted by shop keepers thanking the allies for their
help in liberating France.
Angelique amplified the visual experience by telling us important facts and details about what we were seeing which made
it all so much more memorable.
My only disappointment was in myself. I had good intentions of studying the
language so that I would be able to at least converse minimally with people.
Time and demands prevented me from doing that at all. However, I did
memorize the 23rd Psalm which I recited in every cathedral, chapel and
church we entered. That was a deeply moving experience for me and was well worth the effort required to memorize six verses in French. I will have to enroll in a class before my next trip!
You were wonderful travel partners through the marvels of France. I am sure
you have as many memories in your heart and look forward to reading your
reflections.....
à la prochaine
Jan
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