Oui, Oui, Paris!
On Tuesday, August 20 is was raining as we left the hotel in Zurich to
go to the train station for our trip to Paris.
We rode 1st class and it was a beautiful ride through France.
Once we got to Gare de Lyon (Paris train station) it took us a minute, but we found the Metro office down two levels and we got these Navigo Decouverte passes.
They were a lifesaver. We had unlimited transport in Zones 1-5 which included the subways, trains, buses, etc. for the entire week. It was great because it covered going to Versailles where the temple is located. They are good from Monday to Sunday night. We rode everything and just tapped in and tapped out. We would walk all over and when we were tired we would get on the CityMapper app and find a metro or bus to where we wanted to go. Best combination ever; our pass and CityMapper.
CityMapper worked great in Rome as well and we use it all the time in London.
We checked in and walked down the street to a cafe and had dinner. After being in Switzerland, the prices were a welcome change. We then walked a few more blocks down the street and got to the river. It was just getting dusk and the Eiffel Tower looked beautiful!
The Champs de Elysee was so close to the hotel we spent a lot of time there walking around.
We had 2 buckets of muscles for dinner at a little outdoor cafe on the Champs.
On our walk back to the hotel we stopped into Laduree for some macarons.
The Arc de Triomphe is so beautiful. It is a monument honoring those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from WWI. Construction began in 1806 on the monument.
On Thursday we rode the bus to the Eiffel Tower.
Didn't have tickets to go up, stood in queue for a little bit, then decided against it.
We walked across the way to Jardins du Trocadero to see the view of the tower from there. Spectacular! The Tower was built for the World's Fair 1900.We had a bite to eat from a food truck and just enjoyed the view.
We might have also enjoyed gelato. (at least one a day ;))
There are also some really cool fountains down below that you can't see in the picture.
We then hopped another bus and rode down the Seine River until we decided to get off at the Pont Alexandre III bridge. It was also built for the World's Fair.
It is decorated with sculptures and gilded sculptures of cherubs and winged horses and nymphs and beautiful lamps.
Just about everywhere in Paris, the view is great!
This is one of four lion statues located at the bridge.
This one is called Lion a l'Enfant or Lion and Child.
We walked along the river for a while.
It was hot so back on the bus to the hotel to cool off.
We had tickets for a river cruise at night so we could see the Eiffel Tower
sparkle with Vedettes du Pont Neuf.
Going under the bridges all lit up was so pretty.
The pictures just don't capture of excitement of this moment when
the lights start to sparkle.
The city of lights is so beautiful.
The boat also went by Notre-Dame Cathedral, but all the lights are off since the fire.
On Friday we took the bus to Musee d'Orsay. It is an old train station on the banks of the Seine River that has been turned into a museum.
This building is beautiful, but the artwork inside is remarkable.
It has a very large collection of Claude Monet paintings. It also has many Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, Gauguin, Matisse and Manet paintings. Too bad everyone there is standing in front of the artwork taking pictures with their cell phones. We just wanted to enjoy these works of art with our own eyes not through the back of a cell phone.
We felt bad these people weren't looking at the art, they were just going painting to painting with their cell phone in front of these face.
There are lots of Vincent VanGogh's including this self portrait.
And Starry Night over the Rhone
(photos taken from internet, not our cell phone!)
It is thrilling to see these artists original work in person!
We loved this museum, it also has lots a beautiful sculptures.
The impressionists floor is stunning.
We had purchased tickets for the Musee d'Orsay that also included entrance to
Musee de l'Orangerie a smaller museum across the river.
We walked across the bridge and through Jardin des Tuileries
to the Musee de l'Orangerie.
It is the permanent home of Monet's 8 large murals, Water Lilies.
It also has a nice collection that includes some Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso
and Renoir paintings, including others.
We did take one cell phone photo of a painting (while here was no one else around).
This is Claude Monet's Argenteuil, Matt's favorite.
There was a bench along the wall across from this painting and we sat for a while enjoying the view of this and some of Renoir's paintings. We aren't art geeks or anything, but we thoroughly enjoyed these two museums.
(Side note: we bumped into Senator Flake and his wife in this museum as well,
they recently purchased a home in our stake, Trovita Ward.)
After, you guessed it, we took the bus back to the hotel. Later we walked down
Champs de Elysee to get some dinner, did some more walking, and...more ice cream.
The next day Matt walked back over to the Laduree where we had bought macarons and came back with a bag full of croissants and pastries and juice for breakfast in bed.
Oh so delish! It was a very hot day, so we enjoyed the A/C of our hotel.
That afternoon we walked back over to the Champs to walk around and found
an open bench. It was enjoyable in the shade to sit a watch the people.
Sitting next to us was Lu who was from China. He was with his grandson Lee.
We have a very enjoyable time visiting with the two of them as best as we could with the language barrier. They were very pleasant and we enjoyed them very much.
We had an early dinner at a cafe, an omelette and a quiche Lorraine,
both so very French and both so delicious!
This is a photo of our hotel, Raddison Blue.
Our room was the window right above the door.
The staff was so very friendly and kind helping us with whatever we needed.
And this was the view outside the door of the Arc...in the background you can see it.
Sadly, on August 25 it was time to leave Paris. We took a taxi to Gare de Nord for our
train ride to Calais, France. All the stations are such beautiful buildings.
We again rode 1st class...if you buy your tickets early enough they are about the same price as 2nd class, but lots more room.
We took a taxi from train station in Calais to the ferry terminal.
This one is called Lion a l'Enfant or Lion and Child.
We walked along the river for a while.
It was hot so back on the bus to the hotel to cool off.
sparkle with Vedettes du Pont Neuf.
the lights start to sparkle.
The city of lights is so beautiful.
It has a very large collection of Claude Monet paintings. It also has many Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, Gauguin, Matisse and Manet paintings. Too bad everyone there is standing in front of the artwork taking pictures with their cell phones. We just wanted to enjoy these works of art with our own eyes not through the back of a cell phone.
We felt bad these people weren't looking at the art, they were just going painting to painting with their cell phone in front of these face.
There are lots of Vincent VanGogh's including this self portrait.
(photos taken from internet, not our cell phone!)
It is thrilling to see these artists original work in person!
We loved this museum, it also has lots a beautiful sculptures.
The impressionists floor is stunning.
Musee de l'Orangerie a smaller museum across the river.
We walked across the bridge and through Jardin des Tuileries
to the Musee de l'Orangerie.
It also has a nice collection that includes some Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso
and Renoir paintings, including others.
We did take one cell phone photo of a painting (while here was no one else around).
This is Claude Monet's Argenteuil, Matt's favorite.
There was a bench along the wall across from this painting and we sat for a while enjoying the view of this and some of Renoir's paintings. We aren't art geeks or anything, but we thoroughly enjoyed these two museums.
(Side note: we bumped into Senator Flake and his wife in this museum as well,
they recently purchased a home in our stake, Trovita Ward.)
After, you guessed it, we took the bus back to the hotel. Later we walked down
Champs de Elysee to get some dinner, did some more walking, and...more ice cream.
The next day Matt walked back over to the Laduree where we had bought macarons and came back with a bag full of croissants and pastries and juice for breakfast in bed.
Oh so delish! It was a very hot day, so we enjoyed the A/C of our hotel.
That afternoon we walked back over to the Champs to walk around and found
an open bench. It was enjoyable in the shade to sit a watch the people.
Sitting next to us was Lu who was from China. He was with his grandson Lee.
We have a very enjoyable time visiting with the two of them as best as we could with the language barrier. They were very pleasant and we enjoyed them very much.
We had an early dinner at a cafe, an omelette and a quiche Lorraine,
both so very French and both so delicious!
Our room was the window right above the door.
The staff was so very friendly and kind helping us with whatever we needed.
And this was the view outside the door of the Arc...in the background you can see it.
We were so excited to go to the Paris Temple.
Getting there involved the Metro, a train, and a bus...plus we walked a bit as well.
Getting there involved the Metro, a train, and a bus...plus we walked a bit as well.
The garden area is beautiful and we loved the Christus statue that is outdoors.
There is also a small Visitor's Center that has a stunning piece
of art glass by Tom Holdman.
of art glass by Tom Holdman.
This temple has the most beautiful stained glass we have ever seen.
Amazingly beautiful!
Amazingly beautiful!
If you follow the blue link above it will take you to more pictures of the inside
taken before the dedication. The photos do not due it justice however.
It was completed in 2017. We loved the design and decoration.
We recognize the blessing it was for us to visit here and testify that it is
The House of the Lord.
The House of the Lord.
Above the door it reads: “Saintete au Seigneur, La Maison Du Seigneur”,
“Holiness to the Lord, The House of the Lord”
“Holiness to the Lord, The House of the Lord”
"You are never lost when you can see the temple. The temple will provide direction for you and your family in a world filled with chaos. It is an eternal guidepost which will help you from getting lost in the 'mist of darkness.'"
—Gary E. Stevenson
"Within the sound of my voice are individuals who have received the ordinances of the temple and for various reasons have not returned to the house of the Lord in quite some time. Please repent, prepare, and do whatever needs to be done so you can again worship in the temple and more fully remember and honor your sacred covenants."
—David A. Bednar
"I know your lives are busy. I know that you have much to do. But I make you a promise that if you will go to the house of the Lord, you will be blessed; life will be better for you."
—Gordon B. Hinckley
"To accomplish this work there will have to be not only one temple but thousands of them, and thousands and tens of thousands of men and women will go into those temples and officiate for people who have lived as far back as the Lord shall reveal."
—Brigham Young
train ride to Calais, France. All the stations are such beautiful buildings.
We took a taxi from train station in Calais to the ferry terminal.
Looks like Calais has a nice beach over there.
But we are headed to Dover and back to the UK.
But we are headed to Dover and back to the UK.
