European Travels

So much has been seen since I last blogged.  We went to Paris, Mainau, Prague, more castles, Salzburg, Garmisch, and Neuschwanstein.  That was all in the last 2 weeks!  I'm tired!  In Paris I had my list of things I wanted to see.  1. Notre Dame 2. the Mona Lisa in the Louvre 3. the Eiffel Tower.  anything else was Gravy.  We also saw the Arch de Triumph while looking for the metro.  We walked everywhere and saw everything on my list. 

While searching for Notre Dame, we got our first view of the Eiffel Tower.  It was a very impressive sight to see that massive metal structure looming above the city.  I was expecting Notre Dame to have a large Dome.  It had large bell tower like spires instead.  Many people were in the courtyard area in front.  There were benches, so we did the touristy thing and took pictures with Notre Dame looming in the background.  To get inside, we had to wait in a very long windy line.  That's why all the people were standing where they were.  They were in line!  I wish I would have realized that when were first got there.  Then we would have taken our photos while stanging in line!  Note to those who have yet to visit Notre Dame:  lots of people here means a very long line and time to wait.  Sooo... first find the back of the line, then take your pictures.  You can also take them after you visit inside.  Notre Dame is free, but it costs to see the treasury.  I think you can also walk around the top from there.  We did not do this, so I'm not all that sure.  Photography is not alowed, but people were taking pictures anyways.  There were candles to light for 2 euros.  Good thing I'm not a Catholic who lights candles.  They use 1 and 2 euros over here like we use quarters back home.  They are about the same size as a quarter only more expensive.  I was a good girl and did not take pictures (I left that up to Caiti if she so desired).  I don't think I've ever been in a cathedral before.  It was MASSIVE!  Lots of vaulted ceilings, stain glass and paintings.  Of course they had a gift shop in the cathedral.  It's sad how it's been commercialized.  How are you supposed to worship with thousands of people walking around and then buying things at a gift shop?  I feel extra blessed to have our sacred temples.  The people in our temples are there to work and learn from God.  The spirit would not be there if our temples were paraded around like the cathedrals around the world.  Besides the commercialism, Notre Dame was very impressive.

One down, two to go.  We took a nice long walk back across the river to find the Louvre.  Just so you know..... the Louvre is MASSIVE.  You could spend the whole day there and still not see everything.  We went to the wing which houses the Mona Lisa.  This is the only thing I really wanted to see. 

Maginot Line/ Le Fleckenstein

My sister Caitlin arrived in Germany this last Monday, July 11th.  Tues we went swimming, Wed. we went to the movies.  It was raining, so our castle trip was postponed.  Today we went to France!  we went to Ft Schoenenbourg on the Maginot Line.  it is a bunker deep in the ground (135 steps to be exact) used by the French as a barrier to the German's during WWI-WWII.  we walked 1 km down to one end of the bunker, then back again.  we saw bombs, beds, war offices, an operating room, the kitchen, and lots of other COOL stuff.  I took pictures. 

We then went to Le Fleckenstein castle.  It was Caiti's first castle!  I believe I've wet her appetite for the beauty and wonder of castle ruins.  This castle looked like it was actually carved out of the rock itself.  The Willson family went with us to the castle.  Ann Willson and I were standing on the ground at one end of the ruins and looked up.  We both had the same reaction, "AAAhhh the castle is falling on me!"  the way the clouds were moving gave the illusion that the castle was moving.  I was surprised at how big this castle was.  It was hard for me to tell untill we got close up.  Interesting things we saw:  a massive slug on the road.  I had Caiti take a picture of it for me.  Mia asked if she could pick it up and move it.  Sure....why not?  She then proceeded to pick it up and throw it to the side of the road!  If the cars won't get it, my daughter will.  There was a water wheel.  It reminded me of the scene in Pirates where Jack, and Will are fighting for the chest on the water wheel while it is moving.  There were helmets for the kids to try on, and a "secret passage way". 

After a year of being around Germans it was weird hearing French. 

This week has also been frustrating.  we've been finalizing our "trips"  with Caiti.  We finally (with the help of Crystallynn.  Thanks Girl!) able to get our plane tickets to Sardinia Italy.  Everything was riding on that trip, so naturally the hotel rooms were more expensive last minute in Paris and at Garmisch.  I will say this......each 2 night stays in Paris and Garmisch are more expensive that our 1 week stay at a rented house in Sardinia.  Go figure!  We love you Caiti!

Busy schedule the next 4 weeks.  I hope I can keep up.  right now I'm sooooo tired.  good thing we have 2-3 days in between trips for recovery.  Goodnight all!  Seeing how it's wwwaayy past my bedtime, I'll leave you to it.