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.