What a trip of a lifetime! It started out rocky as Paris seemed to have handed me a PMS/Jet Lag/Guilt martini as I got off the plane, (which resulted in an eventual meltdown with tears, pounding on the bed, and swearing) but we got over the hump and went on to have a wonderful trip.
This was a work trip for my husband, who is in the hospitality field, so our group was able to do many fun and unusual things together. We ventured "down to the beast" (that is how they referred to the area under the Eiffel Tower) to see the hydraulic elevator system that brings visitors to the viewing platforms.
We toured the home and factory of Louis Vuitton. We met the proprietress and the artists working in a "factory" that was more like a well lighted studio. We learned about their philosophy of 35 hour work weeks, no night shifts, friendly and respectful work environments. It was so refreshing and made you think about many work environments here.
We toured the home and cellars of Moet Chandon Champagne. We wandered around in the dark tunnels below and surfaced to dine on lobster and champagne in the owner's dining rooms.
We were entertained by the French cabaret Lido. The beautiful girls prancing around topless left most of the American women squirming and the men drooling.
We toured the city on a bus that took us past all the cities highlights and lowlights, such as the Arc de Triumph, Princess Diana's tunnel, and "the mistake" little New York (a 1970's stab at updating the city).
And finally, we had a day to ourselves to get lost in the beautiful city. I chose the artist's quarter Mont Martre and the cemeteries of Mont Parnesse. We ate simple food in sidewalk cafes, stopped for a drink while were serenaded by a local musician, bought some art for our home in a cute little gallery, and wandered the streets until dark.
We did kiss under the Eiffel Tower and hold hands through Notre Dame, we ate fabulous French food and drank wonderful French champagne. We wore our cool French clothing and tried to speak the beautiful French language... It was a wonderful trip and I'm so lucky to have gone. I will remember this through my pictures during the gray Pittsburgh winter.
I have the remaining Paris posts arranged by theme, so tomorrow we will tour the cemeteries. Believe me, it is so beautiful!
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Oh, swoon! I can't wait to see the rest of the photos. It sounds magical! So glad you got over the guilt and enjoyed it! ;)
ReplyDeleteXO*Tricia
sounds wonderful! glad you had a great trip and i can't wait to see more pictures!
ReplyDelete0oh I so want to go!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had a wonderful trip. Don't you just love a hubby who has a job with such wonderful fringe benefits?!
Sounds like a wonderful trip! It’s great that you were able to do some very unique things. It is hard to travel and usually overwhelming so I understand how the beginning can happen like that. I'm about to go on a big trip and am getting overwhelmed already, but I know it will all work out.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful photo of your and your husband!
Hi, I love your blog. It's fantastic. I know this is a random question, but I am trying to break into the travel industry myself and I was wondering if you could tell me what your husband does, how he got there, so that I might get a little insight on the subject. If you would, please email me at LindsayVandy [at] gmail [dot] com.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Paris must have been wonderful! Can't wait to see more photos. Maybe someday I will be lucky enough to go.
ReplyDelete(PS: I think the word spell check can't tell you is hydraulic.)
Oooh. I love cemetaries. Ok, maybe it's just the tombstones. The carving is so intricate.
ReplyDeletegreat pictures!!!!!
ReplyDeletei visited paris as a child.......loved it then but not for the same reasons i would now!!!!!!
can't wait to see more pictures!!!!!
Ooh, we went in 2001. It was amazing. We didn't care for the food...except the pastries! But everything else was awesome. We went to a show at Moulin Rouge. It was amazing. I can't wait to read more! It brings me back.
ReplyDeleteLovely!!! I can't wait to see and hear more!!!! You will cherish the memories....hold them in your heart.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, welcome back. It sounds like it was a wonderful trip. I was anxious to read this post to see if you got to do everything you had said you wanted to. I don't think I could handle a flight that long, so I probably would have been jet-lagged and upset at first too. But what a nice opportunity and wonderful vacation. I look forward to seeing more pictures.
ReplyDeleteYour trip sounds so awesome! I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures!
ReplyDeleteHow fun that you're wearing a scarf in the picture.
So glad to hear you enjoyed your stay in Paris, it is my favorite city in the world!
ReplyDeleteI almost could NOT read this post and hesitated to click on it. I have a long-standing obsession with Paris and it hurts me to the core that I am not living there right now.
ReplyDeleteYou are a very lucky woman. Happy SITS day, too!