Versailles

Approaching Versailles in the rain!

Fighting Egyptians!

Napoleon fighting Egyptians!

These are details from a huge painting hanging in Versailles.  I had to make myself walk away from it.  I was mesmerized.

paris!

today was our first full day in paris, and let me tell you:

dragging our luggage around the metro system and down the streets in the pouring rain no longer mattered.

once i stepped into the courtyard at the louvre, it finally sank in that i was in paris.

it was incredible, and i don't think i have the words to describe that feeling. 

i saw a lot of antiquities from the egyptians {awesome}, more paintings than i could count, the mona lisa{!!!}, more marble than i could shake a stick at, and the code of hammurabi.

it is unbelievable to finally see all of the pieces you've read about it, seen pictures of, and heard of, in person.

it's unreal, and i'm not sure it's even fully sunk in yet.

{it probably will once i get home, and can't do anything about it!}

{yes, that's a real mummy}

egyptian prayer tapestry {i think}

{psst, i found big foot!}

i got really excited about finding this in napoleon's apartments, since i love marie!

the code of hammurabi - there aren't really any words.

me next to the me-sized pyramid!

after we left the louvre and ate lunch, we went to sainte-chappele, which houses the most awesome stained glass windows i've seen on this trip {which is saying something!}

there are 15 stained glass windows, that are home to over 1,000 scenes from the bible.

let me just tell you, i was speechless. 

i could have sat and stared all day, i kid you not.

this is one of the columns at the entrance:

after sainte-chappele, we went to notre dame:

the architecture on all these churches is just astounding; i can't imagine what it would be like to have worked on one, or even to have been around during the building of them!

{i can't believe i got a picture with no one in it!}

there was even a mass service that we sat in on before we left.

we plan on going back to go up the tower, see the city, and see the gargoyles the church is famous for.

i absolutely love it here, and i can't wait to see where we'll go tomorrow!

-Amanda

Chapter Three: Paris

Holy fleur de lis - we are already in Paris!  This trip is flying by!  I've seen so many chateaus, churches, historical war sights, ruins, and all around GORGEOUS scenery I can barely contain it all in my brain... thank goodness for pictures! 

One of the past few days (LOL) we went to Ambroise (Chateau) where Leonardo deVinci is "supposedly" interred.  Whether he is or he is not - the place was fantabulous!!!! The view from the top of the grounds was, in itself, amazing. 

Leo and one of his buddy's (from Ambroise Chateau)

Possibly Leo's final resting place

Casey paying tribute to the Renaissance Man

From Ambroise we moved on to another wee little cottage - Chenonceau, it was being fumagated (LOL-not really) so unfortunately we didn't get the full frontal view, BUT what we did get was simply gorgeous!

So on and so forth - throw in another few homes of the rich and famous and voila we managed to see about .01% of the chateaus of France.  It's completely mind boggling!

Fast forward (and I mean fast) and here we are in Paris.  I won't go into the crazy day we've had just getting here because NONE of that matters anymore.  So what's a few steps and crowded trains... PARIS is so worth it.  I finally feel like I'm back in modern civilization again - not the twilight zone.  :)

La Republique (the Lady of the Republic) stands proud in the center of Paris.

Our first meal in Paris was sooooo FRENCH (NOT) - Maria and Hamby decided to try an authentic French dessert:

La Banana Split

 

Le Banana Split LITERALLY

Tomorrow's another big day - Eiffel Tower here I come to conquer your 9 million steps, I have been practicing for you all day today!

~Jill

Traveling day!!!

Today, we traveled from Saumur to Paris. I hate stairs very much!!! My travel experience included 75 extra pounds up and up and up and up a million stairs at the train stations, the metro, and other random places that some crazy person thought was a good idea to put stairs. Also, when we arrived in Paris, it began to rain, but it felt great and I laughed because none of the bad stuff matters because I am in Paris! I never thought that I would ever be here, but here I am. Tonight, I sleep, but tomorrow I am going to the Louvre!!!

Chelsea M. Smith

castles and french men!

today was our last full day in saumur, the land of the castles!

we'll leave around noon tomorrow for paris!

the past two days have been full of chateaus and pretty buildings in general :)

yesterday we saw the abbaye where richard the lionheart and eleanor of aquitaine were buried, and today we went to chenonceau where catherine of médici lived.

all the buildings are so lovely!

as are most things in this country:

the countryside

the buildings & architecture 

the people

the pastries

the flowers

...i could go on!

i also finally found some french men!

...to bad they were all so...unfeeling.

-Amanda

Visiting in Saumur~!!!

Sorry guys that I am just now blogging. This is night number 3 in Saumur. I am just now getting my internet service to work. We have had a fun past few nights here. Our hotel is AMAZING! It is right below a gorgeous castle. It is like a fairy tale. I love it!! The first night here we just hung out around town and a few of us ate at this cute little pizza cafe. The waitress was so sweet, even though she didn't peak any English. She thought us Americans were quite funny....the food though was great! Yesterday we went to a tank museum that had so many different types of tanks from many different places....needless to say I was in heaven! I could have stayed there all day. It was a bummer when I found out I had to pay a hefty price to actually take pictures...SO frustrating! But it was definietly a highlight to the visit in Saumur for me! The we went on to explore and we went to quite a few Castles. They were huge and gorgeous. I loved it~!! Today was a good day as well. We explored some more castles and then just came back to the hotel where we had a nice dinner and relaxed to get ready for our journey to PARIS!!! Ah I can't wait! I am beyond excited about visiting Paris. Its hard to believe we only have 5 days left here in France....but then again I am ready to get back to my family! I miss you all very much! I will post again once we arrive in Paris!               
Chelsea L. Smith                         Smith & Smith

Back home in Saumur!

Well, as my family (and many of my friends) know, I am always so thrilled to come "home" to Saumur. There are no words to describe how I feel each time I see that beautiful castle up on the hill. It reminds me of all those times when Mom, Natalie, Michelle and me would be on the long train ride from Paris and how happy we would be when we saw that familiar "symbol". We knew we were finally home and about to see our grandparents. Those were incredible times!! I guess I'll never lose that feeling so I was pretty nostalgic yesterday when we pulled into my hometown. I never thought I would be staying in a hotel at the foot of that beautiful castle!! Our little courtyard is looking right up to it and it's just amazing! We took a walk late last night and crossed the bridge only to turn around and have that beautiful walk back as we looked at the castle all lit up and its city right below it!

Nat and Mich, I know the memories comes flooding back when you read this. Wish you were here to share in this! By the way, Nat, why don't you have Kerri and Kacie type a sentence or two? I would love to read that. Mich, you know how much I love to hear from my precious Carolina and JA!!! Tell all of them that I miss them very much! I just sent you postcards a couple of days ago so be watching for those.

Tomorrow, we'll be exploring the castles of the Loire. I know my family will relate to that!

Au revoir for now and I'll be waiting for a response from you guys! Tell Mom I love her and better yet, show her how to follow this blog if she isn't already!! To all others, thanks for following and feel free to post!

Maria