Today was transportation day! We took at least 12 different metro trains, a real train to Vernon, a bus from Vernon to Giverny, and a river boat. We also saw Barack Obama's motorcade so that has to count as car transporation and also saw the helicopters in the air guarding the motorcade, so that counts as air travel. No wonder I'm tired!
Giverny was all it is cracked up to be. The day was overcast which we actually think brought out the colors of the flowers. Just as in Monet's paintings, the gardens are a huge jumble of all sorts of flowers which at first glance seem to be just randomly placed. On second look you see the planning he put into the garden with just the right mixture of colors and textures. The Japanese bridge and water lilies are - surprise, surprise - exactly what they look like in his paintings!
When we returned to Paris we went to the Eiffel tower, first getting the great view from Trocadero across the river, then walking to the tower itself. As much as one sees pictures of the tower, it is still astounding to see close up. We opted not to take an elevator up because two of the towers are being repaired so the line for the one remaining elevator was ridiculously long. We ended up, however, with an even better opportunity. We took a 9:00 p.m. Seine cruise from the base of the tower down around Ile St. Louis and back. As we approached the Eiffel tower on the return, the lights came on. That was amazing enough, but then the tower started sparkling. From 10:00-10:05 the sparkling is the gift given to the city.
Today's random observations:
1. How can you tell the difference between a Parisian and non-Parisian woman? The Parisian woman is wearing a scarf. They look very smart but I wonder if this fashion will continue when the August heat hits?
2. French people are so polite and so QUIET! When you see a mom speaking to her young children she is speaking in an exremely pleasant soft voice. The people sitting on either side of me on the train spoke on their cell phones....and I couldn't hear what they were saying. They always greet you with Bonjour before tending to whatever the need is, even the lady collecting the 50 cents to use the bathroom at the train station!
3. It's both reassuring and scary to see the young soldiers walking around busy tourist areas with machine guns at the ready!
4. Segue to #2, it's quiet on the metro EXCEPT when a three musicians get on the train and begin playing New Orlean's style jazz on trumpets and saxophones. It's also quiet EXCEPT after a big soccer match and some cars were full of yelling fans...from both teams. Fortunately we just saw these cars, weren't on one.
5. My French is adequate! I understand most anything written, can pick words out of announcements I hear, and have actually communicated enough to get food and train tickets!
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