Tuesday - March 25

We left at about 9:30 Tuesday morning for Paris on the Eurostar train. After checking to the hotel and eating a late lunch, the Eiffel Tower was our first adventure. Although it was pretty chilly, the line was definitely worth it! It was a gorgeous day with blue skies, which made the view even better. We decided just to go up to the second level of the tower, but the view was still amazing from there. After the tower we made our way to the Arc de Triomphe. It was just dusk, so it was beautiful to look down the Champs-Elysees. Later that night, we went back towards the tower so we could see its sparkling lights on the hour. It was so pretty!

Wednesday - March 26

Yesterday was packed full of sightseeing! In the morning we toured Notre-Dame Cathedral, with it's huge stained glass and flying buttresses. The gothic architecture was everything I'd imagined it to be and more. We also walked in the gardens behind the cathedral, which stands beside the Seine River. Next we visited Sainte-Chapelle cathedral, which I had never heard of before this trip. This cathedral has a tall narrow spire on the outside, with the interior surrounded on all sides by stained glass. These stained glass windows were at least 50 feet tall, stretching to a vaulted ceiling covered with small gold stars. It was absolutely gorgeous! In the afternoon we visited the Musee d'Orsay, which contains a large variety of art. My favorite part was the impressionism section. There was tons of Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, and Renior in this museum. There were also other art collections, such as furniture design and sculpture throughout the museum. After the Musee d'Orsay, we made our way across the Seine to walk in the Jadin des Tuileries. Although it was still a little cold, it was a beautiful day for a walk. While Mom and Lora took a rest, I walked down to Place de la Concorde where I had a better view up the Champs-Elysees all the way to the Arc. Following dinner at another café, we entered the Louvre. It's even better in real life than in the Di Vinci Code! The glass pyramid is so cool, especially when it's lit up at night. We spent a few hours in the Louvre, but we were already pretty worn out when we entered. Yes…we did see the Mona Lisa, even though it was difficult to get close to it with the huge crowd around it. We also saw the Venus de Milo sculpture, along with many other pieces of art. At around 9 pm, we returned to our hotel for some well deserved rest!

Thursday - March 27

This morning we visited Sacre-Coeur, or the Church of the Sacred Heart. This church sits on a hill above the center of the city. I personally think the exterior of this church was much more impressive than the interior, with its huge white domes and stonework. As we walked up the many stairs to get to the church, we also had many beautiful views of the city looking down the hill. I also really liked the mosaic of Christ, which is stretched across the interior of the dome. There was a mass going on when were touring the church, so we were also treated to some beautiful music. We leisurely made our way back down the hill and had lunch at a small quiet restaurant before heading to the train station. I think we definitely made a lot out of our short stay in Paris!