European Tour
Thanks for sharing our adventure!
By the way........This blog is organized in a day by day format starting with the most recent entry. To view it in chronological order you need to scan down to the bottom of the page and work your way up.
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Sights around Paris
Paris to London to LAX August 5th, Day 23
This was actually our travel day and the end to our wonderful adventure.
Paris Opera House
Paris sightseeing- August 4th Day 22
The Paris Opera House was constructed from 1860 to 1875. It's formal name is the
Palais Garnier after Charles Garnier the 35 year old architect who won the design competition. He also went on to design the Casino in Monte Carlo. The auditorium is horseshoe shaped and seats 1,900 seats.
Arc de Triomphe
Paris sightseeing August 3rd
The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 and it was completed in 1836. It stands on Paris’s main east-west axis. The sides have sculptures by 20 different artists. The climb up the spiral stairs was a good work out and the views from the roof terrace were incredible! Twelve different roads radiate out from the Arc de Triomphe. With that many roads connecting at the base, its fun to just watch the cars navigate their way around. It was also a thrill everytime we drove thru it!
Eiffel Tower
Paris sightseeing- August 2nd, Day 20
Today's sightseeing tour featured a drive along the Champs Elysées from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe and the ascent of the Eiffel Tower to the top. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution and was the world's tallest building until 1930. We also visited Notre Dame, the ornate pont Alexandre III bridge and enjoyed a walking tour in the Luxembourg gardens. That evening, we celebrated with our fellow traveling companions at a Parisian cabaret.
Versaille and the Louve
Lyon to Paris (4 nights) August 1st, Day 19
Today's drive takes us along the Rhône Valley on our way through the wine-producing Burgundy region to Paris. We first toured Versailles including the Hall of Mirrors and the Gardens. Built from 1661 by Louis XIV. The Royal Family was removed in 1789 after the French Revolution. Our visit to the
Biggest Museum in the World, the Louve included seeing Venus de Milo, Winged Victory and Leonardo de Vinci’s Mona Lisa among many other great works of art. The Louvre began as a fortress in 1190 and later became a royal residence. In 1793, it was transformed into a museum. I enjoyed seeing the glass pyramids which were added by architect, I.M. Pei. In Paris, we stayed at the- Sofitel La Grande Arche Hotel
