Eiffel Tower Under Christmas Lights

Last night we braved the cold and the subway to go watch the light show on the tower - hope you enjoy a couple of photos and a brief video.  

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday - the beauty of fresh air in Paris

After 5 days of snow, rain, and fog, yesterday dawned clear and considerably colder. We bought another hat to keep my ears warm, and if we stopped, hiding in corners out of the wind, we were able to stay comfortable. Forget being elegant, I am suffering from Hat Hair, and chapped face and lips.   We are covering a lot of area walking and taking the subway a bit and enjoying the food and drink very much.  I have already taken several hundred photos.  I have no discretion - everything looks beautiful and worthy of a shot to me. 

The first shot was taken on Christmas Eve as we made out way back to the hotel and it began to rain in earnest.    Camillo was leading the way and I loved the shadows and the play of light on the wet sidewalks. (classic French Painting) The next two were taken yesterday as the sunset was setting at about 5:30 - Yesterday we walked to the river, crossed over, searching for a museum we never found. We ended up walking down (up?) along the river cutting across to the Rue du Bac and then following Bvld St. Germain back to the hotel near Notre Dame. (total another 5 hours)    

 

 

Being Christmas day, everything except the most touristy places were closed but we walked through the grounds of the Louvre enjoying the sunshine with a couple hundred (thousand) other tourists. The grounds are quite nice, many statues, benches and a sense of open space in the city. I took many photos of really nice statues but thought you would enjoy the last photo - the agony - the indignity of pigeons landing on your head all day .    

 

 

    Camillo's suitcase has still not arrived.

Friday Shoot-out - Angels of Notre Dame - Paris

 Today in Paris it was cold, but not freezing or below - just dark with clouds and threat of rain.

Camillo's suitcase has not arrived at the hotel, but we will still walk back to the Notre Dame for the midnight mass. Fortified with dinner and wine, we should survive.

Today's walk took us from the Jardin du Luxembourg through the area around Notre Dame, including a walk through the Cathedral and the Crypte of Notre Dame, and to around the Museu Carnavalet and Place Des Vosges. Taking out time for breakfast and lunch, both very light and French, we walked for 5 hours and saw a lot of beauty.

(I am sorry if my discriptions aren't inline with the correct photo - Blogger is so limiting.)

The first angel in two views was in the gardens. The stylist above a small church on a side street. Painting in the Museum.

One of the many statues decorating the front of Notre Dame.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angels with the nativity inside Notre Dame.

 

What to do when stuck in an airport -

   

      

     

why take 100s of photos, of course.

 

STUCK in the airport -

Our itinerary went like this – leave the apartment in Rio at 4 pm on Saturday the 19th, arrive Paris CDG at 8:15 am on the 20th, catch the flight to Rome at 9:45, arrive Rome 11:30 am,  be at Mirella’s apartment in time for a lunch before taking a shower and a nap.   Dinner Party with special guests 8:00 PM.

The Reality. At 3:45 (7:45 pm Paris time) on the 19th received notice from Air France via email that flight to Rome was canceled. At airport received new flight information –
will arrive in Rome a little more than an hour later that anticipated. Still a good plan.

Left Rio Happy!

Arrived at CDG at the anticipated time…

No sleep during flight – turbulence, very small chair, chair does not go back but one notch.

 

On arrival - New flight to Rome canceled…. Earliest available seat 5:10 pm. (only 9 hour delay) but will also miss dinner party planned to celebrate our visit – disaster for Mirella  –  lots of food prepared in advance.

 

Free voucher given by AF for lunch ‘anyplace’ we want to eat…. Had a bad sandwich at 2 pm.   Moved from section to section  – as crowds swelled, more flight cancelations – prospective passengers orderly, patient, quiet…. Hungry - lousy food available in terminal 2F of CDG.   Bathrooms clean, coffee and pastries very good.    Could have used some solid food though - feel kind of woozy from Caffeine and sugar snacks all day.

 

At 5:10 scheduled depart time – no plane had arrived, a lot of restless movement – some polite grumbling – can’t get a hold of Mirella (she was already going to the airport to pick us up) Plane arrived, is cleaned, fueled, Loaded with very tired, hungry passengers at 8:45 pm --- a brief wait on the runway, arrived Rome 11:00pm  (can you say Zombies) – wait for luggage – carousel goes around and around. Only my bag arrives, Camillo goes to stand in line – he is 20th in line….. I sit out front with Mirella.  Camillo comes out with a promise of luggage within 3 days…. It is now nearly 3 am….

We head for the apartment in Rome – only takes 25 minutes no traffic on the road.  I am pretty sure our 10 hour trip took 28 hours. The luggage arrives, we leave the next morning to return to our holiday in Paris….. The carousel goes round and round…. What are the odds….????  

Camillo’s luggage did not arrive – after a long wait in line it is promised for tomorrow!
New shirts and underwear purchased in Rome in the luggage, heavy coat in the luggage….

Bought him a new sweater- wrapped my purple silk neck scarf around his neck;  put my red NY cap on his head. We went to dinner – wine was excellent.

Tomorrow is a new day