The Next Leg (and other aching body parts)

Daniel woke from his Amsterdam sick day feeling human, barely. Off to the train station, on to Paris, our next and last stop! Traveling on the train has become my new favorite way to go; with spacious seats, a light lunch, drinks, and snacks, we were ready to enjoy Paris!

We stayed at an inexpensive hotel in the Bastille area of Paris, sticking with the theme that my birthday is on Bastille Day, and that was the entire reason for the Paris trip. Do they charge for the room by the square foot? Our room was the size of a small shoe box. We had to dance around, climb over the bed, slink sideways, twist backs, and stub toes, but we're in Paris! Our first evening's dinner was at a casual "burger" place Daniel had been to and knew the chef: good food, a fantastic wine list, and my first taste of real french fries.

On day two in Paris, we walked and walked and walked. First to the Louvre, mostly because I had not seen the addition of the glass pyramid (Pompidou Center). The crowds were enormous, and we had fun just hanging out and people-watching. Rested and entertained, we headed, again by foot, to the Musee D'Orsay. The first sculpture to greet us; Lady Liberty. This a strong reminder of who gifted that icon to the US. There was a magnificent temporary joint exhibit of Manet and Degas. We didn't last long there; the crowds were overwhelming. Next, we were caught in the pouring rain, but wet shoes, clothes, and dripping hair didn't stop our attempt to shop, but we gave up because of the crowds.

Ah, the dinner, the main event. Daniel took me to the restaurant on top of the Eiffel Tower (the Jules Verne) for my birthday. The view of the city was extraordinary, both in the early evening and after dark, and the food was mostly perfect (a few misses). A very special evening and a wonderful memory for me.

The next day, we hit the road again on aching feet, with a trip to the Gustave Moreau Museum, studio, and house-one very busy and prolific artist. Over 25,000 works of his art were housed there, with long spiral staircases to maneuver. It was a hidden gem, not crowded, peaceful, providing a much-welcomed calm. Keeping the quiet mode of the day, our next stop was the Cemetery at Montmartre. Usually, I am a little creeped out at cemeteries, but this one was fascinating. It is enormous and has extravagant graves, including Emil Zola, Berlioz, Nijinsky, Foucault, and many other philosophers, artists, writers, royals, and luminaries. Crypts from the 1700s to within the past year, covered acres of property with none further than two inches from each other. Centuries of families are buried in crypts, with bodies stacked, elaborately built and decorated.

I felt very Parisian on the last Paris experience, a stop for a light bite and drinks at a Paris Café with no tourists. A perfect day, an ideal trip, and the reality of traveling the next morning. Since Daniel is staying to work for a few more weeks, I have been tasked with taking the largest of our suitcases home. It is so heavy I will have to unpack much of it in the Walla Walla airport parking lot to lift it into my car. My aching legs, my aching back, and I can't wait for the next trip, but first, Advil!