And off we go!

As most of you know we have left for our trip. Currently we are in Dijon visiting our friend Alison, But for the past four days we have been exploring Paris, and Normandy in France.

We arrived in Paris last Thursday on the Eurostar through the chunnel, and spent forever looking for our hotel. It was really just under our noses, but we failed to notice its understated sign above the enormormous McDondalds right below it. Once we dropped our bags off and got settled a bit, we went to La Gare du Nord to firgure out our train reservations to Dijon, and then on to Lausanne Switzerland. The woman was very helpful and it was nice to see that people knew what the eurail pass was, and how it worked. From there we decided to just take a walk. We headed towards the Louvre and Les Jardins des Tuileries, and then over to Notre Dame Cathedral. It was a beautiful day, and we were both ready to be out of a train for a bit. The walk felt really good. There were a million people on the Ile de la Cite, and it was packed by the Notre Dame, but we went inside anyway, mainly because it was free. There were a million people inside as well, but if was still magnificent, and well worth the trouble. By that point it was getting later, and we decided to head back to our hotel. Out of convenience and price, we opted for the delicous cuisine known as the big mac. We were both tired and didn't feel like trying to figure anything more out. It was then that Justin announced that he felt like McDonalds was his own personal Embassy, because he always knew what to expect and it felt like home...clearly the delirium was kicking in.

The next day was friday, and we headed out to the Centre Pompidou, a modern museum, literally made to look like it was built inside out. As is only fitting the modern art inside was just as avant garde, and it was fun just to poke around, not to mention it was absolutely pouring and we didn't want to try to find something outdoors to do. We went to get a cup of coffee, and Justin wanted a sandwich, so we headed over to our other safe haven, Starbucks. Unfortunately they didn't take our giftcards, so Justin ended up spending a fortune on a bad sandwich, and I decided that certain sacrifices had to be made to the Travel Gods to make them happy, since as we left our overpriced meal behind us, the sky started to clear. We had made the Travel Gods happy. We finished the day in the Louvre, were we saw the Mona Lisa- as disappointing as Plymouth Rock and Stonehenge, but none the less a must see. After wandering around a bit we went towards the Eiffel Tower, and saw it at night, light up and as beautiful as ever, before making our way back to the hotel.

Saturday we went to Normandie, to Bayeaux, and the D-Day beaches. It was once again miserable and rainy, but we made the best of it. It was still beautiful, and the mist in the air made the beaches seem somewhat more authentic than if it had been sunny. We saw the pointe du hoc, Omaha beach, and the German and American cemetaries. The American Cemetary was a place I had been before, but there were so many Americans, and we have been in Europe for so long now, that to be on American Soil, and to see the American Flag waving was somewhat surreal. At one point they lowered the flags, and played taps, and it gave me goosebumps to see everyone stop and take off their hats, and wait for the song to be done. It was incredible. And there were soooooo many Americans there.

We had wanted to go to Versailles on Monday, but I read that it was closed on Mondays, so we went on Sunday instead. It was as well packed with people, and we waited in line forever to get in. I had been here before as well, but as a tour group you dont see everything. I was happy to see it again anyway. Once we finally got in though, there were so many people that I didn't even enjoy itm but it was an amazingly beautiful day, and the sun was shining, so the time in line wasn't too awful, and the gardens after were very enjoyable. We both got ice cream and just hung out for a bit before returning to the city. We got back, and there was some kind of earthday rally going on, and it was pretty cool to see all these performers and whatnot in the city dancing around and playing music, it was really a good time. From there we strolled down the Champs Elysses, and saw the Arc de Triomphe before dinner in the Marais district.

Yesterday was our last day in Paris, and we ended with a bang, we went to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower and then went over to the Sacre Coeur, and Monmarte, famous for its art and bohemian lifestyle. We had lunch at a small cafe, and then made our back to the hotel and the train station to catch our train to Dijon and Alison.

When we arrived in Dijon we got the hotel right away this time, and found Alison. It was good to see another friendly face, and so we went to a local bar and caught up with eachother over a pint. Today, Alison gave us an impromptu tour of her home for the past six months, and we had lunch at one of her universities cafes. Tonight I think we are having dinner with her host mother, and then we may go out for a bit. Tomorrow though, we head to Lausanne Switzerland, and then on to Interlaken, so it won't be too late of a night. I can't believe we are already on to Switzerland, when we planned our trip, it felt like we were going to be in France forever, but I guess time just seems to slip through your fingertips when you are travelling. We should have internet more readily available for the rest of our trip, so I should be able to update more regularly which is nice. (as long as we don't anger the travel gods any more!)

...And sorry about the pictures, you are all going to have to wait till I get home to see those, but I promise I will get them up as soon as I can when I get back!