On our second day in Paris, Lyle and I managed to get to three
noteworthy attractions, making good use of our two-day Museum Pass. In
the morning we set off for Versailles. The train was absolutely packed.
We were crowded in like sardines. Just when I thought there was no
more space at all, another half dozen people pushed in like a football
rush just as the doors were about to close. We would have fallen over
but there was no place to fall!
I was disappointed at Versailles. Many years ago I had been there on a
beautiful summer day in late August. The flowers in the gardens were
blooming and there were few people around. Contrast that to this visit
when there were hoards of people and the spring flowers had not yet
blossomed. We shuffled our way through the hallways and immense rooms
of the Chateau and were actually relieved to get outside onto the
quieter, less crowded paths of the gardens.
After lunch, following a circuitous train ride back to the city - we
were only slightly lost - we caught the Metro to the Arc de Triomphe.
Not knowing which Metro exit to take, we were quite surprised to pop
out onto street level and find the huge edifice right before us. The
traffic was whipping around the circle at breakneck speed. We had to
find the underground tunnel to get across to the centre.
I had really wanted to climb to the viewing platform at the top.
However, when Lyle eyed the narrow spiral stairwell with many people
lined up, he knew I would have difficulty coming down. There are 400
steps to the top. I am always cautious coming down steps, but
especially so when I feel I am being pushed from behind. We had just
made the decision not to attempt the climb when an attendant noticed my
cane and directed us to a special elevator. I was thrilled. We did not
know of the existence of the lift. At the top it was as wonderful as I
had anticipated.
Lyle had checked the Metro map and noticed that we were only a few stops
from the Louvre. It was late afternoon and hoping that the lines would
not now be too long, we decided to check it out. I especially wanted to
see the Mona Lisa.
The Louvre is huge but we knew where to look, and made our way there.
The line was not long so we entered and went to the information desk.
There we were given a map of the galleries and locations of handicapped
elevators.
After going through security we made our way to the gallery where the
Mona Lisa was located. There was a throng of people around the
painting. We slowly made our way through until we reached the front of
the barrier. I squinted and leaned forward, but still couldn't see the
famous painting. Then a security guard noticed my white cane and
predicament. He came over and let me through the first barrier and led
me through to a second closer barrier to the painting. Now I was able
to make out the painting. It was an emotional moment for me.
I am writing this post after we have just returned from Amiens and
Villers-Bretonneux. Tomorrow we leave for Nice and the French Riviera.
Enjoyed the blogs. I was so disappointed in the Mona Lisa, I thought I was a much larger picture. When I was there, there was only one barrier and you were quite close to the picture.
ReplyDeleteDorothy