The French Connection

After a week of tramping around London, I was not sure how France would compare. I was so in love with this city, and I admit, a bit nervous about the language barrier and alleged rudeness of the French. You always hear so much negativity or horror stories from other travelers, but I was committed to having an open mind. Isn't that the American way?

After a relaxing train ride, we arrived in Nice shortly after midnight, and soon realized there were no taxis waiting or bus line running. We knew our hotel was just a block or two away, but scouring foreign streets past midnight made us both a little uneasy. But, we were relieved to see many another traveler heading down well-lit streets, and so we scooted in behind them. Luckily, we didn't have to lug our baggage too far before we saw the yellow brick of Hotel Gounod. Thank you Google Maps for giving us visual cues along the way!

Nice was the relaxing leg of our trip, and we did not venture too far. We went to the rocky beaches, strolled along the streets, and practiced our conversational French. We discovered that if you broach a conversation in French, usually you will be answered in English. Most Americans carry their nationality on their foreheads, and we were no exception. The restaurants were quaint, and the food delicious. It was interesting to experience the European view of the human body, and how there is no fear of indecency. Children swim naked and women lie around topless, and no one thinks the different for it. My prudish American ways were not offended, but I did leave my top on, lol.







We hopped back on the train after 3 glorious days in Nice, and headed to the metropolitan that is Paris. Our cab driver on the way to the hotel was very chatty, and very supportive of President Obama. He predicted a great future for America and for the world, which made us both feel very welcomed. Of course, the French did want us to spend money in their country, but I think that is true for anywhere these days. We never heard a negative word the whole time we were over there, and we were pleasantly surprised at the hospitality. Hotel Magenta in Paris, though the neighborhood was not ideal, had a great staff who answered our questions and helped us work out our logistics. An extra day in Paris would have been nice, but we did accomplish a great deal for only having two days to sightsee.

Our first day, we attacked the Louvre with ambition, excitement, and a filling breakfast. We arrived about an hour after opening, and made a beeline to Mona. I knew that room would explode with people the later it got, so we rushed down halls following the arrows and signs. We got a bit distracted by the grandeur and magnificence of the ceilings, stairways, not to mention the artwork everywhere. But, I'm grateful, because we got pretty close to the tiny, yet exceptional work that is the Mona Lisa. You have to see her, and that mysterious smile, if you make it to Paris. It is a must. She was encased in glass, surrounded by a barrier, and observed by two very bored security guards.




There was so much to see and experience at the Louvre, that my head whirls with even trying to recount it. Here are some of my favorites:

• Napoleon's apartments - so much red velvet and gold, amazing and ostentatious 
• Coronation Crown of Louis XV
• The Wedding Feast at Cana, Veronese - big fan of the sweeping, gigantic paintings 
• The Raft of the Medusa, T. Gericault - pretty epic
• Code of Hammurabi
• Aphrodite aka Venus de Milo - she was completely exquisite 
• Psyche and Cupid, A. Canova - gorgeous sculpture
• Every Greek and Roman statue or sculpture - love these!

We ended our day long adventure after a quick trip to the Starbucks in the Louvre (oh yes, that's right).