Paris with Parisans

Today was probably the best day of the trip. To see France with the French is the best. Marine's family came up from the south of France for the week end. They took us all over Paris on a Whirl wind tour! We met her dad Serge, at the metro stop,since Marine and her mom were with the real estate lady looking at her new apartment. Serge only knows a little bit of english but we got along fine! He and Randy got along great with lots of hand gestures! We went to Marine's apt. and he had juice and croissants, pain au chocolat, croissant raisan, etc. It was our second breakfast and as good as the first! We took the bus to La Place de Bastille. that is considered the starting point of the french revolution. The Parisans stormed the Bastille to free 7 prisoners, 80 Swiss guqrds were killed and 100 others.Then on to the place de Voges were Victor Hugo lived and the palace of the Dauphine. On to the Hotel de ville (city hall) which was absolutely beautiful and even had an ice skating rink set up in front. Then on to Notre Dame ( this is all on foot by the way...) We took the audio tour and saw the church's sacred relics, the crown of thorns, a piece of the cross and a nail from the cruxifiction. The windows are breath taking. Thank goodness they were not destroyed in the revolution because everything else was. There was mass going on so we stayed for that. Then we walked to the University district near the Sorbonne and bought sandwiches and ate by the Siene.We walked to the boat dock and took the cruise on the River Siene. You can see all of the monuments from the river, it was cold but incredible. We sat outside center front. We were frozen and found a Starbucks to warm up. 3 coffees and one cookie 25 dollars. We shopped at Gallerie de Layfayette the largest dept store in Paris. It has a beautiful stained glass dome in the center. You can go up to the 7 floor and out on the roof and see all of Paris. I will post pictures when I get home.We got on the subway and rode it to Montmartre and climed the hill to see Sacre Coeur. It is so beautiful there and you can see all of Paris. We toured the Cathedral went to Mass, saw some nun's and admired the mosaic dome. Out side there was a bride having her picture taken. In France a church wedding is not legal so you have to get married by the courts first. It was easier going down than up! The streeets are a little like San Francisco, they have minature police cars and buses to fit in the streets. We enjoyed watching all of the artists painting and the little shops. It was my family's favorite place of the trip. We walked through Pigalle "Pig alley" to the American soldiers in the 40's if you get my drift... Saw the Moulin Rouge, it had a huge line. We hopped on the subway and headed to a little french restuarant that Marine picked out. Had a great steak dinner and met her boyfriend there also. We had wine, tons of bread and great conversation! Marine was exhausted after being tour guide all day and interpreter between Randy and Serge! We said good bye to her family and headed back to the motel. What a great day!