Last day of Eclairs

Yup today was the last day in Paris! crazy! It has gone by way way way too fast. Tomorrow morning we head to Barcelona. It should be awesome. I can't wait!

But today was a great last day. We went to a surprise destination today. We went to the Perre Lachaise cemetery. And this was no normal cemetery like in the states. All of the graves are like little houses. So strange. But it was fascinating at the same time. It was really creepy to be there but you just can't leave because I wanted to see what the other ones looked like! And they are all packed in so tight together, without nice even rows like the states have. It was very different and very cool to see. Then we went to Luxembourg park. It was so pretty! We got a chance to do some sketching there so that was nice. 

Then we got some random little french pizza things (odd) and the most amazing eclairs in the whole world. Mary and I had them before and we had to get them today because it was our last chance! They have purple icing on the top and like a vanilla pudding in the middle, but they don't taste like a normal vanilla, they taste like purple! I don't know...like roses or something...but they are fantastic. We tried to eat them as slow as possible. haha! I want another one!

But now we have to pack and get all ready for our early flight to Spain tomorrow. So exciting!

Creepy that this is in a cemetery but cute picture anyways! 

Being a Tourist

Spent the whole day at Versailles!! Amazing!!! It was the Hunting lodge and then the Palace for the kings and queens of france. So like the louis' and Marie Antoinette and Napoleon. But it was so incredibly crowded. I couldn't even believe it. We got herded through the entire palace by an un-countable number of asian tour groups. Wow. It was insane. We barely got to see anything.
But we spent most of the day in the gardens. I wish the fountains could have been on! but they are only on, on certain days. but that is alright. It was still amazing to see. The grounds are huge! It took us all day to walk around not even close to all of it. Nuts. Very fun to see.
And now we have just spent the last 5 hours developing patterns representing the countries we have been to. Not easy my friends!!

I took over 600 pictures! It was hard to pick a few ;)

Hikin in the city and a picnic at the Eiffel tower? Well alright then.

Oh ya guess what. I can't do patterns to save my life! wow! but anyways this morning we worked on three of our patterns, and ill just say that mine need a lot of work....

Then we were off on the town! We first went to Moulin Rouge. Haha interesting....

Then we hiked through the city all the way up to Sacre Coeur. There is a huge cathedral there and this is the highest point in Paris. There were amazing views.

Then around sunset Stephanie, Griffin, Mary and I had the most adorable picnic ant the Eiffel Tower in the whole world. We went to the grocery store and all bought stuff to make sandwiches. Then we took it all to the Eiffel Tower and sat on the lawn below it and made our sandwiches and ate while we were serenaded by a cellist. And the sun was setting and it was just INCREDIBLE! One of the cutest things we have done. Great day :)

8.5 kilometers!

Awesome day! We got to see the Paris Opera House! Parts of the Phantom of the Opera were filmed here. It was gorgeous.
Then we just go to see the business side of the city and we walked all the way to the grand arch from the louvre. That was a long LONG way!! holy moly what a walk! But it was pretty fun. Great day :)

On top of the world

whew had a free day! So off we went around the city. We first went to the Zaha Hadid exhibit. It was fantastic! Her work is so different and very cool. I like it a lot. Then we go to see Notre Dame. Very awesome. Then we got to do one of the coolest things! We actually got to go up in the Eiffel Tower! oh ya. All the way to the very top. It was incredible! It wasn't as romantic as I thought it was going to be though. I don't know how anyone would get proposed to up there. It is packed!! And so high and it is scary! haha! boo. But it was still so fun to see. We werer up there till like 1 a.m. too and we were some of the last people up there so then it was awesome when everyone left. haha good times!

Wow what a stressful morning! We wanted to go to church but didnt know about it till 30 mins before. So we hurried to get ready then had to call a cab and find this crazy place! its was just a whole in the wall in the middle of no where. so scary! but the members were so incredibly nice. there were even some americans! and then a super nice member gave us a ride home. awesome!

then we went to the Arc de Triomphe. so freakin fantastic! and our museum pass let us go all the way to the top. there are some incredible views! then we walked around and checked out paris. then we had a chocolate party! what a way to end the day :)

When you are from Russia, you are Russia

Today was one of the most exciting days! Well nights I guess, Because!-We actually got to sleep in this morning and it was so nice. We didn't even meet up until around 2 and then we all piled on a huge coach bus. We first stopped at Fontainbleu. Amazing! It was this huge house that the kings of France and Napoleon used as their Hunting house. It was so cool to see. It is all decked out and amazing.
Then we all went to a grocery store and got everything we could in 20 minutes to get stuff we needed for our picnic dinner. We then went to Vaux le Vicomte and had our lunch in a pavilion across the road from the mansion. Then we got to tour the fantastic gardens and then the house itself. I wish that I had a house like this! It was so incredible. Then we got to have a firework show just out over the gardens. It was so awesome! It was just the way to end an incredible day!
Awesome French word! - "Au revoir" - Goodbye

Fontainbleu

Fontainbleu Chapel

Vaux le Vicomte

Caboosey Corbusier

Today was great!  We walked all over Paris. My feet hate me, but my brain is bursting with knowledge! haha I have a feeling this is going to be a weird blog....I'm so tired!  but anywho.....
We got to see a living wall. Its where they plant plants all over the wall to make up for the ground that the building took over. It's Green and it's awesome! We then went to the Musée d'Orsay. It is in an old train station and it is fantastic. There are so many amazing things to see. We got to see works by Van Gogh and Monet and so many other incredible artists. My favorite was the Art Nouveau section. I have learned about almost all of those designers in my history class (thank you Darrin!!), and then to see the works for real was amazing! We even had time to sit down and sketch a little bit so to be there in front of the real pieces was such an awesome experience. It was a great museum. 
Then we were off to Villa Savoy. Again it was incredible! It is by Le Corbusier around the 1930's and it is so modern. I have loved learning about it and then getting to see it for real was just such a fantastic thing to do! I loved everything about it. It is an amazing place to go.
Awesome French word!- "Bonjour" - Hello

Eiffel Tower

Living Wall

Musée d'Orsay

Banana and Nutella Crepe :D

Sexy Staircase at Villa Savoy

Villa Savoy

Love the Louvre

What a busy day!!! We went all over the place. It was so much fun though. We got to go all over Paris. We first went to the Sainte Chapelle Cathedral. It looks like it is built more of stained glass than of stone. It is very beautiful. Then we went to the Pompidou! I love the architecture. It is by Piano. It almost looks like it isn't finished, but I think that is what makes it interesting. It is just a museum. There are sculptures and paintings. There are a lot of great things to see there. And the escalator is on the outside of the building up a tube, so you get the most incredible views of Paris. Then we went to the Louvre! So fantastic! The architecture is by I.M. Pei. I love the modern architecture in the middle of the historic buildings. The main things that we got to see were the Mona Lisa, The Venus, and the Napoleon Apartments. It was all pretty fantastic.
Later Mary and I went out for dinner. It is very interesting to try to get dinner here.... So we went to this Crepe Restaurant at 6:45 and they weren't open till 7. So ok we sit down to wait. And then all the workers come outside to have a smoke break. And this one guy thats a chef starts talking to us and it is way to hard to understand him. but we finally can go in and the chef guy says he will make us amazing crepes. And he did! They were very good. And we didn't even know what we were getting, because it was all in french. haha! but that made it so fun. Then the chef gives us his number and his address for his new restaurant that he is opening in 2 months. haha so funny!
Then we went back to this place we had gotten pizza at the night before and we got a dessert. It was our fun little date! Night on the town ;)
Awesome French word! - "Merci" -Thank you

The outside of the cathedral

The beautiful stained glass

The Pompidou 

The Louvre

Venus de Milo