Christmas in Paris 2017

Christmas 2017 was bound to be different than any other we have ever had.  We didn't have family here in Germany so we planned a fabulous trip with good friends, to PARIS!  The Canfields and Goodall's took the ICE train from Frankfurt to France.  We were in first class so it was very roomy and even had a table between us.  France was wonderful, beautiful and rainy.  It drizzled just about daily.  The Harrison's, the other couple that joined us arrived after we got there.  We were grateful that Anita and Steve had been to France many times and knew exactly where to go and what to see!  The first day, we walked 12.2 miles.....whew!!!!  We took the subway from our hotel into Paris....about 10 minutes away and walked all over.  We saw the Arc de Triomphe, place de la Concorde (although the gardens were empty because it's winter),  the Louvre,  Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, the Sainte Chapelle Cathedral and the ChampsElysees.  We ate at Lorraine's (famous for their hot chocolate and desserts) and had such a wonderful time together.  We WALKED Everywhere we went! We couldn't help but notice the armed guards and police with machine guns everywhere we went, even inside the Louvre!  It's a scary world we live in today!  Somehow, the guards didn't make me feel safe but instead made me a little uneasy just always being reminded that there are probably terrorists among us.

Below are the Canfield's from California.  Don't know who that man is in the background! (photo bomb).....  We have a really great time with them!

 This picture below is the side of the Notre Dame Cathedral.  It was just beautiful inside and the biggest church I've ever seen.  This cathedral is know to be one for the finest know French Gothic Architecture.  It is the largest Catholic Church in the world.  It is said to house  some of the relics of Christ's death......the crown of thorns that Christ was made to wear, a piece of the cross and one of the nails from that cross.  In the 1790's Notre Dame suffered a lot of damage during the French Revolution.  An extensive renovation began in 1845 and then again in 1991.  It is a beautiful LARGE building.....I would have liked to see a mass here but we didn't have time.

 This picture below is right down the street from our hotel and you can see the metro to the right which took us to downtown Paris.

 Stunning Architecture we saw as we walked down the ChampeElysees

Friends forever, it's interesting how you can meet someone and instantly feel a kinship to them, that's what happened with the Canfield's and Goodall's and so many other wonderful people we have met while serving here!

 I just loved the store fronts and all the Christmas decorations!

 This is the Basilica Cathedral St. Denis, where the kings and queens of France are said to be entombed.

 Inside the Notre Dame Cathedral

 Notre Dame Cathedral

 Me and Tony outside the Notre-Dome Cathedral

 The inside of the Sainte Chapelle built by Saint Louis within the medieval royal residence "Palais de la Cite', rises above the current law courts of the Palais de Justice.

 We briefly visited one of the Paris Christmas Markets.

 

What's Christmas without SANTA

Below is a picture of Tony and me and the Canfield's and four young missionaries from America.  We came to help distribute hygiene kits and food to the refugees, most of them from Iraq and Africa

 This was the group of us who worked handing out supplies for the refugees.  The four younger men are full time missionaries from America.

 The long line of refugees waiting for food.

Standing under the Arc de Triomphe

 The tomb of the unknown soldier at the Arc de Triomphe

 A wonderful Christmas in Paris! Goodall's, Canfield's and Harrison's

Photo BOMB!

 Typical street in France

 Campbell and John Harrison

 Anita inside the Four Seasons Hotel

Laduree

 The Pastries in France are MARVELOUS!!!!  Tony loved the Macaron's

Macaron's 

In this picture below, not only is the building beautiful but I took it to show the barracades along the street to protect pedestrians from terrorists running us over!

Everything in Paris is so close, you literally can walk everywhere.  To Tonys left is the Champs Elysees and then the Louvre and the Eiffel tower in the distance.

It was rainy and chilly but we had a ball ..... we look forward to going again in the spring.

 Another Beautiful Store Window

 Louis Vuitton Headquarters

 This is Angelina's.... the hot chocolate is to die for!  There was a long line outside, just to get in!

Inside Angelina's

Desserts and Hot Chocolate at Angelina's

Anita and Campbell looking at the map figuring out where to go next.....

The Canfield's

....The Louvre....

This is the first thing you see as you walk into the Louvre.  Notice how small the people are.....this place is huge! 

Guards everywhere!  We were also told to beware of "pickpockets"!!!

 The Louvre

this is also part of the Louvre, it is HUGE!

I was really surprised at how small the "Mona Lisa" is!  It's only about 16X20

One of the things I loved about the Louvre was Napoleon Bonaparte's apartment.....more like a mansion within a castle!

This is Napoleons chair ..... thrown

the Crown Jewels

The case for the crown jewels

Famous Rembrandt picture .... of Rembrandt!

Time to leave the Louvre and walk to the Eiffel Tower.....we turned down and street and there it was!

Going thru security at the Eiffel Tower

The view from the Tower

Pere Lachaise Cemetery where many famous people are buried including Jim Morrison from the DOOR'S and Chapin

Even tho the weather wasn't great we still found people outside enjoying the holidays and eating at cafe's

Typical street 

AND.......another photo bomb!!!!!!!

Heading back from the Louvre, the ChampsElysees

On the train going home, Anita and Steve Canfield talking to their grand children......made the end of a wonderful Christmas!