Au Revoir Paris !

Père Lachaise Cemetery - Paris

Yesterday was our final day in Paris. I will miss my favorite city, but am happy to be coming home to see my two younger children - I miss them! 

We spent yesterday morning at the Musée d'Orsay looking at various Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works of art. It is a beautiful building as it was intended to be a railroad station but that did not happen. Instead of wasting some lovely architecture, it was turned into a museum.   I would post photos, but the d'Orsay is one of those places with strict no photo rules. We were permitted to take one photo, though, through the clock tower.

D'Orsay Clock View

We strolled back through the Tuileries gardens by the Louvre. Now, I have always liked the French, but after seeing this, I think they are freaking genius. I had planned to buy Bill a riding mower one of these days, but now, I think I'll just buy him a goat! He was tethered, and just munched away the grass throughout the gardens. Brilliant.

Goat Mower

After some lunch, we headed over to the Opéra Garnier for a guided tour. This was the first time Bill and I had the opportunity to tour the Opéra Garnier, and it did not disappoint! Of course this building was made famous by the book turned musical Phantom of the Opera. Our guide let us know that there is no lake beneath the building, although there is a large tank of water (in case of fire). Additionally, the chandelier did not fall, but the counterweight to the chandelier did fall and kill a woman. We learned all kinds of interesting facts not only about the building, but about life during the late 19th Century. We did not see the phantom, but we did see his box!

After the opera, we had a block of free time and spent that shopping until dinner. After dinner was a little more shopping, but most just went to the Seine and took in Paris in the evening one last time. 

Group hug with Larry

This morning, a group of us went to Père Lachaise cemetery where we visited the graves of some famous people. Those who did not go with us either chose to revisit a favorite area of Paris or just sleep in.

Before we let the students go last evening, we warned them that if they did not go with us in the morning, they had to be back at the hotel for our 3 PM departure and that the bus WOULD leave without, then they would be responsible for getting home on their own. Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say as several smiles spread across their faces...we could see the wheels turning, trying to figure out how they could "miss" the bus and stay in Paris. Bill was quick to remind them that they would be homeless and jobless and that their parents would cut off their credit cards, so I am fairly certain everyone is coming home! ha ha

We leave our hotel in an hour, then head to Charles de Gaulle and will fly out at 7:30 PM Paris time (1:30 PM your time). We will see you all very soon...I'm sure you are excited to see your loved ones, and they are excited to see you and share with you their wonderful adventure in Europe! Thank you for following along! Au revoir!