Tour de Paris

First full day we were Eiffel Tower bound early, no big surprise there. The earlier you get there the better so we were off on foot by about 8:30, and it was about a 30 minute walk down Rue Malakoff, which  means Malakoff Road. I learned a lot of French whilst in Paris. We grabbed some pastries from a nice cafe owner who spoke no English but pointed us in the right direction when we asked for "pastries". I'm pretty sure there word for it is similar. One fruit filled for her, and one big abstract fried donut for him. Him wins again. We think we're getting close and round a corner and boom, there it is, big damn tower smack in the middle of the city. It was cloudy at this early hour and it made for a very cool backdrop for my initial photos of it.

We get up to the line(s) and only wait about 30 minutes before we had a ticket in hand and up we go. Heights don't really bother me as I said before, but for Carrie, different story, as I have also said before. We opted to go to the very top of course, which surprisingly was Carrie's idea. We had to. Can't half ass the Eiffel Tower?! Took video footage on the way up which I'm excited to see play on the TV. View up top is spectacular, big surprise. I'm gonna have to do some Googling when I get home on comparisons of Eiffel Tower and the Peak in HK, I'd venture to say the Eiffel is higher. "Top of the Eiffel Tower" officially crossed of the Bucket List. 

We hoof it down the Champs Élysées. If Rodeo Drive and 5th Avenue are children this street is their mother. We head toward the Arc de Triomphe do get another stellar view of the Paris skyline. This one did not have fancy elevations to take you up, instead a winding staircase straight up (nice photo op here) with 254 little steps for you to earn your view. The legs were burnin and you get a tad dizzy about half way. At this spot in Paris all of the roads all generate from this roundabout surrounding the arc, which again makes for a very cool photo. Arc de Triomphe...check!

After the morning of heavy sight seeing we ready for some grub. We had loaded up these apps for Athens, Paris, and London called Guide Pal, which worked without needing wifi which was great. It suggested a very authentic French restaurant called Chartier where you could get foie gras for 6.90 euro! Sign me up. The waiter was very rude but the app told us they were so we didn't care, plus we were kinda used to it by now. We get sat with an older lady, Genevieve. Literally. She was seated at a 4 top by herself and they sat us with her. She was from Ibiza, Spain on "holiday" in Paris for the summer staying with family. Only way we were able to communicate with her was by way of my Spanglish skills. She spoke no English but fluent in Spanish and French. If I didn't know any Spanish this would have been a very awkward meal. We enjoyed her company very much, so much I got a photo of her and Carrie and she offered to take one of us. Beautiful older lady and very sweet.

Back to the food. We of course ordered the "bloc de foie gras", which was a terrine with one long toast point and a roasted plum, which was on time. We order the potato soup, nice, 12 escargot still in the shell, yum, and tartar de boeuf. The beef tartar was served with sliced raw onion on top and a bottle of tobasco and worcestershire. The boeuf was not seasoned at all so I dabble a little tobasco. Still needed more. So more I gave it. Every bottle of worcestershire I've ever used comes out slow. Not this one. I attempt to dabble a little on and proceed to drench the majority of the dish. Didn't really matter though, nothing could have saved this boeuf.  Great meal paired with a bottle of French chard for 12 euros which wasn't great but it had alcohol in it and it was from France:) This place writes your order on the white paper table cloth and at the end they tally it up and give you your total. Our delightful server asked if we wanted dessert before he began scribbling on the table. We declined and he said "my shift is over" and basically told us he was done and as a result, so were we. So pleasant this freakin' guy. I swear, in the States I would have gone up the ladder to have this dude fired. But we were in Paris, so...when in Rome.

Next stop on our quest was Sacre Coeur Church atop the Montmarte Hill. This was getting into the evening hour and there were people chilling all over the grassy area that leads you up to the church. We popped a squat for a minute to drink in the scene here. Peaceful and serene. The image of this church atop this beautiful grassy hill with the blue and white sky behind is like nothing else. I think I enjoyed this more than the Eiffel Tower and the Arc. Once inside there are no photos allowed, which I respected and adhered to. There are signs everywhere requesting silence as this is a place of worship. There are areas all around the outside where you can light a candle of remembrance.

I'm going to get serious for the only time so far in this blog. The night before we left on this amazing journey, Carrie and I were having a good bit of anxiety in preparing ourselves mentally for this. I found strength and expressed to her that I was going to do this in the Spirit of those I have lost, who were robbed of their opportunity and chance to go and see the World as we were able to do now.

The friends and family I speak of are my cousin, David Kellett, who passed away of cancer this year. My dear friend Reed Williams, who lost his battle with cancer as well this year. My dear friend Tiffany Green, again another to lose her battle with the evil that is cancer. And my dear friend, Tanner Odom, who lost his life in a car accident. The Spirits and Angels that were there that day are not limited to these four, and their presence was definitely felt. But I lit a candle in remembrance of these four in particular. They were taken away too early. I felt like the strength I get from the memory of these people dear to my heart was compelling me to do this for them in this Holy setting. It was a moment that Carrie and I shared, and will never forget, as long as I live. These are our Angels that watch over us, in ways we don't even know or can comprehend. And for that, I am very grateful. I wanted to thank them for watching over us in our wonderful journey that I did in their honor.

On that note I am going to stop. I can't really follow that with anything without it seeming...I don't know...uninteresting? In any event. God Bless you all...

Andy