Helen's Home World: Paris

Showing posts with label Paris. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Oui, Oui, Paris!

So my big trip this year was a river cruise on the Seine, Paris to Normandy return; a 7 night cruise again with Amawaterways. We flew into Paris two days before the cruise and stayed in Paris for 4 nights after the cruise.

I was a little disappointed by this cruise, we had selected the itinerary because of an excursion in Normandy to the Juno Beach Centre, Juno beach, one of the British beaches and a Canadian Commonwealth War cemetery. After we had already selected our excursions, Amawaterways combined the Canadian/British excursion with the American one. We never even received notice of the change although some guests did get an email. The official Normandy Beaches excursion was now just to an American cemetery, Omaha beach and Juno beach; although on our cruise they did make it to a Canadian cemetery as well. My sister and I opted out of the Beaches excursion and did the other full day excursion to the Pays d'Auges.

We enjoyed our time in Paris, although I have to say Paris did not wow me like other cities did. We visited the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Sainte Chappelle, and Notre Dame before going on the cruise. The day after we got back from the cruise it was the free museum Sunday and we visited the Rodin museum and the D'Orsay. We also wandered around Monmarte, Sacre Coeur and the Pere Lachaise cemetery.

Eiffel Tower

Arc de Triomphe

Tomb of the Unknown

The day after our arrival day, we happened to wander by the Odette cafe after visiting Sainte Chapelle and Notre Dame, so we had to stop for some chou pastries and coffee. We ate up by that third storey window.

View of Notre Dame from Odette

Our cruise was on the AmaDante. It was a slightly smaller ship than we had sailed on before, it can carry a max of 144 passengers. We had nice weather and the rivers in France were not affected by low water conditions that affected the Rhine and Danube this year.

AmaDante in Rouen

My favourite stops on the cruise were to Rouen and Monet's Gardens. Rouen is a medieval city where Joan of Arc was burnt on the stake. After our morning excursion in Rouen where we had a chance to try Normandy cheeses and chocolate, we opted out of an afternoon excursion so we could stay in town and wander around a little.

Chapel of Joan of Arc

Exterior of the church

Monet's Gardens

Monet's Home

On our return to Paris, we docked for the day at one location but then did a technical move to our disembarkation location. The Captain takes the ship as far up the Seine as he can before turning back to dock. This was our view on that last evening.

Eiffel Tower from the AmaDante

Our first day back in Paris, we went to Sacre Coeur and Monmarte as it was only about a 20 minute walk from our hotel.

Sacre Coeur

Montmarte

Passe Muraille

Our next day was the free museum Sunday, I had booked tickets for the D'Orsay for the afternoon so we went to the Rodin in the morning, where unfortunately we found out they only participate in the free museum Sunday during the winter months. I enjoyed the Rodin but my sister didn't care for it. We both enjoyed the D'Orsay. If you only go to one museum in Paris, I would pick the D'Orsay.

Rodin's The Thinker

Gates of Hell

D'Orsay Museum

Our next day was a day trip out of Paris, most people go to Versailles, but we went to Chateau Chantilly where there is a large house with gardens but also Europe's largest museum to the horse. Unfortunately the horse demonstration was given all in French so even for me some of it was difficult to understand. The Chateau is about half an hour walk from the train station, there is supposed to be a bus and a shuttle but the bus only runs about every 40 minutes and we couldn't find out any information on the shuttle so we walked there and back.

On our last day in Paris we went to the Pere Lachaise cemetery, where many notable people are buried. A lot of websites say you'll need a guide to find tombs of the famous people but Google maps actually did a pretty good job. We spent much of the morning wandering around and then had lunch in the area before heading back into Paris where we had one last look at the Eiffel Tower.

Jim Morrison's Grave

Chopin's Grave

George Bernard Shaw's Grave

Even though I was a bit disappointed with not seeing the Canadian landing beach at Normandy, we still enjoyed the cruise and we bought future cruise credits so will be doing another cruise between now and 2029. We haven't picked a cruise yet and next year it's a rail trip in Portugal and Spain.

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother