Day 17 – Paris, France

Since yesterday had been fully planned, I wanted today to be much less scheduled. We began with a morning stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens. The gardens were in full bloom. Joggers exercised around the perimeter while Parisians with model boats raced them on pond. There was also a morning band playing under the trees. It was truly one of those places where you could be content, just hanging out, enjoying the views and people watching.

Our next stop was the Saint-Sulpice Cathedral, home to one of the largest pipe organs in Europe…7000 pipes! We had learned that the organist, Daniel Roth,  did a mini concert after Sunday morning mass. We arrived at 11:30 assuming 10:30 mass would be ending. Since mass was not over yet, we sat in the back listening to the music and watch 5 clergy members celebrating mass due to an Arch Bishop’s visit. Apparently, a 90 minute mass does not go over well with Parisian Catholics either, as I watched parishioners check their watches, and then scurrying out at Communion.

There was a constant stream of tourists entering the church, but fortunately, they were all respectful of the mass and did not aimless wander around the cathedral, but stayed in back patiently reading their tour books. The Saint-Sulpice was popularized when Dan Brown included the Cathedral in his novel, “The DaVinci Code.” The author took some major liberties with his facts regarding the church and the Rose Meridian. The parish actually has a small display which stated all the things from the book that are not real, so “Don’t bother looking for them.”

After mass, the Daniel Roth went off on his own personal organ concert. Everyone could feel every note played. 7000 pipes sure can produce some awe-inspiring music. The mini concert lasted 30 minutes and then a few of us were allowed to climb the winding staircase up to meet  the organist. In the depths, we saw the ancient peddle bellows that the organist’s assistants used to stand on to pump air into the organ. The organist was completely surrounded by keys and a red velvet curtain covered his view of the cathedral. We were able to speak to him briefly and share our experiences at The Stanford Memorial Church organ concerts. He knew Robert Hew Morgan (Stanford’s organist) and had played the organ there himself. I wish we could have watched him play, but it was more of a meet and greet with an Organ Rock Star.

Back out on the Parisian Streets, we located the Apple Store underneath the Louvre. The lines to get into the Louvre were insane. There was a line of 200 people, just waiting for a chance to get into the ticket purchasing area that was filled with never ending lines. However, with our Museum Pass, we walked directly in the side entrance above the sculpture garden for a bathroom break and to enjoy a short rest in the sculpture gallery. The museum center was in utter chaos, but the sculpture area was peaceful. We had both been to the Louvre before and neither of us felt it was a priority to fight the crowds in the gallery rooms. Our time was better spent enjoying the marble statues that looked like they were all on the verge of breaking into movement.

With our feet given a short rest, we headed for the Champs Elyse. The stores were incredible, but it was a level far beyond my financial means. We enjoyed window shopping until the Mother Store of all Sephora’s appeared. I was inexplicably sucked into it’s depth.  It is the biggest Sephora store in the world and I was having trouble processing it as my head whipped back and forth easily distracted by every shiny item. I think Matt had a good laugh watching me make my way through the store. I needed my friend, Debbie, with me. This store was too much for a female shopping alone. It  was so big that the store needed a attack plan in order to see everything.

At the end of the Champs Elyse is the Arc de Triomphe. With museum pass in hand, we once again bypassed the lines and started climbing the 284 steps to the top. The top of the Arc provides a great view of the 10 streets radiating from the biggest round about you could imagine. Aside from the view, a great deal of entertainment came from watching the cars below navigate their merge in and out of the round about. Some were successful and some barely escaped a fender bender. From our vantage point they all looked like match box cars below.

Our day had been full. We had walked miles and our legs and feet were ready to retire. Back at the hotel, we packed our bags for the early morning departure and then headed out to a little Italian bistro for dinner. It was probably the best meal we had the entire trip. Simple food, Pesto for me and Carbannara for Matt, but it was delicious. Our adventures were coming to an end and once morning came, we would be heading home.