France
Paris, France
Ahhhhhhhhh......I went to Paris after years of French classes and projects on Champs-Elysees, Notre-Dame, Eiffel Tower, L'Arc de Triomphe, Sacre-Cour, etc. expecting to be mesmerized by its history, its beauty. Instead I was distracted by the rudeness of the Parisians, the crowds, the dirt...
Eiffel Tower, lit up on 100th Anniversary year
Perhaps it was a mistake to be in Paris on Bastille day, on the 100th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower. I stood in line for almost two hours to go up the Eiffel Tower, and then, when I finally got to the front of the line, they closed.
I went to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa and other fine art, and well... lets just say the Mona Lisa is a disappointment too. It is only about the size of a postage stamp (OK I exaggerate...but it was small, and behind glass, protected by barriers so that you could not get close enough to appreciate it)
Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral was impressive, built in 1163 to 1330 and is the geographical heart of Paris and France, with all distances in the country measured from its front porch.