Almost done with the posting of our vacation shots. About 70% already. View them if you will.

Paris, France, Our Last Day in Europe (Part 2)

Paris, France, Our Last Day in Europe (Part 1)

June 22 - Jerry and I badly needed to rest after having spent two consecutive nights on the train to and from Lourdes. On the other hand, we also felt we had to cover the landmarks that Junnie and Mitzi drew out for us as our itinerary.

With determination, we mustered all our remaining energy and tried to rev up our adrenaline as early as 7:30AM and headed for the famous Notre Dame Cathedral. That was after disembarking from the train station and making a short stop at our hotel.

According to a venerable tradition, it was in Notre Dame that the Lady appeared to St. Dominic and revealed the importance and the value of praying the Holy Rosary.

Below are short descriptions of all the landmarks/monuments that we saw.

- from tripadvisor.com:

Notre Dame Cathedral (Cathedrale de Notre-Dame-de-Paris)
This famous cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture on which construction began in the 12th century, stands on the �le de la Cité and is the symbolic heart of the city.

Conciergerie
This former jail, which held prisoners during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, is now open to the public.

Montmartre
Located in the 18th Arrondissement, this elevated rural neighborhood on the outskirts of the city has a collection of upscale shops and cafés and still exudes hints of old village charm.

Sacre-Coeur
This Montmartre landmark, a 19th-century basilica built by the French government following the Franco-Prussian War, features a large medieval dome that provides excellent views of the city.

Moulin Rouge
This risqué world-famous cabaret, performed in a 19th-century windmill, has been exciting audiences since 1900.

Musee d'Orsay
This beautiful museum, once a railroad station, now houses a staggering collection of Impressionist art, as well as other items created from 1848-1914.

The Louvre (Musee du Louvre)
Home to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the Louvre is considered the world's greatest art museum, with an unparalleled collection of items covering the full spectrum of art through the ages.

River Seine
This famous river flows from east to west through the heart of the city and divides Paris's Left Bank and Right Bank.

Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)
Completed in 1889, this colossal landmark, although initially hated by many Parisians, is now a famous symbol of French civic pride.


Well, as in all fairy tales, every story would soon come to an end. The curtains are about to be drawn. Our Europe experience, a story in itself, is about to be concluded in a bittersweet finale. It's not something that's too easy to let go of. Europe was home to us for 18 memorable days and it has profoundly affected our lives. We have "formed new memories" enough to last a lifetime. We hope to come back to make more memories with and to pass on to the next generation.

For now, all we could say is "Au revoir!". Till we meet again!


Most recent comments... (In posting order)
I *Loved* Paris. I was there a month before you guys on my honeymoon. I could and would live there. I didn't get to see as many paintings as you guys did. My hubby was bored of museums after awhile
Wed 9-Jul-2003 03:11
Posted by:Mona - [Link]

Hi Mona! We loved Paris too! We spent only two days so we had to be on the run to see as much of the place as we could. We're only able to see the more popular paintings.

Our Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto (Lourdes, France)

-From catholicpilgrims.com:

In Bernadette's day, the Grotto was a dirty, hidden, damp and cold place. The Grotto was literally called the "pigâ??sty" because that was where pigs feeding in the area took shelter. It was there that the Virgin Mary, dressed in white, a sign of total purity, chose to appear. The contrast between this damp and obscure cave and the presence of the Virgin Mary reminds us of the Gospel, the meeting of the goodness of God and the poverty of the human person...

At the ninth apparition, Mary asked Bernadette to scrape the ground, saying to her "Go to the spring, drink of it and wash yourself there." There is only a little muddy water to begin with, enough for Bernadette to drink. At first this water is muddy and dirty then, little by little, it becomes clear. The spring signifies the cleansing of the human heart, wounded by sin yet healed through prayer and penance. Bernadette was asked what the lady said to her. She replied, "Now and again she would say, 'penance, penance, penance, pray for sinners.' " Praying leads us to the Spirit of God. We understand that sin is contrary to the love of God and revealed to us through the Gospel.


June 21 - Jerry and I joined the line of countless pilgrims who waited for their turn in the baths at 8:00 AM. The weather was actually cool and the thought of bathing in the stream sent cold shivers down my spine. But this was what we were there for and all the faithful who were lined up with us.

It was a blessed feeling for Jerry and me as we were immersed in that icy cold tub of water from the Massabielle. We prayed and kept in mind the message of the Lady to St. Bernadette, and why we were taking that sacred bath... to cleanse our human hearts.