Versailles: "Have not bread? Let them eat cake." *

So we got to sleep in today ( I got up at 7:45). We ate breakfast at the hotel and then went to get on a train to Versaille, home to the palace that Louis XIV built to get away from the capital, but famous for Louis XVI and Marie-Antionette. The palace was really cool, mainly because I read a biography in a journal form of Marie-Antionette when I was in fourth grade and have been interested in her ever since. After the palace we went and saw her estates a few miles away (with the gardens in between). She had her own "hamlet" (which I guess is what a village in Austria was called...she was Austrian) that she could run away to, along with two other mini palaces that were already built. The hamlet looked like a place out of Snow White. It was really cute, but at the same time kind of depressing to think about how she made that world to run away and not deal with her country. (If you know nothing of French history, her and her husband reigned during the French Revolution and were horrible monarchs and got beheaded).
After we were done with that we ate at a place recommended by Rick Steve's again. Seriously that guy has not done us wrong. If you are traveling somewhere I recommend his guide. It was called Chez Lazare and it was good. For dessert we split french toast with vanilla ice cream and homemade caramel on top. Then we took the train back to Paris, and got off at an earlier stop so we could walk under the Eiffel Tour on our way back to the hotel.
Tomorrow we wake up early to try and beat a huge line to go up the Eiffel Tour and go to the Louvre. Last day in Paris tomorrow. Monday morning brings beautiful, English speaking London to our eyes.

* a famous quote from Marie-Antionette, but she never actually said that.

Je' mappelle Sophie Roux, comment allez-vous?

Ah yes Paris. I've been looking forward to Paris this whole time, and it didn't disappoint. I think Paris is my favorite place yet. It's so beautiful and everyone is nice (yes, father, the French are nice). The chocolate? freaking amazing. Today my mom and I had a banana and nutella crepe while waiting in line to climb the stairs up Notre Dame. It was so good. Did it start making me sick half way through? yes. Did I finish all but about three bites? Of course. We got into Paris from the train station around noon. Yes, we went to the wrong seats on the train again, and a guy fell into my mom's lap while walking. It was actually really funny, but he seemed kind of embarrassed. I would be too. We got to the hotel and our room wasn't ready so we stored our luggage and set off. We first went Notre Dame, where we went up and down 379 steps (mom counted) then to Saint- Chappelle Cathedral, then Starbucks (it was necessary), then a little shopping. While shopping, we made our way towards the Arc de Triomphe. We stopped on our way at this restaurant that is also a culinary school below the restaurant. It was so good. Really every meal we've had has been so good, but again, this meal was great. (Let me just say that Europe is a paleo nightmare...and it's awesome.) We then walked briskly to the arch because we didn't want it to close and climbed up the steps and took pictures. Then grabbed the metro and went back to our hotel. I would estimate we climbed about 1000 stairs today and my feet are feelin it. I was also so freakin hot when we finally got in our room (we had a little key problem...we would) I jumped in the shower faster than I have ever done before. And now for bed. We are going to Versailles tomorrow to see Marie Antoinette's Palace.
ps the title is from a song that's been stuck in my head since we got to France
pps the picture was taken from the top of the arc

Lugano and Strasbourg

Swiss French, Swiss German...Swiss Italian. I think Switzerland needs it's own language. But early Wednesday morning we hopped on a train to Lugano, Switzerland with a transfer in Milan...(does that count as having been to Milan?). With the only mishap being in the wrong seats on the train at one point, we made it with out difficulty to Lugano for the night. (We even met a little family from San Jose sitting next to us on the train...oh even more random is that we met a couple that grew up in Durham in Venice). Anyways Lugano was a nice, laid back town that we only had the evening to spend time in. So we had a nice dinner, some gelato of course, and went on a funicilor (train thing) up the mountain to see the whole city and lake. Then again woke up early and hopped on another train headed toward Strasbourg, France. This trip was a little longer, but went fine as well. I actually think I like riding trains and if I ever have to use the train system in Europe again by myself, I think I could do it and know what to ask for/about.
Strasbourg, I think, may be one of my favorite places. We are in the area called "Petite France" and Cindy got us a stay at the Regent Hotel with her flying points. And it is a really nice hotel and the people are so nice. There is a young guy that would be pretty attractive to if he would just do something about his eyebrows....but he has a nice smile. haha
Sorry, back on track. We went and visited a really big cathedral here, that apparently is where Martin Luther hung is 99 thesis up on the door. I think I liked this cathedral better than the ones in Venice just because it seemed they seemed more legit in their religion. Granted it talked about how on judgment day, Jesus doesn't judge anyone (because there was a statue thing of Jesus on judgment day). But everything else seemed pretty worshipful to Jesus, where as all the other Cathedrals were all about the relics and treasure they had acquired.
After the cathedral we went to dinner where both Rick Steve's and Thomas (mr eyebrow, cute smile, reception guy) suggested. It was so good. I had coq au raisle with spaitz. (pronounce coco..I know I thought it too). It was chicken with raisle sauce ( some cream sauce cooked with white wine) and spaitzle (German noodles...I love German noodles). We also went to this little bakery and got THE best dessert. One thing was called an Opera and it was like a chocolate/ tiramisu thing, another was the best brownie I have ever had, and then a chocolate cupcake like thing with powdered sugar on top and dark chocolate in the middle. Did I feel sick after? Yes. Was it worth it? Abso-freakin-lutely. Also they were smallish and we split them three ways..rationalization makes me feel better.
Tomorrow we, again, get up early for the train. Paris, here we come. Our last stop before London.
ps the picture is taken in Strasbourg

Arrivederci Venezia

Today was our last day in Venice so we did the typical tourist things. We went to the Docel's Palace and the Basilica in San Marco's Plaza. Both were beautiful in structure and had amazing paintings. We got to learn about all the Docels and about the leon de San Marco and then we got to see the treasure and "booty" that this church stole from Constantinople so they could be more "Christian"....But after all that I was done with the Plaza. It was so crowded. That is a picture from the balcony of the Basilica. (and I don't really think it does the crowd justice). We stopped on the way back to get something to eat and got to get away from the crowd. It was also the first time we had a meal that wasn't pasta or a sandwich and that was refreshing. The meat was so good. And then of course we had some gelatto afterward..I mean you're in Italy, come on. We then went back to the hotel and my mom and I crashed. I don't what Cindy did...she went and talked to the lady at the desk I think, figuring out what the best way to get on the train from here is. When we woke up I realized that we hadn't taken a gondola ride, which I think is something that should be done in Venice. So we went and since the little short ones just across the river were all closed we spent the money to take a long one. It was really nice and the view of the buildings from the water was so pretty. We also got to see where Casanova's house was.
Our water bus to the train leaves at 7:10 am tomorrow morning so it's going to be an early morning and then we're off to Lugano, Switzerland for the night.
Venice, it's been fun. Graci, Arrivederci.

Day one of Venice

Today we decided to just walk around Venice with no real plans. So we slept in and had breakfast at our hotel at 9. The breakfast reminded me of Germany because it was a couple different types of bread and a bunch of spreads you could put on it (including Nutella..which was my choice) and then some yogurt if you wanted. Came back to the room and took our time getting ready, my mom and I were still pretty groggy though Cindy had been up since 7 ready to go. We left around 11:30 and began walking around. We weren't really worried about getting lost since we didn't have any particular destinations we wanted to go, but we had a map so we knew where things were. Saying Venice is pretty is obviously an understatement. The building are so cool and the fact that the streets are canals is pretty much amazing. For a snack before we ate lunch we found a little outside market place that sold fruit so we bought some of that. If anyone knows my mom and Cindy, they know that they have never met a stranger, so we ended up asking a local where we should go to lunch at. He gave us a name and the area a place was and we set off to find it while stopping in a church and a couple shops along the way. I know when I get lost it doesn't really mean something is hard to find, I just get lost super easy. But Cindy usually is really good with directions (my mom is worse than me I think) so I have come to the conclusion that the walk ways in Venice are just super confusing. Needless to say we got lost. a lot. And asked multiple people (each time making a new friend) for directions. When we finally got to that specific restaurant...it was closed for renovations. By that time we were starving so we just found a sandwich shop and ate there. It was about four when we left the sandwich shop and we decided to head back. We got some gelatto from a nice guy in one of the many places to get ice cream and also looked in a couple cool shops along the way. And we got lost...again. A lot.(but again we met some fun people..a group of Belgian kids were on a photo scavenger hunt..I think..and took a picture of giving me some pastry). It was the happiest feeling to walk into the campo our hotel is in and see our hotel. My mom and I were tired so we laid down while Cindy (still going) went up and asked the lady in the common room (it's not really a lobby) where a good place to eat that was close was. She told us about a place right across the court yard and that's where we went. It was good, but my digestive system is not doing well with all the bread and nonpaleo things I have eaten today.
We're going to bed relatively early tonight so we can get up early and hit some churches and museums before the crowds tomorrow.

Venezia

The trip was a long one but we made it. The ten hour flight to London was spent watching two movies and two tv shows (by the way if you haven't seen Date Night, watch it. It's hilarious) and one hour of sleep. Our connecting flight was in a different airport so we had to take a coach there. All day we ended up getting to the right place right on time, which was stressful at times but we never missed anything and didn't have to wait long either. The two hour flight to Venice went by really fast because by that time I was so tired it didn't matter how uncomfortable I was I slept.
We got to Venice and were welcomed with the lightening and rain. Because it is an island we had to take a "boat bus" that ended up taking an hour and a half because of all the stops, but we got a tour of the grand canal that way...granted it was dark and kinda creepy looking. If I was someone like Stuart I would have been on top of the boat with the driver taking pictures with the rain and lightning and all the cool buildings, but I didn't really want to get wet and had no desire to talk to or be next to the unfriendly Italian man.
We got off the boat grabbed our luggage (which is ridiculous because I have my huge bag for London and my book bag) and started looking for our hotel. I was excited to be able to use my jacket in a packet which was extremely handy. We asked for directions and were told we had to cross four bridges and then turn left. Which is all fine except the bridges had stairs...a good 25 steps up and down, and it was raining and we had my heavy luggage. We missed the left turn and ended up crossing about six bridges then turned around and went back two. All I had to say is it was like doing farmers walks with two thirty pound weights and a 20 lb sand bag on my back...which in a weird way made it not so miserable. Finally we got to the hotel which is a really cool old house turned into a hotel. Shower and sleep were the best things ever and we are now refreshed and ready to go get lost in Venice for the day!