As the train sped away from Paris, we passed through beautiful French countryside, some even covered in snow. We arrived in Lyon around mid afternoon. The sky looked gloomy and I was hoping we would get to our hotel before it started to rain. After a short Metro ride and walk, we arrived at our hotel. We dropped off our stuff and headed to a craft store Emily wanted to go to. When she was studying in Paris, it had been a favorite store of hers and she found out there was one in Lyon as well. By the time she had picked a pattern and acquired the necessary amount of yarn, it had begun to rain. We then found a Creperie for dinner where Andy and I got the same thing for dinner ( a crepe with tomato sauce and cheese) and for dessert (a crepe with sugar). We decided to try to go to the Christmas Market but it was raining too much and we decided to head in.
The next day was bright and sunny. We stopped at a cafe for breakfast where we got the last 3 pastries: 2 pain au chocolat and 1 croissant. We then walked across the river to go to the Basilica Notre Dame de Fourviere. Andy and I rode the funicular up the hill while Emily walked. From the top of the hill we walked around to the Roman ruins of an amphitheatre. Just like in Rome, I enjoyed walking around the ruins, climbing the steps and see all the broken marble. Andy and I stood in the center of the amphitheatre and talked, we could then hear our voices amplified. After playing on the Roman ruins, we headed back towards the Basilica and took in the view over the city of Lyon. 
It was beautiful and off in the distance you can see the Alps. They were covered in snow, such a beautiful, cold sight. We took the funicular back down the hill and stopped at the farmer's market along the river for lunch. Andy and I split a half of a roasted chicken with some potatoes (so good). Emily got some olives. And we all shared a slice of cheese and a baguette. We walked over to a courtyard in front of the National Theater in Lyon and ate our lunch. It was a delicious French lunch. Afterwards we split up, Emily went to the Christmas Market and Andy and I went to the Musee de la Resistance. The French Resistance movement against Nazi Germany began with a small group of people in Lyon. I really enjoyed and look forward to learning more about it. Afterwards we went to meet Emily at the Christmas Market. It was located near the gare (train station) so Andy got a bit sidetracked on the way over. Shocker. He took many pictures of trains as they crossed the river towards the station. It was nice to be able to just cruise around Lyon with my brother. 
Eventually he was satisfied with his pictures and we met Emily at the Market. We walked around, purchased some Christmas gifts and had some delicious food. For dinner I got a baguette with cheese and ham (jambon) which was broiled open-faced. It was delicious. I also got a fresh pretzel to save for later and a waffle covered in powered sugar for dessert. Yummy.
My second trip to France began much in the same way as the first. I rode the Eurostar from St. Pancras International across to Gare Nord on Friday morning to meet Andy and Emily in Paris. Unfortunately this time did not go as smoothly. Due to a train failure earlier in the morning (in addition to the closure of part of the tunnel because of a fire during the summer), we arrived 70 minutes late. I did not have anyone sitting next to me so it not bother me too much. In addition, we were compensated with a free one-way or half price return ticket.
We head off to dinner and find an Italian place where Andy and I get the same dish. After dinner we take the Metro to the Arc De Triomphe. We come out of the Metro station and there it is in the middle of a gigantic traffic circle. We took the tunnel under the street and arrived in the middle of the arch. We then climbed the North staircase to the top. It was a lot of steps and reminded me that no matter what country I go to there will be so many steps to climb. There was a great view from the top. Looking down the Champs-Elysees, all lit up, was beautiful. I looked down at the traffic going around the Arc and realized there were no lines. Cars would jump in and out swerving at their own will. The view of surrounding Paris was gorgeous to the south was the Eiffel Tower all lit up (in blue to celebrate the president of France as the President of the EU). After many pictures we went down the South staircase which was a bit easier. We then walked down the Champs-Elysees for a bit. Then we found a Metro station and were off to our next destination: Notre Dame.
The Metro station was massive, the walls were thick and big so as to hold back the river because the cathedral is on an island. This island was a lot bigger than I expected. We walked across the street and around the corner to Notre Dame de Paris. It was just as you would expect it to look. There was also a Christmas tree out front. We then walked around around the side and over the Siene to find a gelato place Emily loved. As we walked away from Notre Dame I was surprised by the differences in architecture along the building. All lit up, it was beautiful. We found the gelato place but it was closed so we found the location of another one across the river. It was good, how I miss gelato. We called it a night and headed back to the hotel.
The next morning, Andy and I went to the Eiffel Tower. We got some bread, pastries, and apples for breakfast as we walked over. We walked around the corner and there it was. Landmarks in Europe have a way of doing that; I was just strolling along, turned the corner, and there it was. Um, wow. We walked over to it and waited for it to open. Soon enough we were able to go up. We took the first elevator to the 2nd level and then took the express straight up. Although it was over cast, the view was amazing. After many pictures and looking around. We went down and back to the hotel. We finished packing and along with Emily went to the train station to catch a train to Lyon.
My brother and Emily came to London the week after I returned from my trip to Normandy and Disneyland. It was so exciting to see them. After they arrived in Heathrow on Tuesday afternoon I met them at Trafalar Square for dinner. I was jittery all day, I was so excited. I was tracking their flight, checking and rechecking when they would arrive. It was awesome to come out of the Tube station at Trafalgar Square (which is an impressive sight on its own) and see my brother and Emily standing there. I ran up and gave them big hugs (Andy got 2). We then walked along The Strand and had dinner at a Italian restaurant . 
Out of habit I almost used the limited amount of Italian I learned in Italy: prego and gratzie. It was good. After we went back to Andy and Emily's hotel and then Andy came with me to my flat. I showed him a bit of the area and we made plans for breakfast the next morning and went back to the hotel.
After Andy and Emily went to the National Portrait Gallery, I had already been there so I went back to my flat and met them for lunch after. We went to Wagamama, a ramen noodle restaurant. Emily had been very excited to go. After we wet to the London Transportation Museum, this was Andy's choice (as if there was any doubt). It was very cool. There was a paper you took around and punched shapes into it at different stations. And at the end there were buses you could climb on along with tubes and buses to drive. I approve, it was a fun museum.
That night we went to Hyde Park to visit the Winter Wonderland. There is an ice skating rink, carnival rides with Christmas themes, and a market. Of course there was also food; Emily got mulled wine and Andy and I got waffles covered in powder sugar. Delicious! We parted ways, them to their hotel and me to my flat.
brought along with chicken. We also had veggies, rolls, and mashed potatoes. We even made eggnog. It was great fun.
My trip continued the next morning, early as I left Caen to return to Paris and on to Disneyland. My train left just before 8 and I gave myself plenty of time to take the bus back to the station. After waiting for 10 minutes and no bus I double checked the schedule and consulted my phrase book. I learned that the buses did not run on Sunday which was not what the website told me. Oh well. I walked back the the hotel and asked about the buses. Fortunately they had a number handy for a taxi and they called one for me. A few minutes later I was at Gare Caen and on my train. Soon we were headed back to Paris.
Back in Paris I walked the block from Gare St. Lazare to the RER A Auber station. The RER A ends at Marne-la-Vallee which is also the stop for Parc Disneyland. It takes about 30 minutes from the center of Paris. I got off a few stops from Disneyland to drop my stuff off at my hotel, Mister Bed City Hotel. I love the names of chain hotels in France, they are very fun. Back on the RER A, I was at Disneyland before noon, giving me plenty of time to see the parks. I was so excited walking in. Now that Normandy was crossed off my list, this was all I needed to see. The Disneyland Hotel serves as the Main Gate for Disneyland. Once inside you walk under the train and onto Main Street (U.S.A. I think). It all feels the same, but yet somewhat different. The shops and food establishments are arranged differently. I decide to go to the left and work my way around the park.
I first go to Adventureland and ride Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril. While walking through Frontierland and past the Mark Twain which goes counter-clockwise around the island I thought I saw something white falling and while I was in line for Indiana Jones it began to snow. It was snowing at Disneyland. I could not believe it though it was cold enough. After that I made my way around through Fantasyland. It is a lot bigger than the one in Anaheim. Compared to Anaheim, they have the same rides along with a maze inspired by the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland and they have an area just for Belle. I walked around the back towards Its A Small World but it was down. I headed over to Discoveryland (Anaheim's equivalent of Tomorrowland). I immediately got a Fastpass for Space Mountain: Mission 2.0. I had an hour or so and I decided to take the train around the park. I walked past Star Tours and thought to my self, I am sure it is the same, I can skip this. But then a light bulb turned on, the robots should be speaking in French, how can I not see this. It was glorious. Enjoy this little gem of a video I recorded.
After Star Tours I decided to have lunch. At this point it was snowing, flurries I believe would be the correct term. By the tie I had finished eating, there was a layer o snow on the buildings and shrubbery. I went on to Space Mountain and it was fantastic; there were loops and multiple inversions, much better than Anaheim.
The language completely threw me off. I knew the park and what they should be saying but it was completely different. It was like a dream where I know this place, I am familiar with it but it was different, something was off. I walked around a bit more and did some shopping.
I hopped back on the RER A to my stop, Torcy, and went to bed in my nice warm bed. I took my time the next morning and made my way back to the center of Paris. I was not sad about only seeing train stations in Paris because I knew I would be back next week. And then it would also be with my brother.
I had an amazing, first trip to France. This was my dream trip. When I came to London, I said there were two places I had to go to, everything else would be gravy. I had to go to Normandy and the D-Day beaches and I had to go to Disneyland Paris.
Luckily, trains go to Caen every hour or so and I waited in the station for a bit ad took the next train out. No problem.
The next day was very exciting. I had been looking forward to the tour of the beaches for years. The morning I spent more time at the Memorial, saw a few short films, and walked around the Post-1945 area which focused on the Cold War. After a quick bite to eat I was off on my tour. There were four other. A family of three and a girl from Australia. We got into a van with the tour guide and set off. We had five destinations ahead of us. First we stopped in Arromanches, 
code name Gold Beach. This is where the British built their artificial harbor. There are still remains of this harbor out in the surf. Next we went to Batterie-de-Longues where there are three intact German bunkers with a fourth partially damaged. They were huge. The guns were so long and the concrete housing around it was impressive. Rommel added these to help camouflage and protect the guns. These were not aimed at the beaches but out to sea at the ships bringing in men and supplies. Our third stop was the American Cemetery. 
There are nearly 10,000 crosses lined up representing the Americans who died during the entire European campaign, not just Normandy. It is a sight I will never forget. The rows seem to go on forever. It is cross after cross and row after row, quite an impressive and moving sight. Each cross is engraved with the name, rank, state of birth, and date of death. The crosses all face west looking towards The States. Scattered among the crosses are ones that read, "Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God". 
Those are the ones that really left an impression on me. The cemetery left me speechless. We then continued on to Omaha Beach. This where the Americans built their artificial harbor but after two weeks of using it a huge storm came through and it was destroyed. The only piece of it that remains is a ramp that was beached and is used for part of the pier. We then took off for our final destination, Point-du-Hoc. This separates Gold beach from Utah beach. The Army Rangers climbed this cliff to make their way inland. 
During the hours before landing, the US Navy bombarded this spot with artillery. Today it remains as it did after the fact. Up on that cliff there are craters some 6+ feet deep. There are also pieces of concrete 3 feet x 4 feet x 5 feet as one German bunker exploded from the inside. It is truly amazing the capabilities of ammunition. They took us back to the Memorial and I went back to my hotel to go to bed because tomorrow is Disneyland.
