Page 19 - AAA Northwest Ohio - AAA Now! March/April 2013

By: Cindy Russeau and Tracy Bradley, Branch Managers
19 MARCH/APRIL 2013
When people talk about going to Europe for the
first time, two of the most popular cities that
come to mind are London and Paris. Both are filled
with history and culture, yet
very different in many ways.
I had the opportunity to travel
with one of my AAA colleagues
(Tracy Bradley) and 40 other
travelers from AAA Northwest
Ohio to London and Paris
in October. We spent three
nights in each city, which is just
enough to give you a taste and
make you want to return again
for more.
London happens to be one
of my favorite cities; rich in
British tradition and pageantry,
renowned museums and
beautiful architecture. The
flight from Detroit is an easy
eight hours and once you land
in London, it’s suggested to
keep going, so that’s what we
did. A small group of us walked
from the hotel along the river
to the London Eye. Looking like
a giant Ferris wheel against the
traditional skyline of London,
it provides fantastic views of
the city from each capsule on
the 30-minute trip around.
Others from the group opted
for the more traditional London
sights and went to the Tower
of London to view the crown
jewels. Seeing the diamonds,
sapphires and jewels in the
crowns and swords, along with
all the items still used today in
the royal ceremonies is simply
amazing.
London is an easy city to get
around in, either by walking,
taking a London taxi cab or
the easy to navigate London
Underground. Another great
way to see London and its
many sights is the red double
decker sightseeing bus. Taking
a city tour on your first full day, as we did, will
show you the must-see sights of London; St. Paul’s
Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace,
Trafalgar Square and the Parliament buildings just
to name a few. Once you are acquainted with the
city, you can go out on your own to visit some of
the sights more in depth. We spent one afternoon
walking along the streets of London,
viewing the changing of the guards
at Buckingham Palace (a must see
of British tradition and
pageantry), then took
in the beautiful artwork
at the National Gallery
before heading to the
West End for a theatre
performance. After the
theatre, many of us
stayed out in the West
End district to walk
around Leicester square
and Piccadilly Circus. At
night, Leicester Square
becomes exceptionally
busy with tourists and
locals, visiting the surrounding clubs,
bars and restaurants.
No visit to London would be complete
without a stop at Harrods, one of
London’s most famous department
stores. The store boasts that it can sell
you anything from anywhere. The interior
alone is worth the visit; the Egyptian
Hall, with gold-leaf columns. There is also
a famous tiled ceiling in the first-floor
food hall. Speaking of food, we couldn’t
end our tour without dinner at a pub,
complete with fish and chips and a pint of
beer. What a great way to end our three
days in London, now it’s off to Paris – the
city of lights.
We journeyed on the Eurostar train
from London to Paris, just a little over a
two-hour journey on the high speed train
traveling at speeds of about 200 mph. The
perfect way to travel between these two
wonderful cities.
When arriving in Paris you notice that
it’s completely different from London.
The centerpiece of Paris is the Eiffel Tower
visible from almost anywhere in the city.
The statues andmonuments are gilded
with gold and the Champs Elysees lined
with its chic stores like Chanel and Louis
Vuitton, and sidewalk cafés everywhere
you look.
The evening we arrived, we took a
wonderful cruise along the Seine River, passing the
beautiful bridges, museums and buildings of Paris.
Sailing around Notre Dame Cathedral and seeing the
Eiffel Tower lit up in the background. We were on our
way to dinner in the Eiffel Tower; where my colleague
Tracy Bradley would be celebrating her birthday this
evening. Howmany people are able to say they had
dinner in the Eiffel tower on their birthday? Not many,
but oh what an experience; an evening of wonderful
food, French champagne and breathtaking views.
The next two days were spent touring the city of
Paris with its numerous attractions; world-renowned
museums, beautiful parks and gardens, something
for everyone. The Louvre Museum is a must see for
the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and other countless
works of art. If you are more interested in Impressionist
artwork, the Musee’d’Orsay is a must visit for the
beautiful works of Monet, Renoir and others, all housed
in a former train station.
Many of us spent our free day walking around Paris
to visit Notre Dame Cathedral, considered to be one of
the finest examples of French Gothic architecture and
later climbing the 280 steps to the top of the Arc de
Triomphe for a panoramic view of the city. Others tried
their hand at riding the Metro (a relatively easy and
convenient way to travel) out to Montmartre, a hill in
the north of Paris primarily known for the white-domed
Basilica of the Sacré Coeur.
Our stay in Paris would not be complete without an
evening of Parisian Cabaret at Paradis Latin. A night
of musical comedies, breathtaking acrobatics and the
unforgettable French cancan!
Although our tour came to an endmuch too soon, the
sights, sounds and experiences will not be forgotten.
Out and About in Paris and London
Cindy and Tracy at Kensington Palace
Westminster Abbey
Cindy with one of the mounted
guards at Horse Guards
Big Ben and London Eye
Arc de Triomphe
Longitudes
and Latitudes