Paris in May

Long weekend getaway

Holidays pop up when you least expect them. At least it seems that way. Germany has between 14 and 17 official holidays depending on the year and the region. If it falls on a workday nearly every business has off. Unlike the U.S., holidays that come on a weekend are not carried over to the next available workday.

Since most people also get at least 30 days paid vacation, odd days between a holiday and a weekend (e.g., a Friday after a holiday Thursday) are almost universally taken off. Some companies simply give up and close on such days.

One came up in May 1996 and we decided to take off for Paris. It's about 500 km from Stuttgart, an easy 300 miles. We decided to leave on Wednesday evening. So did the rest of Germany!

Euro Disney castle, patterned after?Euro Disney turned out to be an "easy" 7-hour drive. We stayed one night there in the hotel called New York. It felt a lot like Disney World in Florida, and as in Orlando we'd had enough of Euro after one day. From there, off to our Holiday Inn at the edge of Paris for two more glorious nights.
Paris Metro station; waiting for a train.It rained something terrible. Steve was too cheap to take taxis ("we should get around like the natives"). It was miserable. 
A puppeteer erected his curtain, played music from a boom box, and enacted a puppet scene -- all between two stops on the Metro.The Seine winds through the center of Paris. It's long been associated with romantic interludes.But there were moments. While the Metro was filled with people looking for a handout, many entertained in an effort to "earn" the gift. This romantic encounter along the Seine was straight from the movies.
The Eiffel Tower is awesome. You've seen thousands of pictures, but it still impresses with its graceful lines and erector set look.

Replica of the Statue of LibertyThe rainy and foggy weather kept the crowds away; we had little wait for the elevators to the top. The view wasn't very good this day as you might imagine.

Later, on a boat ride on the Seine, we saw this replica of the Statue of Liberty. It was made also in the 19th century to give Parisians the opportunity to see what was given to the United States. It sits at the end of an island in the Seine.
Paris Opera House, home of the phantomWe found the Paris Opera House surrounded by traffic, near two overpriced department stores.

Lighting votives at Notre Dame cathedralNotre Dame is interesting, but much like many cathedrals in Europe. Beyond the architecture we found it to be a solemn experience.
Versailles is a popular tourist destinationA few miles outside the city we found Versailles. Famous in history, spared by Hitler. The gardens and grounds are spectacular. Plan to spend a day here, especially if you enjoy palatial trappings, opulent furnishings, and historical context.

Notice the photographer, visible in the mirror at the lower leftThe front door of VersaillesOrnate 18th century clock
The gardens at VersaillesChapel at Versailles

 

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