I have always been fascinated by the fact that a high speed train traveling in a tunnel for much of the way is able to reach Paris from London in about two and a half hours. When I mentioned to my husband that I would really enjoy spending a day in Paris on our trip he flinched and pointed out that we had already planned to travel to Scotland and would not have time. Nonetheless, I was insistent that if we left early enough in the morning on one of our free days we would have an entire day to see much of Paris without having to worry about hotels and such. 

I found the Eurostar site and learned that there is a train leaving from London to Paris at six each day which would put us in Paris at eight thirty, providing enough time to hit the highlights and still get a feel for the city. I saw the wheels turning in hubby’s head and I knew that he was suddenly as interested in the idea as I had been. I sealed the deal by noting that the experience on the fast train would be as much a part of the trip as the city itself. 

We went to bed early on the evening before our remarkable journey so that we might arise from our slumbers by three in the morning and head quickly to the train station at St. Pancras. We scheduled a car for the early hour which promptly arrived by three thirty and was waiting for us as we exited the hotel. The streets of London were more deserted than I had ever witnessed and our ride went quickly. 

The vendors were barely coming alive when we arrived at St. Pancras. The gate to the Eurostar was not yet open so we waited patiently on a bench sipping tea and munching on a light breakfast. It was strange seeing so few signs of life in a place usually packed with travelers. It did not take long for the place to pop back to life once the gate to Eurostar opened. I was stunned by the number of people who would be joining us on the “chunnel” over. 

The train itself was so long that I though we would never reach our assigned car. Since we were only staying for the day we did not have to worry about luggage. We settled into our seats and as though someone had pulled a switch we were on our way by six thirty speeding toward Paris in the dark. The rhythm of the ride lulled me into a light sleep and by the time we were back on land the sun was rising over the little towns through which we moved. It was stunning how quickly we reached our destination

We secured a ride to the Louvre which was at the top of our must see bucket list. We were shocked by the crowds standing in long lines named by the hours at which the ticket holders would be allowed inside. We had a bit of leeway before we needed to join the que and that allowed us to walk around the area and stroll over to the Seine River. The buildings and the atmosphere were as electric as I had hoped they would be. Soon it was time to walk through the glass pyramid into the wonder that is the Louvre. 

I have to admit that I felt a bit overwhelmed once I was inside. I had not expected such a huge crowd. It was not at like the quiet strolls that I was accustomed to having in other galleries. We were like sardines packed into a small can. Still, we were incredibly excited about just being there and we were determined to first see the Mona Lisa. We followed the guide that took us up one set of stairs after another and along hallways filled with people. After at least a fifteen minute hike made slower by all of the visitors we were finally in the room where Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous work resides. 

At first all I was only able to see was a mass of people in front of me. I soon enough realized that if I was going to actually see the painting I would have to be a bit more aggressive like the people who had pushed past me. With a bit of effort I had a glorious moment when suddenly there was the lovely lady in her all splendor smiling at me with that mysterious expression on her face. I snapped as many photos as possible before I was pushed aside. I felt as though everything about the trip was as glorious as I had wanted it to be. I needed nothing else to make our journey worthwhile but there would be more to come.

We spent a bit more time looking at other fantastic works of art but knew that our visit would have to be a bit like speed dating so that we might see the other sights. Our next destination was Notre Dame Cathedral which was part two on my bucket list. 

I had cried when I saw that incredible church on fire. I worried that it would never be the same. I was stunned when it reopened after only five years. I had watched a video of the painstaking repairs and I knew that I had to see the place in person. Sadly try as I may I was unable to secure tickets to get inside. Just standing in front was good enough for me when I saw the long lines of people vying to enter. I realized that I probably would not have been able to get the spiritual feeling that I desired with so many souls sharing the space. Instead I enjoyed the breathtaking views of the exterior with the spire and roof repaired from the horrific damage of the fire. I cried as I thought of how sacred the place was and spent quite some time just sitting and staring at the wonder of it all. 

The clock was ticking and we were hungry so we found a nearby cafe and ordered some wine and onion soup which proved to be more tasty than I expected. We stayed for a long while just watching the people pass in front of us and enjoyed the fact that nobody was pushing us to hurry up and leave. Being in that quaint spot ended up being one of the most wonderful moments of the trip. 

I had promised a young student of mine that I would bring him a miniature Eiffel Tower and a nearby shop had exactly what I needed. The miniatures were so lovely that I purchased one for myself. We were running out of time and a visit to the base of the tower would have to wait for next time, but we were close enough to get some wonderful photos. 

We walked some more through the streets of Paris and our stroll was as lively as it might have been. I felt the vibe of the city and its people. As we waited for the car that would take us back to the train station we marveled at the people riding motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles and scooters in the crowded streets. It was the best show in town but before leaving we enjoyed the almost sinful delight of Pan au Chocolate. Afterall what is Paris without a bakery?

It was with reluctance that we left the city after dark. We were tired and ready to be back in London but I think that both of us agreed that we had only had a taste of Paris and we wanted more one day. We got back to St. Pancras Station that once again felt empty due to the late hour but we marveled at the crowds enjoying the night life in the streets of London even at such a late hour. We were ready for slumber and happy that we had spent the day in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We knew that there was a very good chance that we would one day return.