Closing the Door

And so on a bright and sunny Parisian day, we set off for home.  It was hard to believe that this adventure we had so anticipated, two months of living abroad, had come to an end.  We were ready for the familiarity of home--as Brooke told me later, "I was homesick for my bed!" But, we were reluctant to  say good-bye to a new place of familiarity, a place that will always have a home in our hearts.

We will be forever changed by this summer--the friendships we have made, the sights we have seen, the history we have learned, the cultures we have experienced.  The way we look at the world will always be shaped by our time abroad.  As for myself, I am hoping my lessons learned will stay with me...being intentional about spending time with my friends and family...going for long walks and taking deep breaths...enjoying a lovingly prepared cup of hot tea and good conversation with someone I love...making the extra effort to protect God's creation...savoring each day that God has put before me as a gift...worshipping God passionately...becoming more aware of Christ and less aware of myself.

At the beginning of the Chronicles of England, I talked about "Dore" being our open door to discovering this new place and adventure in our lives.  As we shut the door at 13 Rue de la Roquette, we closed this chapter of our lives, this ministry exchange that changed our lives.  But as we opened the door to our home in Tennessee, we also began our lives in a new way--with a deeper appreciation for each other, for  our loved ones, for home, and for our Lord.  May he continue to open our doors, and may we always trust Him enough to walk through them.

It has been a beautiful experience to share our journey with you--we hope that you have been blessed through its telling!  Love, Susan

Versailles

During his reign as King of France, Louis XIV set out to prove the power, might, and splendor of his country.  One of the great symbols of the opulence of the "Sun King" is the palace of Versailles.  Once a  "weekend retreat",  Louis XIV expanded Versailles to a palace with room for 20,000 of his closest friends and advisors!  

Throughout his life, Louis XIV continued to add to the riches of Versailles, every detail exquisite, every room simply glorious--all the best artisans, designers, and landscapers were commissioned, and 50 years was spent creating the palace we see today.

"To all the glories of France"

Brooke could see herself living here!

One of Louis XIV's greatest prides was the Chapelle Royal at Versailles

Splendid details

During the French Revolution in 1789, the palace at Versailles was stormed, and Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, were seized and eventually sent to the guillotine.  Much of the furniture and treasure in the palace was looted--few of the rooms have any furnishings.  However, the palace still looks much as it did in the 1700s.

The Hall of Mirrors--probably the most famous part of Versailles.  It was here that grand balls and parties were held, the chandeliers ablaze and reflected in the huge mirrors and windows.

The boudoir of Marie Antoinette

"Let them eat cake!"

This is the Hall of Victory, lined with huge paintings celebrating the military successes of France

Davis and Brooke in the Hall of Victory

View of the "Back Gardens"--they go on for miles!

Even when at Versailles, nothing can compare with playing in the dirt!

Wandering through the gardens

Some serious hedges

It is impossible to fathom just how big this palace is--it was a city unto itself, and the center of political power in France for almost one hundred years, until the revolution and the end of the French monarchy.

This was a lovely way to spend our last day in France, our last day in Europe.  One of the kids' favorite memories of this day was riding the double decker RER train from Paris to Versailles...ah, the simple things!  And speaking of the simple things, amongst all the grandeur of the palace of the Sun King, we truly were longing for the simplicity of OUR home--sleeping in our own beds, playing in the yard, hanging out with our friends and neighbors...it was time to go home.  Time to pack up our things and close this chapter on our adventure of a lifetime.

Love, Susan

Paris, Part Cinq

 Le Louvre...probably the most famous museum of art in the world, as well as the largest.  They say if you spent just a few seconds by each work of art in the Louvre, it would take several months, day and night, to work your way through this enormous collection!

Knowing we had a 7 and 4 year old in tow, we knew we would have to pick and choose how we spent our time at the Louvre.  We opted to take them to the massive Egyptian exhibit, with its statues, treasures, and mummy cases, then to take an English tour of the "highlights".

Sphinx!

Our tour guide was just incredible--although she said, "I am much better in French!"  She told us she wanted us to know why people come to the Louvre to see two broken statues and a small painting--not just walk by and snap a picture without knowing why they are important.

The Venus de Milo--widely known and revered for its beauty

 The Winged Victory--thought to have once been a ship's figurehead

Both of these "broken" statues are considered treasures because they are original Greek statues--our guide said that most of the statues we have are Roman replicas of Greek works.  To find these exquisite original works, even not whole, is rare and precious.

The Great Hall

This is a painting by Leonardo Da Vinci of Mary, Mary's Mother, and Jesus.  Our guide used this amazing painting to explain the brilliance and innovation of Da Vinci, before we joined the throngs to visit Da Vinci's most famous work, the Mona Lisa. 

It is hard in the busy summer months to get close enough to the Mona Lisa to really enjoy and study her. She is behind an enormous wall of bullet proof glass, and hoardes of tourists are gathered around, making pictures with their cameras stuck up in the air.  What makes Mona Lisa so famous?  According to the French, the Italians have always felt that the French stole Mona Lisa, although our guide assured us she had been bought for a nice sum.  The painting was considered precious, but did not have the "star" status it has today.  In the early 1900s, an Italian man who worked at the Louvre had the opportunity to steal the Mona Lisa, "taking it back" for Italy.  The stolen painting became famous, and the man did not know how to sell it, so he kept it under his bed for two years.  It was eventually discovered and returned to its rightful place, and people flocked to see the painting that was so important it had been stolen.  So now Mona Lisa is one of the most famous and recognized faces in the world!

The Wedding at Cana, opposite Mona Lisa doesn't get nearly as much attention, but is quite incredible!

Throngs of visitors to Le Louvre

We needed a little "glace" after a long day of taking in all that art!

The Basilique Sacre Coeur, an enormous cathedral on a hill that is visible almost anywhere in Paris.  This area of Paris is known as Montmartre.  Montmartre is known for being a neighborhood filled with artists, home at times to Toulouse-Latrec, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Dali, to name a few.  It is still a place where street artists gather, selling scenes of Paris or offering to draw your portrait.

Montmartre is also the home of cabarets such as the Moulin Rouge...but we didn't go down that street!

View of Paris from the steps of the Sacre Coeur

Place du Tetre, where the artists are at work.

Strolling through Montmartre--it has the feel of "old Paris"--the cobbled streets, crowded shops and cafes, music and art--we really loved this neighborhood.

Brooke was loving dancing to all the music that was playing, so I told her she should try her hand at street performance--here she is holding out her money hat!

Enjoying a French cafe as we watched the people stroll by in the rain

Montmartre at night, Sacre Coeur in the background

As we began our journey back to our apartment, from this high hill or "La Butte" as the Parisians call it, we were treated to the Eiffel tower all lit up--and actually a lightning storm around it.

Then, as happens at night on the hour in Paris, we saw some magic, as La Tour Eiffel became a sparkling, glittering, spectacle!

The pictures cannot do justice to the excitement and beauty of the moment.  The kids were so amazed, and we were all enthralled.  It was the perfect touch to a really magical day!

Sacre Coeur at night

Simply Amazing!