France (Week 2-Part 2)

We leave South France heading to Paris on the 5th day of this week. Took about 7 hours of drive starting from 9.30am to 3.30pm and check in at Novotel Hotel which mentioned " a stone throw from the Eiffel Tower".

After we got our room, we took about 15 minutes walk and here we saw the highest tower.
It was beautiful and I just can't stop taking photos of it.

My 1st Photo of Eiffel Tower when we were on the way.

We did not managed to go up of it because it was so crowded and we decided just walk till we get a better view for taking picture. It was my dream places to visit and I am really happy that finally I get here.
Thanks to my husband for bring us here (love u). 

Done with Eiffel tower, we took Metro to the next place.
We only have 2 days Paris, so we need to moved fast from one place to another place.

Champs Elysées is one of the most famous streets in the world, with its cinemas, cafés, and luxury specialty shops. This special status made it the site of much growth and activity. At the very heart of Paris, it is one of the most symbolic places in the city, representative of its spirit and glory.
 The 1st day of Paris is end by having our dinner at McD and went back to the hotel to rest.

The 2nd day was excellent, beautiful weather and we visited a few interesting places.

Sacre Coeur

Dramatically crowning the heights of the Montmartre quarter, the Sacre Coeur Basilica is a relative newcomer to Paris. Built on the site of a Benedictine Abbey destroyed during the French Revolution of 1789, Sacre Coeur was completed in 1919, shortly after the close of the first world war. In contrast with the gothic style of Notre Dame or Sainte-Chapelle, the Sacre Coeur was built in a gawdy Romano-Byzantine style, and its interior is awash with gold leaf and other flamboyant decorative elements.

 Riding a Courosel near by the Sacre Coeur, chasing birds and eating hot chocolate croissant for lunch.
Yummy delicious!

Aishah with Oma Belanda walking hand by hand

Feeding birds near Notre Dame

Notre Dame Cathedral
Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral is arguably the most stunning gothic cathedral in the world—and is undoubtedly the most famous. Conceived in the 12th century and completed in the 14th, Notre Dame Cathedral was the very heartbeat of medieval Paris. After a period of neglect, it recaptured the popular imagination when 19th-century writer Victor Hugo immortalized it in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”.
located on the Ile de la Cité, the area of Paris that divides the city's right and left banks. The Ile de la Cite is surrounded by the Seine River.

The Art

Inside the cathedral was light by this beautiful glass panel and by candle

View surrounding the area

After we done at Notre Dame, again its time to take a nap.
Hakim and Aishah is getting tired and sleepy. We took a metro and back to the hotel to rest.

After a few hours of nap, we woke up and search for a restaurant to have our dinner. After dinner we continue our sight seeing to another place. It was at 7.30 PM, again with the Metro to Musee De Louvre.We did not go into the Museum because it was closed. We only look around and I was amazed by the architecture of it. I love to see old well maintained building.

Outside the building was the Pyramid of Louvre. The Big Pyramid which you see in the "Da Vince Code" movie

Commissioned by the President of France François Mitterrand in 1984, it was designed by the architect I. M. Pei, who is responsible for the design of the Miho Museum in Japan among others. The structure, which was constructed entirely with glass segments, reaches a height of 20.6 metres (about 70 feet); its square base has sides of 35 metres (115 ft). It consists of 603 rhombus-shaped and 70 triangular glass segments.^[2]
The pyramid structure was engineered by Nicolet Chartrand Knoll Ltd. of Montreal (Pyramid structure / Design Consultant) and Rice Francis Ritchie (also known as RFR) of Paris (Pyramid Structure / Construction Phase).The pyramid and the underground lobby beneath it were created because of a series of problems with the Louvre's original main entrance, which could no longer handle an enormous number of visitors on an everyday basis. Visitors entering through the pyramid descend into the spacious lobby then re-ascend into the main Louvre buildings. Several other museums have duplicated this concept, most notably the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The construction work on the pyramid base and underground lobby was carried out by the Vinci construction company.

After walking at Louvre Musee Pyramid, we were back to our hotel and get some rest.
The 3rd day was a short day for us. We only done a boat cruise and then having our light lunch before we drove back to the Netherlands around 1 PM in the afternoon.

 Inside the Boat Cruise

 Ice Cream Treat at Paris Pizzaria

Another 5 hours drive to Netherlands and we stopped by at Burger King for our dinner.
What a long day but satisfying weekend

Good bye Paris, hope to visit you again next time.

France (Week 2-Part 1)

The 2nd week was fantastic.

1st day of the week we did not go anyway. We just resting and went shopping. The weather is getting colder compare to the previous week. I am a bit excited. Can't wait to see Paris..hehehe..but it is a long journey to get there from the Netherlands. Our planned for this week was, to visit my mother in law house at South of France and Paris.
Here come photos to tell you more.


Car we rented for the 2nd week, OPEL, Zafirah. Can fit 5 adults and 2 children.

Aishah went shopping to bring to France.

Me and Aishah was amazed by this cute item.
We thougth it was a piece of cake but actually its a candy.

on 4th May, the 2nd day of the week, we started our journey at 7:00am with the help of Tomtom, the gps's master.We had our packed breakfast and lunch all the way in the car prepared by my MIL.

Our road guide. Mr.Tomtom

The view all the way to south france the yellow flowers at your left and right side of the road

My MIL house when we just arrived. It was at 8:00pm in the evening and still light

Looking around near by the house.

The 3rd day, in the morning. Having breakfast near by the fire.
It was so damn cold without the fire.

My husband helping Harry to do the grass cutting in cold.

While Harry is picking up all the dried leaves in front of the house.
We were just look from inside the house.

The house after the grass cutting done.
In the Afternoon, we went toMillau to see one of the tallest bridge in the world and won the 2006 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award.
It was raining and we have a wet snow rain but its can't stay longer. Once its touch the surface its melting. The temperature was 2.5 degrees. My husband stopped the car and show Hakim the snow melted on his hand.


Raining day in South France.

I tried to snap the snow, but, it was too quick to melt.

We almost there.



Fact about this bridge:
The Millau Viaduct is an enormous cable-stayed bridge that spans the valley of the river Tarn near Millau in Southern France. Designed by the French structural engineer Micheal Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster. It is the tallest bridge in the world, with one mast's summit at 343.0 meters (1,125 ft)- slightly taller than the Eiffel Tower and only 37m (121 ft) shorter than the Empire State Building.



Driving on the bridge.

On the way back, we have stopped by at the pizzaria for our dinner and that was our 3rd day of this week.

The 4th day, visited Rocamadour - famous with the historical monuments and its sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary which for centuries has attracted pilgrims from every country, among them kings, bishops, and nobles.


Photo I took from the road to Rocamadour.

The Train we followed to the small town which from there you have to use stairs or elevator to the old church.

Inside the old church

Climbing to the top

The roof top of the church

The tip of the church. I am not dare to look down..its to high...

Finished at Rocamadour back to my MIL house and we have sun.
Finally we have a nice weather in the afternoon. But this will be our last day at south France, tomorrow we are leaving to Paris. Well, we are not wasting the shining sun. Here is Hakim and papa playing with the quad, Harry with his favorite Iltus Jeep.It was fun playing in the forest with the quad and jeep.Hakim and Aishah loves it as well as their mama & papa.


1st Hakim & Papa

than Aishah & Papa

Come Harry with the Jeep.

There goes the Quad and the Jeep into the forest


Done with the Quad and Jeep, Hakim & Aishah continue playing till 7:00pm.




Busy day but it was fun and enjoyable day.
Next destination.. Paris..

Thanks Oma Belanda and Opa Harry for the wonderful days at Le Vigan.