The City of Pompeii and Positano, Italy

Pompeii, buried under thirteen to twenty feet of ash and pumice when Mount Vesuvieus erupted in 79AD, had suffered little deterioration. However, now that two thirds of it has been excavated, deterioration has accelerated because of the air and weather conditions, water being the primary culprit.

Our tour, although taken on a day of extreme heat, was fascinating. Many of the buildings that we saw were amazingly well preserved, such as the Forum, the baths, some of the houses, the amphitheatre, and a swimming pool. There are streets that still exist, paved with large cobble stones with houses and shops on both sides. There were areas specifically for the nobility, the middle class and the peasants with even a designated brothel area.

A lot is known about Pompeii, considered a major city at the time, from the well preserved frescoes and graffiti on many of the walls. There have been casts made in plaster of people who were presevered beneath the ash. The discovery of Pompeii gave proof to the world that there was an ancient Roman civilization that was extremely advanced for that time period.

Pompeii was not discovered until 1738 and excavation has been going on periodically since then. The ara is extensive and would take several days to really see it all although a few of the areas have been closed to tourists due to the fragile state of some of the buildings. When we were there near the end of June, there was a heat wave and with few trees, we were at the mercy of the sun. After touring the area for about three hours, we sat under the few trees available and had lunch before getting back onto the bus to resume the rest of our day trip.

Our next stop was Positano on the Amalfi Coast. Passing beautiful scenery, we finally stopped and the tour guide told us we would be walking down to the beach. From the look-out platform, we gazed down at a beach, far below, where the houses were small and the boats were nearly invisible. Walk? But walk we did down extremely narrow winding stairs that had buildings on both sides. Finally after about half an hour of walking, the stairs came to an end. We rested before proceeding the rest of the way down a narrow winding lane. Too narrow for cars to travel, there were beautiful little shops on each side selling fabulous items. The pavement was so hot that my feet felt burned through the soles of my shoes so when we reached the beach, I walked into the ocean without bothering to take my shoes off and let the cool, refreshing water beat against my legs.

Positano is a beautiful, sheltered area with restaurants, shops and hotels and, with a bar on the beach like an ice cream stand. We got a drink, found a shady spot to sit, and never did a drink taste so good.

Positano was a port in medieval times, later falling on hard times. Over the course of years, it became a fishing village. But in the 1950's, tourists began the trek to Positano after John Steinbeck published an essay about this village clinging stubbornly to the side of a mountain. 'Under the Tuscan Sun' was also filmed there and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote their song, 'Midnight Rambler' while there on vacation. After visiting Positano, I could certainly see that it's a place to come to get creativity flowing.

We caught a ferry from Positano which took us to Sorrento for pizza and then the bus back to Rome, a three hour trip. We didn't get back until 10:00 p.m., a long and hot fifteen hour day. It was the last night we had in Rome. I packed my luggage for the final time for an early start in the morning to the airport. I thoroughly enjoyed my European vacation but as always, it was nice to be going home.

Rome, Italy and the Vatican City

The Vatican City is a walled city within the city of Rome, referred to as the smallest country in the world. This area is ruled by the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. Within this small area are the Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica, Apostolic Palace, the Pope's residence and 57 acres of gardens, decorated with fountains and sculptures.

On our second day in Rome, we left early to go to the Vatican Museums hoping to avoid a long line-up. However, arriving an hour before they opened, we were far from the first people to arrive. But the line did move quickly once the doors were opened.

The museums were founded between 1775 and 1799. There are thirteen museums in the complex consisting of a huge collection of art amassed by the Roman Catholic Church throughout the years which includes classical sculptures and masterpieces of the Renaissance. It is believed that the sculpture of Laocoon, purchased five hundred years ago, was the beginning of the public opening of the Museums. Laocoon is the priest who, according to history, predicted Ulysses' use of the Trojan Horse. They celebrated their five hundred year anniversary in October, 2006.

Besides paintings, sculptures and antiquities, there is the red marble papal throne, tombstones, inscriptions, the Gallery of Maps and many, many frescoes. There is the Gregorian Egyptian with Egyptian statues and mummies from around 1,000 BC, the Vatican Pinacoteca, a newer museum, which wasn't opened until 1932, featuring paintings from the 12th to 19th centuries, the Chapel of Beato Angelico, the four rooms known as the Stanze of Raphael featuring works by that artist, the Borgia Apartment, the Collection of Modern Religious Art, the Christian, Profane and Missionary-Ethnological Museum, the Chariot Room, the Immaculate Conception and Sobieski Rooms, Etruscan Museum, Gallery of the Candelabra, Apartment of Pius, and other areas having collections of ancient Roman and Greek art with replicas of Greek statues. One museum contains mainly tapestries and mosaics and there are galleries of busts, amazing paintings and carved Roman baths as well as the Vatican Courtyards. Most of the ceilings are covered with paintings and decorated with marble and inlay is often on the floors. There are more than 70,000 pieces of art on exhibit with another 50,000 pieces preserved in vaults and storerooms.

The entire museum is an incredible stroll through history. But the highlight is, without a doubt, the Sistine Chapel with the ceiling painted by Michelangelo. Although he considered himself to be a sculptor and was not happy to paint the Sistine Chapel, it is considered one of his best works. He worked on it between 1508 and 1512. His painting of The Last Judgment on the alter wall was done while he was in his sixties.

It was so crowded when we were in the area of the Sistine Chapel that if someone fainted, they'd never hit the floor. Security people were everywhere ensuring that people were quiet. As you exit this area, you go down one of the world's most famous staircases, the Simonetti Staircase. Made of bronze, it is decorated with the papal coat of arms.

It is impossible to see everything in one day and I'm sure there were many areas we missed entirely. One reviewer said it could take two or even twenty visits to the museums to really see all there is to enjoy.

From the museums you can walk around the outside wall and go to St. Peter's Basilica. The original basilica fell into disrepair and a new one was built and consecrated by the pope in 1626. This church is enormous with 45 alters and is the most well-known work of Renaissance architecture. St. Peter's Basilica is incredibly opulent; its interior decorated with marble, sculptures, artwork and gilding. It holds the tombs of 91 popes, dignitaries and that of Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and the first Pope of Rome. St. Peter's tomb, according to legend, is buried beneath the high alter.

After leaving the Vatican City, we continued our stroll around Rome. It is a city that you want to keep exploring to see as much as you can. But eventually it was time to return to our accommodations. It had been another long and very interesting day.

On our third day in Rome, we planned to take an all-day tour to Pompeii so we would be seeing nothing more in this city where there is so much to see and enjoy. Rome has something for every taste with its art, culture and history.

Rome, Italy - The City of Culture and History

Rome, referred to by ancient poets as the Eternal City, is located on the Tiber River. It was founded in 753BC and, along with Florence, was considered one of the major centers of the Renaissance. Although the date for Rome's founding is considered to be much later, there is archeological evidence of human occupation from between 10,000 to 14,000 years ago. On our trip to Rome, we were impressed by the old buildings and partial structures, evidence of their long history.

On our first day there, we set out with a map, a vague idea where many of the attractions were and, of what we wanted to see. We saw partial structures, some appearing to be still in the excavating stages, old buildings, fountains, churches and statues. One was a statue of Julius Caesar in a pose one could imagine him being in when, on the Ides of March, he uttered his final words, 'Et tu, Brute?'

Arriving at the Colosseum, we were amazed at its size but shouldn't have been. It once accommodated more than 55,000 spectators who came to watch fights between gladiators and wild animals or sometimes between those who were prisoners. Construction was begun in 72AD and completed in 80AD. There were once eighty entrances, many still quite evident. The ruined portion, according to history, was damaged in an earthquake in 847. You can go inside the Colosseum, however we didn't. (It went on the ever-growing list for my next visit.) The beauty and resilience of these incredibly old structures and buildings continued to amaze me as we looked around. On the same grounds is the Arch of Consontine, built in 315AD, another work of art.

Further along in our explorations of Rome, we came to Palatine Hill. Surrounded by a high metal fence, archeologists are still excavating the ruins of what is believed to be the beginnings of the city. We were too late to go inside and unfortunately, the gates were closed for the evening. But we were able to see quite a lot through the fence. As early evening descended, we crossed the Tiber River, seeing the partial remnants of an old bridge. It seemed that everywhere we looked there were remnants and evidence of antiquity and Rome's continual determination to unearth its history.

Eventually, as our feet became weary, we boarded an open tour bus and travelled the city seeing many other sights. With the early evening upon us, we saw a different Rome through the glow of the city's lights. At one point we saw the Pantheon, built in 118AD. It was converted into a church in 609 and now holds the tombs of Raphael and several Italian kings. Amazingly, the marble floor is still the original. The last stop of the night was Trevi Fountain which was as far as the bus was going. This fountain, completed in 1762 is exquisite, a masterpiece of design. The statue of Neptune of the Sea riding a chariot in the shape of a shell, is pulled by two sea horses. It is the focal point of the fountain with other statues surrounding the display. Although it was getting late, it was crowded when we were there, which apparently is not unusual. As we walked back to the guest house, we realized it was too late for dinner so we stopped along the way to pick up some fruit and drinks. We were getting an early start the following morning for the Vatican City.

Pisa and Florence, Italy

After taking the train from Venice, we made a quick stop in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower before going on to Florence. Our first view of the tower was one of amazement. According to history, the tilt of the tower began shortly after construction started in 1173 and continued for most of the 344 years it took to build. The tower was finally completed in 1319 but was halted several times during construction, once for one hundred years, because of the tilt. Currently the tower is 183.27 feet high on the low side and 186.02 feet tall on the high side. There are about 294 steps to the top with the stairs wrapping around in a spiral formation on the inner side of the walls. Renovation work has been done on the foundation in recent years and it is estimated that it will be good for another two hundred years at least. However, in spite of the work done, neither of us were inclined to make the climb to the top. It looked like it would be a long way down and the tilt was significant.

The Leaning Tower was another one of those sites that, although having seen many pictures previously, is quite unbelievable anyway. It almost defies the laws of gravity. The other buildings in the square, the Cathedral and Baptistry, were very impressive in their architecture and although picturesque, it was the tower that held everyone's attention. The tower is the third oldest structure in Pisa's Cathedral Square. After getting the usual corny touristy pictures of holding up the tower, we headed back to the train station to continue our trip to Florence.

Our accommodation for our one night stay in Florence was a room in a hostel. We were very impressed with the set-up of the hostel and the statues displayed in the lower court yard. Also impressive was the fact that both breakfast and dinner were available at extremely reasonable prices for those who were staying there. Our trip of Europe unfortunately, has been a case of a lot of tasting the icing but not having time to eat the cake. But it has opened up our eyes to what can be seen when you travel and what a wonderful experience it is.

Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance and has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages. It is a city steeped in history and lures you down its streets with its architectural wonders. Shortly after our arrival, we took a guided walking tour. Throughout our short tour, our guide pointed out many buildings, indicating whether their influence was Renaissance, medieval, Baroque or that of the Medici family.

The first place we visited was the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore built in Renaissance style architecture. Built in 1296, the facade of green, pink and white marble was not completed until 1436. Our guide explained that lack of financial resources was the reason for this. Another place we visited was the Plazza della Signoria which is in the center of the historic area featuring an open air sculpture exhibit. There are many squares in Florence and many are like outdoor museums with beautiful works of art. Also, the Ponte Vecchio, built in 1345 was Florence's first bridge aqcross the Arno River and the only bridge surviving from medieval times.

She also took us to, what she claimed, was the best Gelato shop in all of Florence. Most who got one seemed to agree with her. Besides there being many cafes and restaurants, it is also considered to have some of the best shopping in all of Europe. She said that the city is the place to come to see art by Michelangelo.

The Uffizi Gallery is a placed that should not be missed having only masterpieces and works of art collected by kings and other royalty. This includes such artists as Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Goya, Bellini, Leonardo Da Vinci and Botticelli. The gallery, built in 1560, has art dating from the 13th century.

At the end of the tour, our guide left us in one of the many squares, letting us find our way back to the hostel ourselves. This gave us the opportunity to explore more of Florence in the short time we had available.

When we head off again, we will be going to Rome for a three night stay and a little more time to explore that city.

The Magic of Venice, Italy

Venice, our first stop in Italy, greeted us with hailstones the size of dimes which bounced off the cobbled stones like bouncing balls in a children's playground. But before we got settled into our accommodations, the hailstones had melted and the narrow streets were sizzling with the heat from the blazing sun. So with hats, sunscreen and maps in hand, we set off to explore the most unique of places we had yet to visit.

It was very fortunate we had the map because Venice is not easy to find your way around and with so many canals, markets, mysterious winding streets and dead-end alleys, we were often lost. At one point, after having located almost every dead-end alley in Venice, my daughter-in-law and I followed a woman who, walking briskly, seemed to know her way around. But eventually we lost her in the labyrinth of narrow alleyways as well. However, being lost in Venice is not a catastrophe because wherever you go, there are wonderful things to see.

Venice is part of a large group of islands and is connected by canals and bridges in some cases or by taking the Venezia ferries. Standing on the Rialto Bridge, a marvel of architecture in the heart of Venice, you can overlook the main water thoroughfare. The Grand Canal is surrounded by Renaissance palaces with gondolas transporting people through the various canals or to the other islands. Gondolas are expensive, however, so we used the ferry system to get around.

Whether you are lost or exploring, you will probably find the Palazzo Ducale or Doge's Palace, a Gothic masterpiece which has been the seat of government for centuries. The exterior is white linestone and pink marble with medieval carvings. Another place is Saint Mark's Basilica, the architecture so stunning it almost takes your breath away, as does most of Venice's buildings. It is the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. Some of the marble and carvings are much older than the building itself, having been brought from elsewhere. Also another stop will likely be the Madonna dell'Orto, a church of equal beauty. Built in the mid 14th century, the facade was done between 1460 and 1464. And as you wander, there is the anticipation of what you're going to find next. The name Venice could be synonymous with beauty because wherever we went, the buildings were beautiful, each one seeming to surpass the previous one.

We took a trip on the Venezia ferry system to the island of Murano to see the Venetian glass. The glass is famous for its color, beauty and detail. We were very surprised to find many pieces of this art used in outdoor landscaping. In one display there was a Venetian glass garden of flowers and in another, various brightly colored birds sitting on the top of an archway and in yet another, an abstract free form design. They also have jewellery, much of it made from the Venetian glass, as well as other art.

We also visited Burano Island, a quieter island with fewer tourists. What was unusual about this island was that its canals were lined with very colorful and picturesque buildings. We also noticed that the buildings were better maintained than the main island seemed to be. There were also many chances to purchase items with the beautiful and unique lace work that is made on this island.

The thing I noticed first when we began exploring Venice on our arrival were the buildings, especially those along the canals, with their crumbling plaster exterior walls. In those cases there seemed to be no effort whatsoever made to maintain them. Possibly they are intended to be part of the charm accentuating the fact that Venice is old but one only has to look at the style of architecture to know that Venice has been there for thousands of years.

Our accommodation was on a canal near one of the many bridges that crosses them. It was also near one of the many shopping districts which included an assortment of eateries and other shops. There are no cars in Venice so travel is either by walking or by taking canal transportation. Either way is enjoyable because there is much to see.

Unfortunately, our visit was far too short and it was again time to move on to our next adventure.

Interlacken, Switzerland

The town of Interlacken in Switzerland is situated between the two Alpine lakes of Brienz and Thun with the Aare River flowing through the town connecting the two lakes. Interlacken is a popular destination for those who are interested in skydiving, hang gliding, paragliding, skiing and hiking, being surrounded by some of the highest mountains in all of Europe. We weren't there for any of those things though. We had come to see more of Switzerland and the Swiss Alps.

We arrived by train from Lucerne in the early afternoon. Quickly depositing our luggage, we caught the ferry on Lake Thun and went to visit the small town of Thun, seeing other small towns or settlements, castles and beautiful mountain visitas along the way.

There is a castle in Thun that is often open to the public but unfortunately, it wasn't on this day so we strolled around the town soaking up the ambiance and culture. Thun is different than either Lucerne or Interlacken, not seeming to us to be quite so European, but nice just the same. Finding a restaurant, we stayed to have dinner before taking the ferry back to Interlacken.

The next day we took the train to Jungfrauloch Mountain. At 13,642 feet, it is advertised as being the Top of Europe, and literally is the highest point in all of Europe. On the way up the mountain, there are three brief stops, two having observations windows for viewing the breathtaking beauty of the Swiss Mountains. The train chugs its way passed meadows and countryside and into a six km tunnel travelling through the Eiger Mountain before emerging at Jungfrauloch, Europe's highest train station. At the top, on a clear day, one can see as far as the Vosgas Mountains in France and the Black Forest in Germany.

After leaving the train we went up to the restaurant, post office and souvenir shop where we had a quick lunch of spicy noodles, and then proceeded along a corridor to the Ice Palace which is nineteen meters below the surface. Caverns have been dug into the glacier which has been expanded upon periodically over the years. The ice sculptures include such things as bears, seals, igloos and an assortment of other animals. The entire cavern is ice, including the floor.

Leaving the Ice Palace, we followed the Sphinx Tunnel to an elevator and went up 107 meters to an observation deck where we could see the surrounding mountains covered in snow, and a 23 km river of ice which will eventually find its way to the Mediterranean. We went outside so as to be able to walk a little higher on this vast mountain, partly to say we had, and partly to reach the rise where the Swiss flag was perched, blowing briskly in the howling wind. It was extremely cold and sunglasses were definitely a necessity because of the glare from the sun on the snow and ice. We were fortunate that the stunning views were unbroken by clouds and bad weather. Never having been to such soaring heights on a mountain before, where the glaciers and snow are smooth, barren of any human footprints, it was hard to believe how truly beautiful the expanse of mountains were.

Returning by train to Interlacken, our fingers slowly thawed and our breathing became normal again. (We had been told that at that height, the air would be thin; two of us were able to feel the difference in our breathing while we were at the high elevation.) After arriving back, we explored the town a little.

Our accommodation while in Interlacken was a hostel beside the Aare River. It was clean, quite comfortable and we were within a short walk to both the train station and the ferry. Although German is the primary language spoken in this small town, we had no problems with communication. In fact in most places we've travelled, people have spoken enough English that we have had no difficulties.

When it was time to leave, we all agreed that Switzerland was a country to come back to again. But once more, we were taking our leave and would be travelling into Italy, the next phase of our European holiday.

Lucerne, Switzerland

Lucerne, in Central Switzerland, straddles the Reuss River, which flows into Lake Lucerne, Arriving in a deluge of rain, we grabbed a taxi which wasn't our general mode of transportation. However, it wasn't long before the rain dried up, the sun came out and I looked around at this city, surrounded by the Swiss Alps, and felt I had come home.

Dropping luggage off, we set out to explore, walking through narrow cobbled streets. Eventually we ended up at the Chapel Bridge, a covered bridge, 669 feet long and built in 1333. Inside the bridge are a series of paintings depicting Lucerne's history. Part way across there is a Water Tower that, at one time had been used for protection, and at other times as a prison. Being a lover of covered bridges, we next discovered the Mill Bridge which zigzags across the river. Built in 1408, a chapel was later built in the middle of it in 1568.

What impressed us as we explored the city was the cleanliness and the beauty. Flowers were evident wherever we went, in planters and baskets and the entire length of the Chapel Bridge had baskets of flowers hanging over the rail. There were buildings covered in paintings, churches to see, Swiss architecture to admire and their culture to absorb.

Another discovery we made in our explorations was the Lion Monument, carved into a rock face. It had been carved to honor those Swiss Gards massacred in 1792 at Tuileries Palace. Having planned to spend only one night in this lovely area, we next checked out some shops and were puzzled when we realized every one offered cow bells for sale.

The following day we took the ferry to Weggis, a nice relaxing trip where we could see many, what looked to be castles on the hills, as we floated past. Once in Weggis, another town of beauty, we walked to where we could catch the cogwheel train to make our way up Mt. Rigi Kulm. The trip up was, as I had imagined the Swiss Alps might be, if not more lovely. As the last stop we got out. It was biting cold at the top and the wind was blowing but the view was unbelievable. We followed paths to go even higher on the mountain top where we could enjoy and absorb the fantastic views. As we climbed, the mystery of the cow bells was explained when we heard the sounds of many bells floating throughout the mountains, seeming to surround us with their magical music. We had timed it well, a day in June, with no low-hanging clouds to obstruct our view of all the grandeur nature had to offer. After walking for a while at the top of the mountain, we returned to take another cogwheel train down three stops and caught a cable car to the bottom. The view on this was stunning as well but the trip was far too short.

Mr. Rigi Kulm is known as the Queen of the Mountains and is 1,797.5 meters high. It offers more than a cogwheel train ride and a cable car trip. Many do hike it as well as ski it in the winter. We saw many hikers setting off with their walking sticks and backpacks, far more adventurous than either of us felt inclined to be. After reaching the bottom of the mountain, we returned to the ferry for our trip back to Lucerne. Mount Pilatus, overlooking Lucerne, is another mountain where one can take a cogwheel trip to the top. Having limited time, however, we contented ourselves with going to Mt. Rigi Kulm.

Picking up something for dinner, we returned to the deck on the roof where we were staying. Looking down we could see the Reuss River rushing by below us on its way to Lucerne Lake, where swans paddle along the shores.

In Lucerne, people were friendly and helpful, communication was not difficult, our accommodation was central to everything we wanted to see, and between trains, ferries and shoe leather, getting around was easy. I loved the city and wished we could have stayed longer. But it was time to move on.

The Essence of Switzerland

There is the feeling of lightness and of troubles removed when you first arrive in Switzerland. The air is fresher, the grass greener and the sky bluer; it is nature redefined. In the towns we visited there was no bustling, chaotic traffic or stressed-out people. There were smiling faces and friendly natures and a feeling of being welcomed.

Situated between the Swiss Alps, the Swiss Plateau and the Jura Mountains, Swiss German is the predominant language spoken (Germany is to their north), with French and Italian also spoken. These countries also border Switzerland. Music and dance are popular with the alphorn and yodeling being loved by all. Skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering and hiking are all popular in Switzerland also.

They are involved in peace building around the world and have not been in an international war since 1815. They have a strong commitment to neutrality and they are a peaceful, prosperous and stable people. Chocolate has been made in Switzerland since the 18th century and they are considered to be one of the largest consumers of it. They are also known for their watch making skills.

There is diversity in landscape and climate. There are more than 1500 lakes in this small country. In the middle area, which is about 30% of the land, it is hilly, partly forested with some open pastures usually with grazing herds or garden fields. The Swiss Alps takes up about 60% of the land area. In general, the climate is temperate with autumn being the driest season and the winter season receiving less precipitation than during the summer months.

The biggest cities of Zurich and Geneva are in the middle area. Berne and Basel are also fairely large cities. Lucerne, where we visited, is considered a city but definitely one of the smaller ones wheras Interlacken is a town. Switzerland is predominantly an urban country as the largest part of the country is the Swiss Alps where the population is small, as are the towns, if there are any.

With a country that is so peaceful and stable, it is no wonder that the people are that way as well. So visiting Switzerland where the people are so friendly and laid-back, was definitely a pleasure.

Paris, The City of Lights

Paris, the City of Lights, is a city most will fall in love with or at the very least will have an opinion about. Some areas of this city date from around 4200 BC so history abounds and like every other tourist visiting the city, we were anxious to see its many attractions.

On our first evening in Paris, we took a cruise down the Seine to orientate ourselves. Once we began to see the many historical buildings we passed, we were glad that we had researched some of the history of each of the places we would be visiting.

The Louvre Museum, our first stop, had originally been a royal palace. It is now the world's most famous museum. This museum originated with a collection begun in the 16th century by King Francis I. Over the years the collection grew and in 1793, it was opened to the public. There are three wings, each housing different collections.

The Sully Wing holds a collection of French paintings, an enormous collection of Egyptian antiquities, artifacts and sculptures, a Greek collection and some remnants of the medieval castle of Louvre. This was the first wing I ventured into and having made the decision not to go on a tour was able to stand at the exhibits that interested me the most, for as long as I wanted to enjoy them. In the Richelieu Wing there are paintings from the Middle Ages to the 19th centuring including decorative art and sculptures. It was no less impressive than the Sully Wing. In the Denon Wing is the Mona Lisa plus other paintings of renown artists, antiquities and artifacts. The Mona Lisa was somewhat of a surprise being much smaller than either of us had expected it to be.

We spent hours in this fabulous museum following our interests from display to display, room to room and wing to wing, the art amazing and the statues beyond belief. Even the floors and soaring ceilings were spellbinding with paintings, carvings and inlays. With over one million works of art, only about 35,000 are ever on display at any one time.

The Eiffel Tower, rising 300 meters above where we stood, was completed in 1889. It was built for the World Exhibition in celebration of the French Reveolution. At the time, many protested that it didn't fit in with Paris' architecture but it is now currently seen as the symbol of the City of Lights. And it is no wonder. We saw it lit up on our first night in Paris. It was beautiful at night and dramatically visual during the day. The next day we went back with the intention of going to the top but a few days previously, rumors had told us, there had been a bomb scare and one of the elevators was not working. Line-ups wound across the grounds like slithering serpents slowly making their way towards the entrance. Having only a limited amount of time, to spend in Paris, and many places we wanted to see, we decided to come back again. As it turned out, we will have to go up on another trip to Paris. But even looking up at this immense structure when standing on the ground beneath it is awe-inspiring and was worth the trip.

The Notre Dame Cathedral is located on a small island in the Seine in the heart of the city. Begun in 1163, it was not completed until 1345 because of renovations and additions. It has two 226 foot towers and a 295 foot spire. Decorated outside with statues, massive doors and stunning architecture, it was worth waiting in line-up so we could admire it.

Inside the cathedral is quite as amazing with beautiful, massive stained glass windows, statues and candles glowing everywhere. There is a hush while the crowd slowly moves throughout the huge cathedral as most who visited seemed to be as much in awe as we were.

The Palais de Tuileries was built by Catherine de Medici after the death of her husband in 1559. Large, by I suspect most standards, she built it in the Italian style to remind her of her native Tuscany. Tuileries Gardens, surrounding the palais with its large pond and fountain, has many dramatic statues. There are walking paths between rows of grass, shrubbery and flowers but I was most impressed with the statues.

Another attraction, the Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 wasn't completed until 1836. It is fifty meters tall, adorned with carvings of battles and at the top of the arch thirty shields are displayed each signifying Napoleon's successful battles. It is located at the end of the Champs-Elysees, in the middle of a square where twelve streets converge. Trying to cross this busy thoroughfare would be suicide but fortunately there is an underpass to the monument. Once there, to reach the viewing platform, there is no elevator but 234 steps make it a heart-pumping hike to the top.

Other attractions briefly visited were the Luxembourg Gardens in the heart of the Left Bank, with ponds, fountains, gardens and sculptures. We picked up a sandwich and had our lunch while sitting on the chairs provided around the huge pond. Established in 1625, these gardens were a joy to visit, quiet, tranquil and away from the rush of traffic that is most of Paris.

Another interesting area briefly visited was the Montmartre district where a walk up the hill on cobbled streets will bring you to the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur. There you better have excellent lung capacity because the stairs leading up to it are many. A multitude of shops line the streets where we bought souvenirs for family and friends. This area is considered to be the most historic neighborhood in Paris. We also did a quick tour past the Sorbonne University and the Pantheon.

Unfortunately, the clock was ticking and our time in Paris was running out. Having to catch the train for our next adventure, we left with a promise to return again to explore all the other areas of this City of Lights that we had not been able to see.