An American in Paris: A Tribute (Part Two)

Our second day in Paris, a visual treat! The city itself is a magic kingdom... (as for Disneyland Paris, that happens tomorrow).
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Day Two of our Paris adventure, began in a slightly unexpected way. Our original plan was to go straight to Notre-Dame, but we just had to see the Eiffel Tower during the day! Viewing it from the rooftop of Au Printemps and then seeing it close up at night became the teaser changing our plans. When we saw the small shops of the Christmas market below, going back to the Tower took precedent over Notre-Dame - at least for our first stop of the morning. You see, Christmas decorations and such seem to be removed by January 7 each year, and it was already the 4th. Didn't want to miss the opportunity.

A little stall at the Christmas Market.
The Eiffel Tower is facing it.

After a pretty good night's sleep but not 100% back in the groove, the Metro took us back to the Trocadero stop and the Christmas Market. We had intended a quick breakfast treat, something traditional. Instead, what caught our eyes in one of the small stalls were fresh macaroons in an array of flavors: orange, coffee, vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, and our favorite, cassis or currant. The very friendly chef explained that wrapped macaroons we saw for sale were actually stale and old, and the real French versions were always served when fresh and soft. (To me, it seemed on the consistency of a soft-baked cookie in the States.) Oh, the flavor! It'd be a treat that would satisfy my sweet tooth for the rest of the trip. And I'd be on the hunt for the fresh version once I was back in the States.

I'm just a bit tired,
but the display from one of the ski resorts
 made a great photo opportunity!

Wandering through the Market, we discovered much about the diversity of the city. Stall owners came from all parts of the world, displaying their wares with a wide variation of how the holiday was celebrated. Mulled spiced wine was everywhere, however.

One of the aspects of the city we appreciated was its emphasis on family activities. For such a sophisticated place, the French seem to always take the time to provide offerings for the youngest of children. Wintertime was no exception, and we stumbled upon a small snowshoeing course just for kids along with an ice rink. The kids and families enjoying themselves made the very grey skies much more pleasant!

Not a bad view to ice-skate by!

A special trip for some kids in daycare.

I was very aware of the passing of time at this point. The last two trips, time slipped by, and we missed going to the top of the towers of Notre-Dame by arriving after the last tour was available. This time, I was determined I wouldn't make the same mistake again. 

Walking down a few more streets, we traveled to the nearest RER station. In minutes, the train approached, and we hopped aboard for the stop we needed. Notre-Dame was an easy two block walk from where we got off. Gotta say, transportation is very easy, even if the stations are not always spotless or without a bit of graffiti- and the fares are much cheaper than even the Denver Light Rail!

There was a huge line to go inside the cathedral to see the beautiful Rose Window and such. We had already "done that" before, so we walked around to the side for the line to go up the towers. It was just as long. Someone said two-plus hours, but it was actually more like an hour and a half. Once we survived the almost 300 steps up a narrow staircase, the views of the city and the building itself were incredible. Well worth the wait. See for yourself:

That's Sacre Coeur in the distance.

The entire experience from walking up, touring, and walking down  tallied a little over an hour. Had it not been for the hunger pangs, we could have stayed longer. It really was pretty incredible!

We decided to do a bit of exploring and not eat at the cafe right next to the tower entrance. Smart move on our part! Our journey took us behind the building to a beautiful little street, yielding sandwiches of fresh baguettes, bright red tomatoes, lettuce, and rich brie, all presented in a tasty light dressing. Simple, hand-held, and delicious. It allowed us to walk and explore even more.

Who would have guessed this charming street
 would be found behind the cathedral?

Continuing on, we came upon a curious sight- hundreds if not thousands of bicycle locks attached to a small bridge. Many of the locks were inscribed with the initials of lovers as in the days of old when they used to be carved into tree trunks. Fascinating! Just on the other side of the bridge, an old man was playing "La Vie en Rose" on his guitar. It wouldn't be Paris without hearing it at least once, and we never grow tired of hearing it.

Locks of love and La Vie en Rose- so Parisian!

Time to continue our walking tour. Saint-Germain-des-Pres was a previously unexplored destination. We were close by, so we took a leisurely stroll, delighting in our discoveries along the way. I took over 400 photographs in a four day trip. So much to look at, so little time!

Rooftops in a little courtyard gallery. 

We got happily lost and found this little carousel next to the fountain (below).

In a public square. 

Since we hadn't been paying attention to where we were walking, just following our instincts wherever we wanted, we really didn't know what we had stumbled upon. Turns out, it was Place Saint-Sulpice. Later we discovered the fountain was named Fontaine des Quatre Points Cardinaux, portraying four bishops that never made it to cardinal. Guess even those less celebrated are celebrated in  Paris!  

Since there was a funeral happening with a hearse in front of the church, we wanted to honor the family and friends of the deceased by not going in to sight see. It was late afternoon, and it seems as a reward for respecting their privacy, we later happened upon this beautiful little restaurant shown above. Notice the roof, the beautiful wrought iron work, and the delicate woodwork on each panel. One of my favorite little discoveries on this trip!

Cafe de Flore is a pretty famous dining establishment alongside the likes of Le Deux Magots. High prices come along with fame in the City of Light, and so do the crowds. It was nice to see these haunts of writers such as Ernest Hemingway.

Saint-Germain-des-Pres is stuffed with the most expensive of shops and restaurants. Hiding behind the Ralph Lauren store was this little covered arcade revealing what I'm assuming is the company's restaurant, Ralph's. It wasn't time for dinner, but this would have been one of the top contenders!

Ralph's restaurant on Saint-Germain-des-Pres.
Hidden off the beaten track.

Even in the most inclement of weather, Parisians eat and drink outdoors. Each cafe seemed to be filled with people regardless of the wind, light rain, or drizzle. Just toss on a coat, a scarf, and sit by a large space heater restaurant style. It works!

We continued to wander the city, every discovery bringing reason to stop and enjoy the surroundings. Bakeries begat more delicious  macaroons of even greater varieties of flavors, chocolate shops tempted us with their wares, and a stop at the local Starbucks was a tradition we wouldn't pass up.

We hopped on the Metro once again, heading out to another part of the city. Too much to explore. Night fell, and our bistro was a small one tucked between the intersection of three streets. We enjoyed a simple meal - including a mac and cheese concoction with incredible fresh French cheese- and watched the world go by. Seemed there wasn't a tourist in sight either inside or outside the restaurant. We were clearly in a "locals" zone. It was a perfect way to end the day... but we had one more thing to do.

An evening stroll from the middle of nowhere eventually led us back to the beacon of Paris, the Eiffel Tower. Incredibly, the line to go up to the top was short. It took us a total of 45 minutes to go from the bottom to  Level One and onto the top, including a short stop at Level Two. By this point in time, my camera battery had died. But I didn't bother crying over it. I was at the top of one of the world's most amazing structures with my lovely wife of 30 years, enjoying a spectacular view of the world's most beautiful city. Could it get any better? 

We walked down from the first level to the street all by ourselves, stopping at different points to admire the view and take in the richness of the evening. God has been so good to us! In the middle of a year of so much change, He had seen fit to bless us with this small trip that seemed out of reach. Long story there that I will not go into, but years from now, I know my children will read this and understand exactly what I am saying. He's been so faithful!

We walked back down the street, catching the evening light show on the Tower before returning to our small hotel. Tomorrow, we'd head off for a day at Disneyland Paris. It meant there were only two days left here before the business part of our trip, but there was no time to be sad. I was excited to see the most beautiful of Magic Kingdoms all decorated for Christmas!

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

An American in Paris: A Tribute (Part One)

In honor of the wonderful people of Paris, France who are suffering due to the stupidity of those who love violence, I present my love letter to the city. My wife and I have been blessed to be in the City of Light three times in three different seasons. (You can search the blog for other trip reports.) Here is Part One of a Four Part look, including a Christmas time look at Disneyland Paris, our third day. Enjoy!
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What can I say about Paris? It's been written about, sung about, photographed and filmed probably more than any other city on earth. All for very good reason, I may add. It's full of beauty and grime, sweet delights and surprising discouragements, a city of light and dark, amazing contradictions. I love it.

Due to a business trip, I had the opportunity to take my wife with me for a short stop in Paris, a four day anniversary celebration delayed earlier in 2012 due to the birth of two grandson, one on each side of the actual date. 

Off we went. Anyone who has gone to Europe from the States knows that you can arrive early to mid morning in your choice of destination with very little sleep. And we did! With this being our third visit to the City of Light (we are blessed), our feel for Charles de Gaulle International Airport was much better than earlier trips. In less than an hour, the Metro took us to our first destination, the New Orient Hotel just blocks from the Opera House. (Buy the unlimited Metro pass. It gives you unlimited access to the RER high speed train, the Metro, and the funicular which takes you up the steep slopes to Sacre Coeur.) Since it was too early to check in, our gracious and friendly hostess Katherine, took our bags and delivered them to our room which would be ready later that afternoon.

With fours days- only enough to begin to explore the city- we had a short list of must sees, even after previous visits. The last trips we missed going up to the gargoyle laden towers of Notre-Dame, just missing the last tour group both times. That was number one on our list, but choosing to wait until the next day to see it fresh, we headed for a little meal to get us going.

Department store windows delight at Christmas. 

I've left all these photos very large to give a real sense of the place. 

Just click on there for a very large image.

Since it was so close, a visit to famed Parisian department stores Galeries Lafayette and Au Printemps (top photo) began our day. Both were gilded to the hilt, their windows dressed with stunning Christmas displays. Visiting the massive food stalls for a drink at Galeries Lafayette was just what we needed after we stood in awe of the gorgeous stained glass dome and huge Christmas tree in the middle decked out with Swarovski crystals. Unbelievable. Tourists like us gawked, but Parisians walked by, seemingly unfazed by the grandeur around them. 

Inside Galeries Lafayette. 

The winter breezes were steady, the skies grey, and the air crisp with constant drizzle. It was cool but not cold enough to stop us. Moving on to the next door neighbor, Au Printemps, we traveled to the rooftop cafeteria to eat a simple lunch and catch a view of the city. It was surprisingly empty. Perhaps many folks have other priorities than a department store, but since we had visited the city previous time, we wanted to come here and enjoy a view we had read much about. We were not disappointed. 

Attemp at an artistic shot from the rooftop of Printemps.

Sacre-Couer is in the background.

The view was worth the modestly priced meal and overpriced soda. Buyer beware: We were thirsty for a Coke Light but it came at the price of almost five Euros, six plus dollars each. We don't normally splurge for sodas, opting for other local beverages, yet we needed the caffeine punch. It gave us just the lift we needed for a few more hours.

Mansard roofs and chimney pots everywhere you look.

Wandering the streets in Paris is a journey worth taking. Actually, it is one of our favorite ways to spend an evening or afternoon. With our Metro map in hand, we never got too lost, and it was easy to get back to our small and charming hotel at check in time. 

The Opera de Paris Garnier.  

Smaller alleys and side streets are equally beautiful for Christmas!

From daytime to nighttime.

Opting for a short nap that turned into something much longer, we rose and returned to our earlier lunch spot for a nighttime view of the city. In a word, spectacular. Afterwards, more wandering the streets exploring the tiny paths off the beaten track as well as the public squares and plazas. Everything was in Christmas glow, the smallest shop or apartment taking the time to celebrate the season.

Two not-so-young lovers in the City of Light.

Then the bug hit me: I had to see the Eiffel Tower. Had to, especially at night. Taking the Metro to the Trocadero stop, we exited the station and rounded the corner. There is was, the enduring symbol of the most elegant years of the city. 

Words are not enough! 

At 10:00pm, the Tower began to sparkle as it hit the hour. For five minutes, I stood mesmerized. My eyes got a little watery as they do when I am moved. That reaction to seeing it always surprises me. Then I noticed the Christmas market below, surrounding the fountains in front of it. We'd be returning to check that out tomorrow! When my wife was finally able to pull me away, we stopped for that most simple of Parisian treats: a crepe filled with Nutella. (My desert island food of choice!) 

Eventually, we returned to our room happily tired and ready for the next day's adventures. Our feet tired, but our hearts happy, and this was only the beginning. More to come, and yes, Disneyland Paris.

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Beauty and Elegance at Disneyland

There's a beauty and elegance to this photo of Disneyland's classic  Mark Twain Riverboat that I just love. The same can be said for the incredible site Tours Departing Daily. Not only is their Disney  photography wonderful, as writers, Matthew and Michaela Hansen share simple stories with such a tone of gratefulness for life that I find it all infectious. 

Do yourself a favor and click on the link above or to your left on my blog and check our their work. You'll be taken to a place that's more than just beautiful. As you read, you'll be welcomed into a world of inner beauty and peace as well.

(Photos copyright Tours Departing Daily.)

Old Friends Are Gold

What a gift from God friends are! And what a gift when the friendship lasts decades! We have been friends with these two beginning when we were all in our 20's and none of us were married. We've survived hard things together and enjoyed blessing upon blessing. As Christians, we'll share an eternity as well...

Mourning for Paris

I was far away visiting family when I saw the news. Paris, my beloved city, attacked by infidels associated with radical Islam. Mourning at so many levels now for the people of France, those whose lives were lost, their families and friends, and for all of us who live in a crazy, crazy world.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Father and Son

On my eldest son's birthday, it seems only right to post this photo of he and his son. It was taken during a recent visit out of state. My kid's a fine Dad! Please don't sing Harry Chapin's song Cat's in the Cradle! I hate that song...

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Thanksgiving Before Christmas

Sitting here in a coffee shop, and Christmas music comes on. Decorations are on the walls and in the shelves, hanging from the ceiling. Why are we in such a rush to bypass Thanksgiving and move on to Christmas?

I think its part of our humanistic society. WHO would we be thankful to for the blessings in our lives? The truth is God looks over all of us and yearns that we would know Jesus. He makes it possible for us to have the lives we have, and yet all too often, we are quick to believe that we are the ones in charge of our own lives and that every good thing we have comes from our own hands. Perhaps this is why it goes against our nature to offer thanks. But let's try... its only two more weeks before we can get that Christmas music going!

To Honor Those Who Preserve Our Freedom

Thank you, Veterans! Regardless of which political persuasion, it is important to remember the men and women who have served our country. They fight for our freedoms- including the freedom we have to disagree with our leadership. Thank you, again, and thank you to your families who make the sacrifice as well.

More Rare Space Mountain Art

Another look at rare Space Mountain art by Imagineer Clem Hall. This time a nighttime view. A much more streamlined approach versus John Hench's iconic one. Nonetheless, with the Skyway behind it and the Grand Prix Raceway next door, any version of the park's premier thrill attraction is a great thing. Too bad Shanghai Disneyland's Tron Lightcycles isn't nearby as well.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Thoughts on Animal Kingdom's Na'vi River Journey

Na'vi River Journey. Now this is what makes me want to venture to Pandora World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This beautiful piece of concept art by Disney Imagineering is just the thing to draw folks in who are not quite thrilled by just another version of Soarin'- even if it is enhanced by additional technical capabilities and special effects.

Beginning with Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland, guests saw what Disney could do in a darkened showroom environment. And they ate is up! Sailing past the Blue Bayou Restaurant before the real adventure started created the perfect blend of mystery and expectation. Thrills of the emotional kind not dependent on a sheer physical manipulation of the ride vehicle meant fun for the entire family.

A few years later, Disney Imagineering took things to another level by using the same game plan in a new environment: El Rio del Tiempo debuted at EPCOT Center, and this time the art of the Imagineers told the cultural story of Mexico, making the attraction a guest favorite. Then came Pirates 2.0 in Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. Obviously, the public loves the concept, right?

You'd think the suits would understand this and continue to build these expanded dark ride attractions available to guests of all ages. But in the last 20 years or so, it seemed all the Disney parks went through a transformed mindset that meant new attractions had to compete toe to toe with Universal and Six Flags in the coaster/thrill zone. Some were great as well as highly successful (Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Indiana Jones Adventure), some were fun but fairly pedestrian, being cheap and easy to build (Rock N Rollercoaster). Other additions were just plain misguided from the beginning, never gaining the crowd approval so strongly desired (Mission:Space) and eventually the decisions to build these thrill rides hit the lowest point in creativity ever seen at a Disney park: The Maliboomer. Whereas the Tea Cups and Dumbo were at least Disney themed friendly, the misdirected designers of the awfully ugly Maliboomer couldn't even bother doing so.

Which brings us back to Pandora and the Na'vi River Journey. Perhaps the suits realized a return to their roots would be a good thing for a park that was heavy on thrills on low on traditional Disney dark rides. Was it the combination of the success of Soarin' and the park transforming attraction Radiator Springs Racers (both in California Adventure, by the way) that made the suits rethink the art and ways of Imagineering from long ago? Did they see anew that guests loved mild thrills and also loved being immersed in rich detailed environments? Just maybe they decided guests of all ages needed to experience something much different than everything else available at Animal Kingdom. Could it be just a financial decision, and they want to build a high end expensive restaurant a la Blue Bayou? Perhaps it is just a desire to bring some additional fun, fantasy, and mythology to life? Regardless of the reason for the decision, the addition of the river journey should be a reason for fans of old time Imagineering to cheer... and book their tickets upon opening.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Is This Art for New Fantasyland in Japan?

With Japan's D23 starting as we speak (and what a weekend it should be for new art!), my friend Alain Littaye at Disney and More posted this absolutely beautiful piece of concept art from ReThink Leisure and Entertainment in Burbank- close to Disney Imagineerning. Could this be for Tokyo Disneyland's incredible New Fantasyland? Or perhaps for a whole new Disneyland?

(Art copyright ReThink.)

Oprah and Christmas

Can I say, "Who really cares what Oprah's favorite things are?" As one of the world's richest women, she does quite a few cool things with all that cash. That said, why are we so obsessed with her? I just don't get it.

Three Seasons One Day

From the front of our house- Three Seasons in one day. My arbor vine has still not changed from its Summer colors to those of Autumn, but my trees and bushes have. Of course, it snowed this morning, our first snow of the year. Very strange and typical Colorado weather.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Hospital Time

Rapper and actor 50 Cent is in the hospital. Actually, I was just there today, visiting a friend and his wife. She is having surgery for a cancerous spot on her liver. She's so brave, and she's so peaceful. Of course, I know it's because her peace comes from Jesus. But that's not what was on my mind.

I sat there looking at her, and it hit me: When it is my time of need. who will be there for me? My day will come- and so will yours. Who will be there for you?

Combined Tokyo Disney Land and Sea Map

In preparation for the onslaught of news via D23 Japan, here is a wonderful map combining both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. The current title holder to the best one-two punch in theme park resorts belongs to Tokyo Disney Resort. It's really large and detailed, so make sure you click on it and download it for viewing.

Will we see some new concept art for all the terrific attractions planned for the two parks in the next few years? You can bet on it! Shanghai Disneyland may be getting all the press in the next six months, but Disney park fans will have much to celebrate in the years ahead. Even if it means going to Japan to see it all. Disney fans in the States may bemoan having to settle for Frozen Ever After in Epcot and settling for just dining in the Beast's castle in New Fantasyland however. You can quote me...

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)