Bonjour Paris, France

We'll I've been in Paris now for two days and have seen a lot!  My feet and shoulders are sore from all the walking and carrying a backpack!  But it's been great.  Yesterday was my first full day here in Paris and I walked the whole city...21 miles in all!  I saw most of the major attractions including the Eiffel Tower at sunset!  It's pretty cool to see such a global icon and stand at the tops and actually see how vast Paris is.  I will say that with my time here I have learned that I am not a city girl and am looking forward to seeing the small towns of Portugal next and lots of beach time is ordered.   

Some of the major highlights of my time in Paris have definitely been spending an entire day out in Paris seeing some amazing churches and iconic monuments.  Going to Notre Dame was pretty special.  I am not Catholic but there was something special about that place.  It made me think of my dad because he was a spiritual person.  I also sat through the noon mass in French which was also pretty neat.  Even though I didn't understand a word of what they were saying I felt connected somehow.   I also really enjoyed the Eiffel Tower because I went around 830 in he he evening and the sun was setting.  It made for some pretty neat pictures.  I decided to climb the stairs to the second level where I then had to take the elevator up to the top.  My favorite thing so far has been going to the old churches.  The churches here have so much history to them and some of the prettiest stain glasses I have ever seen.  I can't seem to take enough pictures of them all,

Overall, things have been going well and I'm learning a lot about myself.  I'm good with a map which is helpful I finding.  I'm excited to go to Portugal tomorrow and start my 8 days exploring that 
country!

And the Countdown begins....

And the countdown begins!  T-minus 4 days til I leave Park City for the summer.  My travels begin with a little relaxation at my family's beach condo in Cancun Mexico.  Yes, that's right I'll be relaxing in  Paradise!  My brother and sister-in-law are there now for a couples trip with 4 other couples!  This is a pictures she sent at our pool and I just keep thinking 4 days!  So I leave Monday May 12, 2014 for Cancun where I will be for 8 days.  I will have the place to myself which will be a first so I'm looking forward to it!

May 20, I then fly back to Annapolis, Maryland where I will spend the next 12 days spending time with my family before leaving for Europe!  I will spend some time with my Uncle down in Ocean City, visit Washington D.C. for the day since I haven't been there in forever!  I'll take my nephew swimming since he loves the pool and spend as much time everyone as possible!

Then June 1 I leave on Iceland Air for Europe!  I found a cheap flight from D.C. to Paris which is sort of the pit stop before truly starting my journey.  I am spending 3 nights and four days in Paris before I catch a flight to Lisbon, Portugal on Friday June 5.  This is where I've decided I'll truly start the journey and will slowly make my way east through Europe.  I'll spend all of June and most of July visiting Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Chez Republic, Switzerland, and Italy before my mom arrives in Venice July 25.  From there my mom will spend the next 17 days exploring Croatia, Italy, and Greece and the Greek Islands together!

Like I said the countdown has begun and I'll try and update before I leave for Europe!  Hope y'all enjoy the updates!