September 24, 2018

Europe '81: Château de Versailles

September 20, 1981

I spent the last day of my first trip to Europe at Château de Versailles, the impressive French palace located twenty kilometres outside of Paris. Versailles was a luxurious royal residence until King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie-Antoinette, were forced out by an angry mob during the French Revolution. Today the Palace and Park of Versailles is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



Château de Versailles (1981)


September 18, 2018

Europe '81: Ile de la Cité

September 19, 1981

My last day spent exploring the city of Paris focused on Ile de la Cité, the natural island in the middle of the River Seine where the city was first settled. Like many other days during my first trip to Europe I don't remember much, but fortunately I have my trip diary and several photos to remind me of the places I'd been.



The River Seine and Ile de la Cité, Paris (2010)


September 10, 2018

Europe '81: Montmartre

September 18, 1981

I had such high hopes that scouring my trip diary and going through my old photographs would bring back deeply buried memories of my first trip to Europe. Unfortunately many of those days remain a blank. About the only thing I remember about my visit to Montmartre was the weather: warm and rainy.



Montmartre, Paris (2012)


September 03, 2018

Europe '81: Paris Bateaux Mouches

September 17, 1981

My second day in Paris was full. According to my trip diary I finished my day by taking a bateau mouche along the Seine and around Ile de la Cité. Bateaux Mouches is a company in Paris that offers excursions on the River Seine and but today other tour boats plying the river are often referred to by the same name.



River Seine Excursion Boat (2010)